Fullscreen HTML5Med Res (??MB)HTML4

I AMATEUR RADIO 1 BY GARRY CRATT, VK2YBX The AR-1500 & AR-2800: more goodies for scanner enthusiasts The features built into scanning receivers continue to increase so that even the most blase reviewer becomes agog. It's hard to know what the designers will think of next. Here we look at the AR-1500 and AR-2800 scanning receivers fromAOR. Last May, we reviewed the AR-2500 multimode scanning receiver, a full featured mobile or desktop unit which sells for around $1000. Now the maker of that unit, AOR in Japan, has released two new models, a handheld unit and a mobile scanning receiver. They offer full frequency coverage, multimode operation and easy pro- gramming, all at reduced cost to the user. Both units feature 1000-channel memory capacity, full frequency coverage from 500kHz to 1300MHz, an inbuilt input attenuator, and SSE reception through the use of a BFO. Amateur operators will therefore find that both units have a place in the "shack", for use as general-purpose receivers AR-1500 handheld unit The handheld unit, the AR-1500, is the size of a typical VHF or UHF handheld transceiver, and measures 55 x 152 x 40mm, making it pocketsized indeed. This is the first handheld scanning receiver that we have seen which is capable of covering the HF bands. As can be seen from the a,ccompanying photo, the unit is controlled by the user through a 25-button keypad on the front of the unit, and six controls on the top. The BFO, input attenuation, volume, squelch, and manual frequency functions are operated using conventional rotary controls. The keypad is divided into two operational areas: the command section and the numeric data section. The numeric data keys are used to enter receiver frequencies, search limits, memory channel numbers and scan memories etc, while the command keys determine the mode of operation of the receiver. In addition to the standard scanner functions such as search and scan, the AR-1500 offers reception in FM, AM, SSE and wideband FM modes, and allows the user to program channel increments The AR-2800 is suitable for mobile operation. It has almost the same specifications as the handheld AR1500 with the important addition of AUDIO SCAN. This feature automatically re-enables the scan function if the receiver stops for more than a few seconds on an unmodulated carrier. 50 SILICON CHIP frequencies from 144-148MHz, or over any other range, can be searched for activity. Frequencies located in this manner can be stored in a scan memory position for future reference. The AR-1500 is easy to program, has an LCD which is easy to read and can be backlit for low light applications, and has quite respectable sensitivity (0.5µV for VHF and UHF bands). Like all scanners of this type, performance is limited by the flexible antenna supplied. However, connecting an external discone antenna via the BNC antenna socket really makes a big difference to the performance. HF reception was also quite reasonable using a discone antenna. The unit has a scan/search speed of 20 channels per second and produces lO0mW of audio output, which we consider too low for mobile use. The AR-1500 is controlled by a 25button keypad on the front of the unit & six controls on the top. The receiver has 1000 memories, covers from 500kHz to 1300MHz, & operates on FM, AM, SSB & wideband FM. between 5kHz and 1MHz. The receiver can also be instructed to stop scanning or searching once an active channel is located, or to continue scanning after a 2-second delay. It is also possible to lock out any memory channel, and also to monitor any nominated frequency, using the PRIORITY mode, while searching or scanning other banks of frequencies. The receiver memories are arranged in 10 banks of 100 channels and any of these channels can be nominated as the priority channel. This allows groups of frequencies to be allocated to the same memory bank. Thus, all 2-metre repeater frequencies could be entered into a particular memory bank and all UHF repeater frequencies into another. Scanner enthusiasts might also like to collect all frequencies used by a particular service (eg, airband, etc) into a single bank. Apart from the 10 scan banks (where user selected frequencies are stored), there are also 10 search banks. These banks allow the user to search between two frequency limits. Thus, all AR-2800 For enthusiasts who prefer mobile operation, the AR~2800 may be just the answer. This unit has basically the same specifications as the AR1500, with one important addition AUDIO SCAN. This function is used when unmodulated carriers are found in either search or scan operation. Normally, a scanning receiver without audio scan will stop on an unmodulated carrier until it is manually reset by the user. The AR-2800 overcomes this problem, as the audio scan feature automatically re-enables the search or scan function after a few seconds of reception of an unmodulated signal. For mobile use, this is quite a valuable feature. We also found the frequency stability of the unit to be very good. This is an important quality when selecting a receiver for SCPC satellite reception. The unit is supplied with a DC power cord, mounting bracket, AC adaptor, desk stand, and surprisingly easy to read instructions, considering the country of origin. In summary, the AR-1500 and AR2800 offer good value for money and are somewhat easier to use (and less expensive) than the AR-2500 scanner we reviewed last year. They are priced at approximately $800 (incl. tax). This price includes the AC charger and the nicad batteries supplied with the AR1500. Both units are imported by Access Communications and are available from Dick Smith Electronics. SC A IN plastic case, pushbutton sMtch, tettEms ,rd battery holders and of oourse too la9er di:x:lereEd. Blaythro \OJ reed to ma<e a HGH QU.AJJlY LASER DIODE a-e 12" U\M:RSl'J... LASffi ~ aFR..Y /qf. Erd lWJ RD l.A.':ffi Tl.8:S: Cre 1rrW U:a, m::I a-e l"tj1 cµty 3'Tw 8:Ml\S - 11..te. Tu, 1LJ::ea ae um b.i t-e.e pn; di>~ 0J>Al'NlcID lhl ~ ssl te 931'8 m p,- ar WiJ1 a:fs, b.i ts rrcm 'tO.J o>N a--o::EE lO E£9.ffiID\MlH lWJ 71--E 3vWTL.8:S l\6100 CNc 1rrWtte. m::1 CNcarw a= a= R::NTTR.a:aGJ\60-iT , FffiA lDT/ll FFCE a= $145 lLE!3 ll-'AT'SA Bt>A:Wsl I NINI INRIA 1B NICHJVIWER As per EA Oct 91 Issue. A very ,rnal carplete l<lt that Includes a lens a IR tube and an eyepiece. These were removed from rew, end nee,- reN Gerrrm rjglt -...sb1 equpment. SfT'ple to oonstruct. The kit Is ro,; St.Pp/loo with a Hgh qualty miltay Dra,;s mi-/ 20'nA from a 9V battery. Not oni-/ at the LOWEST PRICE OFFERED, but we hcude a Rff R..TER. ~· A us , but guaranteed ARGON LASER HEAD. It needs fen cooling, 2V at 25A tor too fl~ent, and 11 OJ at about 8A for the tube. All this to produce rrae tt-B1 1rorw al B...LE BEAM II We provide a ample rn,,,a- suAC>Y circuit , and we w ill suggest suppliers of a suitable ta:rcidal tra,sbmer, Creek scpplles befae orderrg, at a, RW-15. L.MfTED STCICK. ll'#RA RED BINOCUUIR VEWBI Hg, qualty, t-emet mcunt ex-military binocular IR VE11V91'.S..fpcwerecbya sroie 1 ,5v battery, Paci<ed In or~lna flbreolass carry case . l.mted qcmtlty at a, I\CREDB..E PRCE al: ONLY $649 I\Cf1EDB.E FHCEOF: $800 $299.00 Includes too IR tube, lens, eyepiece, electrmlcs l<lt a 75rrm ra.rd R plastic filter end the case kit. Kit No. $149 FatreNr;p:,J-ea::lmi-f A t'Q1 quallty, motay ga::ie, deep Infra red (R) filter. Fa medium end high power hcmdescmt spdi;j)ts a,d floodlights. Appra>dmately 13:lrm diEmetef ,rd 6mm thick. High temperature Pyrex-Glas base material. Excellent for night surveillance equipment! Wa:l<s wel with IR VE\/V91'S ird oome IAcJeo equprmnt. On SPECII\L at $55 GUSSPIISMS Prec1srn 11as9 i:r\9111 asse<Tdles. Were a:'r;j,dy used 1o fa:m a persccpe In a tank l.r. MV\llltlon system . Their ~na pica would ha-e been a-ourd 1CXXJ dolla-sl The two glass prisms can be removed from toolr holding asserrbies. Mae a ri\11 qualty perlscqJe er use n optlca systems . A must fo- persms Interested In h~h qualty cµlcs. $19 hlii LCD IISPlAY MODIIES qualty, ri\11 cmtrast , ap'1mJrmrc Lal display modules Surface mounted control circuitry Is hducled. 5v op9lll!la, ,rd very bN '{XJNff =-sun~. nbmatb'l hcl.Jded. Offered at a very S'T18I fractm al their Brird reN roo \ace: m 16 era-acter by 2 roo:Jue (16 x 2), wth tackll11tno:.. """""" " """"'$22,50 24 Cra-acter by 2 m cisp<lf module (24 X 2), wth tacklli1tno:.. .. .............$35.CXl 16 Cra-acter by 2 Ire dlspay roo:Jue (16 x 2), wltrout tacki111tno: . . .. .........$16.CXl 24 Cra-acter by 2 Ire dlspay roo:Jule (24 x 2), wltrout ~ t n g: ' ".$27 ,(X) Bacld\titro n1.erter l<lt 1s a1so - - $15 Some of the above items are in LIMITED SUPPLY ANY OR AS MANY ITE MS FROM THIS LIST DELIVERED BY SKVROAD EXPRESS TO YOUR DOOR : $10 OATLEY E;LECTRONICS PO BOX 89, OATLEY, NSW 2223 Telephone: (02) 579 4985 Fax: (02) 570 791 O Certified p&p: S6 in Aust. NZ (Airmail): $10 Melbourne Distributor: Electronics World (03) 723 3860 or (03) 723 3094 MARCH 1992 51