[CQ-Contest] ts-830s value?, and suitability for contesting?

[Mike Smith-VE9AA, Coreen Smith]

Hi, Mike/ve9aa here.  Once again I am searching into the great depths 
of the combined expertise on this reflector!
Have a chance to buy a ts-830s....Before we all think I am nuts, it 
will be a backup unit, and I am wondering how much I should offer
the guy for it.  It has NO cw filter (drats), but I will be primarily
using it in cw contests.  Are they any good?  (besides not having any 
digital whizz-bang options and only 1 vfo)
Also, how much (if any) more versatile are they than the 530s?
Just got an old 530s a couple of weeks ago, and so far I like it.
Thanks for your comments!
-MIKE
p.s.-how rare are the cw filters generally?

Michael & Coreen Smith
271 Smith Rd, Waterville
Sunbury Co, NB, E2V 3V6
Canada
****new email address*****
ve9aa at brunnet.net



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