[CQ-Contest] FT-920 - IC-718

Thu Jul 21 22:52:18 EDT 2005

Good that is refreshing, because around 1988 or so I had a friend of mine
who I also respected as a great CWOP who loved Kenwood. So Kenwood did have
it's day. I wonder if it is going to come back. What rig do you think comes
closest today? I just saw a picture of an 870s on ebay and it is really a
beautful looking Radio.

TNX,
Bob
KE5CTY (old calls WB5ZQU - WY5L)
http://www.qsl.net/ke5cty/
Code may be dying but the pioneering spirit that put the code there in
the first place is still going strong.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Geiger (NE0P)" <ne0p at lcisp.com>
To: "KE5CTY Bob" <rtnmi at sbcglobal.net>; <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 9:29 PM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] FT-920 - IC-718

> I think the TS870 was discontinued about 2 years ago.  The TS850, TS930,
TS940 and TS950SDX were all considered premier contest rigs, as was the
TS830 during the tube era.  I used to have a set of Kenwood 599 twins and
the receiver on that was excellent also.
>
> 73s John NE0P
>
>
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
> From: "KE5CTY Bob" <rtnmi at sbcglobal.net>
> Date:  Thu, 21 Jul 2005 21:08:32 -0500
>
> >How long has Kenwood been out of the running for the "preferred rig
status"
> >for contesting?
> >Was there ever a model that was good for a *real* work out?
> >
> >TNX,
> >Bob
> >KE5CTY (old calls WB5ZQU - WY5L)
> >http://www.qsl.net/ke5cty/
> >Code may be dying but the pioneering spirit that put the code there in
> >the first place is still going strong.
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message ----- 
> >From: "KE5CTY Bob" <rtnmi at sbcglobal.net>
> >To: "'David Thompson'" <thompson at mindspring.com>; "'CQ Contest'"
> ><cq-contest at contesting.com>
> >Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 6:17 PM
> >Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] FT-920 - IC-718
> >
> >
> >>
> >> I want to thank *everyone* for *all* the responses to this question.
> >> >From them I have continued on with my own research as well - which has
> >> lead me to some *very* interesting conclusions:
> >>
> >> I am not sure I have made a final decision on a rig yet, however, one
> >> thing has become apparent through the evidence presented:
> >>
> >> According to the following link
> >> (which tells what year a model was manufactured):
> >> http://www.ozgear.com.au/amateurinfo/equipment_ages.htm
> >> which in turn references this link as it's primary resource:
> >> http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/prodrev.html
> >>
> >> Coupling the feedback I got from you guys (which I consider to be a
> >> *very* good source if not then - THE TOP SOURCES - of bottom line
> >> experience and knowledge of equipment operation) *with competition
> >> scores to prove out the claims if nothing else does*
> >>
> >>  "figures don't lie - but liars figure" --
> >>
> >> Along with the fact that contesting is the most grueling test of
> >> operator and machine therefore the most calibrated meter.
> >>
> >> Meaning who cares what the spec sheet says and the marketing boys (who
> >> most of which have never even tweaked a knob except on their Mercedes
> >> car radios) say - if it can't be *proved* out in the field.
> >>
> >> Conclusion:
> >>
> >> The Amateur Community has been *FAILED MISERABLY* by the manufactures
> >> and suppliers and for many years.
> >>
> >> According to the manufacture dates and the demand (preferred radios) -
> >> there has been no *practical* noticeable change in equipment (change
> >> worth having from a practical - operational standpoint) for almost 9
> >> YEARS only smoke and mirrors (cosmetics) with the *most* preferred rig
> >> being almost 10 years old in technology according to manufacture
output:
> >>
> >> Kenwood; TS-830S HF Transceiver;Manfact'd approx May 1981
> >> Kenwood; TS-850S 160-10 Meter Transceiver;Manfact'd approx Jul 1991
> >> ICOM; IC-728 MF/HF Transceiver;Manfact'd approx Feb 1993
> >> Yaesu; FT-1000MP MF/HF Transceiver;Manfact'd approx Apr 1996
> >> Yaesu; FT-920 MF/HF/6 Meter Transceiver;Manfact'd approx Oct 1997
> >>
> >> (((The Dead Years)))
> >>
> >> ???? 2005 ????
> >>
> >> As a result from what I can see the price for these rigs has stayed
> >> inflated (due to demand) to a ridiculous market value - which really
> >> instead should be money a Ham would be spending on *new* technology not
> >> 10 year old technology over and over again and again.
> >>
> >> I also conclude and assume from the data (since) only HF rigs have been
> >> preferred) contesting is not *really* done at the VHF/UHF or SHF levels
> >> interestingly enough which is where most of the manufacturers with
newer
> >> technology (newer rigs) seems to be focusing their output.
> >>
> >> 7&3 fer nw,
> >> Bob
> >> KE5CTY (old calls WB5ZQU - WY5L)
> >> 10X# 37210
> >> FP#-1141
> >> http://www.qsl.net/ke5cty/
> >> Code may be taking a back seat for now, but the pioneering spirit that
> >> put the code there in the first place is out front of it all.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> >> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of David Thompson
> >> Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2005 12:04 PM
> >> To: CQ Contest
> >> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] FT-920 - IC-718
> >>
> >>
> >> The IC-718 is (as described ) an entry level rig.  A casual op will
find
> >> it great.
> >>
> >> The FT-920 is another story.  Having a built in monitor, DVK/speech
> >> processor for SSB, and dual frequency readout  make a good economy
> >> contest/DX transceiver.  Its one of two rigs of choice on 6 too.  With
> >> filters available from Yaesu and INRAd it hold its own and it seems to
> >> have good overload sensitivity so nearby loud signals don't affect it.
> >> Its far better for 75 and 40 SSB split than my older FT-980 or several
> >> ICOMs I have used.  The clicks problem that shows up in the 1000MP
> >> series does not appear to be a problem either.
> >>
> >> The problems are there (its an ecomony rig) such as limited menu
> >> selection, hidden menus that are not well publized, the DVK is hidden
> >> behind the VFO B tuning, and on SSB I find that you need to turn off
the
> >> equalizer and add bass for best results.  K4EA told me it sounded thin
> >> and high pitched with the EQ on. (using the Heil HC-4 element which
> >> works great on the FT-980, FT-1000D and MP).
> >>
> >> Don't know about the TS850.  I remember GW3YDX saying it was terrible
on
> >> 160 in QRM and loud signals (something the TS870 cures).  But W4AN
swore
> >> by his so I guess its what you are used too.
> >>
> >> Dave K4JRB
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
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> >
> >
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> >
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