Re: [IRCA] Or get a Perseus...

[Guy Atkins <dx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>
> Hi Mike,
>

 I've used the Elad for about 2-1/2 months now, and although I haven't
directly A-B tested the radio against a Perseus, I would say the reception
quality is equal (based on memory from 6-1/2 years of Perseus ownership).
This is the consensus from other reviewers that I've read; it doesn't take
a back seat to Perseus for DXing.

With active antennas like a full size Flag antenna connected to a Wellbrook
FLG100LN amplifier/head unit, I have indeed had some overloading. However,
It's inexpensive to add outboard low pass filtering that solves the
problem. For instance, I bought a new Mini-Circuits BLP-1.9+ filter for $20
on Ebay, and it has solved overloading issues by removing HF energy >1.9
MHz.

Note that the overloading I've had with the FDM-S2 has only been with large
active or amplified antennas. The passive antenna Par Electronics EF-SWL I
use has *not* caused any overloading with the SDR, even up to the 6 MHz
bandwidth, nor have the 1-meter diameter Wellbrook ALA1530 or ALA1530S+
antennas. Of course, it also depends on your local RF jungle or lack
thereof. I live 1.4 miles from a 1 kW station (KSUH), and my antennas have
typically been aimed in that direction, which is also the direction my TP
DX comes from. Also, most of the greater Seattle MW broadcasters are in
that same general direction... so my antennas gather a lot of RF!

To "protect" the shortwave bands from MW signals I recently found an
Australian company, www.minikits.com.au which sells very low cost,
9th-order high pass filters (BCB filter). The kit version is only *~*$17.00
USD, with all parts except enclosure. So, I bought the kit and the owner of
the shop shipped it right away (Intl. airmail for $8.00). I've bought the
proper Hammond brand case for about $5.00 through the Mouser Electronics
web site. I checked the response plot for the filter and it looks really
good: http://www.minikits.com.au/eme174filters.htm#hpf9-1m8 As you probably
know, these BCB filters run upwards of $80, ready built from most sources
like Kiwa.

So, the moral of this story is that yes, the Elad FDM-S2 doesn't have the
switchable bandpass filtering as built into the Perseus SDR, but for not
much money you can add HP and LP filtering and solve any issues you might
encounter.

I've had no glitches with the Elad software and the receiver, but I reach
for HDSDR and SDR-Radio V2 software packages before I fire up Elad's own
software; that's just my personal preference. One really useful feature
(IMHO) of the SDR-Radio V2 software is the pseudo stereo mode. It creates a
false stereo signal out of the mono source, and this permits the DX to
often stand out from the background noise just a bit to aid in
intelligibility. I also like it a lot for program listening on SW. The
overall sound is just the same (to my ears) as the pseudo stereo feature in
the Elecraft KX3 transceiver.

73,
Guy Atkins
Puyallup, WA


---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Mike Bates <mjbates@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc:
> Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 16:57:09 -0500
> Subject: Re: [IRCA] Or get a Perseus...
> Hello Guy,
>
> I am curious as to your impressions of MW performance of the ELAD FDM S2 as
> compared to the Perseus. From what I read it looks good. My main concern is
> the -8dBm clipping level. Have you run into any issues with it handling
> strong signals??  How well does the ELAD software work with the radio, any
> major glitches? Currently using a QS1R. The software flexibility(ability to
> use several 3rd party software programs) and the ability for FM broadcast
> DX
> are strong factors in favor of this rig, and the cost seems quite
> reasonable
> for the performance you are getting.
>
> 73,
> Mike
>
>
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