[CQ-Contest] FT-1000MP

[John Geiger (NE0P)]

There are several other factors which are important in contesting besides overall receiver performance:  

One is computer control.  While some older radios may have fine receiver performance, they do not allow for computer control, so most would not want them.  I do not use computer control for my radio, but then I am not a big gun contester either.

Another factor is dual receive.  The FT1000MP and MKV do dual receive better than the 756PRO series (I know, it isn't true dual receive, but close enough).  The Yaesu rigs allow you to put separate the receiver audio by ears, and also to use different levels of filtering in each receiver.  You can also put the receivers on different modes.  You can't do any of these things with the Icom radios-except the 7800.

The Yaesu MKV also runs 200 watts, as does the FT1000D.  There is no Icom radio that does 200 watts except the 7800.  This means you can run the FT1000MP right at 150 watts if you are entering in the low power category, or if you want to go high power, you can run in class A mode since that will drive most amps, for a cleaner signal.

Also, the Yaesu FT1000MP series uses crystal filtering at several IFs.  The Icom 756PRO uses DSP filtering at one IF.  While the DSP filtering gives more flexibility in filter widths, the cascaded crystal filters may give better performance overall, or at least are perceived to give better performance.  W8JI wrote an interesting column on this issue recently in Worldradio.  Among other things, the DSP filtering occurs very late in the receiver chain-at the last IF-which leaves 3 pervious stages to introduce and amplify distortion.  INRAD now offers a narrow roofing filter for the FT1000MP and MKV series, which would really improve the receiver performance of these units.

Reliability is another factor.  The best radio ever made isn't worht it if it keeps breaking halfway through a contest.  There is no denying that the Orion puts up some very impressive numbers, but I have also read many threads about firmware problems it has where the radio locks up.  Also, the Icom 756PRO series does seem to have a few more reliability problems (based on reviews I have seen) than the FT1000MP seriesl.

One final factor is the ergonomics and how easy the radio is to operate.  I have never owned a FT1000MP radio, but did get a chance to play with one at Hamcomm a little this year.  It seemed OK to operate, and I am sure it would better with experience.  I did own an Icom 756 for awhile, and it is very easy to operate.  I thought it was set up just right.  The PRO series is about the same, so should be very nice to use.

If you look at the published numbers for close in spacing on IMD (QST, and especially Sherwood Engineering (www.sherweng.com) and www.w8ji.com) you see that the Icom PROII and PROIII look much better than the FT1000MP MKV.  Still, the Yaesus seem to be the perferred radio of choice for contesting.  I do think the Yaesu gets much closer with some mods and the INRAD filter.  And the MKV is several hundred less than the PROIII currently is, and at least 1000 less than the Orion.  

Kenwood hasn't made a dual receive radio since the TS950SDX (no longer in production), and that one was difficult to use dual receive in (at least according to QST).  The TS870 never really caught on as a contest rig for some reason, and Kenwood currently isn't making a high-end contest rig.  The TS2000 does it all (I have one), but isn't set up nor marketed as a contest rig.

Hope this helps a bit. Will be interested in seeing others responses also.

73s John NE0P




---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Mark Bailey <kd4d at comcast.net>
Date:  Tue, 05 Jul 2005 08:49:29 -0400

>Hi Bob:
>
>Several very interesting topics here.  I am a guest operator only
>and have been lucky enough to operate at some big stations! :-)
>I mostly observe what they are doing and use what they have!
>
>You will have a lot of fun building a station.
>
>73,
>
>Mark, KD4D
>
>KE5CTY Bob wrote:
>[...]
>> 
>> I have found out that the FT-1000MP seems to be the most used rig by the
>> top contest stations. (Big Guns) And that most all have 2 or more towers
>> at 100 feet or better along with commercial grade mono band antennas and
>> phased switchable tower arrays for the lower bands, back up amps, ect.
>> Ect
>
>Yes, the FT1000MP's are very popular and the radio I see the
>most often at contest stations. Many big stations build their own
>monoband antennas.
>
>> 
>> Also discovered they normally use N1MM networked logging software for
>> controlling the stations rotors, rigs, band changes spotting ect.
>
>Logging software is all over the map.  I have never used N1MM
>and it is certainly not the most popular program around here for the
>big gun stations. It appears to be a fine program, and the price is
>right!  I may try it this year for WAE SSB and I do expect it to
>become more popular.
>
>I recently did an informal survey of PVRC members, and Writelog
>was by far the most popular logging program!
>
>The "big guns" I have been at use CT (DOS) or Writelog (Windows).
>I personally use TRLog for single operator contests (also DOS).
>Most people know how to use CT, and this is a factor for the
>bigger stations.
>
>I have never operated a station using computerized rotor control.
>Tracking band changes seems to be a big problem for most of the
>logging software programs...there are so many different rules.
>Keeping track of off-times is another area where a paper and
>pencil backup helps me keep things straight.
>
>> These "Top Guns" "Big Guns" ect - are fellows who obviously don't need
>> to worry about cost so price is not a factor.
>
>This is certainly not always the case. Almost everyone has
>to worry about cost. The big M/M's need a dozen radios
>and tend to use different models depending on what they
>have and what their operators bring with them.  The
>FT1000MP's have decent performance, they are easy to
>use, and most people are familiar with them.
>
>I'm starting to see TenTec Orions also.  I believe it's a
>great CW rig, but I'm still learning how to use it most
>effectively on SSB.
>
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