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CE3CLW > MODS 03.10.96 03:44l 100 Lines 3512 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 58331_CE3CLW
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Subj: (3) AOR AR-1500
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Sent: 960928/1450Z @:CE3CLW.#SAN.CHL.SA #:58331 [Las Condes] FBB5.15c
From: CE3CLW@CE3CLW.#SAN.CHL.SA
To : MODS@WW
USER'S MANUAL
=============
The AR1500, as supplied in the United States, comes with a 19 page user's
manual. This manual briefly describes the keys, the controls, and the basic
operations, but doesn't go into much detail about how to take advantage of
the power of this scanner. In addition, there are some serious errors in the
documentation, particularly in the examples. As stated above, the Guide to
the AR1000, while covering all the basic operations of the AR1500 (minus
the BFO and search and store feature), addresses many tricks and shortcuts
that are not applicable to the AR1500. As a result, the Guide to the AR1000
is not primarily recommended to owners of the AR1500.
The user's manual for the AR1500 available in Australia and New Zealand
is better and the manual produced by AOR Ltd. in the UK is the best.
PERFORMANCE
===========
The following characteristics are based on my subjective analysis during
usage and not on laboratory tests. They may be specific to my location (San
Francisco Bay area).
SENSITIVITY
===========
The AR1500 is a quite sensitive receiver. It proved to be more sensitive than
the AR1000 but less sensitive than the PRO-43. It easily broke squelch on a
signal that the AR1000 could only hear with the squelch opened manually.
Both units were using identical DA900 rubber duckies.
Like the AR1000, the AR1500 can pick up SW and MW signals when
attached to an appropriate long-wire antenna. While you wouldn't buy this
unit as your primary shortwave receiver, it can pick up strong SW signals
nicely (subject to signal fading) and the AR1500 can easily decode SSB
signals.
INTERMODULATION
===============
The AR1500 seems to have about the same intermod problems as the
AR1000. My unit got periodic FM radio broadcast interference all across its
frequency range. While it wasn't as bad as the Icom R1 is rumored to be, it
was noticeable.
IMAGES
======
The AR1500 is supposed to be triple-converted, but I noticed images in the
800 MHz range. I picked up cellular phone conversations on the local
government frequency of 812.2125 MHz. This was the only frequency I
noticed images on. The AR1000 doesn't do this.
RF
==
The AR1500 puts out a fair amount of RFI. It stopped the PRO-43 from
scanning at a distance of over 4 feet. If you are using this scanner near other
scanners, you might have a problem.
BATTERY LIFE
============
The AR1500 comes with a custom 5 AA cell molded nicad pack. The pack
is removable, but there is no way to charge the pack while out of the
scanner. The scanner also comes with a battery holder that will take 4 AAA
alkaline or nicad batteries. I wasn't able to do a battery test on this unit
but the custom nicad pack battery life is said to be about 4 hours. The AAA
battery pack life is supposed to only be about 2 hours. Any AR1500 users
who have more accurate figures than this are encouraged to contact me and I
will update this document to reflect these figures.
Charging time is approximately 15 hours and you are warned not to
overcharge the nicad pack.
Battery life and maintenance seems to be the biggest problems with this
unit. It will not be very useful in the field if you run out of juice in a few
hours. And, unfortunately, you can't be charging one pack while you are
using another.
Copiado del QRZ HAM RADIO WINDOWS CD-ROM JAN 1996
Internet : osvaldo.ossa@chilnet.cl
73. Osvaldo, CE3CLW @ CE3CLW.#SAN.CHL.SA
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