[CQ-Contest] check log charlie

[Jim Brown]

On Fri,5/8/2015 6:31 PM, w2lc at twcny.rr.com wrote:
> The software is not the big issue but the radio is. What is the cost of adding my transmit frequency to my log? About $5k USD for a good radio decent filters and other accessories. Is that the price of entry into CQWW?  Quite honestly my older radio still works pretty well and I do not see getting many more QSOs due to a new radio.

Gee -- how old is your radio, Scott? It's been quite a while since rigs 
were built without some sort of control interface that could get to 
RS232. I was off the air for almost 2 decades before 2003, and bought 
several used beauties to get back on the air. An Omni V, TS850, and 
FT1000MP all hooked up to my logging software just fine with nothing 
more than a properly wired cable. Only the IC746 required a homebrew 
interface adapter, which I found at a hamfest flea market for about $25

The entry price for a decent new radio comparable to a very good old one 
is FAR less than $5K. The TS590SG sells for about $1800. N0AX owns the 
earlier TS590S and likes it.

$2,500 will get you a K3/100 with a couple of roofing filters (all you 
need for contesting) and interface for 2nd RX antenna in kit form. Add 
$320 for an antenna tuner. Yes, you can add a 2nd RX and a P3. Do you 
have those in your vintage rig? Don't worry about building a kit -- it's 
essentially screw-together, all the boards pre-tested at the factory, 
and you save 10-15%.

And don't rule out a good used radio. Including the cost of roofing 
filters, I paid less than $1000 for each of those used rigs with the 
exception of the MP. K3s come around used too -- if that interests you, 
read the Elecraft email reflector.

73, Jim K9YC