Description
This sale is for a JRC NRD-525 receiver many hobbyists have come to love over the past 30 years. The unit is not new, but the cosmetics of this receiver is above average with only minor marks from ownership. Please look carefully at the HD pictures and use the magnifier to see specific cosmetics of this receiver.Electronically, the receiver was tested and operates beautifully with wonderful sensitivity. The display still appears to have a nice intensity. We did not encounter any operational issues or shortcomings. This receiver is later serial number BR43517. From information in our notes, we can offer this additional info for you regarding the firmware installed as it correlates to the serial number:Serial BR36471 and above - SSB offset addedSerial BR36771 and above - The tuning rate of the main tuning knob and the step increment button (up/down) can be changed by hitting the run button. This will select two tuning speeds between 10 Hz and 100 Hz. The up/down buttons toggle between 10 Hz and 20 Hz. Earlier serial number units have a single and very slow 10 Hz tuning speedSerial BR38301 and above - the last important firmware update by JRC on the NRD-525 receiverThus, this serial number of BR43517 indicates that all the JRC firmware upgrades are installed in this receiver. Included with this receiver are the following:copy of the user manualcopy of the 156 page service manual AC power cordcopy of the sale brochurePassport Whitepaper review version 4.01The NRD-525 versus the R-5000 reviewA Highly Modified HQ-180A versus A Modified NRD-525 evaluationThe NRD-525 review - Charles Bolland (reprinted from Enjoying Radio 1987)WRTH review - 1987 (World Radio & Television Handbook)Wastegunner On A 525 - John Bryant review from Proceedings (DXing Newsletter)NRD-525 review QST Magazine - July 1988 ( amateur radio magazine)Class of 86 - NRD-525 review by Rainer LichtePassport To World Band Radio - review 1991Improving A Winner: Modifications & Upgrades For The NRD-525 - Guy Atkins in Proceedings NewsletterNRD Notes - Issue No. One published in Nov. 1993 by Bill Carney (I do not know if additional NRD Notes were ever published)Gilfer Shortwave catalog page 1991Gilfer Shortwave catalog page 1993Advertisement seen in Passport 1991Finally, a CD containing most of the above documents plus more. This CD and these documents are not sold and are provided free to the buyer of this receiver. This CD contains 585 MB of documents and you will find files on here that are not available from any other internet source.In using this NRD-525, we are reminded just how well this receiver is designed with the ergonomics controls. It is very well laid out and the user-friendly design makes it a joy to operate.The sensitivity on this 525 was amazing and we tuned into several distant stations during our testing to verify reception.One of the complaints we have read concerning these 525s is the fidelity using the on board speaker. Frankly, the fidelity was not great, but seemed no different than that found on many of the other communications receivers that we regularly test. Virtually all receivers can benefit from an external speaker and this unit is no exception, but the on board speaker seemed acceptable to me as we tuned around the bands. From what we have read, improvement can be found in fidelity using a set of headphones or an external speaker, if desired.The following is a bit of history of the Japan Radio Company and receiver. (asterisks * are placed to prevent accidental keyword spamming to comply with Ebays listing policies)In 1977, Japan Radio Co. had introduced its first radio into the consumer market for shortwave enthusiasts. JRC had a long history of manufacturing commercial and military equipment and now began its foray into a market dominated by the names such as C*ollins and Dr*ake. The initial introduction, the NRD**505, reportedly made less than 1,000 units and this receiver broke new ground for enthusiasts with its high construction standards and precise digital readout. Cost of this receiver was over $2,200 which was a tidy sum of money in the 70s.The NRD**505 was followed up by the NRD**515 in 1979 which was continued into 1986 when JRC introduced this outstanding NRD-525. One of the preeminent shortwave experts and testers is a guy by the name of Larry Magne. Many of you who have read Passports reviews over the past couple of decades have seen Larrys work. He is also largely responsible for the collection of information in the Radio Database Intl whitepapers that give much more detailed reports on a range of popular and high end communication receivers. Regarding the NRD-525, Larry wrote it must be said that the NRD-525 is as close to the optimum shortwave listeners receiver as is in existence and Japan Radio has taken the features shortwave listeners have always sought....and packaged the lot into what is unquestionably the best overall shortwave listeners receiver on the market today and finally the NRD-525 exemplifies once again that Japan Radio receivers are for the connoisseur.Larrys words are over 25 years old so have to be considered with available receivers from that era, but it is not improper to compare this classic receiver to its piers of that vintage and come up with the enthusiasm that Larry found with this NRD-525. Here is a list of the features on this receiver:· Exceptional sensitivity of less than .5 uV 1.6 - 30.0 MHz SSB· Coverage from 90 KHz on up to 34 MHz· Rock solid stability of + or - 3 ppm (and thus enjoyed by utility DXers)· Tunable and readout down to 10 Hz· Razor sharp notch filter and pass band tuning to dig out that signal and reject unwanted signals· 24 hour timer and clock functions· 200 channel scanning that stores frequency, mode, bandwidth, AGC and ATT settings for each channel· RIT tuning offering + or - 5 KHz· 3 position AGC· 4 position dial lamp dimmer· up / down slew tuning· RF gain· BFO + or - 2 KHz· 1/4 headphone jack and separate line out and speaker jacks· Operating modes of AM / SSB/ / CW / FAX / FM / RTTY· 2 stock bandwidths for AM and SSB· Dual Noise Blankers for 2 types of noise signals· ANL (automatic noise limiter)· Operates on 100 / 120 / 220 / 240 VAC 50/60 Hz or 12-16 VDCOne of the things that most impresses us about these Japan Radio receivers is the quality of manufacture. If you should remove the top cover to peer inside, you will see a beautifully designed unit that is modular and which allows for easier access to the various circuit boards for swapping out for replacement.In addition, all the knobs are removed to carefully clean them and to better access the front panel for cleaning. With the NRD-525, we were impressed with the weighted tuning knob that weighed on our postal scale at 6.1 oz and the quality machining using 6 screws to attach the skirt to the knob. Common knobs are either plastic or inexpensively made, but JRC seemed to spare no cost with the weighted tuning knob.At this point, we want to share with you some other available information found on the web concerning this 525 model. You can look at reviews from other users here on eHam.net and please note that the 14 reviewers gave it a 4.8 out of 5:www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1507 (copy and paste link into your internet browser)And this site gives some basic info on the NRD-525 giving it a full 5 Hs (below the listing for the NRD*515):www.dxing.com/rx/nrd515.htm (copy and paste link into your internet browser)Please use the Ebay shipping calculator to determine your shipping cost. This cost includes proper packing materials for safe delivery and insurance cost against damage or loss.Those buyers living outside the USA are also welcome to purchase from us. We have shipped to 111 countries during the past 24 years on Ebay and we are happy to ship virtually anywhere in the world. You may use the shipping calculator to determine your shipping cost.Please keep in mind that this cost may not include any import, customs, or VAT fees. If you are uncertain of these costs, we ask you to check with your local post office prior to making a purchase from us. Thank you!Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to look at our Ebay items!
Live search