I did get a chance to run this unit through its paces today, and it works very well. I would say that the unit is worth the
300 dollars that it is selling for. The RF selectivity is high enough, that it would
eliminate intermod products, if you have a problem with those.
One
reviewer stated that this unit makes signals "appear out of the noise", but that would only be the case if a receiver with poor
sensitivity, or
desense problems from reciprocal mixing were being used.
I checked out the broadband preamp function of this unit on the HF bands,
and this function also works well. No problem with IM
products. Tuning is exceptionally smooth, because of the reduction drive
that Paul uses.
Looking inside of the unit, a good quality
2400pF tuning capacitor is used, along with a hi Q toroid. A second
tuning capacitor adjusts the coupling to the antenna. 090 gauge
chromated aluminum is used for the case. This is a relatively heavy unit,
weighing around 6lbs. This would have been a good size to
make his R30 receiver; just my opinion, I like bigger things.
In
conclusion, I think that anybody who purchased this unit would be
happy
with it. The Q is high enough, that one could use a beverage antenna.
When tuning this unit, the characteristic ringing of a single high
Q
circuit is evident. It sounds like the Kiwa loop, when you have some
regeneration switched in. If anybody has any questions, feel free
to
contact me.
(Pete KE9OA, via rec.radio.shortwave)