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Re: [VHFcontesting] Time for a Portable rig upgrade

To: Terry Signature <terry@directivesystems.com>
Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] Time for a Portable rig upgrade
From: Mark Spencer <mark@alignedsolutions.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:01:34 -0800
List-post: <mailto:vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
For 50 MHz I've enjoyed using my IC7300 while roving.   The band scope is nice 
and only covering one VHF band isn't that much of a issue for me.  (I find 
having a radio on 50 MHz all the time helps capitalize of brief band openings.)

I looked at the K3 and the Kenwood TS590sg but felt the IC7300 with the built 
in band scope was a better fit for my needs.

I am also curious about the FT991 as I'm starting to think about refreshing my 
144 and 432 MHz roving radios.  I typically use a pair of Icom 706MkiiG's while 
roving. The remote control heads are a nice feature in my view.   I've tried a 
few other radios over the years but keep going back to the Icom 706MkiiG's for 
the rover.   Still at some point I expect I will need to upgrade.  Although I 
run a transverter on 222 in the rover I'd prefer to use pre packaged radios for 
144 and 432 MHz.


73

Mark S
VE7AFZ

mark@alignedsolutions.com
604 762 4099

> On Jan 24, 2018, at 9:39 AM, Terry Signature <terry@directivesystems.com> 
> wrote:
> 
> 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 me
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