The choice was similarly made here.
The tool kit on the 590 works well, and the ergonomics are superior. While the
receiver is not quite as quiet as the O2, it's DSP is remarkable and does not
distort audio.
With a large antenna it works well with freedom from intermod and overload.
This little radio has a good equalizer and sounds excellent on receive and is
not fatiguing during contesting.
The stock transmit audio equalizer choices work well, or you can build your own
while under their CAT system.
You can connect to the rig via serial or USB ports.
The memories for CW and Phone contesting work well, and the rig will record
right off the air as well.
This radio is truly portable at 16 pounds.
While I still prefer the O2 and all of its great features, the 590S is a great
blueprint to design from.
Add some modular capability, outboard band scope, a second receiver, and you
have a fabulous station. The entry level of $1500 would be competitive for this
down converter.
73,
Mike
W2AJI
Sent from my iPhone
> On May 21, 2014, at 12:36 PM, Jim Lowman <jmlowman@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> Rick and all,
>
> I loaned my Eagle to a friend for an in-shack evaluation.
> He went to Dayton, but there's a limit to what you can do with equipment on
> display there.
> Here is his impression of the Eagle:
>
> "Now on the the Eagle. It plays very nicely, the receiver and QSK are great,
> but the ergonomics fall seriously short. Not enough buttons and knobs to do
> the job. One of my pet peeves is not having a dedicated keyer speed control.
> You need to poke two buttons before you can crank the knob. Ditto the RIT.
>
> I had it turned on and used it extensively in the four days before I left for
> Dayton so I did get to know it well enough. The box sure gets hot just
> receiving. If they’d put it in a slightly larger container with a little
> bigger face with a little more room for controls I think it would have made a
> big difference."
>
> Initially he was quite impressed with the specs of the Eagle, in a box not
> much larger than the Argonaut V.
>
> When he did go to Dayton, he ordered a K3.
>
> I recall the test that a French ham did - a A/B/C comparison of an Eagle, K3
> and TS-590.
> For him, the ergonomics of the TS-590 won out.
> So, for transceivers with fairly comparable specs, it can often come down to
> the very subjective area of ergonomics; much like the feel of a high-quality
> paddle.
>
> As to a transceiver with limited bands, say 20/30/40, well...that wouldn't
> work for me.
> I got beyond my fascination for small QRP radios that had single-band
> coverage or, at most, three bands.
> That ended about the time that Index Labs came out with the QRP+ with 160-10m
> in one small package.
>
> 73 de Jim - AD6CW
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