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

Thu Jul 21 23:09:43 EDT 2005

Hi Bob,

I am not sure what rig comes closest to the TS870 today.  Probably the Icom
756PRO if you are looking at HF in general.  In the Kenwood lineup it would
be the TS2000.

73s John NE0P

----- Original Message -----
From: "KE5CTY Bob" <rtnmi at sbcglobal.net>
To: <ne0p at lcisp.com>; <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 2:52 AM
Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] FT-920 - IC-718

> 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
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> CQ-Contest mailing list
> > >> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> > >> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> CQ-Contest mailing list
> > >> 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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> > >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>