[VHFcontesting] rig recommendations for portable operation

[John Geiger]

The TS2000 has several advantages over the other radios mentioned for portable and roving VHF operations:
1. You can add 1.2ghz so you have 4 bands in one box
2. It has higher output power on 2m and 70cm, so amps aren't as necessary
3. It is less menu driven than the others, which is important if you are driving
4. It has the subreceiver so you can monitor 2m and 70cm FM simplex during the contest while also working SSB/CW.
5. You can install a voice keyer in it to call CQ while roving.  The Icom 7000 also has this feature.
6. It has separate 2m and 70cm antenna jacks so a duplexer isn't needed if you run separate antennas for 2m and UHF.

73s John AA5JG


--- On Thu, 11/27/08, kb7dqh at donobi.net <kb7dqh at donobi.net> wrote:

> From: kb7dqh at donobi.net <kb7dqh at donobi.net>
> Subject: Re: [VHFcontesting] rig recommendations for portable operation
> To: "Tad Danley" <tdanley at verizon.net>
> Cc: ffma at yahoogroups.com, "VHF contesting list" <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
> Date: Thursday, November 27, 2008, 3:21 PM
> Obviously space is not a consideration if you were looking
> at a TS 2000:-)
> The FT 857D is the smallest package of the three, and would
> no doubt run
> cooler than the Icom 7000.
> 
> Only thing I don't like about the Icom 7000 is the way
> Icom laid out the
> menu system.
> 
>   Three or more times the price of the FT 857, but the RF
> performance
> should be better with the IF DSP its got.
> 
> Really quiet RF deck, even without DSP NR cut in, if you
> hear noise, its
> OUTSIDE the radio!!!  The IF DSP noise reduction, when
> overly applied,
> will remove weak signals along with the noise, but this was
> with one of
> the early units!  This may have been corrected in later
> ones.  Sensitivity
> is great, only use a REALLY GOOD, Low-noise preamp with
> this rig...
> 
> The early units had an issue with the driver transistor
> oscillating and
> subsequent self-destruction. Newer units have been
> "fixed"... Only an
> issue if buying used...
> 
> If cost is an issue, the '857 is nearly as good as the
> '7000, and almost
> anything is better than a TS 2000... Yes, the TS2000 likely
> will hold
> frequency better than any of the three... but that's
> about it.
> 
> Eric
> KB7DQH
> 
> 
> 
> > I'm looking for recommendations on a rig for VHF
> mobile/portable (and
> > possibly rover) operation.  I would like to start off
> with one rig that
> > covers at least 6, 2 and 432 in order to make things
> as simple as
> > possible for a one person operation.  Was thinking
> about a TS-2000,
> > FT-857D or an IC-7000 - any comments or suggestions?
> >
> > Thanks and 73,
> >
> > --
> > Tad Danley, K3TD
> > EM10dq
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > VHFcontesting at contesting.com
> >
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
> >
> 
> 
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