I can remember when the Icom 751A was THE contest radio to have. Icom
really continued to dominate the market with the 761 and 765, but then dual
receive radios came out. I think Yaesu really regained the market with the
FT1000D, because it was the only radio that would allow dual receive on 2
different bands. The Icom rigs (781, 775, 756) didn't even allow for dual
receive on different modes or with different filter widths in each receiver.
But they did have the bandscope. And the Kenwood TS950SDX was very
difficult to set up and use in dual receive, from what I have read.
Still, if you want a single receive contest radio, the best used buys are
probably the Icom 765 and the Kenwood TS850.
73s John NE0P
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill Coleman" <aa4lr@arrl.net>
To: "KE5CTY Bob" <rtnmi@sbcglobal.net>
Cc: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 11:43 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] FT-1000MP
>
> On Jul 5, 2005, at 12:02 AM, KE5CTY Bob wrote:
>
> > I have found out that the FT-1000MP seems to be the most used rig
> > by the
> > top contest stations. (Big Guns) And that most all have 2 or more
> > towers
> > at 100 feet or better along with commercial grade mono band
> > antennas and
> > phased switchable tower arrays for the lower bands, back up amps, ect.
> > Ect
>
> That sounds accurate, although there are some variations.
>
> > Also discovered they normally use N1MM networked logging software for
> > controlling the stations rotors, rigs, band changes spotting ect.
>
> CT, NA and TR have historically been more prevalent, although there's
> a lot of WriteLog and N1MM about.
>
> > Why does the Yaesu seem to be the preferred rig when after all these
> > years (since 1965) I have always heard that Signal One, Collins, and
> > mostly Icom were the best rigs (best dynamic range, best filtering and
> > most reliable over time) to get and that Yaesu was ok for the low
> > budget
> > but not preferred (money being no object) even above Kenwood.
>
> Collins was a top contender when rigs where hollow-state. When rigs
> transitioned to solid-state, Kenwood and Icom were on top.
> > Of what we call the top commercial rigs I have always heard the list
> > from most to least desirable was Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu in that order
> > with many others even above Icom when money is not an concern.
>
> Kenwood blew their lead. The TS-930S was a great rig. The TS-940 made
> some compromises for computer control. TS-950 made too many compromises.
>
> At the same time as Kenwood blew it with the TS-950, Yaesu came out
> with the FT-1000D, and later the 1000MP. These rigs had the right
> balance of performance, features and cost to appeal to the contesting
> crowd. This rig has now been through several revisions.
>
> Ten-Tec has come up with a competitive rig with the Orion. Icom has
> produced several versions of the IC-756, which is now competitive.
> And there's always the IC-7800, which gives the Orion's performance
> at three times the price....
>
> > Even most MARS stations run Collins rigs.
>
> That's because they last bought them in the 1960s....
>
> > These "Top Guns" "Big Guns" ect - are fellows who obviously don't need
> > to worry about cost so price is not a factor.
>
> Think again. Not many guys are breaking down Icom's door to buy
> IC-7800's.
>
> > What is???
> >
> > Is there some sort of advertising campaign like with golf clubs that
> > Yaesu offers these guys or have I heard wrong??
>
> Yaesu just offered the right product with the right properties and
> price at a time when the competition slacked off.
>
> Me? I can't afford any of those big-gun rigs. I make do with an
> Elecraft K2/100.
>
>
> Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: aa4lr@arrl.net
> Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
> -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
>
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