[Spooks] equipment

[Mark Taylor]

Sue (and others interested),

I have both a Satellit 800, and an Icom R 75 (and got them in that order.)
Also have a Radio Shack DX 398 / Sangean 909).

If you want a good all around shortwave radio, with really nice audio, the
Satellit 800. Is an excellent choice.  Since they appear to be going out of
production, your probably right about being able to get one in the $300
Canadian price range if you buy at the right time.

For numbers, you will hear what is commonly available in North America (V2
family, some E10, M8 vamily, etc. on a Satellit 800.  It takes good antennas
without overloading.  Has great sound (did I say that already?)  Works well
for North American pirates (don't know why but I was talking with some other
Dxers yesterday who have the Satellit 800 and they concurred.)  It was a
quantum step up from the DX 398.

The R 75 is another quantum step up from the Satellit 800 in terms of most
things.  Except for having rather poor audio through the tiny speaker, but
is easily fixed by buying an external speaker for a computer at a garage
sale for $3.00 (US :-) )  Most importantly for this purpose, with a decent
antenna, it is excellent for receiving all kinds of unusual signals
(including numbers.)  The DSP module has routinely been available for free
with it, and imporves the performance a lot.  They are new for about $500
(US), but can be easily gotten on the used market for half that (which I
think will put it into the price range your looking for.)

In the price range you talk about, and if I could only have one radio: if
you are mostly interested primarily in listening to international
broadcasting, pirates, etc.  I would get a new Satellit 800.  If I was
interested more in numbers, unusual signals, etc. a used Icom R 75 is the
clear choice.  

The other things I've done in the past year is improved both antenna and
ground, per several other loggings here lately.  It has made a tremendous
difference.  I second everything said about that.

Mark

On 8/21/04 7:48 PM, "Susan C. Hickey" <Sue.Hickey at warp.nfld.net> wrote:

> Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks to unsubscribe from this
> list
> 
> Chris, what do you think of the Satellit 800? The things are coming down in
> price all the time but I told my other half that I wouldn't get one until
> they come down to $300 Cdn (which I think will happen)...Sue
> PS: my little radio is a Sangean ATS-818 and I have an antenna running
> outside to the metal clothesline pole, works for me for now!
> 
> Sue Hickey
> Forum editor, the Messenger
> CIDX (Canadian International DX) Club
> 
> "I am in terrible ignorance of everything." Blaise Pascal
> 
>