They are both very good sounding receivers. Both of them sound very similar,
with the HF-150 sounding slightly better. Sensitivity is about the same,
with the R30 having better dynamic range. Whereas the selectivity in the
Lowe receivers is obtained through the use of more inexpensive Murata CFWS
6-element ladder filters, the R30 uses either high grade 11-element filters
or mechanical filters. The exception is the SSB bandwidth; both of the
receivers use 11-element filters.
The Lowe receivers use a 45 to 75MHz VCO for the synthesizer while the R30
uses a 360 to 600MHz VCO and divides it by 8 to obtain the 45 to 75MHz LO.
The advantage here is that the phase noise is divided down by the division
factor.
Construction is good on both receivers...........the HF-150 uses an anodized
aluminum case while the Palstar uses chromated aluminum for the chassis,
very similar to the R.L. Drake receivers.
In my opinion, you can't go wrong with either receiver. My main listening
band is MW, and both receivers do a fine job on that band. Neither of them
have that full-time attenuator on the MW band the way the FRG-100 and the
R75 do (these are easily removed).
I know that the HF-150s are going on eBay for the 500 to 600 dollar
range......for that amount of money, I would favor the R30. If you can find
an unbroken 150 in the 400 dollar range, you are doing ok.
The thing to be careful about when purchasing an HF-150 (or any Lowe
receiver for that matter) is to make sure that the sensivity is ok. The 1st
mixer is easily damaged, and the SL-6440 device is relatively hard to get
ahold of, unless you want to buy 25 at a time. There is a fellow in New York
that sells them for about 90 dollars a rail. There are others that are
trying to sell a rail of 25 of them for upwards of 250 dollars (not a good
deal).
The other failure mode with the Lowe receivers is that 14569 divider chip
that divides down the MCU's reference oscillator for the BFO injection
frequencies. This chip is being run near its design limit, and occasionally
it will fail. Relatively cheap at just under a dollar at Digi-Key. (Digi-Key
also has those push button switches that are used on the Lowe and AOR7030
receivers).
The final thing that I discovered about the Lowe receivers is a 100uF cap at
the output of the 8V regulator that fails. When this happens, the audio will
howl. This is not to be confused with the microphonic condition that occurs
with the internal speaker when the receiver volume is cranked up.
I hope this hasn't painted a dim picture of Lowe receivers.......I have both
the HF-150 and the HF-225, and I would consider them keepers. Just check
them out carefully when you buy them. They are great receivers.
I hope this helps.
Pete
"Dale Parfitt" wrote in message
news:y8RPe.9184$Bc2.4853@trnddc06...
wrote in message
oups.com...
Hmmm. I don't see these on ebay very often:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PALSTAR-R-30CC-S...QQcmdZViewItem
There's also an R-30 up for auction. I've heard that these receivers
have incredible sound. It sure would be interesting to compare them to
a Lowe HF-225 or HF-150.
Steve
Pete KE9OA has had both I believe- any comments Pete?
I'll vouch for my 150- I've owned most RX, and keep coming back to the
backlit HF-150.
Dale W4OP