August 2007 has me back in style, shipping some fianl WR-3 orders, and beginning early 2007, the new WR-3 GX receiver. Each new WR-3GX receiver comes with the Smiley Antenna Superstick II antenna.
Since 1,000's of WR-3 are out there in use, this WR-3 information will remain available here, as is the WR-3/VLF Listening Guide, as it is all valid for the new WR-3GX receiver, too.Stephen P. McGreevy May 2007
[WR-3 LISTENING GUIDE (with 60 min. demo CD info also) PDF version (658 KB)]
[WR-3 ORDERING/PAYMENT INFORMATION]
[Other WR-3 Receiver inquiries (contact info.)]
[Please Read! - WR-3 Antenna Information - Please Read!]
Here is information about the WR-3, a compact, fully hand-held and self-contained ELF-VLF receiver I manufacture and sell which allow you to do your own listening and observing of natural ELF-VLF radio phenomena signals for this current Solar-Cycle 23 peak, and the recent upsurge in VLF phenomena to be heard now and for the next couple of years during the unstable and volatile downside of the solar-cycle!:
A montage of my own large collection of various WR-3s and prototypes and a shot of me in the eastern Mojave Desert listening to sunrise whistlers.
The WR-3 is a self-contained, hand-holdable unit with two RC filters. The unit is highly portable, and I use a a few of my own collection during my VLF recording expeditions. When I must bicycle or walk into listening sites or simply to check out a potential listening site for extended recording sessions, I use a WR-3 hand-held unit to make my observations and to check for powerline hum levels and site suitablity conditions. When camping in my camper-van, I use a similar unit modified for in-vehicle use (The WR-4b) that has the same sensitive input circuitry and identical audio amplifier.
A very popular telescoping antenna which works excellently with the WR-3 is the "Super-Stick II" 2-meter 5/8-wave made by Smiley Antenna Co., Inc. (408 La Cresta Heights Rd, El Cajon, CA 92021, USA). This great antenna is 10 section, 54-inches/138 cm in length fully extended, with a loading coil on its base for use with ham radio 2-meter hand-held radios or scanners, and it works great with the WR-3 as well, because the matching-coil is in series with the antenna (and not shunted)! You can either order it from ALF Enterprises, 18933 59th Ave NE, Suite 114, Arlington, VA 98223, (360) 403-4840, Order the BNC-based whip antenna at ALF Enterprises HERE.
http://www.ALFenterprises.com for US$19.00 plus shipping via USPS and sales tax if applicable.
This hand-held receiver is a great unit for taking along wherever you may go -- slip it into your pocket! Very easy to use, the WR-3 has one control knob, antenna jack (BNC type) and headphone jack (1/8-inch mini-stereo type). The WR-3 remains very popular and in use worldwide. The WR-3's headphone jack is compatible with line-in inputs - I directly connect my own WR-3s to my Sony Mini-Disc recorder's line-in jack via a 3-conductor mini-plug (1/8 inch/3.5 mm) stereo patchcord, and monitor the audio using the mini-disc recorder's headphone jack..
The two order forms (postal mail and Paypal online form) reflect the prices to various places.
The WR-3 is only available direct from S. P. McGreevy Productions. Order this receiver via this FORM.
Receive frequency range: 0.1-15 kHz (100 - 15,000 Hz)
The WR-3's peak frequency approx. 1.5 to 3 kHz with gradual frequency roll-offs below 400 Hz and above 3.5 kHz to reduce 50 and 60 Hz hum and also excessive Russian ALPHA Radionavigation signal reception (Alpha begins at about 12 kHz). RFI protected via input RC filter to reduce/eliminate LF-VHF broadcast, Loran-C radio nav., and utility station overload and IMD.
Audio Output: Maximum 100 mW into 16-Ohm stereo headphones. Highest sensitivity freq. range 0.5 - 3 kHz where nearly all natural emissions occur which are readily audible to human ears easily. Internal RC filter in the WR-3 is peaked at 1.5 kHz with gradual roll-off above 3 kHz - essentially it works best for most natural radio phenomena below 10 khz.
Enclosure: Unpainted cast-aluminum "Eagle/Deltron" enclosure: rock-solid and shields circuitry from broadcast RFI. Furthermore, the WR-3's un-painted cast-aluminum enclosure ensures good hand/body-grounding of the receiver - all that is needed most times. Minimal grounding is essential to this kind of receiver to function properly - back years ago with units I built for my recording sessions, I found that a painted enclosure was not optimum to ensure good hand/body grounding and added unnecessarily to its price, hence the unpainted enclosure. I further opted not to have gummy stickers applied to the enclosure, as they tended to become dirty and sticky over the long term - some of my own WR-3 receivers have been decorated with a few stickers (as you have probably seen in the photo montage toward the top of this page) that don't bleed off sticky gummy adhesive - so I leave it up to users to decorate their own units if so chosen. Otherwise, a clean, polished enclosure is the best way to ensure good body grounding for the best receiver sensitivity.
Headphone jack: 1/8 inch (3.5 mm) stereo (3-conductor) audio jack
Enclosure Size: 4.5 x 2.5 x 1.2 in. (11.5 x 6.5 x 3.7 cm)
Weight: Approx. 10 oz. (280 g) with battery
Antenna: Requires a telescoping whip with BNC-type male connector. The WR-3 has a topside female BNC connector that can use popular whip antennas for 2-meter amateur radio use (see above).
Order the BNC-based whip antenna at ALF Enterprises HERE
Antenna input impedance: Approx. 10 Megohms @ 1 kHz
Power: Use a 9 volt snap-type battery for 15-40 hours of listening time depending on type (@7-20 mA current consumption)
Acceptable Headphone Impedance: 8-32 Ohms (16 Ohm mini-stereo type recommended)
The WR-3 comes with a referenced Listening Guide and Tip Sheet in HTML and PDF format on an included compact-disc ("CD-extra" format with audio and data files). This disc also contains 60 minutes of VLF audio recorded by Stephen P. McGreevy on several expeditions to quiet sites.
New Photos (Mar 2002):
Sony-Mini-Disc MZ-R70 shown connected to WR-3 headphone jack which is compatible with the Sony MD unit's line-in jack, using a stereo (3-wire) 1/8-inch/3.5mm patch-cord
Steve McGreevy with my WR-3 and Marantz PMD-221 recorder in the Warner Mountains near Lakeview, Oregon, recording daytime whistlers April 1997
WR-3 60 minute audio/data CD containing the Listening Guide
The WR-3 with "FireStik II" whip (BNC base) attached to the WR-3
The WR-3 has a 30-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with it and the unit is returned to me in good shape. It is exceedingly rare it develops problems under normal use (do be careful about the battery clip wires when attaching a new battery - 9v battery clips are delicate - I have a couple of units in use for over 10 years now without glitches--some of them treated a bit roughly in various backpacks and while traveling. The new, more robust whip-antenna and BNC jack has solved many former antenna problems that occurred with the screw-on type and makes it compatible with many whip antennas (including those for 2 meter ham use on an HT) as well.
If you should experience trouble with the unit within the 30-days, return it for repair it for no-cost (please keep a copy of your invoice!). After the 30-day period, we will will fix or/replace it and return it to you for a flat fee of US$30 plus $4.00 shipping (to U.S.), US$5 to CAN; US$15 Overseas.
Now, regarding your PRIVACY: NO personal information you supply (Name, postal and e-mail address, telephone number, etc) will be released to any entity outside of my own company. In addition, I myself do not believe in partaking in e-mail 'spamming,' and so you'll never be bothered by sales information from us--in any form after you receive your shipment. I deeply respect and desire privacy (being a very private person myself).
Stephen P. McGreevy, August 2004
Contact me for additional WR-3 receiver information/inquiries
[WR-3 LISTENING GUIDE (with 60 min. demo CD info also) HTML version]
[WR-3 LISTENING GUIDE (with 60 min. demo CD info also) PDF version (658 KB)]
[Photos of WR-3 portable VLF receiver]
[WR-3 ORDER FORM WITH PAYMENT INFO.]
[My email page contact info.)]
Order the BNC-based whip antenna at ALF Enterprises HERE
The radio Shack/Tandy scanner antenna works well too. Grove Enterprises in North Carolina has a BNC scanner antenna too.
