*New* World Contest QSL
January 23, 2010 by Darren
Fantastic new World Contest QSL cards are now available to Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) members. Designed and printed by 16DA101 Max at ON5UR Maxi Print, these high quality full-colour front and back cards are not just an excellent addition to the standard QSL package for any serious contester, but they are also perfect for confirming contacts made in the Club’s annual World Contest event. (See http://www.delta-alfa.com/da-rc-contests/da-rc-contests/ )
World Contest QSL cards (See below) are available at cost price only and can be purchased via your local World HQ Team Member.
*New* Kenwood HF Rig Unveiled
December 21, 2009 by Darren
At the Tokyo Ham Fair in August earlier this year, KENWOOD dropped a bombshell when it unveiled a new compact HF + 6m transceiver which they say will be available for cashed up hams in 2010.
For KENWOOD fans who’ve settled for obsolete technology for almost a decade while companies such as ICOM and Yaesu have put smiles on the faces of their radio hobby mates with a range of jaw-dropping new rigs, this is fantastic news!
My best info about KENWOOD’s HF radio plans is that next year (probably at Dayton 2010) they’ll unleash a new mid-priced radio (about 2000€) to replace the TS-570 series. “Let’s just hope it’s got a bit of the TS-950 in it though to jazz up the flat bits!” I hear someone shouting from the shack.
After that, I’ve also heard that they’ll start designing a new flag-ship, high-end HF + 6m radio (about 4000/5000€) to rival the Yaesu rigs which could hit the shelves as early as 2011. For KENWOOD fans, in my opinion, this should be the one worth hanging out for! Providing you’ve got a spare $15—$20,000AUS that is or are prepared to divorce the YL.
By all reports, the new HF + 6 m transceiver by KENWOOD incorporates the latest advancements in HF radio design, developed, like I said before, from the previous TS-570D (G) models.
The latest goss indicates these strengths:
A mid-class transceiver with new operator-engineered features- New menu to user feature
- New IF DSP with selection of Hi/Low cut DSP slope tune and VBT (Variable Band Tuning) that alters passband width, for rejection of nearby signals
- A front panel with a new design with new style for the knobs and buttons
Why Wait for 010/11?
These days, there are only 3 radios to choose from if you’re a KENWOOD buff — the TS-480, TS-2000 and/or TS-480HX. And that must be bloody frustrating given the stuff on the market from other companies!
KENWOOD’s TS-2000, while a terrific radio, has been out on the radio comms market for some time now and is slipping in technology. Also, the 480 rigs are outstanding portable rigs but as a base they come up shorter than a white man playing NBL.
So why wait for something that hasn’t even been named yet? A short answer to that is that you’ve waited for 10 years so another 6—12 months isn’t going to kill you is it?!?!?!?!
In conclusion, I’m glad to see that KENWOOD is staying in the HF field to challenge the market again as there were rumours they were backing out of amateur radio all together. And like them or not, a good HF KENWOOD rig on the market means a healthy hobby for all — just as a winning Man U team means a healthy European Soccer League.
It will be interesting to see what the final features, performance and price of this you-beaut new rig will be though, especially in light of ICOM’s announcement of the soon to be released IC-9100 which appears to be a competitor to the old TS-2000/X.
I guess we’ll have to just wait and see!
TTI TCB 1100 CB Radio *Product Review*
September 22, 2009 by Darren
This month’s article is a little divorced from the normal stuff as this featured radio needs to be mentioned and sometimes there is not enough space to put a review. So for a one off I will show you the new tti as it is not so bad and works really well indeed…
Also enclosed here will be a mention of two new radios that will be coming along soon — one from Cobra, the name from way back, and the other from our friends in France President and there “niece” marketed radio. So sit back for the mega CB inspired month of Comms from Europe…
Cobra DX19 IV EU
That’s the name of the new Chinese made Cobra that will be coming along in September. For me, it seems to be more Intek than Cobra but that is not confirmed of course and can be far off the mark. All the legal norms are on the inside and it seems the price will be set at around 70 euro here on the mainland of Europe.
President Johnny III ASC
Now President who had one of the radios available on the AM market have up-dated it and have just released the new revised version called the Johnny III. It is a total re-design and the photos are now here and can be seen. This is the first of a new range so I am informed so I guess there will be the new Harry III along afterwards and then maybe also the Grant II. This seems to have been withheld to “punish” the paying public who criticized the Jackson II which has its outputs blow in static situations when connected mostly to an Antron or IMAX antenna.
The President Johnny III ASC has all the usual ASC, roger-bleep and is multi-EU but this time for AM countries. The bands are DE German 1w, PL Poland 4w, and EU Europe with 4w also. As you will see, the radio is using a similar channel display to the JFK II and this seems the way that President is now heading.
So, next to the tti 1100
Now and then a manufacturer comes along and has a sort of rehash of a design that has been before and this could be said of the tti tcb 1100 as it looks remarkably like the Team Roadcom series that came along with a DIN mount so it can be fitted into the dashboard or indeed any small place where a normal radio would fit. With in mind I waited for DHL to deliver a radio for some tests here and to see what was the score indeed, how it was and if it was the same, better or indifferent.
In the Box
Inside the box as expected are the usual things that are needed to get the radio on the air and a DIN bracket for the car or truck where the normal radio would normally sit. There is also a bracket for the normal mounting inside the car. Electret Mike (NOTE, tti use a different way to wire mics so they are not compatible with other 6 pin mics) Multi Language manual, mic mount and a power lead that seems to me a little short but will get the job done.
The Radio Itself
Seems this is a good ole tti from the past made a little different in another case and with some bells and whistles added. There are the 38CTSS tones (Continuous Tone Squelch System) so you can share the same channel as someone else and not interrupt them as you have a different tone and so many can exist on the same channel. The display can manage orange, blue and green colour and from my experience I can say that the blue seems the best in the different lighting conditions.
Channel and also frequency are shown* (more to come) and the overall design is nice and not cluttered at all. Normal and ASC (Automatic Squelch) now called DSS are there so there are no noises when out in the car. Press the channel display button IN and it jumps 10 channels at a time — this is a nice edition also. A front mounted 4 watt speaker means that the audio from the radio is well driven and the tone remains fine even when the radio is turned up high.
The radio comes with a “compander” function which means basic layman terms the radio has stronger audio over distance. Memory channels and roger bleep are all there and the price is good also. I cannot make many complaints about the features V price with this radio. It seems for the price the options are excellent.
The rear of the radio has an external speaker socket, the same as an external s-meter socket and a white piece of metal that seems to be screwed on for no apparent reason and looks like a second thought? Can it be? More on this also a little later into the review…
On Air
My radio luckily landed while there was some sporadic e conditions on the air and the UK was easily contactable. Delboy from Delboy Enterprises, Ray Strike Force and others that I have known for many years were worked and all without any issues at all. The only comments were that the audio was a little muffled at times. This was due to me eating the mic, where you need to hold it a little further from the mouth. So my fault and lesson learned there J
What’s interesting is that in the UK configuration the radio does not switch to the CEPT band but there are bolted onto the end of the UK40, so in-fact you go from Channel 40UK and the next channel is 1 CEPT. Maybe a last minute idea as it seems to be something a little lost somewhere, but when used to it there is not any cause for concern.
The receive is excellent. There are not any birdie noises and no coughs and splutters from the processor like you sometimes get on other branded radios. All the time the radio performed well in my eyes.
There are lots of features to explore when you press the MENU button long time. These include the memory channels, settings for the VOX and CTSS. The annoying channel change bleep can be killed here also and a nice feature for the bright and dim display lighting is also under this feature too.
Reading the manual carefully is the key. It is not greatly explained there at all and seems to have issues with the translation but I would have missed some features if it was not for Markus @ Neuner who supplied the radio to me. Too much haste and not enough reading was the issue with me, so my advice is read the manual and then there will be no mistakes or missed items.
If I supposedly lived in Russia…
On the box you will see Russian writing. Sure, this radio there will have a HUGE market there and this market was obviously thought of when the radio was in the planning and production stages.
So, what is there when you really take a look inside? The modifications listed here are mine, which I took my time to find and are credited to me on some websites.
The radio on International sites comes as a 4w and also a 10w radio — two versions. Well, of course they are indeed one of the same and that is why there is a plate on the back of the radio to help with the heat issue. Mine never once was that hot to be fair and indeed does not and cannot make 10w. My rig was tested and came out at between 5w and 9w on various legal bands where the radio was tested.
Extra Channels… I’m always am getting mails in the box about this subject. I will once and for all (again) put the record straight here… The radios’ warranties are ruined when I look for the modifications, and indeed I will and do make all the modifications that I find and test the radios in both guises. And when completed, the radios are returned to their normal status and are not left otherwise most of the time.
So yes there are hidden bands on the radio and when these function they are the following: rc, ru, PX, PC and these are covering frequencies of between 25615-30105, 25610-30110 and some are just the A (Alpha) channels from between 25-29 MHz. These hidden bands are mentioned here for the international readers that can perform these modifications and not for those where they are illegal to have. Remember, for me too the modifications are not legal, nor is it for me to call on the 27/81 in the summer to hear friends in the UK but its something we have all done or tried in the past.
Conclusions
I am not sure how this review will come out, if it will be edited and how some of the words I use here will be interpreted. So I will now make as best a detail on how and what I think of the radio.
I tried when this review was written to see the radio in the UK and could not find it anywhere. Here the cost is between 109-129 euro (94-111 pounds) so that’s a guideline to go by when looking to purchase one for yourself. Mine was 109 euro with the delivery for example.
It is an excellent unit for the price and has many features that are excellent and indeed well implemented. That is a great start definitely. You can change the display colour, turn off the dreaded channel bleep and can indeed have a nice experience with the radio. I would like to see the radio as a normal radio and without the DIN mounting etc; it would be nice to see without a doubt.
73 de Simon 13DA007*Product Review* Opek CX-3
September 7, 2009 by Darren
My recent purchase of an Opek CX-3 coaxial antenna switch was done out of necessity after my previous switch developed shorts and became unworkable. Not surprising really since it was an old cheapy meant for the citizens band but it had served me well over the past 10 years so I was at least grateful for that.
Manufactured by OPEK Technologies in Taiwan, the CX-3 Opek antenna switch was suggested to me by VK4AJJ Paul Richards who sells them on his website at www.radios.net.au . Taking the store owner’s recommendation on a product which he ‘just so happens to sell’ is not something I would normally do but since Paul had never let me down in the past, I decided to ‘add one’ to the main order I had made for a new rig for a lazy $75.00.
Like its low budget predecessor which had since found its way to the rubbish bin, the Opek CX-3 has a rotary selecting switch with one common input (i.e. the RG213 patch cable) and three selectable outputs. Incidentally, these are SO-239 UHF jacks which also fit the PL-259 plugs. Just like you would want, the switch on this model is firm and makes a sturdy click when rotated between OUT1, OUT2 and OUT3. Moreover there’s no fear of a ‘slip in the thread’, which is common place with some antenna switches, but no need for pliers either to make a change between antennas!
On the subject of antennas, my CX-3 Opek coaxial antenna switch allows me to interchange easily between a 6 element TET-Emtron yagi for 10m, a HV2 Butternut vertical for 40 and 80m and a homemade dipole for 20m. In all cases, the low SWR and signal are unaffected which rings true with the product disclosure of a V.S.W.R. less than 1.2:1. Of course, my transmit power is well and truly beneath the switch’s 1 KW (CW) power rating also but I am confident it would handle the load and maintain its commitment to low S.W.R.
At 90mm (W) X 55mm (H) X 73mm (D), the housing of the CX-3 Opek coaxial antenna switch is compact metal for good shielding with a mounting plate made of ordinary steel spray painted black with a silver sticker on the front for the positions of the output, the company’s logo, the switch’s maximum power handling and its place of manufacture. It is ultra solid too — which is more than I can say for the dearly departed type which had numerous parts held together with bluetack in its final days.
In conclusion, the Opek CX-3 coaxial antenna switch is an accessory which I should have purchased long ago. It does the job very well, is easy to use and even looks good when conveniently mounted to the radio shack wall behind the Yaesu FT-950.
So if you’re in need of a switch upgrade like I was, or even just in need of a switch to bring convenience and ease to your alternation of antennas, then this product comes highly recommended.
*Product Review* IC-7000 Transceiver
August 1, 2009 by Darren
My purchase of a new IC-7000 transceiver a few months ago was made with a view to modernizing my portable station in time for some of the DA-RC contests later in the year. Ultimately, poor propagation on 11m in the Pacific area over the southern hemisphere winter has meant that everything will need to be working at optimum level on the rare occasions when band openings do occur as we meander into Cycle 24!
In addition to ‘sexing up’ my portable station in order to cash in on DX opportunities in the upcoming summer, another reason why I splashed out on the IC-7000 transceiver is because similar rigs with a cheaper price tag required optional ‘extras’ that would no doubt see their lesser price skyrocket.
Although I bought this one especially for portable use, I decided to set it up in the shack alongside a borrowed Icom 706MKIIG before I installed it in the car. In point of fact, the IC-706 shares some likeness with the IC-7000 as far as navigating around the controls and menus go. It’s roughly the same size also and has a similar layout, though the buttons are slightly larger to aid channel flicking in the mobile which is handy while you’ve got two eyes on the road. These similarities, as well as my familiarity with the IC-706, helped BIG time when it came to exploring some of the other IC-7000 functions too!
Another reason I grabbed the IC-7000 transceiver ahead of those like the TS-480HX (which is also terrific for portable use) is because the IC-7000 is lighter at 2.3 Kg and has a smaller control head. It therefore fits into my car’s dashboard better and so will be easier to slip into the suitcase should I wish to take it on a dx adventure in the future.
Generally, from a user perspective, there isn’t much to be repulsed by with this new addition. The front panel layout seems to be well thought out and is ultra easy to use; the push buttons have a nice tactile feel; it has four concentric easy to access knobs — two of which have indents — and it has a face prettier than a high school cheerleader! The 2.5 inch colour LCD display is bright, clear, easy to read and shows tons of info. It displays power level, ALC and compression level of the speech compressor and SWR too which I found useful for tuning my antenna. It also comes with 3 attractive background colours and 2 font styles to give the rig an individual touch.
On this note, one of the more DXciting features in my eyes is the band scope which I was able to magnify using a 21 inch Dell ultra sharp external monitor from the rear video jack. The colours are tremendous and everything is super sharp, crystal clear and ultra big. The large screen makes the band scope very usable indeed.
While the internal speaker is not what I’d call too flash, the RX audio is first class if hooked up to a quality external speaker or listened to through my Sennheiser HD 280 Pro studio headphones. On this note, this radio really likes to have solid grounding as without it there was more noise than a room full of complaining YL’s. Out of the shack, proper vehicle bonding and RF grounding, in my experience, is a much underestimated aspect of mobile operations too so I’ll be sure to do a good job on this when the time comes.
Based on radio reports from local ops and a couple from DA members on small Pacific Islands, I also find the IC-7000 TX audio through its original hand held mic to be very good — despite what I’ve read about the original mic on some of the ham forums. Of course, if I was to continue using the rig as a base station though I’d give it an injection of Behringer EQ to make it punchier and give it more of a boom! But then again, I do that will all of my rigs lol.
One criticism of the IC-7000 transceiver from where I sit is that the back of the radio does get toasty after long transmissions. In fact, if you listen for long periods as I often do, you could cook an egg on there as the fan only runs when you key the mic. Having said that, the rig still doesn’t miss a beat and the warmth is pretty handy when the mercury drops below 10 in the shack. There’s a temperature gauge on the rig too and I’d guess it would cut the fan in if it got hot enough…?!?!?!?!
One of my fave features is the digital voice recorder (DVR) which enabled me to record my CQ call in 4 transmit playback memories with alphanumeric labels. This will be especially handy come the DA-RC World Contest later in the year or the Oceania Contest in early January when the throat tends to get a bit sore from continuous CQ calls. A front panel REC control also allowed me to record incoming signals for up to 25 minutes and a couple of these were added to the DA-RC site!
The IC-7000 has lots of bells and whistles in my opinion, but the main one that helped separate me from my cash a few months back was the IF-stage digital signal processing: clearly much improved over the already excellent IC-706 MkIIG. For my part the receiver is awesome and is light years ahead of something like the IC-706MKIIG. The filtering is first class and the notch filters both manual/automatic are an impressive feature. Furthermore, the noise blanker really works, as does the DSP noise reduction too. I love having the ability to adjust the filters as well!
In conclusion, this transceiver has mobile-operation written all over it and is one of the sexiest little rigs I’ve ever met. What’s more, its performance when given a thorough testing in the shack was something to tell the friends about! No doubt it will also kick ass in the field!
Chameleon V1 Tripod Kit
July 6, 2009 by Darren
Although not designed primarily for use on 27 MHZ frequencies, the 8 feet tall Chameleon V1 HF multiband antenna, with its unique trap coil design and super flexibility, is indeed operational on 10m and a host of other bands too, although its performance is somewhat untested on 11m.
The subject of this product discussion is NOT the Chameleon V1 HF multiband antenna which I have enjoyed limited time with however, more so one of its accessories — the DXpedition Compact Tripod Kit — which I purchased on eBay at a pay now price of US $130, along with the antenna itself.
For those who don’t know, a tripod is a three-legged stand for supporting an antenna apparatus (or a camera). Obviously, the reason why I was attracted to this product (ie. the Tripod Kit) was because I saw its potential for use in the field for DX work where the limitations of space for large antenna arrays was a concern. I also wanted to investigate the design features of the Chameleon V1 HF multiband antenna tripod with a view to creating some design variations to accommodate a half wave vertical antenna such as the IMAX 2000 minus its radials or a Solarcon A99 for use on the Freeband in the future.
My Chameleon V1 HF multiband antenna tripod kit came in the original black nylon bag with the other antenna equipment: 3/8-24 Mount Bar, C Clamp 2″, 25 Feet of 20Ga Counterpoise with 3/8″ Ring Tongues, Steel Tent Stake 8″ and the Chameleon V1 Balun 9:1 for work on other bands, tucked inside.
The first thing I found with the tripod kit was that it is lightweight, weighing in at around 1.6 pounds. Obviously this is important if you are lugging the kit great distances or to rugged DXstinations such as mountain summits for SOTA activities with a heap of other radio communications gear in tow.
Once out of the bag, the tripod and antenna were assembled in about 15—20 minutes. Here, accompanying images and directions I had downloaded from the internet came in very handy. As the pictures suggest, the tripod has a liftable centre column, three aluminium legs with three interlockable positions and quick lever leg locks and non slippery rubber feet. Assembly of the antenna also was a breeze and both products appear to be very well made and robust.
On this note, I also tried fitting the tripod kit in my Expedition Pack MKII should/when I decide to try it out in the field. The folded length of 12.25 inches and upper leg diameter of 8.25 inches ensured it fit without a problem. For a portable purpose, I intend to transport the antenna, though, in two pieces into a PVC pipe. The pipe can then be used as a walking stick of sorts through rugged terrain.
In summing up, the Chameleon V1 HF multiband antenna tripod kit is the perfect accessory for field work and could easily be adapted for other vertical antennas using the B.A.R. design principle (ie. Bigger, Add, Remove or Replace). This product also reaffirmed my belief that three legged tripod systems to sustain lengths of telescopic mast are a realistic alternative for vertical or horizontal antenna erection on portable or DXpedition adventure because they are safe and sturdy and do not require excessive guying.
For more information on this product, please visit the website at http://www.chameleonantenna.com/
73 de Darren 43DA001*Product Review* Heil PR40 Studio Microphone
May 18, 2009 by Darren
The Heil PR40 Dynamic Microphone is one of 5 models in the fantastic PR series by audio giants Heil Sound… along with the PR20, PR30, PR780 and new PR781 which was built to complement the new ICOM rig. If you ask me, all are ‘dynamic’ microphones not just in make -but also in quality and performance!
Judging by pics I’ve seen on 43DA101 Steve’s website ‘Shack Pix’, the PR40 is similar in appearance to the PR30 and, prior to the release of the PR781, represented the top of the line in this range of mics. In essence, this is one of the reasons why I elected to purchase one direct from Heil Sound in the States in the first place. I also wanted to compare the audio of my Behringer B1 condenser mic with a high quality dynamic one and so quash a bit of the lingering uncertainty I had around the issue of which is best suited to radio communications applications.
After purchasing the unit online, the package arrived on my doorstep in just under 2 weeks. On this note, in all the reviews I’ve read of Heil products over the years, I can never recall any complaints or problems with postage from this company. That’s a fair effort in itself and I wasn’t disappointed this time either.
The first thing I noticed when I sliced open the thick cardboard box with a stanley knife and pulled back the bubble wrap was the sleek aluminium carry case (See pictured). Not only did it appeal visually, but it also had me feeling confident the unit had not suffered any internal injuries on its voyage across the Pacific to Division 43. In addition to an amazing carry case which seems a crime to keep locked away in a cupboard, the mic also came with the useful SM-3 mic clip, which includes a Teflon bushing that tightens around the shaft of the mic using a thumbscrew.
Since purchasing the mic for $350 US about a month ago, I’ve been using it with a Behringer Ultragraph Digital Model DEQ1024 and a Behringer Tube Composer T1952, together with an iBox by W2IHY into a Kenwood TS-2000. The Behringer B1 mic which usually adorns the top of my Hercules mic stand has been put in the bottom drawer. Obviously, the dynamic quality of this mic negates the need for an invisible mic preamp/external power source also so the Behringer Eurorack UB1002FX is with it…gathering dust for the time being.
By all reports, the PR 40’s components are made in the UK, Malaysia, Japan, China and Taiwan, and then shipped to the U.S. for final assembly and testing. While on the subject of components, the humbucking copper voice coil which is a highlight of this mic has a centre tap (connected to ground) and uses a neodymium magnet structure for a magnetic field which is apparently 10 times stronger than the traditional magnets in many other mics. Humbucking allows this mic to work perfectly around computer monitors and high-RF (radio frequency) energy fields that are common in radio shacks.
My Findings
I believe that good TX audio helps a great deal in inferior band conditions. For deciphering a signal out of the noise, there’s no doubt that some compression intermixed with high frequency pre-emphasis helps, but before you get to that point, where the signal is merely weak, good TX audio tends to beat the compressed, very restricted range TX audio for ineligibility any day of the week, and so achieves the desired result.
First, I ran the PR40 plugged directly into the TS-2000 with TX DSP HI BOOST, mic gain 80 and 3KHZ band width settings. Here, I noted heavy bass with little top end but tidied it up with some more compression via my rig’s menu features. The end result was a great sounding hi-fi audio with a beautiful low end and comfy mids, ideal for local radio communications, but probably not as brilliant for SSB DXing in the current climate.
What I also noted during this test was that, even with its extended low range, the PR40 has a noticeable lack of boominess. This is a good thing. I’ve read that this is due to the reduction of the proximity effect, despite the PR40’s having a supercardioid pattern, which normally generates an artificial-sounding low-frequency boost when a mic is placed too close to a sound source (ie. your mouth).
Next, I linked the PR40 with my audio rack and straightaway I was surprised with how painless the mic was to equalize. In fact, it only took me a few minutes before I had brought up the top end and had everything sounding superbly for SSB DXing thanks to the TS-2000’s monitor feature and some friendly audio reports from some of the Delta Alfa members on the Kiribati Islands.
For the information of readers, the PR40 uses the DM 6 dynamic element with a 1.25-inch diaphragm, in a housing that weighs just under a pound, for a response down to 28 Hz (-3dB point) and flat up through 18 kHz (-3 dB). This means it is a wider range than your average dynamic mics. Fortunately, an end-fire, low-mass, quilted aluminum diaphragm gives the PR40 excellent low-frequency response and low distortion throughout this wide frequency range also.
There is also a broad 3dB peak in the 4 to 5kHz region which accounts for this mic’s forward but not nasal sound and, being quite a nasally speaker myself, this feature impressed me greatly. Yes it maintains the 25 year Heil Sound tradition of superbly natural voice articulation but I still liken it to a subtle ‘makeover’ of the voice box!
In my opinion, the PR40 has the gain of most condenser mics also. It also has a beautiful low end while maintaining a crisp and clear 3kz range, with a beautiful mid range rise which adds to the mic’s vocal expression. On this point, in my opinion, it also surpasses many of the condenser models that have recently flooded the ham market from China and Taiwan from some of the renowned radio communications manufacturers Yaesu and ICOM.
In conclusion, my lasting impression of the PR40 by Heil Sound is that it sounds a lot like my favourite large-diaphragm dynamic mics but with an unrivalled presence and clarity that only a Heil mic can provide.
With its rugged build, wide frequency response, and reasonable price, the Heil PR40 Dynamic Microphone is a perfect alternative for anyone looking to expand their dynamic mic collection. Stunning craftsmanship, high quality components and a fine-looking champagne lustre finish with the most articulate, natural sound from a dynamic, the PR40 will soon become the sound industry standard. In fact, I feel certain this microphone will find its way into many radio shacks in the future if it hasn’t already.
Specs
- Generating Element: Dynamic with Neodymium magnet structure
- Body: matte Steel body, zinc die cast bottom ring
- Frequency Response: 28 to 18,000 Hz
- Impedance: 600 ohms balanced
- Connections: Pin 1 Shield ground, Pin 2 + , Pin 3 -
- Output Level: -53dB @ 1,000 Hz
- Polar Pattern: End fire, Cardioid, uniform front to back discrimination
- Diaphragm: low-mass quilted aluminum
- Finish: Anodized champagne matte
- Net Weight: 15 oz
- Built to Last
Sounds Sweet Speaker *Product Review*
May 3, 2009 by Darren
Those who know me well will know that one of my fascinations with radio communications is with speakers, headphones and other DX-cessories which claim to facilitate good RX. Perhaps it’s just that I’ve been to too many heavy metal rock concerts in my time and have given the ear drums a bit of a hammering, but nowadays anything that claims to provide clean, crisp, hiss free audio not only grabs my attention ‘like a topless sunbaker would on an IOTA DXpedition’ but also my hard earned cash!
In the past, I’ve reviewed products such as the fantastic Nes 10 and noise eliminating speakers by Bhi and offered some positive comments on their performance too, but about a month ago I picked up a second hand speaker on eHAM which is marketed under the quirky name: ‘Sounds Sweet Speaker’. I agree the name sounds a bit cheap and nasty but I’d read some favourable reviews on this unit in my net travels and hence been on the look out for one on any of the common sites which flog off pre-loved radio gear ever since.
Described as the “Ultimate SSB Speaker” by some radio ops, the Sounds Sweet Speaker is a dense, solid, tongue and groove construction, with a tuned port and bass reflex speakers said to have been for optimised for radio communications. In the search for clearer and more intelligible sound than the speakers built in to radios can provide, many DXers have tried basic MP3 headphones, hi-fi or computer speakers. These options are always a compromise though because their tweeters are designed for higher frequencies than are present in the voice audio energy coming from your radio so it’s always a case of “keep looking”.
Rather than hook up the speaker to my main rig (TS2000) to see if the hype surrounding this unit was true, I rigged it up with an old Pearce Simpson Super Bengal MK2 base CB – which had been a bit susceptible to electrical interference in the past – by connecting the unit directly to the transceiver’s external speaker jack. Simple!
The results were immediately apparent with the Bengal test, with increased RX intelligibility which reproduced only the communications voice coming from SSB. In fact, they appeared to have the useful and satisfying bass information missing from some of the smaller communications and built-in radio speakers I have used in the past, but without the hiss and mud produced by speakers designed for stereo use. With skip pouring in from all 43 Division states and territories, fatiguing transistor thermal noise and vacuum tube hiss was eliminated and interestingly this was done without unnecessary equalizers and active stages.
Assembled and finished in 2 Division and weighing in at just under 6 kg, Sounds Sweet Speakers are obviously intended for base station use with their 12″ high x 10″ wide x 10″ deep footprint and are quite a meaty construction compared to some other DSP style prototypes I have in the shack as well. This, together with the tuned port and specialised dual cone acoustic suspension driver, produce bass response to the lower end of human voice and no lower.
In conclusion, this Sounds Sweet speaker provided clearer, more natural sounding, and fatigue free audio than many other types of speakers I have used. After testing the unit for a period of approximately 6 hours, it’s safe to say that they let you dig out the weak signals and really enjoy the strong ones with an added bass quality that adds tremendous enjoyment to good openings!
If you would like to purchase one of these hot speakers for the shack, the odd one pops up on eBay every now and then. Or you can also buy one new at around $119US by clicking on the appropriate links at http://www.soundssweet.com/
Any comments on this speaker by existing owners are most welcome.
73 de Darren 43DA010Heil Sound ‘The Fin’
April 25, 2009 by Darren
I’ve reviewed a number of Heil Sound products in the past such as the Quiet Phones and the Heritage mic, with all products getting the unequivocal tick of approval! This next Heil product titled The Fin is no different and is sure to capture your imagination, just as it did mine when I was first introduced to it by a mate of mine (Sam the Ham) who likes to incorporate a little bit of ‘funk’ into his shack by way of some pretty groovy radio gear.
The Fin is a high quality, live sound, commercial broadcast desk microphone suited for the professional Freeband or Ham shack suite and draws on the technological developments designed into the PR20 dynamic microphone used by many eleven metre band enthusiasts.
Like the Heil PR20, The Fin uses a proprietary magnate structure with a large 1 1/8″ aluminum low mass voice coil assembly. With a frequency response of 60 to 18 kHz, output level at -55 dB @1000 Hz and its concise cardioid pickup pattern, The Fin is perfect for a wide variety of applications, including studio audio functions which appear to be the new ‘in-thing’ in Freeband communications.
Intriguingly, the Fin is outfitted with four blue L.E.D lamps mounted inside the art deco show chrome body of the microphone that can be activated from the phantom power supply of a mixer. We used the Xenyx 802 by Behringer which forms part of Sam’s audio rack. According to him, L.E.D lamps give the mic a ‘Star Wars’ type quality during periods of shack darkness more likely seen in an Empire Space Station than in the precinct of a Freeband radio buff!
A blue moulded internal foam windscreen inside the grill enhances the looks and combines with a specially tooled Sorbothane shock mount, which combines shock absorption, vibration isolation and vibration damping characteristics to protect the mic element. If the Sci-fi type L.E.D. lamps don’t appeal, a switch on the underside of the mic turns the lamps off (or on!).
Sam and I tested The Fin by transmitting into a dummy load and listening through the same TX bandwidth in a nearby receiver with my Sennheiser HD280 Headphones. To achieve maximum audio quality, we adjusted the DSP settings of Sam’s Yaesu FT 1000 transmitter to the following…
- Menu #4-4 (TREDSP) 3
- Menu #5-9 (TFIL) 6.0
- Menu #7-7 (SSBT) 100-3100
- Menu #8-9 (TLSB) -200
- (PROCLSB) .08 + .06
- (TUSB) -200
- (PROCUSB) .08 – .06
- 4 dB processing
Overall, we found the pattern control of the microphone to be outstanding. This reduced the proximity effect and delivered unbelievable rear rejection which removed unwanted sounds seeking entry via the off axis rear. Speech articulation was excellent also. According to the spec sheet, this exceptional performance is achieved by using the ideal combination of materials for the large low mass diaphragm and a special mixture of neodymium, iron, and boron that gives The Fin the strongest magnet structure available.
Special attention appears to have been paid to the phasing plug assembly also with equally placed ports that sense audio from behind, entering them out of phase.
Additionally, the standard microphone stand threads allow The Fin to be mounted on booms or floor stands. Note: Heil also sells a pretty impressive mic boom. An aluminum case and polishing cloth was also supplied with the mic which retailed at $196 US + postage.
In conclusion, we found Heil’s new Fin microphone to be first class. Not only is it consistent in performance quality with the company’s other studio mics and extremely well made, but it also adds a unique, visual element to the hobby.
More information on this product and others is available on the Heil site itself at http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/.
73 de Darren 43DA010Midland Alan 121
April 25, 2009 by Darren
“Beep, Beep, Beep!” That was the first sound I heard when the new Midland Alan 121 landed on the table of my radio shack. I’d just collected it from my friend Marcus at Neuner and returned home – dying to see if this new transceiver was going to be something the masses would desire – or perhaps share as many flaws as the recently reviewed Kenji rig.
This was already a Mark II version of the Midland Alan 121 rig as the first ones released here had a long pause between the microphone key in and the meter moving to signify transmit. This was changed and so 19.4.2007 (last year) was the day the new ones hit the shelves of the shops.
In the Box
Of course, all the normal things are there… A multi-language manual that shows where and when the bands can be used; there is a mounting bracket, a hand held mic with up/down on the top and the usual bracket, a fitted power lead, and a small guide on how and where to fit the radio.
The radio in itself is not hard to use, just a simple volume and squelch knob and on the lower right hand side there is a push button up/down with AM/FM, as well as a last channel recall (LCR) button. That’s it!
On the back of the Midland Alan 121 is the socket for the antenna and external S-meter. The enclosed S-meter is digital and goes along the top from left to right on the display and it seems sometimes to be a little on the lazy side. What always interests me is where the frequency coverage is showed and this one shows 25-30 MHz on a radio that has 80 channels in fact. Nice touch, that!
Ease of use
Like some of the other radios that are around at the moment, the Midland Alan 121 is a simple, no frills radio. It has nothing extra that can clutter the smallness of the radio but still allows the user some no frills action on the air. As a multi-EU norm radio it covers all the usual suspects of bands: D, D2, D3, I, I2, PL with the UK/CEPT also selectable. Selection is made when you turn on the radio with the up/down pressed. When this stops flashing, you select the band you like and either wait around 4 seconds or key the PTT and the band is selected and ready to use.
Along with these bands, there are the usual ‘hidden’ features that include PX, RU, SW and AU that allow the radio to make some other legal standards in the 30 MHz band and other places.
A couple of other interesting things to note with the Midland Alan 121… There is a way to internally select frequency instead of a channel display. So, instead of 19 you see 27.78125 on the display. For some of the export features then, this is a useful feature. But, unless you want to open the radio and lose the warranty immediately, then this is not for you.
Like the President Walker transceiver, someone in a suit and tie that does not use the radio decided to design them and sell them fitted with an annoying bleep that sounds with each feature that you select. It’s loud, shrills and is not at all something that you would like to have when you are sat at home in the evening while DX’ing.
I really don’t see why manufacturers do this and then tell you “this is a great feature!” Surely, a great feature is when it is selectable, or indeed when there is something more useful instead. In my opinion, this is not a feature – it is a drawback. On this note, a good radio can so quickly become average when something that sounds like a 1980’s Space Invader sound is part of it.
On the Air
On the air the Midland Alan 121 is good. The modulation is superb, loud, sharp, and strong. This is what you need when either driving along or are sat at home and on the air. There is a small delay when TX is pressed, although this is a lot less than the earlier versions when it was over 1 second at the minimum.
The Receive is sharp also. The speaker generates a loud amount of voice so it can be heard over the noises that generate from computers and the like these days. I used it for monitoring gateways on the channels and it performed wonderfully well. Sharing the same mic wiring as the President Emperor range of 6 pin, this also makes it nice and easy to change over a mic…should the need arise.
I tested on mine the Maas 2020 Turbo Echo microphone. This worked really well, but you need to turn the volume of the mic almost to minimum, otherwise it distorts the sound and will shake the ears of the people who are receiving you on the air. Having said that, there isn’t any need for different mics or other items to add, as this radio really delivers a strong audio on both FM and AM modes. (Please note that I am in a country where AM is allowed to be used).
Luckily, there were some strong sporadic conditions recently, so thanks, amongst others, to Mick ‘Greenfingers’, Kurt ‘Grease Monkey’, ‘Tiny Tim’ in Essex and Andrea in Bath for the help and the reports given.
Conclusion
The Midland Alan 121 is a radio that has a whole new lease of life. Its looks are not new or revolutionary; it is something like the DNT Formula 1, but on the inside there is a whole new board, software, and mounted components, and all are rOHs compliant. There is an excellent way to make new frequencies available and different colour back lights also.
Really, this is a radio that leaves other rigs like the Kenji and Intek M110 Plus sitting in the shadows because, inside, there is a big heart beating. Where the others were let down by build and design issues this Midland Alan 121 was not a Maxon manufactured radio, and made in China – not Thailand – and you know, it shows!
The Kenji rig had poor ends to the internal board, traces of solder here and there, and looked like it was soldered with an iron 30 cm wide. In contrast, the 121 is smart, clean and polished. As a normal user you do not look around inside – that is a reality – but for the review all angles are covered.
Hit or Miss
The radio build quality is excellent, ease of use and performance are excellent too with no complaints at all. Indeed, the radio will fit into the smallest of places or sit in the glove box of a car maybe. It has some nice options although some of these will not be all explored, and sure this radio has had something many recent radios have not had – and this is care in the making. The let down is the loud bleep on all the button presses so maybe ear plugs should be purchased at the same time.
by 13DA007 Simon
