New ICOM Rx Coming : IC-R9500

[W3RSW]

240 kc bandwidth would be great for radio astronomy.  Put an integrator (simple RC stretch, diode det. and op amp DC amplifier) on the output and listen to Jupiter ! 

In years of sun-spot lows like right now, 18 Mhz is a very good receiption freq. for Jupiter's lightning storms. -All very mysterious back in the day before the cause was proven.  If memory serves correctly, "Sky and Telescope" had an article about a radiometer complete with stacked yagi design, etc. some years ago.

I tried a watered down version with an HQ 110 on 15 meters, picked off the IF to a diode and RC integrator to a Rustrack recoder. I think I got a 24 hour cycle as Jupiter transited.  But not sure, heh, heh, Could have been anything.  For a real thrill use 27 Mhz; integrate that!

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Those Sherwood and other numbers are interesting but no context is provide. Just how many more DX contacts can one make with a receiver rated for a DR of 92 dB versus on with 91 dB. It's somewhat like the horsepower thing with cars. The number used alone is nearly meaningless.

[WA1GFZ]

40 meters battle mode with broadcashers you need 100 dB of dynamic range to play hardball.
90 dB of dynamic range is pretty good for 75 meters most of the time.
The numbers mean nothing unless you understand what is going on.
I trust Sherwood's numbers and have verified them on a few different receivers,
unlike the marginal specs in rice box ads.

Close in dynamic range is a big deal and there you want to be 70 dB or better.
Consider trying to work a guy S6 with a slop bucket 45 over next door.

Horsepower, like rigs never enough limited by ability to feed the beast.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Like I said, no hard data showing real world results. Sure, more is always better, but where are the measured and real world verified break over points. Too much anecdotal stuff and not enough legitimate measurements. This is typical of hams. "Yea, I put up a JS 123 antenna and worked 10 DX stations in 2 minutes on 20 meters. Conclusion: the JS 123 antenna is a great DX antenna." Never mind this was done at the peak of the sunspot cycle when everyone and their brother was working 10 DX stations in 2 minutes on 20 meters.

[WA1GFZ]

I just spent a ton of money on this yealowood and I know it is the best a slop bucketer told me

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Heh, heh. Indeed.