In the K8GP/R super rover, Andy and I use K3's. We have a nice operating
desk and we use an Arduino controller to monitor both K3's for band data
to switch transverters and ensure we don't blow something up! The K3
would be my first choice but then you need a bank of transverters and
switching.
As an alternative, I got a IC9100 with the 1296 module in it. That give
me 6 and 2 at 100w and 432 at 75w, enough that running an amp isn't
necessary. For 222 and 902, I used another Arduino with software Andy
wrote that watches the CI/V port on the IC9100. When I go to 26 or 27
MHz, the 222 transverter connected to Ant1 is select (my IF comes out
26=222 which also gives 223.5=27.5). When I go to 28 or 29 MHz, Ant 2 is
select and it goes to a DEMI 902 transverter (28=902 and 29=903). The
Arduino shield I designed has 20 turn pots for setting the ALC voltage
to limit the power on these bands to drive the transverters properly. So
with one radio and two transverters you cover the bottom 6 VHF bands.
Yes, it's a bit more expensive but FT991A's are still new and I paid not
much for the for IC9100 with 1296!
Terry - W8ZN
On 2018-01-24 9:51 am, Dan Evans via VHFcontesting wrote:
Hi John,
Thanks for your feedback!
I've received a few others, and from what I'm seeing the 991A is
definitely the way to go.
I really just wanted to see if anyone replied with "it's deaf as a
post" or something, hi hi.
It will likely be a few more weeks before I can buy anything. But
hey, Dayton is coming soon :-)
73Dan
-- K9ZF Vice President, Clark County Amateur Radio Club,Amateur Radio
Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana. EM78el The once and future
K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover Resource
Page at: List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books Ask me how
to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 9:23:12 AM EST, John Young via
VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting@contesting.com> wrote:
Dan,
I use an FT991A. It's my first radio other than mobile dual bands so
not a lot of comparative experience.
The waterfall is a joy. Whether spotting stations when doing S&P or
tuning around my local FM jammer clown I find it indispensable.
The menu driven amp and filter contols are easy to use and work well,
some are HF only but most work on ssb 2m & 70cm.
You can program a group of software defined buttons on the touchscreen
for quick access to your most needed contols which are then adjusted
by a dedicated knob on the front panel. The setting is displayed as a
horizontal bar on the display above the waterfall. Easy to read.
I keep a note card on the wall with my favorite software contol line
numbers on it. To access them you push one button and the display
shows about 10 of them on the display. You scroll through using a
knob to the one you want, they are all numbered 1 through 120, push
select, adjust the selected function with the same knob push the
software generated done button and your back to the waterfall. It's
quick and the rx still fuctions while you make the adjustment so you
can tune it to your liking in one shot.
Compared to the FT8800 and 8900 (my only references) the reciever is
great. I can run with no squelch on FM and dig weak, distant calls
and grids out of the fluttering noise. SSB RX seems very good and
compares nicely if not better to the Kenwood I use with W4IY in June.
Very limited experience for that comparision.
There are a ton of filter settings I have not spent much time with so
no competent assesment there.
It has a 6m and vhf/uhf pl259's on the back. Wish it had the N's. I
run a diplexer to split out 70cm from 2m to keep things simple.
The N1MM set up was easy. You do have to download a special USB
driver from the Yeasu site but thats simple enough.
I have not looked at tranverter set up.
I enjoy doing HF with it between contests.
Its not heavy, it is compact and is intended for both mobile and base
use so I assume its reasonably rugged. Mine gets jostled off road
quit a bit and its been perfectly reliable in the year I have had it.
No heat problems. The connectors on the back are stout and either
seat tightly or positively lock so I dont worry about vibration
loosening them.
Hopefully you can find one locally to spend some time with.
I am very happy but I am also inexperienced.
73
John
KM4KMU
Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
On Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Dan Evans via VHFcontesting
<vhfcontesting@contesting.com> wrote:
My old Yaesu FT897D is getting long in the tooth. It's developing
some issues that have me doing research on newer "DC to Daylight"
rigs. (Display is slowly dying, FM squelch no longer works...) Right
now the front runners are the Icom 7000, the Icom 7100, and the Yaesu
FT991A. Currently, I'm leaning toward the 991a. Anyone care to share
their experience and opinions? My use will be almost exclusively Rover
and Field Day type portable use. Thanks,Dan -- K9ZF Vice President,
Clark County Amateur Radio Club,Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark
County Indiana. EM78el The once and future K9ZF /R no budget Rover
***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover Resource Page at: List
Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books Ask me how to join the
Indiana Ham Mailing list!
_______________________________________________ VHFcontesting mailing
list VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
|