[SignalOne] QRM, QRN.

[signalone@mailman.qth.net]

I guess the problem in Europe is the proximity of the big SW broadcast
stations?  There are some stations that hammer into the East Coast of
the U.S. at, what, a couple volts at the antenna?  It seems that way.

The S-meter pegs on both the S/1 and my IC-720A.  Sometimes I wonder if
I couldn't light an LED off a 40 meter dipole.

Other than that, the problem at my QTH is an S-7 noise level, it's a
bzzzzzz across most of the HF bands, with peaks of shot noise every 40,
50 kHz.   

I bought a pocket SWL radio from www.countrycomm.com to use as a
"sweep" for the noise source.   It should be here later today.

I agree with the sentiment that the Signal/One's are nice to look at.
Not so much from the pure esthetics perspective but for what they
represent. The S/1 was intended to be the top radio just as the Alpha.  

>From what I can tell, both missed the mark.  It's like Heathkit gunning
for Collins.  The Heath SB-series had many advantages over Collins, the
500 kHz LMO, the wide range of accessories.  Some folks convert Heath
monitor scopes to the S-Line look.

Where Heath fell down was in the execution.  The SB front panel and the
LMO bezel look cheap.  Ten bucks more, a thicker front panel with
embossed sub panels, a little more attention to detail.  I have an
SB-313, if Heath had used a flip lid case and put an accessory crystal
bank in it like the 75S3C, they would have a killer SWL receiver.

If they had designed in space for synthesizer option, went after the
51J market.  If only. 

Frankly, some parts of the S/1 look homebrewed.  The mechanicals,
especially the shaft sticking out the back and the off-set universals
don't belong in a multi-thousand dollar (1970's price) product.

Don't get me started on the perf-metal RF shielding.  My Heathkit DX-60
has nicer looking perf-metal than the S/1.  

Explain why almost every knob on the CX7A is different from its
neighbor, why the knobs are "wobbly", and why the skirts are so thin?

Some knobs look like witches hats.  Signal/One needed an industrial
designer.

So there were trade-offs.  I understand that.  

But it is the top radio and a milestone in transceiver design.  If I
can get it working at 100%; might take a year but I have the time.

de ah6gi/4