The
AOR UK web site is NOW saying for the new AR7070 :
"......A replacement (more expensive)
model is under development, release is expected
spring 2010... Several pre-production units have
been built and working, but the internal
operational firmware needs to be finalised before
we move to production". Will
the AR7030 be the last of John
Thorpe designs ?? We have yet to see one real
picture of the AR7070 as of yet.
My AOR AR7070 receiver page
is still posted with the edited "scribble"
drawing that has been passed around the internet
for quite awhile now. (Nov 07)
As I discovered on
the Herculodge web page : " New Degen DE1106
Purported to be a Corrected Grundig G3" . Also see the [Chinese] Degen
"forum" web page here. I have no additional
information at this time. Is this old news that
has just been recycled ? (Oct 31)
"AOR
AR5000 R.I.P." : Universal
Radio (and I bet all other USA dealers too ?)
have run out of new samples of the
AOR AR5000 receiver (all versions). It was of course
discontinued a few years ago and new samples were
very limited even then. A replacement ( DSP ? )
model is in the works. Of course any "wide
band" (coverage) set will always capture
a larger market, but usually with lower
performance in the SW/HF part of the spectrum. (Oct
29)
Uniden
Bearcat BC898T table top "scanner"
receiver has been discontinued. If you ever
wanted a brand new BC898T,
you may wish to purchase one very soon while some
dealers still have new samples. Overall a very
nice tabletop scanner, but it lacks alpha tags ,
uses panel lamps for the LCD backlighting (which
burn out fairly quickly) and the some of the
buttons are very hard to push. See my review on this website
for more information. UPDATE : Universal Radio has "sold
out" , AES still has new samples in
stock at time
of writing (have not checked other USA dealers).
(Updated : Oct 27)
DE1125 "Another
Degen Stinker " I had a chance to play with one of the
new Degen DE1125 pocket
portables and to me this new version offers very
little SW improvement over the older DE1123
model. In fact with the tested sample it
was actually worse in some area's. Yes, the same
very poor DSP receiver performance continues. On
SW, it stilll cuts in and out even on strong
signals, AGC pumps up and down, hissy, sputters,
nasty distortion and narrow audio when it does
receive a strong enough signal. FM performs
better and perhaps a bit more sensitive, but for
some reason it takes a much stronger signal for
the stereo to kick in (with headphones in use of
course) when compared to the DE1123.
The worse part of the DE1125 was
when headphones were used on SW , (yes I tried
different phones and earbuds), the audio went
into nasty "oscillation-motorboating"
to make it totally unusable . The speaker
output never was a problem with this issue. Have a listen here. A wav. audio
file as recorded off the receiver, SW on 10 Mhz
WWV. first without headphones then with. FM and MP3 "headphone audio"
is a bit more muffled when compared to the DE1123.
Also the headphone jack is on the BOTTOM of the
unit. The DE1125's speaker
output also has excessive bass response that adds
much more break-up audio distortion on the SW and
MW bands.
The tilt stand is a nice touch and latches
properly to the set (but is very thin
tab of plastic). Still the radio and mp3 player
lack any tone or EQ controls. A nice tuning knob
improves tuning. However it's very touchy, skips
a channel or too while rotating, has a muting-chuffing
trait on all bands and slight rotational play.
But it's not wobbly (at least when new). Unlike
the DE1123 the cabinet is
painted to give that "rubber" feeling
that so many Chinese radio have these days. The
MP3 player capacity is now at 2 GB which is
double over the 1123, but alas we still are
lacking a shuffle function. The user can now
select a mp3 file using the tuning knob which is
a huge plus.
A bit of good news is the DE1125
can record "off air" without having to
turn up the volume full blast as with the DE1123.
As long as it's electronic volume control is set
at 1 or above, the record level stays the same.
However, with the tested sample when we plugged
in earbuds or headphones on MW or SW, the nasty
oscillation went on the recording too !! Another
downer is that the recorded file is using the
same lousy "32 kbps 8 kHz" WAV
format (just like with the DE1123 / KA1123)
? Also it's still lacking is any automation for
timer RADIO RECORDING. Now being sold on e-bay
for around $ 80 ~ 85. USD shipped (direct from
China via postal mail).
I love the idea of having a good performing
pocket radio with a "off air" built in
flash recorder. But if your want decent SW
reception, I have to say you are better off to
stay well away from the Degen DE1125
(and perhaps it's variants that may happen down
the road) ?? I will admit that this could
have just been a sour sample I used, but maybe
not for all bugs as listed above (including
lesser audio quality) ? In my view for Degen it
just keeps getting worse as time goes on
including quality control (if there is any at all)
!! The thrill of the old DE1101
is long gone. As many already know, Degen made
the G3 for eton-Grundig. Sorry
for sour report here, but that's the way it is to
me !!
Kaito in the USA is already selling a variant of
this Degen model known as the KA800 for $ 80. USD (plus
shipping). There is no SW coverage. The SW button
on the DE1125 is the US WX (weather)
band with the KA800. Perhaps
there are a few other differences too (orange LED
backlight instead of Green for one) ? With the SW
performing and sounding so poorly on the DE1125,
this KA800 version (not tested)
may not be a bad thing ? (Updated : Oct 10)
Grundig G3's "Sync
Detection" a dud. The "Grundig-eton-Degen"
track record has not been too "great of late"
. A number of owners around the internet are
saying the "sync detection" is not good
on the new Degen made Grundig G3.
Appears it only holds lock on the STRONGEST of
signals , if it's anything weak....forget
it ? Another gremlin that owners have been
grumbling about is the poor SSB performance (as
compared to the older G5/E5
model). Grundig G3 / eton E5 review and
comparison here. (Updated : Oct 02)
UPDATE : Icom
America has requested that I do not talk about
this IC-R75 topic at
all for now, so treat the following
news below as a observation only that I
discovered on the PUBLIC FCC OET
web site. Perhaps there are additional "internal"
changes that have been done with the IC-R75 as
well ?? More on this saga at a later date, that
is IF I unearth additional "public"
(or "hands on" testing) information. We
may never learn the REAL story on this one I'm
afraid ?? Who knows ??
"Switching" AC Adapter to be included
with future production of the Icom IC-R75
receiver (for USA samples) ?? I see Icom obtained
another update to the FCC OET (type
acceptance) on July 28, 2009 for the IC-R75
receiver. Click here to view the public
FCC OET page.
As I compare the 2009 updated owners manual
(as seen on this FCC link) to the older manuals,
on the "supplied accessories" page it
shows a different AC Adapter and added switching
regulator information on the bottom of that page.
If you look close in the FCC test set up photo's (CLICK HERE) , you can see this new switching AC
adapter in use !
Not sure if this means that Icom is finally
addressing the excessive high voltage issue with
the OLD AD-55 "unregulated"
linear ac adapters with this new regulated
switching type for all new samples, (I discovered this over-voltage
issue years ago, click here for details) OR is it just that Icom's supplier just
ran out of parts for the old AD-55's and have now
switched to a lower cost switching supply (sic)
?? They may fix one problem and perhaps create
another one at the same time (good old switching
power supply noise). But this is "very
good" news as Icom must be planning to
continue production of the IC-R75
for the foreseeable future.
With at least the "High Fidelity Audio Filter
Upgrade" done by Kiwa Electronics, it can sound 1/2 way decent too with
the right external speaker. But it's no AOR
AR7030 either even after both of the
audio mods, but AM mode audio is much improved (in
wider bandwidths). (Updated : Aug 08)
I see Universal Radio has the G4000 (A) (YB400) listed again as a active product. As I
type this, Universal Radio is including some extra goodies with it
for just under $ 100. USD. "The Grundig
G4000A is back by popular demand!".
They must have found some old "new"
samples in a deep Chinese cave ?? But
the way eton/Grundig brings back
old models from the dead, it could be around for
awhile (or not.....who knows) ??
The new Grundig G8 , M400 , and eton FR600 models are all out now. (Updated : Jul
21)
Updated the WJ-8711 - HF1000 DSP HF Receiver page. Changed the "software/firmware"
EPROM information near the top of the page. Also
added the "LED Backlight" failure issue
on the AOR AR7030 Receiver page (on the bottom of
this page). (Updated : Jul 09)
Nick Carrigan
checks in with information of a German made DSP
receiver marked as the RDR54 from Burkhard - Reuter
Elektronik
. 1 kHz - 30 MHz plus 50 -
54 MHz coverage. Sorry, I
have no additional info on this (see the link for
more information and pictures, in German only). Google translation here (main
page) (Updated : Jun 19)
NEW Palstar LA30 Antenna page. A indoor desktop "Ferrite
Loopstick" antenna review. NOTE : This is a
light test of a prototype and NOT a production
sample of the LA30. (Jun 12)
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