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G6Tanuki · 23rd Apr 2021, 8:53 pm

The CR70A was one of the well-advertised/promoted-to-emerging-SWLs radios back in the 70s - indeed, I lusted after one!

But it was really just a slightly-better-than-average broadcast-receiver with a BFO so it could resolve those newly-fangled hams and their SSB.

OK, it had a 'high-Q' front-end tuned-circuit using an air-spaced coil - but it still suffered horribly with broadcast-band 15MHz image-stations when you were trying to listen to the 14MHz ham-band.... and even on the lower bands the selectivity was not really up to the standards you needed for SSB.

Being general-coverage really was a problem too: when an entire amateur-band occupied 1/3 an inch on the dial and no more than half a turn on the tuning-knob it made resolving SSB a nightmare!

I like to see the CR70/A as a good broadcast-band radio for the budding SWL - and quite good for MW DXers - but as a ham-band radio it was really rather flawed.

23rd Apr 2021, 8:53 pm	#11
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,998	Re: Codar CR70A Comms receiver. The CR70A was one of the well-advertised/promoted-to-emerging-SWLs radios back in the 70s - indeed, I lusted after one! But it was really just a slightly-better-than-average broadcast-receiver with a BFO so it could resolve those newly-fangled hams and their SSB. OK, it had a 'high-Q' front-end tuned-circuit using an air-spaced coil - but it still suffered horribly with broadcast-band 15MHz image-stations when you were trying to listen to the 14MHz ham-band.... and even on the lower bands the selectivity was not really up to the standards you needed for SSB. Being general-coverage really was a problem too: when an entire amateur-band occupied 1/3 an inch on the dial and no more than half a turn on the tuning-knob it made resolving SSB a nightmare! I like to see the CR70/A as a good broadcast-band radio for the budding SWL - and quite good for MW DXers - but as a ham-band radio it was really rather flawed.