[TenTec] Why is the Jupiter better?

Jim Brown jim at audiosystemsgroup.com
Thu Jul 8 11:24:31 EDT 2004


On Wed, 7 Jul 2004 11:43:23 -0700, John Clifford wrote:

>Well, the built-in tuner from Icom is nowhere near as capable as the
>LDG-supplied autotuner in the Jupiter.  

I bought a used 746 from a local ham who had  loaded it with filters. I'm VERY happy with the 746 
on 6 meters, but don't use it on the low bands because I have other radios that are better. I tried to 
fire it up during a 160 contest to take advantage of its DSP, and it wouldn't tune the antennas that 
my KAT100 and TS850 tuned quite nicely.  

What are its weak points?  First, the receiver is nowhere near as good as my Omni V, TS850, or 
K2. Second, the user interface takes some getting used to. Third, you can't program its keyer's 
memories by sending CW, you have to enter letters in a very awkward manner.  Fourth, the antenna 
tuner, as noted. 

Strong points?  I like the DSP, the passband tuning works quite nicely, the preamps are adequate 
for my home QTH in Chicago, where manmade noise is the limiting factor. I might not be nearly so 
happy with the preamps at a quiet rural site. I get good audio reports on 6 meters.  BTW -- the ham 
who I bought it from had other better radios and was also primarily using it on 6 meters. 

Jim Brown  K9YC




More information about the TenTec mailing list