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Lucky13
sage
Reged: 10/21/07
Posts: 292
Loc: Ashtabula, Ohio
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Hi, I've been looking for a cheap SW radio to use as a radio jupiter reciever, and found this radio, a SONY ICF-2001 on eBay. I can't tell if it has a n AGC switch, but it does have ext. antenna capability. Do you guys think it would work for astronomy?
EDIT: I also found this one which appears to have an AGC off switch, but is rather worn...
Thanks
Sean 
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Sean
A Z10 and some other stuff 
Edited by Lucky13 (02/07/08 03:42 PM)
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walt r
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/13/07
Posts: 3523
Loc: Doylestown, PA
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It may be possible that either reciever could work. If the schematics are available it usaully not difficult to add a switch to kill the AGC.
My concerns would be:
Lack of sensitivity, it won't hear very weak signals. An external low noise pre-amp could be added but then the front end may not have the dynamic range to handle overloads from nearby stations.
I would not recommend either recieve for radio astromony.
They are not much money so they may be worth it for learning or later as a WWV reciever.
Keep your eyes open for a communication grade reciever. Look for a local ham radio flea market or a ham radio club. They would know of good recievers.
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Walt
Obsession 18" f/4.45 #1370 AN/SC
MK67 Deluxe 6" f/12 Mak-Cass, Super Polaris GEM, JMI MicroMax DSC
DIY 60mm f/6 Achromat
Cookbook 245 CCD
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Lucky13
sage
Reged: 10/21/07
Posts: 292
Loc: Ashtabula, Ohio
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Thats a good idea, I'd like to get a reciever as cheap as possible. I'd be capable of defeating an AGC given a schematic, at least I better after 3 years so far in college for electrical engineering!
Do you have any recommendations? I'd like to keep it under $100, cause at that level, I could just buy a Radio Jove kit from NASA. I might even be able to get the university to pay for the whole radio telescope if I use it as a engineering project 
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Sean
A Z10 and some other stuff
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walt r
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/13/07
Posts: 3523
Loc: Doylestown, PA
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If you and your school wish to do Jove radio observations then the Jove Receiver kit is a very good way to go. A communication grade receiver could cost at least a couple hundred dollars and up. It may be possible to have a local Ham radio club become involved and donate a receiver. Don't pass on this possibility, many ham radio operators have test equipment and much experience with receivers and antennas. They can be very helpful.
I found and looked over the manual for the Jove receiver. It is a decent simple design that should work well. The kit is well worth the price (it could easily be twice that on the commercial market). If you haven't found the manuals they are here.
The two ebay receivers may work but you may end up becoming very frustrated if they do not work.
What is your adviser's opinion?
Is there a ham radio club on campus?
Does the engineering or physics department have a receiver hidden somewhere that could be used?
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Walt
Obsession 18" f/4.45 #1370 AN/SC
MK67 Deluxe 6" f/12 Mak-Cass, Super Polaris GEM, JMI MicroMax DSC
DIY 60mm f/6 Achromat
Cookbook 245 CCD
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Lucky13
sage
Reged: 10/21/07
Posts: 292
Loc: Ashtabula, Ohio
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Yeah I should check to see if we already have a reciever laying around in the RF lab or something.
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Sean
A Z10 and some other stuff
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