[TenTec] ICOM PROII vs 6+ experiment

[John Rippey]

My experience with a couple of DSP rigs--a 746PRO and a TS-870S--is that 
the key to hearing a signal in the free and clear (or eliminating nearby 
signal artifacts) involves very careful manipulation of the RF gain and/or 
attenuation levels. The OMNI is much less finicky about the signal level 
going forward because it doesn't have an A/D converter in the signal path 
to contend with.

I'm going to work an OMNI VI and the other two Friday evening/
Saturday during the WAE CW contest to see which one I like best. I don't 
expect to hear much difference in electrical performance, because all three 
are very good at getting the preferred signal to my ears, but the DSP rigs 
require more hands-on attention. I think it will come down to ease-of-use 
issues--punching buttons for various levels of selectivity for example 
(OMNI and PRO), as opposed to twirling a knob (TS-870S), and then fiddling 
with the RF gain, etc. The older I get the less interested I am in making a 
lot of on-the-fly adjustments.

If the FT-920 had the OMNI's innards, THAT would be one mean CW rig :-)

Anyhow, it's amazing the kind of selectivity available with these rigs.

73,
John, W3ULS