Casual contester and DXer here and I must say this thread is one of the most
interesting reads on any of my subscribed threads in a long time. I've read
each post and learned a bunch about contest and DX operating! Thank you
everyone for posting!
73 de W5EN Steve
> From: chacuff@cableone.net
> To: tentec@contesting.com
> Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:23:16 +0000
> Subject: [TenTec] Requirements for a top tier DXing rig
>
> I kind of Hijacked an earlier thread thinking it would be a great point for
> discussion and maybe result in helpful feedback to all involved.
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> JIm said:
>
>
>
> We can thank the three major US manufacturers, Ten Tec, Elecraft, and
> Flex Radio for top quality radios at affordable prices, many of them
> "best in class."
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> And I agree completely but would carry things a bit further. I think at some
> point in every DXers life you reach a point where there are some personal
> minimum requirements for a so called Top Tier DXers radio.
>
>
>
> I know I certainly have reached that point with the following that I refuse
> to do without:
>
>
>
> Dual receivers. Not just dual-watch type of multiplex receive...which gets
> the job done but doesn’t provide split headphone outputs so one can monitor
> the DX in one ear and the pileup in the other. It’s nice that the two
> receivers have the same specs but not completely necessary for me.
>
>
>
> Split RX audio. Actually an extension of Dual Receivers. I DX under
> headphones 90% of the time and the split receive is a must on split frequency
> operations. I think it makes full use of the processing power our brains
> have to offer as a DSP filter of sorts...
>
>
>
> Dual VFO knobs. I can do the toggle thing but why. The Orion system is ideal
> and even better is having the remote VFO/Keypad set to the sub receiver and
> next to the CW key. The remote VFO/Keypad is really a nice touch and seems
> to be catching on as Icom has just introduced one. Again Ten-Tec leading the
> industry. Not one of my minimums but again a nice touch.
>
>
>
> Up to this point I have managed to eliminate Icom and probably Kenwood. The
> IC7800 and the TS-990 are the only current rigs that meets the above spec and
> Icom is way out of my price range...the Kenwood is on the high side for me as
> far as pricing. (more on that later)
>
>
>
> Knobs. I just can’t get excited about my radio being a mouse and a keyboard
> and a computer screen. Now I don’t have issue with computer control of my
> conventional rig but that is a bit different in that I use it to tune the rig
> to spots and to collect data from the rig for population of fields in my
> logging program. I still drive with the knobs.
>
>
>
> Sorry Flex...
>
>
>
> BIG Knobs. As we age it gets harder to see and sometimes dexterity suffers
> making it difficult to manage tiny knobs placed so close together. Ten-Tec
> has done a great job on this with the Orion.
>
>
>
> BIG Radio’s. Front panel real estate is a must to keep from ending up with
> tiny knobs, concentric knobs and multi layer menus resulting in many multi
> function buttons and knobs. It’s too difficult to wade through all that in
> the middle of a pileup or running in a contest. Besides this is a base
> station rig that never leaves the shack. There is no good reason it shouldn’t
> be sizable.
>
>
>
> Elecraft is a bit small for me but...
>
>
>
> Support. Well what can I say here...the best support is coming from the US
> manufacturers. I’ve experienced the Japanese level of support and it wasn’t
> fun so I don't really want to go there again. I can get decent support on
> Icom because i’m friends with the local Icom dealer and he National sales
> manager but again I can’t justify $13K for a 7800. That pretty much leaves
> Elecraft and Ten-Tec and the Elecraft is a bit on the small side for a base
> radio to my likings but it does perform and is supported well.
>
>
>
> All this and affordable: Well what about price.... Needs to be under 5 to
> 6K for a top tier rig for me to begin to justify it with the features
> mentioned. The sad part is that pretty much eliminates all the current top
> tier radio’s but probably the Yaesu FT-5000 and Elecraft that meet my
> personal minimums but I’ve not been happy with Yaesu support and their
> current product line and direction so I won’t buy their products. Were back
> to Elecraft and Ten-Tec. I already own an Orion II...the decision based on
> the above clearly but the Orion has been discontinued. So if I didn't own
> the Orion and was having to make a purchase decision.... Things would be
> pretty much the same...I would search out a nice used example of the Orion
> II. There is really no other choice for the way I operate and the features
> I’ve deemed a personal minimum.
>
>
>
> The question is what does the future hold for guys like us?
>
>
>
> Who knows but I am glad I have the Orion II...it should serve for many years
> along with the Centurion it’s paired with...till we get a glimpse of what’s
> to come.
>
>
>
> Of course this is subjective and YMMV so don’t beat me up too bad....
>
>
>
>
>
> Cecil Acuff
> Gulfport MS
> K5DL
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
_______________________________________________
TenTec mailing list
TenTec@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
|