2015 Radio Checkup Clinic


The NSARC meeting held on April 16, 2015 provided the opportunity to do basic testing of members’ radios using a HP8921A Communications Service Monitor. There was an enthusiastic response from the members in bringing in equipment for test. Our members Alex VE7DXW and Adam VA7OJ ran the radio testing session.

HP 8921A Communications Service Monitor
HP 8921A Communications Service Monitor

The summary test results are given in Tables 1 and 2 below for those who missed the meeting. These should not be regarded as definitive due to the informal nature of the tests.

Table 1: VHF/UHF Radios
Radio Frequency Carrier Freq. Error Po (Nominal) Deviation Sensitivity1
MHz Hz W kHz μV
Yaesu VX-7R 144 +218 3.0 4.0 0.16
Yaesu VX-5R 144 -150 3.1 ≈ 5 0.16
Yaesu FT-1D 144 -5 2.5 5.4 0.22
440 -80 2.6 5.2 0.2
Alinco DJ-596 144 -130 1.5 6.04 1.64
Alinco DJ-6 144 -200 1.7 4.8 0.2
Alinco DJ-V27 220 +25 0.53 5.74 0.11
Kenwood TH-6 146 -35 2.4 4.9 0.182
440 -80 2.7 4.8 0.182
Icom IC-T70A 146 +3 3.3 4.7 0.14
440 -10 2.6 4.8 0.16
Icom IC-T7H 146 -200 2.5 5.0 0.14
440 -700 2.3 5.74 0.18
Icom IC-706IIG #1 146 -400 41 (50 nom) 6.54 0.28/0.165
440 -1.5k4 19 (35 nom) 6.54 0.32/0.165
Icom IC-706IIG #2 146 -100 46 (50 nom) 6.64 0.25/0.145
440 -500 19 (35 nom) 6.64 0.28/0.165

Notes:

  1. 12 dB SINAD except where noted.
  2. 20 dB quieting.
  3. LOW setting only (weak battery did not allow HIGH).
  4. Out of spec.
  5. Preamp on.
Table 2: HF Radios
Radio Frequency Carrier Freq. Error Po (Nominal) Sensitivity1
MHz Hz W μV
Icom IC-706IIG #1 14.1 -1k2 105 (100 nom) 702
Icom IC-706IIG #2 14.1 -23 105 (100 nom) 0.5/0.253
Icom IC-735 14.1 -11 125 max 0.35/0.33

Notes:

  1. 12 dB SINAD.
  2. Out of spec.
  3. Preamp on.

   

This page last updated: 2015-04-17