bdenley_home

Kenwood R-5000 (1987-1996):

Prior to buying the R8A, this was the most sensitive receiver that I owned. Has all the tools needed for serious dx and utility work. By far Kenwood's best receiver, the radio only lacks a sync detector. I use my R-5000 under computer control with RxPlus and Fineware's Smart Kenwood Control 32. I also use the Kenwood SP-430 speaker.

Sony ICF-SW55 (1995-1998):

This is my travel radio. I was lucky to be able to find this beauty new after hearing that Sony had discontinued the SW55 due to high manufacturing costs. Very sensitive, about the size of half a sheet of note paper, this portable is heavy for it's size but, alas, has no sync detector. I have used this receiver all over the US and a couple of times in Europe. I use this radio with the Sony AN-LP1 active antenna and the damn thing really works! I still think the SW55 is the best looking portable that Sony has made.

Ten-Tec RX-320   (1998- ):

Probably the best value available in a modern, high performance short wave receiver. The '320 must be operated with a computer since it has no display of it's own. Ten-Tec's software is limited but third party programmers have produced some excellent control programs for this receiver.
One of the best is Noel Bouchard's RxPlus shown at left. Noel has combined a radio control program and a soundcard DSP program to provide a very powerful package with the ability to process sounds and decode RTTY, FAX, PSK31, SSTV, etc.

Other excellent RX-320 Control programs:
      Clifton Turner's KF5OJ RX-320
      Control Software Note: Clifton's site
      is down and this software is now
      provided courtesy of Tom Lackamp.

      DXtra's WorldStation

      Tom Lackamp's Scan320

Hammarlund HQ-150 (1956-1958):

This is my first 'boatanchor'. The HQ-150 is unique in that it features both a crystal filter and a true Q-multiplier, resulting in a very flexible IF filter system. If fact, I have found that the Q-multiplier works better than any other SSB filter I have used for pulling a difficult transmission out of background QRM. The radio is single conversion and has a single ended 6V6 audio output. The sound seems different than modern receivers: rich and deep with good tonal quality.

Collins R-388/URR (1951-1962):

This is the military version of the Collins 51J-3 communication receiver. This radio has dial accuracy to about +/- 300 Hz across the HF spectrum: remarkable in the pre-digital era. Featuring thirty 1 MHz bands, starting at .5 MHz., the R-388 has linear tuning over the entire frequency span. This is accomplished using a complicated mechanical system of gears and cams and it works!! The 388 has a standard crystal filtering system and NOT the famous Collins mechanical filters featured on the R-388A (51J-4) receiver.

Uniden BC895XLT:

This sensitive scanner is computer controllable and I use it with an application called WinScan. The radio does not have alpha tags but Winscan does, allowing names or descriptions to be assigned to any channel. I live near a large metropolitan city (Boston MA) so there is always some interesting police, fire and aircraft action to listen to.

Hallicrafters SX-28 (1941-1945):

I have wanted to buy one of these for years. For me, it is the very essence of the big tube communications receivers of days gone by. As aquired, my SX-28 was in fairly good shape and played well on all bands. It didn't have the aluminum side trim pieces but I was able to find a pair for sale on Ebay. I have spent some time removing mods and generally restoring the receiver to it's original configuration but it's a difficult receiver to work on due to component crowding. The audio amplifier is a push-pull type and when played the matching PM-23 speaker (see photo), the sound is just wonderful. Listening to World War II era music from Radio New Zealand with this set is an experience. The radio has 15 tubes and weighs in at about 90 lbs.

I have included several pictures of the receiver showing details of the tuning and bandspread dials.

Drake R8A (1995-1997):

An excellent receiver, this 1997 model is a joy to use. Drake improved the computer control over the R8 and lowered the noise floor. The sync detector works well especially when used with the passband control. Also included is a notch filter, 2 noise blankers, 5 IF filters,
440 memories and multiple scanning modes. The
Drake VHF converter is installed. I use the receiver under computer control with RxPlus, Fineware's Smart R8 Control 32 and with DXtra's WorldStation 3.1 control program for the R8A/B.

Japan Radio Company NRD-535D (1991-1998):

Another top gun receiver with outstanding performance. I was lucky to find this one still new in the box. It's the 'D" model so it has the variable bandwidth feature, the ECSS board and the 1 KHz utility filter installed. Also aquired along with this receiver was the NVA-319 speaker which has three filter selections and the RTTY board which decodes RTTY in most standard modes and sends the data to your PC. On that subject, computer control is very full featured on this receiver, as it is on the R8A. I use the receiver under computer control with RxPlus, Fineware's Smart NRD Control 32 and with DXtra's WorldStation 3.1 control program for the 535D.

Ten-Tec RX-350 (2001-present):

A high end all-DSP receiver from a well known manufacturer of amateur radio gear, the RX-350 has a front panel graphical display and an optional tuning knob/keypad. This receiver has a full set of features you expect for $1200, including sync detector, auto-notch and DSP noise reduction. Still a work in progress, the firmware can be updated by a users computer through the flash rom in the receiver. While a computer is not needed to operate the RX-350, I use the receiver under computer control with RxPlus and DXtra's WorldStation 3.1 control program for the RX-350.