[VHFcontesting] Time for a Portable rig upgrade

[Terry Signature]

In the K8GP/R super rover, Andy and I use K3's. We have a nice operating 
desk and we use an Arduino controller to monitor both K3's for band data 
to switch transverters and ensure we don't blow something up! The K3 
would be my first choice but then you need a bank of transverters and 
switching.

As an alternative, I got a IC9100 with the 1296 module in it. That give 
me 6 and 2 at 100w and 432 at 75w, enough that running an amp isn't 
necessary. For 222 and 902, I used another Arduino with software Andy 
wrote that watches the CI/V port on the IC9100. When I go to 26 or 27 
MHz, the 222 transverter connected to Ant1 is select (my IF comes out 
26=222 which also gives 223.5=27.5). When I go to 28 or 29 MHz, Ant 2 is 
select and it goes to a DEMI 902 transverter (28=902 and 29=903). The 
Arduino shield I designed has 20 turn pots for setting the ALC voltage 
to limit the power on these bands to drive the transverters properly. So 
with one radio and two transverters you cover the bottom 6 VHF bands. 
Yes, it's a bit more expensive but FT991A's are still new and I paid not 
much for the for IC9100 with 1296!


Terry - W8ZN

On 2018-01-24 9:51 am, Dan Evans via VHFcontesting wrote:
> Hi John,
> Thanks for your feedback!
> I've received a few others, and from what I'm seeing the 991A is
> definitely the way to go.
> I really just wanted to see if anyone replied with "it's deaf as a
> post" or something, hi hi.
> It will likely be a few more weeks before I can buy anything.  But
> hey, Dayton is coming soon :-)
> 73Dan
> -- K9ZF  Vice President, Clark County Amateur Radio Club,Amateur Radio
> Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana. EM78el The once and future
> K9ZF /R no budget Rover  ***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover Resource
> Page at:  List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books  Ask me how
> to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
> 
>     On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 9:23:12 AM EST, John Young via
> VHFcontesting <vhfcontesting at contesting.com> wrote:
> 
>  Dan,
> I use an FT991A.  It's my first radio other than mobile dual bands so
> not a lot of comparative experience.
> 
> The waterfall is a joy.  Whether spotting stations when doing S&P or
> tuning around my local FM jammer clown I find it indispensable.
> 
> The menu driven amp and filter contols are easy to use and work well, 
> some are HF only but most work on ssb 2m & 70cm.
> 
> You can program a group of software defined buttons on the touchscreen
> for quick access to your most needed contols which are then adjusted
> by a dedicated knob on the front panel.  The setting is displayed as a
> horizontal bar on the display above the waterfall. Easy to read.
> 
> I keep a note card on the wall with my favorite software contol line
> numbers on it.  To access them you push one button and the display
> shows about 10 of them on the display.  You scroll through using a
> knob to the one you want, they are all numbered 1 through 120, push
> select, adjust the selected function with the same knob push the
> software generated done button and your back to the waterfall.  It's
> quick and the rx still fuctions while you make the adjustment so you
> can tune it to your liking in one shot.
> 
> Compared to the FT8800 and 8900 (my only references) the reciever is
> great.  I can run with no squelch on FM and dig weak, distant calls
> and grids out of the fluttering noise.  SSB RX seems very good and
> compares nicely if not better to the Kenwood I use with W4IY in June. 
> Very limited experience for that comparision.
> 
> There are a ton of filter settings I have not spent much time with so
> no competent assesment there.
> 
> It has a 6m and vhf/uhf pl259's on the back.  Wish it had the N's.  I
> run a diplexer to split out 70cm from 2m to keep things simple.
> 
> The N1MM set up was easy.  You do have to download a special USB
> driver from the Yeasu site but thats simple enough.
> 
> I have not looked at tranverter set up.
> 
> I enjoy doing HF with it between contests.
> 
> Its not heavy, it is compact and is intended for both mobile and base
> use so I assume its reasonably rugged.  Mine gets jostled off road
> quit a bit and its been perfectly reliable in the year I have had it. 
> No heat problems.  The connectors on the back are stout and either
> seat tightly or positively lock so I dont worry about vibration
> loosening them.
> 
> Hopefully you can find one locally to spend some time with.
> 
> I am very happy but I am also inexperienced.
> 
> 73
> John
> KM4KMU
> 
> Sent from AOL Mobile Mail
> 
> On Tuesday, January 23, 2018 Dan Evans via VHFcontesting
> <vhfcontesting at contesting.com> wrote:
> My old Yaesu FT897D is getting long in the tooth.  It's developing
> some issues that have me doing research on newer "DC to Daylight"
> rigs.  (Display is slowly dying, FM squelch no longer works...) Right
> now the front runners are the Icom 7000, the Icom 7100, and the Yaesu
> FT991A.   Currently, I'm leaning toward the 991a. Anyone care to share
> their experience and opinions? My use will be almost exclusively Rover
> and Field Day type portable use. Thanks,Dan -- K9ZF  Vice President,
> Clark County Amateur Radio Club,Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark
> County Indiana. EM78el The once and future K9ZF /R no budget Rover
>  ***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover Resource Page at:  List
> Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books  Ask me how to join the
> Indiana Ham Mailing list!
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