[CQ-Contest] A portable rig that would serve well for contesting too?

[Kristinn Andersen]

Hi:

 

As an alternative to my relatively large IC746 base station rig, I am
considering buying a more portable rig that would also work well as a backup
for contesting - primarily RTTY and CW.  Some candidates of the current crop
include:

 

Icom IC-706MKIIG (been around for a while)

Icom IC-7000 (not available yet?)

Icom IC-718 (the "beginner's" rig)

Yaesu FT-897D (rugged looks, internal battery option)

Elecraft K2 (kit, good RX performance)

... and others.

 

Do you have any comments on these or others as contesting rigs?  Performance
under strenuous operation, ease of use (not requiring too much menu browsing
for common functions), contest functionality (such as a button for listening
on the TX freq).

 

73 - Kris, TF3KX

http://www.simnet.is/net/tf3kx