[VHFcontesting] Looking for new xcvr

[DAVID C. OLEAN]

Hello Brad,
I would have to echo Ken Harker's comments. Both the 726 and the 736,
while nice radios to use, do not have the dynamic range needed in
serious contest conditions. I used a 726 for quite awhile, and had fun
with it, but it would definitely suffer from reciprical mixing and a
phase noise prone LO. On weaker signals it is not a problem. I must
admit, though, that it did not die on the summit of Mt. Washington.
(Some radios do die there!)  The later high end HF radios are much
better with dynamic range than older ones. My vote is always to use a
good transverter with a bullet proof HF radio.
    The best bang for the buck, in my opinion, (and I think Ken's as
well) is to use the Elecraft K2 with a transverter. It is inexpensive,
small, and works like a $3000 radio. Couple that rig with a new
generation transverter with very low gain. You don't have all the bells
and whistles of the Japanese rigs, but the darn thing works! I use K2s
and Ten Tec OMNI V radios as IFs . (Good price to performance ratio!)

73
dave K1WHS


>
> --- "Bradford J. Williams - N8GLS" <n8gls at arrl.net>
> wrote:
> > I'm befuddled on what to do for a new VHF (and/or
> > VHF/UHF) rig.
> >
> > I have a Kenwood TS-711A that is vintage 1985.  It
> > is beginning to have more
> > frequent problems and I need to get something in the
> > works before contest
> > time just in case.
> >
> > I just don't see anything that shines out there in
> > the way of spec's.  I've
> > damn near looked at everything.  I was close to
> > buying an Icom IC910 but
> > after a few conversations with other UHF/VHF'rs it
> > seems to be a poor weak
> > signal rig, and really bad with strong adjacent
> > signals.....not a good thing
> > for my locale.  The bands it covers would be a good
> > choice for my situation
> > since anything above 2M would be a "bonus", meaning
> > that I don't run
> > anything above 2M now, especially since the tower is
> > a long long way from
> > the shack, but it would always be an option, as
> > opposed to buying an
> > all-band wonder and having another bunch of HF bands
> > that I already have a
> > rig for.
> >
> > I suppose some options are:
> >
> > (1) Buy an all-band wonder - Icom 746Pro, or,
> > Kenwood TS2000.  You guys/gals
> > using these, are they good, bad for weak signal ???
> > (2) Buy a VHF/UHF only....Anyone have an IC910 and
> > like it, or do you just
> > tolerate it.  I don't do sats so if that's what its
> > good for, its a no-buy
> > for me.
> > (3) Buy an HF only rig (another FT1000MP) and add a
> > transverter.
> > (4) Homebrew a rig (thanks Zack).  I would have
> > trouble here since I already
> > have twenty pairs of glasses, ten of which I need to
> > complete this e-mail.
> > (4) Quit whining and send the TS711 into Kenwood for
> > an overhaul.
> >
> > The all-band wonders seem to be just an adequate rig
> > on all bands, not a
> > great rig on any band.
> >
> > Comments appreciated !!
> >
> > 73 de N8GLS, Brad
> >
> >
> >
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