Re: [IRCA] HD mp3 recorders for recording DX

["Chris Black" <n1cp@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for all that. I found that the replacement for the Gmini is the 
Archos 104 and I also found a web site with a bunch of other alternatives. 
There was a really neat Marantz (I used to have an old analog tape Marantz 
that worked great) for $600 plus. It looks like there are a lot of options 
now for portable hard disk recording. Of course once you get in the $400 
neighborhood, you might as well be thinking about a laptop.

Later,
Chris

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "W. Curt Deegan" <WWWR@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America" 
<irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 7:01 PM
Subject: Re: [IRCA] HD mp3 recorders for recording DX


> I've had the Gmini for quite some time, it is likely no longer
> available in new production.  I've not looked into similar devices
> since I got it.  The device Bill mentioned in his original post
> appears to be similar and current.
>
> Curt
> -------
> W. Curt Deegan
> Boca Raton, (southeast) Florida
>
>
> At 11:27 AM 12/26/2006, you wrote:
>>Hi Curt,
>>
>>I went to the Archos site but couldn't find anything that looked like
>>Gmini-220. What should I be looking for?
>>
>>Chris
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "W. Curt Deegan" <WWWR@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>To: "Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America"
>><irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>Sent: Monday, December 25, 2006 2:25 PM
>>Subject: Re: [IRCA] HD mp3 recorders for recording DX
>>
>>
>> > Bill,
>> >
>> > I made the mistake of first buying an inexpensive RCA Digital Voice
>> > Recorder.  This sounded like what I wanted but instead had all the
>> > problems you mention and then some.  It had mic-in but this wouldn't
>> > work with line-out without considerable effort -- addition of an
>> > external level control to compensate for the differences worked only
>> > poorly.  The file format was proprietary and converting to MP3
>> > required a special program not provided by the vendor.   This never
>> > proved to be of any use for recording from a receiver, though it's
>> > probably fine for what it was intended, as a personal dictation device.
>> >
>> > Since that false start I have been using an Archos Gmini-220 20GB USB
>> > Hard Disk for some time.  There are now newer, bigger, and less
>> > expensive versions of this.  As a portable MP3 player in the image of
>> > an iPod, this may be overkill unless you have other uses for it.  It
>> > records direct to MP3 rather than WAV or other format and has line-in
>> > for connection to a receiver, these are the most important
>> > things.  It appears as a hard disk to Windows making manipulation of
>> > the files on it simple and accessible by any program.  There are
>> > provisions for using memory cards as well as the USB connection,
>> > providing a number of ways to integrate with a PC.  Control is via a
>> > small LCD screen and a group of three buttons and a four-way rocker
>> > switch.  This also allows entry of file names for recording, albeit
>> > through a rather cumbersome cursor controlled character keying
>> > function.  My only complaint is that because it is designed to be
>> > small and portable, the buttons are a bit difficult for my fat
>> > fingers to poke at, but that would be true of most portable devices
>> > these days.
>> >
>> > Here's one review I found with Google, there are probably others:
>> > http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/335/C2564/
>> > The Archos on-line store is here:
>> > http://www.shoparchos.com/searchresults.aspx?search_id=4&culture=en-US
>> >
>> > There are similar devices by other vendors that would likely work
>> > just as well.  The product you reference looks like it is along the
>> > same lines as the Gmini-220.
>> >
>> > Curt
>> > -------
>> > W. Curt Deegan
>> > Boca Raton, (southeast) Florida
>> >
>> >
>> > At 07:48 AM 12/25/2006, you wrote:
>> >>Has anyone had any experience using HD mp3 recorders for recording
>> >>DX?  It appears to be a good way to go, but I would like to solicit
>> >>other's comments before I take the plunge give the potential high
>> >>cost of these devices.
>> >>
>> >>Here is an example
>> >>http://www.cowonglobal.com/product/product_X5_spec.php
>> >>
>> >>This is not an endorsement of this particular product because I have
>> >>no idea of its utility for a DXer. Maybe there are better, but
>> >>similar products on the market
>> >>
>> >>One of things I am looking for is compatibility with a computer's OS.
>> >>In other words, can you use a computer to directly manipulate the
>> >>files on the device using the computer's file manager so you don't
>> >>have to use a proprietary software program for the device? I ran into
>> >>this issue with an IRiver flash drive device.
>> >>
>> >>Other things like battery usage, capacity, and portability are
>> >>important too.  An analog line in is an absolute must as well.
>> >>
>> >>Bill Harms
>> >>Elkridge, Maryland
>
>
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