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- ar1000
-
- AR1000XLT Review --- Part 2 of 4
-
- No batteries required...
-
- Like the AR2500 and unlike almost all other scanners, the AR1000 uses an
- EEPROM for memory. This means that there is no dependence on a lithium
- battery (or capacitor) to hold the contents of your 2000+ memory channels.
-
- Pretty slick. Just as an aside... I'm no EE but I do recall that EEPROMs
- are only writable a finite number of times... like 800-1500 times. A
- small consideration but interesting fact. (Correct me if I'm wrong)
-
- S-meter
-
- I want one - plain and simple. I want an S-meter. I want an S-meter
- Got it ?
-
- Antennas
-
- Give the AR1000XC a break. People tell me they can't get any Shortwave
- on this thing. Get rid of that antenna. The rubber-duck thats supplied
- with the unit won't do it. The Users Guide (more on this, see below)
- says so and they're right. I use about 20 feet of wire attached to the
- antenna jack and thats 100 times better than what you'll hear on SW using
- the rubber duck. The SW comes in about as good as my Sony ICF-7600 ($129).
- Not great - but, acceptable.
-
- Another word on antennas. I learned my lesson on a ICOM 24AT. Too much
- antenna changing will loosen the BNC connector from the case and possibly
- break internal connections.
-
- Here's how I've solved this problem. Go to RS and get a BNC->Coax(SO)
- connector and Coax(PL)->BNC connector. Looks weird adapting a BNC to a
- BNC in this way but, you'll be unscrewing connections rather than twisting
- a spring loaded BNC connector which, if a tight fit, will eventually loosen
- the BNC connector on the radio from its case. Also, this has the advantage
- that it readily accepts a connection to a "real" antenna with a PL-259 as
- well as the rubber duck.
-
- Bottom line - Use a longwire for SW listening.
-
- The Users Guide
-
- If you can call it that. Only "real men" need apply. The "User Guide" is 2
- pages both side of small print that describes how to program this unit.
- You'll also get a one page "cheat sheet" (in large print) that summarizes
- the programming. It took me a few hours to learn how to program this.
- You'll also get a freq allocation table and an invite to subscribe to U.S.
- Scanner News
-
- ( Continued... )