[CQ-Contest] Summary of Mobile Radios for Contesting Query

[Dinkelman, Michael W.]

Thanks to all who replied to my query about the
IC706 and FT100. I expected more people
to try and convince me to try the Kenwood or
Alinco but looks like they aren't much in 
the way of contenders.

Some requested a summary so I stripped the 
headers and salutations to 
shorten this up and get to the meat. Still 
haven't made up my mind - been trying to
think what is more important, the mobile or
contest aspect. Could get a second TS940 for
the same money but it'd make a lousy mobile.

So many choices - so little money, Arrrgghh....:>)
73
dink

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Hi,

I bought the 706 to use as a mobile. It wouldn't quite fit into the dash
opening, so I chose to wait for the smaller FT100. Glad I did! It is much
easier to program and use, especially while mobile. To scan the 706. you
must hit two buttons on the faceplate. The FT scans either direction by
holding one mic button. You can change from VFO to MEM, bands, etc. with
the mic, much safer. The little ATAS screwdriver antenna is very easy to
mount, unmount and use on everything from 40m to 6m.

I use the 706 every day; it is my "armchair" station. And I use the FT
every day, it scans repeaters, beacons, DX freqs, WSP, USCG, USFS, even
the AM avation bands as I drive around. I've used both to work DX, and in
a few contests. When I had them both on the armchair, I got slightly
better audio and strength reports with the FT, when I switched back and
forth. 

I really enjoy my 706, but wouldn't think of using it mobile as the FT
does more and much more easily.



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I've computer controlled the 706 while mobile, no problem.  The 500hz CW 
filter is pretty poor, but the 250 has nice steep skirts.  No experience 
with the Yaesu.


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At Grenada one of the four stations that we had consisted of an IC706
driving an AL 811H.  It worked no better than ok- using the menus to do most
things was a drawback, and the RIT was kind of kludgy.  We never could get
it to interface with CT.  2 of our stations were TS570Ds- the radio worked
very nicely and had an always ready RIT control easily accessible.  Add to
that the built-in radio interface, CW keyer, and separate inputs for the
paddle and the computer keying lines, and it was a winner hands down.

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I've worked with both radios in different situations. I own a
IC-706MKII (not the G) and I had occasions to work with the
FT-100 in local RACES events.

Maybe it's personal preferences but the I feel the 706 is a
far better rig. It is easier to operate, the menu system 
is more intuitive and allows almost complete access to all
operating functions. It's not too hard to program and the
RX sensitivity and audio is better (again to my ear). I have
installed the FL-223 (1.9 kHz) and FL-232 (350 Hz) filters
and the DSP unit. We have used this rig for the past three
club Field Day efforts and it has operated flawlessly each 
time. The Icom instruction manual sucks.

On the FT-100 I was not impressed. I spent about 20 or so hours
working to set these up at local police stations last year in
preparation for Y2K and to provide these folks with an alternate
means of communication to their sorry commercial system. It was 
HARD to get it anywhere near acceptable in either TX or RX. The
output audio was distorted through the internal speaker and, I 
may be wrong, but I believe that there is no head phone jack 
for the unit. The menu system is difficult to navigate and the
setting are somewhat obscure. The external antenna tuner unit
with the screw antenna is a waist of money, we ended up using 
G5RVs for these setups. During this exercise I went home to check
what was happening (I live about 3 miles from the station) and
my receive on signals was completely different on a B&W folded
broad-band dipole than the other setup. I could hear lots of
signals, including DX that were not there on the FT-100. We did
some checks and I am fairly sure that it was a difference in RX 
sensitivity.

Funny, I have a FT-920 and have used 1000MPs at KH7R and they are
great rigs. This one sucks, in my opinion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



The best way for you to use an ICOM 706 mobile unit for contesting is to put
it in your Saturn and:

For the ARRL DX contest drive to Nunavet! And for the CQWW keep going east
to zone 2!


[see money comment at top - dink]


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I have an FT-100.  I've not used it as a contest radio but I think it might
work ok.  The major drawback would be filtering.  You have only one slot for
a filter...your choice, CW or SSB.  The front in of the radio is not as
tight
as the 1000 or other main radios, but they work.  It has a very good DSP and
the NB works FB, much better than my 1000D.  It can be interfaced to logging
programs for control with an external CAT cable but I have not tried this.

There were early problems reported with the 100 but from what I have seen
they
were mainly user induced in mobile installations...bad grounding.

There is no headphone jack, just a speaker output but it can be used for
headphones
with a small adapter.  The mic plug is an RJ-45 type, I have heard that
there
is now a Heil converter that can be used to mate your current Heil set the
the
RJ-45.  The internal keyer works FB.  It has a processor that works fine on
SSB.

Give it a shot, the FT-100 is a fun little radio.  I'm just getting mine
installed
in my Explorer with the Yaesu ATAS-100 remote tuned antenna.  It's pretty
cool
to be tooling down the road and listen to the HF bands...and QSO with just
about
anyone I can hear.  It's cool too that I can drop the radio in a case and
take
on any trips we plan.

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I use IC706 and 706MKG, no problem with computer control. 706 has a bit blow

by IF filters. Ft100 had apparently lot of problems, this might be resolved 
now with new model FT100D. Love it, done few contests from mobile, works 
better with good old big american cars and amp in the trunk. Modified
Hustler 
coils with heavy wire and macthing coil at the base.

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I bought an ICOM 706 Mark II a couple of years ago for my mobile station. In
my opinion, the receiver leaves a lot to be desired. The main problem is
that it overloads very easily and under crowded band conditions it is
difficult to hear the weaker stations as a result. During the SS and CQWW
this year I had to shut off the front end preamp and add attenuation. On a
normal day it is not necessary to do this. I don't know if it is because of
the noise blanker or what. I don't know if the FT100 is any better or not.
Good luck.

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I've got a 706 and used it for 2 or 3 serious (CW)contests while my other 
rig was sick. It's absolutely OK!! The controls are a bit small for when 
sleep deprived, and the receiver isn't as good as a 1000D for example, and 
there is a little bit of filter blow by, but over all a solid rig.
I was happy contesting with it.

K1XM uses a 706 as well for his CQWWCW Dxpeditions and has done extremely 
well. He broke the front panel last year at H44 and had to change freq only 
with the mike up/down buttons, and still did well!!

I bought mine primarily for Dxpeditions (although that hasn't happened yet).

Biggest problem - voltage spike at key down that some amplifiers hate - for 
example it gives my ACOM fits. Works fine with a SB200 or Commander

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You might want to try the eHAM reviews for some not-so-unbiased 
not-so-scientific views of the masses.

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I have owned 2 706's and 1 TS-50.

Even though the my IC-706Mii has an audio DSP in it (which won't help at 
all in a contest), to this day, I still believe that the TS-50 was a 
quieter radio.  (Not that a contest is anything but quiet).

If you are going to use 2 radios and CT, I would recommend that you ensure 
that your choice of radio work well with CT for computer control.  I have 
used both the TS-50 and IC-706 with CT and they appear to work OK.  I have 
no experience with the FT-100.

I would lean back to the TS-50 (my 2 cents worth).  Don't leave Kenwood out 
of the picture just yet.  I wouldn't touch the Alinco though, and I have 
used one of these, briefly.

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I think it should do okay.  The only real concern would be what kind of
front end loading can it tolerate (internal bandpass filtering very likely
being minimal) and adjacent frequency big signal rejection can it achieve.

Other than that, it's lack of all but the most fundamental controls being
readily accessible makes it a simple radio to operate--something you may
want as R2...or even as R1, too--be the first on the block to have the
smallest SO2R setup!!! Help! My external bandpass filters are bigger than my
radios!  :-)

N6TR/Tree has written code for TRLog to make it work with the FT-100, so
you're good to go there.

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Subject:	Fwd: [T2] IC-706 Installation

Radio works great, and interfaces well into DX4Windows, NA, CT, TR, etc.
The filters seem to have a bit of shadowing that shows itself with 
strong signal activity during contests, but other than this, I find
the radio to be a very satisfying purchase.


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I have an o-riginal IC-706 that I use mobile.  I have also used it at my
fixed location.  Operating contests in a fixed location, the knobs are
small but useable.  Operating mobile in CQWW CW several times was a real
treat. 

Don't know much about the Yazoo.


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I had a 706 and briefly operated a FT100.

The short story:

Both are menu driven.  If you are a serious contester it becomes tedious 
going through menus to change things.  Unless you are a rare DX and spend
your entire contest on one freq.  The 100 has some sort of special mic 
and may not be easy to use one mic for two radios (SO2R).  Doesn't apply
to CW.  The 706 just needs a DC blocking cap, maybe a little gain.  I don't 
think that the 706 had great filtering, but the later models II and IIG had 
two IF filters, while the first model only had one.  Like other Icoms, you 
have to get a CI-V or equivalent for computer interfacing.  I think, but 
don't know, that the 100 may come with one.  I don't think that there is 
100 support in CT, as Yaesu changes their commands with every radio.  You 
can control a 706 with CT.  Don't know about other programs.


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