The Hierarchy of Radios?
Radios that have "bells and whistles" are typically thought of as the ones that come with a higher price. I still can't figure out what constitutes a "bell and whistle".
If you look at the IC-7800 and the FTdx-9000D they both have screen displays on them and they are big radios. The FTdx-9000D has more knobs than the IC-7800 and the knobs are outlined in chrome, a bit of a fancy tweak.
If you take the IC-756pro series (now discontinued) they had the display screen on them with a spectrum scope. They were also a platform for improving Icom's DSP technology - taking a fixed front end at 15kHz and doing all the filtering and processing with DSP in the final IF stage.
The Elecraft K3 is a high-performance and highly customizable conventional radio (as compared to a non-conventional SDR). It ranks the top spot on the Sherwood dynamic range chart. Yet, the price is still "average".
The Kenwood TS-2000 has no fancy display but has 2m/70cm all modes, satellite mode, IF DSP, Sky Command, and can cross-band repeat in addition to the full HF-6m capabilities most HF rigs these days do.
So what is a "bell and whistle? It is an intriguing question.
Typically, radios with high price tags are those thought to be the radios with bells and whistles. However, the TS-2000 is closer to the lower end of the spectrum of HF capable radios and it still has a LOT of unique features. The K3 isn't a high-end price tag rig yet made it's way to the top of Rob Sherwood's chart - passing up the IC-7800 and Ten Tec Orion II in 2kHz spacing dynamic range.
Does a bell and whistle make the radio perform better? Make the radio easier to use? Make the radio cooler to look at and watch? Do something that other radios don't? Cost more?
I don't think it can be clearly defined. It isn't like a Lexus vs. a Toyota or a Cadillac vs. a Chevrolet. Sure, the Lexus and Cadillac are "nicer", but they still, speaking strictly of cars, get you where you want to go comfortably like a Toyota or Chevrolet would.
However, if you have a radio with a basic receiver vs. a good receiver radio the good receiver is going to be able to hear stations that the basic receiver won't, no matter what you do to it. It's like the difference between a car and a pickup truck. You can't pull 10,000lbs with a car, regardless of whether it is a Lexus or a Toyota (not that Lexus makes pickup trucks, which they dont, it is just an analogy).
Bells and whistles, I think in the classic sense, don't add to the utility of an item at all - they just make something flashy and attention-getting. So where do roofing filters, DSP, and RF preselectors fit? They are items that aren't seen, they are "under the hood". However, they sure improve the function of the radio by allowing the receiver to operate in conditions that otherwise it would not be able to perform in.
If you look at the IC-7800 and the FTdx-9000D they both have screen displays on them and they are big radios. The FTdx-9000D has more knobs than the IC-7800 and the knobs are outlined in chrome, a bit of a fancy tweak.
If you take the IC-756pro series (now discontinued) they had the display screen on them with a spectrum scope. They were also a platform for improving Icom's DSP technology - taking a fixed front end at 15kHz and doing all the filtering and processing with DSP in the final IF stage.
The Elecraft K3 is a high-performance and highly customizable conventional radio (as compared to a non-conventional SDR). It ranks the top spot on the Sherwood dynamic range chart. Yet, the price is still "average".
The Kenwood TS-2000 has no fancy display but has 2m/70cm all modes, satellite mode, IF DSP, Sky Command, and can cross-band repeat in addition to the full HF-6m capabilities most HF rigs these days do.
So what is a "bell and whistle? It is an intriguing question.
Typically, radios with high price tags are those thought to be the radios with bells and whistles. However, the TS-2000 is closer to the lower end of the spectrum of HF capable radios and it still has a LOT of unique features. The K3 isn't a high-end price tag rig yet made it's way to the top of Rob Sherwood's chart - passing up the IC-7800 and Ten Tec Orion II in 2kHz spacing dynamic range.
Does a bell and whistle make the radio perform better? Make the radio easier to use? Make the radio cooler to look at and watch? Do something that other radios don't? Cost more?
I don't think it can be clearly defined. It isn't like a Lexus vs. a Toyota or a Cadillac vs. a Chevrolet. Sure, the Lexus and Cadillac are "nicer", but they still, speaking strictly of cars, get you where you want to go comfortably like a Toyota or Chevrolet would.
However, if you have a radio with a basic receiver vs. a good receiver radio the good receiver is going to be able to hear stations that the basic receiver won't, no matter what you do to it. It's like the difference between a car and a pickup truck. You can't pull 10,000lbs with a car, regardless of whether it is a Lexus or a Toyota (not that Lexus makes pickup trucks, which they dont, it is just an analogy).
Bells and whistles, I think in the classic sense, don't add to the utility of an item at all - they just make something flashy and attention-getting. So where do roofing filters, DSP, and RF preselectors fit? They are items that aren't seen, they are "under the hood". However, they sure improve the function of the radio by allowing the receiver to operate in conditions that otherwise it would not be able to perform in.
posted by Steve at
12:30 AM
1 Comments
