Topband: Rig Question

[Herb Schoenbohm]

Trent,

I have a TS-2000 here which is used almost exclusively for Remote rig 
contest operation of NP2P.  I would never use it for a main station 
radio because of the difficulty of the man menus and sub menus that one 
must navigate through.  I would highly recommend the Icom IC-7410 (a 
step up from the IC-746 Pro) that although it does not have provisions 
for a separate antenna input for RX like the TS-2000, it is a much 
easier radio to operate with excellent front end and DSP performance 
along with an ATU built in.  For RX antennas I used the DX-Engineering 
RTR-1 which allows me to switch in a bank of 12 Beverages via an old 
Palomar pre-amp.  The RTR-1 also provides an interlock for amplifier 
keying for additional front end protection of the external antenna 
input.  Last month I purchased a new Yaesu  FT-450D for SO2R 
applications but that radio did not have front end protection of any 
sort.  It was render useless during the first few minutes of the CW WPX 
contest. Although the TS-2000 has 2 meters and 70cm capabilities, I 
still would not want it in front of me in a contest on 160 or any other 
HF band.  There are way to many buttons to press to get some changes to 
the parameters in the heat of a contest.  Press the wrong key sequence 
and your amplifier stops keying and you spend a half an hour trying to 
figure out why.  The concept of learning what to press and what not to 
press by trial and error is not my idea of a user friendly radio.


Herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ



On 6/14/2014 5:51 PM, Trent Fleming wrote:
> One of the reasons I belong to this group is the experience and expertise
> of the operators on here.  I have a question about my next step, in terms
> of radios.  This is not necessarily a 160m question, but it does affect
> Topband.
>
> I currently have FT-950 Yaesu.  Upgraded through some horse trading from
> TS-690s. Love the DSP and having 100w on 6m.
>
> I need better coverage on VHF, so am considering older ICom (746 non-pro)
> or TS-2000.  Have even looked a the Icom 9100 though it is a bit pricey.
>
> If I replace the FT-950 with one of these rigs (I'm leaning TS-2000) I
> would have these criteria.
>
> 1) Maintain or improve DX capabilities on HF 160-10m
> 2) Add separate receive antenna jack for receiving loop or beverage
> 3) Add 2m and 432 with a transverter friendly rig.
>
> If I can't get decent DX coverage with one of these, I'd have the option of
> keeping the FT-950 and getting the 746 or a used TS-2000
>
> Here's my main question . . . are any of you TopBanders using TS-2000 as
> your primary HF Dxing rig?
>
> Thanks in advance, and 73,
>
> Trent
> N4DTF
>