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Slider decision, comparison of E100 and SWP (both with filter mod)
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MarkWA1ION
I have had Steve Ratzlaff modify both an Eton E100 and a C. Crane SWP
for me with the Murata filter. The modification, in both cases, makes these little radios into competent foreign DX machines. Selectivity turns out to be comparable which, I guess, is what you would expect. TA activity was a bit light last night (best on the low end), but both receivers had no problem separating Morocco-612 from the WGIR/CHNC/WIP/WIOD/Cuba "furball" on 610. Closer splits like Algeria- 549 and Canaries-621 were occasionally "sliceable" but needed a bit more signal strength to be comparable to adjacent domestics. A short drive away at the shore, these would have been "lead-pipe cinches". The idea, once both radios were back here, was to choose one to be "sliderized" by Gary DeBock whilst keeping the other one as-is for travel demands where fragility of the slider assembly or undue airport security curiosity could be "negatives". I am choosing to have the SWP modified with the slider on the following grounds: (a) The Eton E100 is somewhat more sensitive above 1000 kHz, about the same 750-1000, and only a bit "deafer" below 750. Thus it has the edge over a greater portion of the band than the SWP, so it needs less help. I can always pull up the Radio Shack passive loop if I need to peak up low band signals. (b) The shortwave frequency ranges are less on the SWP, so it lends itself to being converted to something which will be utilized primarily for medium-wave DX duty. In a couple of months, or sooner if the weather is good, I am going to take 3 to 5 of my more sensitive portables to a local park within 5 miles of several transmitter sites including 50 kW monsters on 680 and 1510. Rejection of spurious responses will be an obvious metric along with the usual testing for audio recovery on weak daytime signals (there are many metro-NYC targets at about 200-250 miles perfect for this) and selectivity next to strong sloppers. I expect that the slider SWP will be among the select group of high sensitivity sets, along with the much larger Sony ICF-S5W and ICF- 2010, the C. Crane CCRadio, and others. Preliminary sensitivity screening here so far shows ICF-S5W as tops in that regard, so it will be interesting to compare the slider SWP when I get it back. The outdoor testing not far from several transmitter sites will sort out the winners from the 'wannabes' in the spur-rejection part of the game. Mark Connelly, WA1ION - Billerica, MA
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lrdheat
--- On Fri, 2/27/09, MarkWA1ION wrote: From: MarkWA1ION
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jmallery2002
Mark,
Does Steve Ratzlaff modify radios for a fee. If so I would like to contact him to possibly modify some of my radios. Thanks, John M. W0TWA (both with filter mod) To: ultralightdx@...SWP for me with the Murata filter.was a bit light last night (best on the low end), but both receivershad no problem separating Morocco-612 from theAlgeria- 549 and Canaries-621 were occasionally "sliceable" but needed a bitshort drive away at the shore, these would have been "lead-pipe cinches".for travel demands where fragility of the slider assembly or undueneeds less help. I can always pull up the Radio Shack passive loop if Iwithin 5 miles of several transmitter sites including 50 kW monsters on680 and 1510. Rejection of spurious responses will be an obvious metricsort out the winners from the 'wannabes' in the spur-rejection part ofthe game.
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