The AOR receiver includes the full frequency area from 100 kHz to 1299,995 MHz and modulation types: narrow FM, wide FM and AM. The reception options are thus concentrated on FM, on monitoring the operation of hand-held AM stations from the CB band (11 m) above and on the radio signal in the area
Portable Broadband Receiver AOR AR-mini
Japanese company Authority on Radio (AOR) / 1 / occupies a leading position in the development of broadband receivers and has gained a reputation also in professional monitoring. The new AR-mini continues this tradition.
The AOR receiver includes the full frequency area from 100 kHz to 1299,995 MHz and modulation types: narrow FM, wide FM and AM. The reception options are thus concentrated on FM, on monitoring the operation of manual AM stations from the CB band (11 m) above and on the radio signal in the area of frequency DV, SV, KV and VKV. The desired channel raster (debug step) can be selected from 5 to 100 kHz. The digitisation of thetorical television (DVB-T) in Germany is now almost complete. Therefore, analog TV audio today is not one of the signals that can be received by these wide-FM scanners. With modulation narrow FM and AM receiver AR-mini works as a triple superhet (first between frequencies 243.95 MHz, 2. MF 21.7 MHz, 3. MF 450 kHz) and modulation wide FM as a double superhet / 2 /.
As accessories is supplied by default: "rubber" spiral antennas (length 128 mm), called pendrek, two NiMH Mignon batteries (2500 mAh), a high-standard power unit/charger (input: 100 to 240 V, 50 to 60 Hz; output: 6 V, 500 mA) with connector adapter, fastenable mount (to belt), support strap (suspension belt). Next to the English operating manual "Operating manual" importer / 3 / attaches german operating instructions.
Type: HF/VHF/UHF receiver/scanner
Frequency range: 0.1-1300 MHz (Cellular blocked in the US)
(5 / 6.25 / 8.33 / 9 / 10 / 12.5 / 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 / 50 / 100 KHz steps)
Mode: AM/FM/WFM
Receiver system: Dual conversion superheterodyne (WFM)
Triple conversion superheterodyne (AM/FM)
IF: 243.95 MHz, 21.7 MHz, 450 KHz
Sensitivity: AM (10 dB S/N)
0.2-5 MHz: 1.3 uV
5-520 MHz: 0.6 uV
520-1300 MHz: 0.7 uV
FM (12 dB SINAD)
5-370 MHz: 0.2 uV
370-520 MHz: 0.28 uV
520-1300 MHz: 0.35 uV
WFM (12 dB SINAD)
5-160 MHz: 0.9 uV
160-370 MHz: 0.8 uV
370-1300 MHz: 1 uV
Selectivity: AM/FM: 15 KHz (-6 dB)
WFM: 110 KHz (-6 dB)
Image rejection: N/A
Voltage: 2.4-3 VDC (2*R6/AA) or 6 VDC external
Current drain: 20-150 mA
Impedance: 50 ohms, SMA
Dimensions (W*H*D): 60*95*24 mm
Weight: 210 gr (with antenna and batteries)
Manufactured: 2008-200x
Other: 1,000 memories in 10 banks. CTCSS/DCS. Water resistant (JIS4)
Voice inverter descrambler (not in US version). Bug detector. PC-programmable.
Construction and equipment
Apart from the name, there is no indication that this portable scanner in the black plastic box is the smallest representative of its kind from the AOR workshop. This is not a criticism, because in recent years some of this and other manufacturers have come under great pressure to miniaturize. This will partly suffer from the operation and listening from the built-in speaker. For the AR-mini receiver, this is not the case: for dimensions of 60 mm x 108 mm x 25 mm (width x height x depth, including prolonging controls; mass 210 g - with batteries and antenna) there is sufficient space on the front wall for a contrasting and bright LCD display (42 mm x 19 mm; width x height) with large digits and for a built-in speaker (100 mW). Between these elements is located the on/off button and five buttons to control the device.
On the top wall, the menu is complemented by the Dial (station selection) with the functions of the controls on the front of the device. Next to it is placed (with a removable cap) socket 3.5 mm for connecting headphones, external active speakers or for connecting the recorder (recording of the demodulated received signal). This low frequency clamp is in a monochrome design and therefore - we do not use the handset called spunt - almost always requires a reduction of mono / stereo. The supplied "rubber" antenna or other world receiver can be connected to the SMA connector. A signal with a lower frequency of approx. to 15 MHz (according to the Manual only up to 5 MHz) is received using a ferrite antenna that is integrated in the device. When receiving higher osmusti using an external antenna, the ferrite antenna can be disconnected. The headphone power cord can also be used as an antenna.
On the narrow wall of the device on the right there is a connector for external power supply (6V, 500 mA) or for connecting the supplied power part /charger. Two Mignon batteries can be placed on the back wall of the receiver in the holder, which is accessible after removing the removable cover with a latch. When the external source is connected, the inserted NiMH batteries are not charged automatically, but manual activation in the control menu is required to start the charging process; after 24 hours, the AR-mini automatically terminates the charging process. This solution reduces harmful overcharging of batteries and reduces the risk in primary cell experiments.On the narrow wall of the device on the left there is a function switch and a Monitor button to manually "open" the noise gates using other controls.
Operating concept
Pressing pwr for at least 2 s is activated to the last frequency received. To adjust the volume level and to cause the noise gates, it is necessary to pr. press the Dial control twice on the top wall of the device. The LCD display shows the current value that can be changed using the "arrow button" or the controller. The type of modulation chooses the AR-mini in automatic mode to be suitable for the receiving area of the oscommon. For manual selection of the type of operation, the Mode switch is used, gradually switching between FM modes - narrow, FM - wide, AM and automatic.
Because the decimal keyboard for direct parameter input is missing, the desired frequency in VFO mode can be done by combining several controls. The entire range of ar-mini received is divided into twelve sections, their change is done by setting the "arrow button" in the desired direction. The receiver is now tuned to the last frequency received, including the selected modulation. With the function button permanently pressed, the frequency received can be changed using the Dial driver in steps 1 MHz (the step can be changed to 10 kHz, 100 kHz, 10 MHz, 100 MHz). The Dial itself is used for fine tuning. In practice, the desired accepted flow can thus be smoothly achieved.
If the manufacturer has activated preset auto-tuning with a step that is not adapted to the actual channel raster, you must enter the AR-mini setting menu. There you can enter by pressing the Dial driver while the Func function key remains pressed. The corresponding submenu for selecting the debug step uses the base digit "00", this can be achieved by using the Dial. With the Func button pressed and the Dial, you can select the desired channel raster (5 / 6, 25 / 8,33 / 9/10/12, 5/15/2025/30/50/100 kHz) and confirm by pressing the controller. You could say it's complicated. In practice, the channel raster is rarely changed if another important parameter for adjustment the user has direct access, so that this circumstance - otherwise clear control - can be taken care of. Tip: channel raster for 8,33 and 9 kHz can only be selected when intake of the respective band (VHF air traffic, medium waves).
Storing oses in memory
Press V / M to enter from VFO mode to memory mode, where 1000 memory locations are available for the oscmusts. They are divided into blocks (banks) where there is 100 individual memory. For a better overview, it is possible to concentrate the osmite of one region or some services into a common group. Each stored memory space can be provided with an ID that can contain up to six characters. In the future, you can see a link to the used clock on the display. Stored frequencies can be released from the memory bank individually or as a whole group.
Manually storing and maintaining a file for up to 1000 memory locations directly on the receiver is laborious. Therefore, AOR offers a USB cable as an accessory to program the AR-mini receiver from the computer and secure data files; the relevant software is available (download) on the website / 4 /.
Scan
The main functions of this broadband receiver include scanning to find active speeds as quickly as possible. AR-mini offers a common option here: scanning memories. Active stored frequencies are searched and the scan stops when the signal "opens" the buzzgateway. Scans can be limited to individual and to several memory banks (groups) as well as to certain memory locations. In the latter case, you can press the button to mark unwanted stored frequencies so that they will be ignored when scanning.
Another option is to scan the toss. In the freely defined area of the ostocmusts, a signal is sought where - if necessary- the upper or lower limit range can be determined. Unwanted frequently used frequently available during scanning can be excluded by pressing a button, with 100 selected memory available for that purpose. For a frequently searched area, the receiver has 22 memory locations reserved, where the current pairs of border-to-limit times are stored. The areas thus defined in the new AOR receiver can be pooled together for frequency scanning, for example, when quickly examining activities in the 2m, 70 cm and 23 cm bands. This is progress against most other portable scanners, where only one area of the ostoctor is assumed to be scanned. Memory of 22 cut-off shadings is given from production. However, it is easy to change memory according to your own requirements.
Note: all search areas are activated when the receivers are stowed, so no manual activation is required for meaningful operation. The so-called starting frequencies and debug steps cannot be combined freely together, for example when searching the 11 m CB band at the last five frequencies with a step of 10 kHz. So we need to switch to 5 kHz and thus necessarily reduce the scanning speed in half. With regard to signal search ratios, there are the following alternatives:
A) the ar-mini scan stops for an open noise gate and then continues with a delay of 2 s,
B) the receiver stops again at the frequency even at the closed squelch silence circuit,
C) the scan will remain for the programmed period 1 to 12 s on the active function and then run independently of the still ongoing activities of the receiver.
In VFO mode, the receiver - in addition to the currently accepted rate - also monitors the pre-programmed priority channel. Automatic switches to this channel every 5 times when the receiver activities are ongoing, preferably switching to it. In 2VFO Watch mode, by contrast, two channels are equivalent: the receiver still switches between pre-programmed frequencies and stops at one frequency as soon as the Squelch noise gate opens there. Nevertheless, the AR-mini receiver for each pair then briefly switches to a different channel, so no activity is ignored.
Experience
A-mini is a reliable portable receiver for monitoring local and regional spectrum. Common scanning functions can be used for this operation. Interesting in this class of apparatus is possible the pooling of freely defined areas of oscodes. With regard to the test parameter of about 460 frequency steps per minute (7,7 / s) AR-mini is not one of the leading broadband receivers. Memory automation is also the domain of other devices.
For frequencies up to 30 MHz, the reception quality of almost every conventional fare radio is better. However, the reception on short waves is difficult to improve e.g. by connecting telescopic antennas. With regard to the bandwidth of the AM filter approx. 15 kHz, stations from adjacent channels can then be received. No station could be accepted at night when testing for long waves. The result on the middle waves was significantly better, but the "strength" of the receiver clearly manifests itself in frequencies above 30 MHz, and the area of high frequencies is a complement - as with almost all receivers of this kind.
The built-in speaker is optimal for listening to the spoken word, but it is also acceptable for occasional radio reception am or FM. However, the most important parameter is the immediate access of the user, who does not need "no pointed fingers" to do so.
Literature:
/ 1 / Authority on Radio (AOR), Tokyo: www.aorja.com
/ 2 / AOR AR-mini, fact sheet: FUNKAMATEUR 57 (2008), No. 11, p. 1199
/ 3 / bogerfunk radio equipment s. s ro (Funkanlagen GmbH), Aulendorf; www.boger.de
/ 4 / software for AR-mini: www.aorja.com / ar-mini
