On 2:59 PM, K8JDC wrote:
> Hi friends,
>
> I've been considering getting a Paragon II to use with MARS and
> to just have another radio in the shack. I have an Orion but it won't
> do very many of the MARS frequencies of course. I've never used a
> Paragon (or Omni V/VI for that matter since those have similar
> controls) but they impress me as a solid design with good performance
> that still has repair support. For this application, I also think I
> prefer a classic design with knobs and buttons instead of a computer
> interface like say a Pegasus or whatever. This will be used almost
> entirely for SSB and I'm looking primarily for a proven semi-modern
> solid-state radio that will do MARS.
>
> By way of a comparison, the Kenwood TS-850S is in same approximate
> price range on the used market and gets a lot of positive comments for
> being a very good performer and I know some use it for MARS. I've
> never had a Kenwood but I respect many of the comments I have read
> about the TS-850 although I think repair support is questionable. I
> had an Icom 746 at one time and it was a good radio but I decided to
> buy American radios so I sold it. That's part of the reason I'm
> asking about the Paragon.
>
> I've also considered looking for a used 200W rig although I think
> this would bump it up to the next price class. I've never had any of
> those either but thought it would make an interesting upgrade to my
> desk. I haven't researched any of those to see how well they would do
> on MARS frequencies. I have a linear but have thought it would be
> nice to have a 200W rig. If it runs on AC power, that's fine with
> me. I won't be dragging this thing out into the woods.
>
> I thought I might ask for opinions on the Paragon II here since I
> haven't played with one and solicit other opinions. For the record, I
> have not used a Jupiter either but I like the Paragon style more than
> the Jupiter. I just have never been too interested in the Jupiter.
>
> Thanks and sorry for a long post but I wanted to frame the question a
> bit.
>
> Dave
> K8JDC
>
I had one before I got my Orion 565. In my opinion they are the better
of the Paragons.
They have a number of features not in the Paragon w/o the Giehl chip.
For example,
they have a standard computer interface that works well with most
computer control programs.
I felt it was an excellent transceiver and liked the fact that it could
work on 60 meters when
the OMNI VI could not. I used it on a number of phone nets and on CW as
well. I changed
because of the better front end and the use of DSP in the second IF and
the "double receivers".
I really prefer large knobs too.
Ed, N5EI
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