I always hear buy a HF Rig for 11 meters.

[Grogan]

i was wondering if any of the more budget priced Radios are any good for AM. I am not looking for loud earth shattering Echo audio audio audio. But something fairly loud and clear from a converted or Mars mod on a Possible mobil or budget HF Rig. AM is 25 max on most thats ok.Don't need BIG swing. But good am.
Alinco DX-SR9T, Icom 718 , yaesu FT-891, These radios New are less than 600.00 us
Thanks

 

[Mudfoot]

The Alinco SR8T sounds very nice on AM. Either buy an old Kenwood MC-60 desk mic, or buy an Alinco desk mic. The 891 and 718 are AM turds. The PA section in the Alinco is stout. It also includes a filter and FM, which the 718 doesn't.

 

[Low_Boy]

My 718 sounds great on SSB but I am told sounds terrible on AM.

 

[dave457]

Ts 440 or 450

 

[Mudfoot]

Ts 440 or 450

I always got good reports with my old 450. Wish I still had that. Still my fav rig.

 

[NightThumper]

The Alinco SR8T sounds very nice on AM. Either buy an old Kenwood MC-60 desk mic, or buy an Alinco desk mic. The 891 and 718 are AM turds. The PA section in the Alinco is stout. It also includes a filter and FM, which the 718 doesn't.

Mudfoot is spot on. The FT891 is definitely a turd on AM. I’ve heard the Kenwood TS-480 on AM and it sounded pretty damn good...Comes in two flavors SAT and HX. HX is 200 watts no antenna tuner and SAT 100 watts with antenna tuner. Jah Ric 048 in Columbus Ohio had one in his mobile for a while. The SR8T another fine choice. I’m running my IC-7300 on AM/SSB and have heard no complaints....not as good as the above mentioned rigs but it works for me as a base.

 

[543_Dallas]

What do you consider to be a good AM sound? Communications grade audio that sounds like the recording of Neil Armstrong taking the first step on the moon or good natural sounding audio?

Make sure you're on the same page as the people giving you advice. My ts440 makes good AM but it needed some work to get there. The stock 455 filter would not allow what I call good AM.

I used to recommend against using a HF rig for AM. Most cb sets and exports sound better. They have really gotten their act together with newer rigs but the ones I would recommend are more than $600 used.

 

[w9cll]

If your intention is to run am then get an older Cobra 29. Haha HF rigs are designed for SSB and not great on AM

 

[binrat]

I got good reports with my old TS-480HX.

 

[oldtymer]

Kenwood Ts-570 or Ts-480 work very well on AM

 

[RobbieL]

i was wondering if any of the more budget priced Radios are any good for AM.

How about a president Andy?

 

[HomerBB]

My IC-746 gets good reports for AM, but it absolutely hates the over modulated CBs that some run locally. It will sound as if it's receive is being abused when those radios transmit. So do I feel abused when I hear them, so we agree.
I use a SSB CB for 11m.

 

[Eldorado828]

This is a good thread, something I've been looking to do myself is move up from export radios. I definitely need some schooling on the subject

 

[Mudfoot]

If your intention is to run am then get an older Cobra 29. Haha HF rigs are designed for SSB and not great on AM

Not all are. There's sleepers out there.

 

[Mudfoot]

Kenwood Ts-570 or Ts-480 work very well on AM

TS-50's and DX-70's aren't shabby either.