rig opinions on around $800 budget

ok i have a budget around $800, which is alot of green to me. i am looking at the yaesu ft-450, but wanting the best radio for the budget. i like yaesu, but am not devoted to them, so another rig brand isnt out of the question. anyone have/used one. if so, what is your opinion...

heck, what is everyones opinion...

oh, i also am looking to buy new not used.

[n1ese]

Well, it is kind of important to know how you will be using the rig before we can make intelligent suggestions. Mobile/Base? What modes do you use the most? Some rigs are great on CW but suck on SSB and vice versa.

i will be using it mainly as a base except for some events. i will be mainly using it on SSB. hope this helps.

[N2RJ]

I would go with an Icom 706 MKIIg

It has HF, VHF and UHF.

[n1ese]

If you want new, and only care about HF/6M, then the FT-450 is probably your best bet in the $800 price range. I really like how it has IF-DSP in this price range. However, I was just at HRO yesterday and it looks butt ugly to me. But, with this said, I'd be all over it if it had a remote-able front panel. I'm probably going to spend a few extra $$ and go with the TS-480 myself.

[AD5ZC]

Ditto on the 480.
If you open yourself up to the pre-owned market it is, by far, the best radio for around $800. If your set on buying new, save a little longer and get the 480 anyway. I've owned the 706 (pos), 746 (deaf on 2 meters) and FT-1000 (close second) and the 480 beats them all.

imho

This is all predicated on HF being most important. If your wanting something with decent HF & compromise/afterthought/marketing ploy VHF/UHF then Yaesu is the leader in this segment. (sorry TS-2000 owners, only advantage of that radio is that it has looks & size of a true fixed station with fewer nested controls..........performance is compromise on both HF&VHF/UHF per ARRL technical report)

i have also been looking at the ts-570d. i like a radio that has the face fixed(my opinion). not to worried about 6m, but definetly looking for something with antenna tuner, and tones for 10m repeaters....

so whats your opinion on the 570d?

VHF, i have a ft-2800m. i think i will leave it right were it is setting....

[n1ese]

Again, I'd take a TS-480SAT over an 570 of any flavor any day. TS-480SAT, which has an ATU, is $959 new so you should have no problems finding a used one in your $800 budget.

[N5NPO]

I am a Yaesu guy to the core, but if you can find a good used ICOM 746 (non pro) for that price, jump on it...
I got one and I was really surprised at how well it works and how much I like it, despite the fact it is an ICOM...
Another honorable mention would be a Kenwood TS-690S.
I had one of those as well...

[k5jat]

Don't forget that the antenna is just as important as the radio, if not more so. Make sure you budget for that too.

73, Jay KE5NRH

[n1ese]

Quote[/b] (ke5nrh @ July 05 2007,04:47)]Don't forget that the antenna is just as important as the radio, if not more so. Make sure you budget for that too.
Hah! Now this is funny. True, that the antenna is the most important part of any station. However, you don't need a very big budget to have an efficient antenna system.

My $10 wire antennas beat the pants off of many commercial antennas costing upwards of $500.

[N2CLB]

Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ July 04 2007,12:57)]I would go with an Icom 706 MKIIg

It has HF, VHF and UHF.
i 2nd this the 706mkIIg is going to do what you want the best for your money and you can pick up something like a MFJ 941E to tune your antenna with NP at all hope this helps you out

[WA9UAA]

Good Day,
For a fixed station (home) the TS -480 is better than the IC-706 series. The 706s were really designed for a mobile environment, the receiver will over load on a good home antenna system. Go with the TS 480 in that price range.
GL
73,
Rob WA9UAA

[n3ef]

I also suggest the TS-480SAT. I have one for mobile use but it also makes a nice base rig. The spec's on this rig are comparable to higher end rigs costing much more. The 706 is a poor performer. Check the ARRL technical reviews and do your own comparison's.

Eric N3EF

[WB2WIK]

$800 budget:

Roof tower: $249
Used HAM-III rotator: $195
Used HF beam: $150
Coax: $50
Rotator cable: $50
Good center insulator/balun for lower band (40-80m) inverted vee, with end insulators, wire and ropes: $50
More coax to feed that one: $50
Balance left: $6, buy a Big Mac w/fries & a Coke

Rig: Go to local club meeting, meet older guys who have more gear than they know what to do with, "borrow" rig indefinitely from one of them and offer a sincere note of gratitude.

I'd recommend something along those lines. Good antennas with an old rig will work the world much easier than a brand new rig with poor antennas.

WB2WIK/6

[n1ese]

pfft, you don't need to spend that much on antenna crap to have an efficient system that can work the world with ease. But whatever, homemade wire dipoles and wire beams have always worked for me.

[KE7IPY]

I went to Ham Radio Outlet today at lunch, and was told that they've had a lot of problems with the 450. So many so, that they wouldn't allow me to buy one...

I mentioned that the 480 was the one that several people on this thread suggested, and was told nothing but good things. I was also shown the Icom IC-718, which was substantially cheaper, but had fewer of the computer controlled wingdings. Sounds like the Kenwood is the way to go for the $800-$1000 price range, though.

[w7lpn]

I've never owned the radios mentioned above, but have the FT-857D, have never regretted buying it. The noise cancellling is superb, and with an external speaker or head phones, is plenty loud as a base station. I have Never had a complaint from 440 to 160M.

[KC0LOE]

I use a Ts-440S/AT with the filters & auto tuner. I got a really good deal on it for $400.00, and works great. Its an older radio, but does everything I need it to do on HF, and I think it hears just as well as the DSP radios with the filters installed(just my opinion).

[AD5ZC]

Join the TS-480 users group on yahoo and go to their files section and open up rigstocompare.pdf.

Very interesting stuff.

If your not familiar with reciever ratings I'll just save you the trouble and say the 480 hangs in there with some rigs that cost twice or more what the 480 does.
Plus it has a lot of nice features you wouldn't expect to find on a radio this price. I suggest you go to Kenwoods site and download the owners manual for this radio.

Don't get "hung up" on stuff like a radio having to have a fixed face. One of the best performing radio on the planet doesn't even have a face but is way out of yours and my budget. Just need a PC and a lot of money.

DO get "hung up" on having the absolute best performance you can get for your 800-900 semolians.

You will grow to love the remote head.

[NN3W]

How about a used FT-990??

[W5IEI]

If you're leaning toward Kenwood,an 850 is hard to beat.

[W4INF]

Ive run the 718 for a good while now, about a month... Nothing but good to say about it. I have the CAT cable and run HRD with it, makes it a great setup. You can get this:

Icom 718 $600
LDG Z-100 tuner $125
Doublet from Wireman or MFJ $50
4:1 BALUN (from doublet to the coax) $30
Short run of coax to the shack $5

About the $800 limit, you get the rig, the tuner and the antenna... All you need to do is put up the antenna and plug up the radio.

Jetstream has a great switcher for $80, I own one and praise it.

Built in keyer: Just plug up a straight or Iambic and your on CW too!

Good luck!
Andrew

[k0dxc]

Icom IC-706MK2G

[W4INF]

BTW, you can buy the doublet for $50, or spend $50 in parts and build one. :-0

102' doublet with 100' ladderline, you look up the cost of the materials.

[WA7KKP]

IMHO, and it is quite biased, you can buy just as good of radio for half that, like I did.

Then again, I don't need all that cutting-edge microprocessor technology. I guess that's why I love my glow-in-the-dark boatanchors even more than my Kenny 430S, and all my other riceboxes put in a pile together.

Spend 800 today, and it will be worth half that tomorrow.

Gary WA7KKP

[W7WV]

Assuming your budget is just for the radio, I agree with the FT-990 used. Best radio I have had so far.
I see them for $600-900 all the time used.