Topband
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Topband: Transceiver for 160

To: "Topband@contesting.com" <Topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: Transceiver for 160
From: "Jim Brown" <jim@audiosystemsgroup.com>
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:35:39 -0700
List-post: <mailto:topband@contesting.com>
On Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:00:19 -0500, Bruce Osterberg wrote:

>I would like to know, which transceiver that people would 
>recommend for 160 meter DX Use?

In order of increasing cost:

The TS850, a vintage radio with excellent performance can be had 
at a bargain price used. It lacks a separate RX antenna input, but 
that can easily be added with a mod that's on N6TR's website. 

The medium price champ, IMO, is the FT1000MP and its kin -- IF you 
fix the awful clicks, and IF you add the Inrad roofing filter mod. 
Both of these radios need some optional filters. I own two of 
each. 

One great virtue of the MP, and radios like it, is that it has two 
receivers that connect to the same antenna (selectable from the 
front panel). They can be set to feed your headphones in stereo, 
so you can listen to your own frequency in one ear while you call 
CQ and tune the band with the other RX in the other ear to so that 
you don't miss other stations. It also has a separate RX antenna 
input, very nice DSP, etc. The 850 is too old to have DSP. Both 
radios have antenna tuners. 

If you have the big bucks, go for the new Elecraft K3 or the Ten 
Tec Orion. Several members of my local contest club (NCCC) are 
beta testers for the K3, and all are raving about it.  So is N6TR. 
Another of the guys has an Orion, which lives at a local super 
station. All of those who have used it like it a lot. 

73, 

Jim Brown K9YC



_______________________________________________
Topband mailing list
Topband@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/topband

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>