Some final questions on Alinco DJ-X2000 before purchasing

[Bob Parnass]

greets all,
I've been reading all the reviews I can find on the Alinco DJ-X2000 in an attempt to
find out what this radio's all about before either spending good or bad money.
http://www.strongsignals.net/access/reviews/reviews.cgi?type=display&rtype=rev&class=recv&num=039
and
http://www.ukmidlandscanner.co.uk/djx2krev.htm
The place I plan on ordering my unit from is www.Radio-Export.com, with a price
tag of $610.00 This is the "export" version ("E" model) with no blocked bands.
Perhaps most importantly, it seems as though the "early" models of the X2000 had
an unnecessary and annoying amount of audio noise (described as a light hissing sound),
but I'm gathering that this is a problem that has been fixed (or at least diminished to a degree)
in later models. Good quality of received audio is a must for me, as so much of transmitting equipment
has enough noise in it already, as most of us know. In this case, it's even doubly important
that the audio be as clear as possible. Perhaps someone who owns an X2000 could give me some
more info regarding this?
Another somewhat daunting prospect was the way the effectiveness of the "Flash Tune" was
"Although this feature does not appear to work that well, hats off to Alinco for incorporating it,
other manufacturers (Or Alinco themselves ) should maybe concentrate on perfecting this feature
in later models. NOTE: I have spoken to another user of the DJX-2000 and he swears by it, he
admits that he does sometimes get the false readings but that for him the flash tune works almost
every time."

I reviewed the DJ-X2000T (USA version) in June 2001 Monitoring Times.

I had fun with the limited range Flash Tune feature, but found
some drawbacks in the scanner I tested:

An annoying audio hiss was present even on the strongest of signals.
The 110 millisecond squelch tail noise at the end of each transmission
was too long and grew tough to listen to.

I measured the practical memory scan rate at a very slow 3 channels/second.

The DJ-X2000T is noew a few years old. Have you considered the newer
ICOM IC-R20? I reviewed one in November 2004 Monitoring Times.
The IC-R20 I tested required a better antenna for SW reception
below 30 MHz than the DJ-X2000T, but the IC-R20's scans memory at
16 channels/second and its feature set beats
the older DJ-X2000 in several areas.

[Michael J.]

Post by Bob Parnass
I reviewed the DJ-X2000T (USA version) in June 2001 Monitoring Times.
I had fun with the limited range Flash Tune feature, but found

First, I very much appreciate your feedback on this.
How did the flash tune feature work for you? What is its limited range, and how
sensitive did it seem to be?

Post by Bob Parnass
An annoying audio hiss was present even on the strongest of signals.

I understand that the "early" model X2000s had this hissing problem. I'm not sure,
but I think I may have read somewhere that this hissing problem had been corrected to
a degree on newer models. Have you heard any such tell?

Post by Bob Parnass
The 110 millisecond squelch tail noise at the end of each transmission
was too long and grew tough to listen to.

I remember reading that as well. Primarily I am going to use this scanner for
listening on known, more continuous frequencies ... as opposed to doing a lot of
scanning for active frequencies. So in this instance, I could find it somewhat
acceptable to deal with a slow scan rate and longer squelch tails.

Probably my main concern would be whether or not the hissing problem has been
corrected, and just how well the flash tune feature works.

MJ

[Bob Parnass]

Post by Michael J.
First, I very much appreciate your feedback on this.
How did the flash tune feature work for you? What is its limited range, and how
sensitive did it seem to be?

From my DJ-X2000T review in MT:

"...The "Flash Tune" feature is amazing.
Set the mode (e.g., AM, NFM, WFM), initiate the Flash Tune,
and the DJ-X2000T sits quietly until it detects a
strong signal (approx. -30 dBm, approx. 7100 uV)
within the 50 - 1300 MHz range.
At that point, the display changes shows the approximate
signal frequency and lets you hear the action.
You must set the mode (e.g., AM, NFM) ahead of time.
We used it to find and monitor 470 MHz transmissions
from someone using a walkie-talkie 25 feet away,
though it didn't detect a low power 170 MHz
wireless microphone at 5 feet."

"Our DJ-X2000T's Flash Tune also finds portable
cellular phone transmissions, but it displays 823 MHz
because the USA version is cellular disabled...."

Post by Michael J.
I understand that the "early" model X2000s had this hissing problem. I'm not sure,
but I think I may have read somewhere that this hissing problem had been corrected to
a degree on newer models. Have you heard any such tell?

I read that, but I don't know if it is true. Sorry.

[Michael J.]

Thank you for your help Bob

MJ

Post by Bob Parnass

Post by Michael J.
First, I very much appreciate your feedback on this.
How did the flash tune feature work for you? What is its limited range, and how
sensitive did it seem to be?

"...The "Flash Tune" feature is amazing.
Set the mode (e.g., AM, NFM, WFM), initiate the Flash Tune,
and the DJ-X2000T sits quietly until it detects a
strong signal (approx. -30 dBm, approx. 7100 uV)
within the 50 - 1300 MHz range.
At that point, the display changes shows the approximate
signal frequency and lets you hear the action.
You must set the mode (e.g., AM, NFM) ahead of time.
We used it to find and monitor 470 MHz transmissions
from someone using a walkie-talkie 25 feet away,
though it didn't detect a low power 170 MHz
wireless microphone at 5 feet."
"Our DJ-X2000T's Flash Tune also finds portable
cellular phone transmissions, but it displays 823 MHz
because the USA version is cellular disabled...."

Post by Michael J.
I understand that the "early" model X2000s had this hissing problem. I'm not sure,
but I think I may have read somewhere that this hissing problem had been corrected to
a degree on newer models. Have you heard any such tell?

I read that, but I don't know if it is true. Sorry.