[TenTec] New Rig Suggestion

[Mike Bryce]

it's called an icom 718...

Mike, WB8VGE
SunLight Energy Systems
The Heathkit Shop

http://www.seslogic.com
http://www.theheathkitshop.com/

On Feb 14, 2005, at 11:44 AM, Mark Erbaugh wrote:

> I find all the discussion of the Orion interesting and I think the 
> Orion has
> it's place, but I think what is needed is an affordable starter radio. 
>  We
> need a radio that a new ham can buy without breaking the bank, but one 
> that
> won't disappoint with poor performance.  I realize that higher 
> performance
> equipment costs more, but I hope there can be a happy medium.
>
> I don't know if the numbers would work out, but wouldn't it be 
> fantastic if
> a new ham could get on the air with a new basic rig and antenna for 
> under
> $500?
>
> Here's what I think would be needed:
>
> 0) All mode, or at least CW, SSB, AM (maybe receive only).
>
> 1) Decent receive performance. Able to work in midly harsh RF 
> environments
> (i.e. able to stand up to many 20 or 40 over signals in the same band 
> during
> a contest or pileup).
>
> 2) Decent selectivity. I don't know if the cost effective approach 
> would be
> DSP filters or a set of 4 crystal or mechanical filters (2400, 1800, 
> 500 and
> 250 Hz ).
>
> 3) Built in computer interface - a new ham is going to want to do the
> soundcard modes - but the radio should be easily usable without a 
> computer -
> i.e. have a user friendly front panel interface.  While we're talking 
> about
> a computer interface, how about USB instead of RS232?
>
> 4) Built in keyer.  I think any basic radio should support CW. A 
> couple of
> basic memories would proably be a no-brainer and makes it a lot easier 
> to
> call CQ.  Personally, I prefer to be able to program the memory with 
> some
> sort of entry where you "type" in the text rather than having to key 
> it in.
> A ham who is just starting out may have a hard time getting a decent 
> enough
> fist to enter a basic message.  The keyer should be able to reverse 
> dot and
> dash paddles from a menu rather than requiring a wiring change.
>
> 5) Mechanically rugged and able to run off of 12 V ( not just 13.8 ) 
> so the
> radio could be used portable. 120V AC operation should be considered.
>
> 6) Built-in wide range automatic antenna tuner.
>
> 7) Minimum of 50 watts (preferably 100). It would be nice if the power 
> could
> be reduced to QRP levels, but a new ham shouldn't be saddled with the
> challenge of QRP right from the start - for my first few years in the 
> hobby,
> I remember how frustrating it was to spend a whole evening calling or
> answering CQ's and getting no response.
>
> 8) General coverage receiver - not needed for ham radio, but probably 
> a good
> selling point.
>
> 9) Relatively complete package without requiring additional options (at
> least at the $500 level). If a fully loaded rig could be bought for 
> $500 and
> options could be left out reducing the price that might be workable - 
> what I
> wouldn't want to see is a $500 radio that really needed about an 
> additional
> $300 in options to be usable.
>
> I may be dreaming about what's possible, but I think the cost of 
> equipment
> is becoming a deterrent to geting new folks into the hobby or of 
> getting
> hams beyond the HT stage.
>
>
>
> 73,
> Mark
>
>
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