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F5PBG > MODS 16.08.98 16:35l 152 Lines 7059 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: AOR AR1500 1/2
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From: F5PBG@F5PBG.FBRE.FRA.EU
To : MODS@WW
>From INTERNET :
Part 1 of 2
This is a review of the new AR1500 continuous coverage handheld scanner
from AOR. Consider this review to be preliminary, since it was conducted
on a unit I had available over a weekend and does not reflect long-term
usage. In this review, I will be comparing the AR1500 to the AR1000 and
the Radio Shack PRO-43, two other scanners I am very familiar with (I am
the author of the Guide to the AR1000, and the upcoming Guide to the
PRO-43).
VERSIONS
There are three versions of the AR1500 known at this time. The original
AR1500 was released and available in Japan, the UK, and Europe in mid
1992 and was known simply as the AR1500. A later revision to this scanner
appeared in late 1992, called the AR1500E. This model differs from the
earlier model by including a cascade filter at 58.075 MHz IF to improve
selectivity, a DC input protection diode to guard against reverse polarity
connection, additional buffering in the microprocessor to protect against
software crashes when scanning an empty bank, and a reset switch in the
battery compartment.
A new revision, called the AR1500EX, will be available on Feb. 9, 1993
only in the UK. It contains a substantial redesign of the PC boards and logic
circuits. The RF board has been completely redone. In addition, the BNC
connector has been reinforced. The unit is supposed to have better
selectivity and better handling of strong signals.
This review was conducted on an AR1500E that was imported in the US
from ACE Communications. My thanks go to Glenn Cohen of Scanner's
Unlimited for the loan of this unit for testing.
FEATURES
The AR1500 is a very feature-laden scanning receiver. It's main features
are:
o 900 general channels of non-volatile scan memory. (100 channels
dedicated for search and store feature).
o 10 individual search banks. (Bank 9 dedicated to search and store)
o Reception in FM, wide FM, and AM modes.
o Contains a beat frequency oscillator (BFO) for reception of single side-
band (SSB) and continuous wave (CW or Morse) signals. It can receive
both upper side-band (USB) and lower side-band (LSB) transmissions.
o Continuous coverage from 500 KHz to 1300 MHz with no gaps.
o Searches and scans at 20 channels per second.
o Any channel can be the priority channel which is active in search, scan,
or manual mode.
o Search increment is user-selectable in any steps of 5 KHz and 12.5 KHz
up to 995 KHz.
o Tuning knob.
o Channels, scan banks, and search banks may be locked out. Also,
individual frequencies during a search may be locked out.
o 10 db attenuation switch
o Automatic search and store function.
o Delay or Hold feature.
SIZE
The AR1500 is a fairly small scanner, much smaller than the AR1000 and
about the same size as the PRO-43. It is about 1/2 inch taller than the
AR900. Both the buttons and the display are smaller than the AR1000, as is
the speaker.
There is a trend with current scanners to make them smaller, but there seems
to be diminishing returns in this endeavor. The AR1500 is small enough to
be a problem for some people. For someone with large hands, the small
buttons may create difficulties in programming. There are also many
controls crammed on the top of the scanner (see below). In particular, it is
quite difficult to turn the unit on and off and adjust the volume because the
On/Off/volume knob is crammed in between the BNC connector and the
Squelch/BFO knob. This makes if very difficult to get your fingers around
the On/Off knob to turn it.
Other negative side-effects of the small size are the smaller, lower-fidelity
speaker, and the smaller battery pack, reducing operation time.
CONTROLS
The top of the unit contains a number of knobs and switches. You'll find
the BNC connector, an On/Off/Volume knob, a ganged BFO/Squelch knob,
a tuning knob, a BFO button, a 10 db attenuator button, and earphone jack,
and a pushbutton switch for keylock.
The display and the keyboard are the same as the AR1000, although some
of the keys are in different positions (e.g. BANK and INC are reversed on
the AR1500 and INC is now called STEP).
Sound quality is good and the unit can be turned to full volume without
distortion, but the speaker doesn't give the same high-fidelity sound as is
found on the AR1000.
ACCESSORIES
The AR1500 in the US comes with its built-in nicad pack, a AAA battery
holder, a rubber ducky antenna, a 5 meter wire antenna with a BNC
connector on one end for HF reception, a cigarette lighter adapter, and AC
charger, a soft case and a single ear earphone.
Note that the AC charger is not designed to operate the unit but to simply
charge the batteries while the unit is turned off. If you want to use the
scanner while plugged in (which you will, since the battery life is short),
you will have to purchase a separate AC adaptor. The Radio Shack 12 VDC
500 mA adapter (CAT No. 273-1652B) works fine for this.
OPERATION
The AR1500 operates essentially the same as the AR1000. This is to say
that it uses a somewhat cumbersome programming scheme. Users of the
Uniden BearCat series of scanners and the Radio Shack/GRE PRO series of
scanners will find the AR1500 operations to be tedious.
Of more concern is that the operation of the AR1500 was modified slightly--
in some cases to handle the new search and store feature and in others to
simply "improve" the operations. However, many of the special tricks and
shortcuts that were possible on the AR1000 (and described in the Guide to
the AR1000) no longer work on the AR1500. While learning how to use the
AR1500 is not all that difficult, it requires more time than most scanners and
more consultation with the user documentation.
An interesting difference between the AR1500 and the AR1000 is that every
keystroke you enter on the AR1500 generates an audible beep for feedback.
This capability is also found on some of the Fairmate versions of the
AR1000 (i.e. the HP100 and HP200). On the AR1000, there is no
keystroke beep.
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).
End of part 1 of 2
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