Topband: Receivers

[Earl W Cunningham]

Dave, N0RQ wrote:

"K6SE did some receiver comparisons:
 http://lists.contesting.com/archives//html/Topband/2003-06/msg00120.html

Note the top spot -- the Icom IC-746PRO -- go figure. (And I have one --
great rig for the price, not counting the Xmit problems that some of them
have been having.) Without spending $2k+, I think it would be a good
choice."
========
After that list was published, I did the same weak CW signal A/B tests on
the Icom IC-756Pro2.  It was a tad better than the 746Pro.  I liked it
enough that I bought one myself, and it's now the prime rig in the
station.

Although the 756Pro2 (and the 746Pro) doesn't stand up as well as other
receivers in the BDR and IMD3 department, it has enough I.F. gain so that
you can use the front panel attenuator switch to cool down the front end
enough to preclude this problem.  I find the the 756Pro2 needs 6 dB more
attenuation than my Yaesu FT-1000MP to get rid of IMD3 chirps and birdies
during CW contests when the band is packed with strong signals.  The
756Pro2 is a bit better in that department than my Kenwood TS-830S.  My
best receiver in the IMD3/BDR department is my Elecraft K2 which has yet
to hear any IMD3 "funnies" during contests, even with no attenuation
cranked in.

In the $1000 price class, I recommend the Elecraft K2 or the IC-746Pro. 
Stay away from the Icom IC-746 non-pro and the IC-756 non-pro.  It was a
quantum leap when Icom added the name "Pro" to these radios when they
simultaneously added DSP to them!

73, de Earl, K6SE