What brand is your primary HF rig? [Archive]

WA4BRL

08-19-2011, 09:01 PM

Other: HEATHKIT

Jeez, I can't believe you didn't include Heathkit in the survey!

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o354/wa4brl/Radio/MyStation.jpg

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o354/wa4brl/Radio/DX-60_HR-10_HG-10.jpg

W5XXL

08-19-2011, 11:01 PM

I am sorry I should have included heathkit and elecraft. Please select other. Thanks!

WB2WIK

08-21-2011, 12:53 AM

I don't know what's "most popular," but my HF rigs are all Ten Tec, Kenwood and Drake.

The ones I use most are Ten Tec, and I voted that way.

Based on what "I hear" when working others, Elecraft is very popular on CW and Flex is quite popular on SSB, and I didn't see those options listed.

AF6LJ

08-21-2011, 01:36 AM

Icom for now, that could change.

WA6MHZ

08-21-2011, 01:39 AM

There is SERIOUS and PLAY radios. For Absolutely the BEST performance I can get, I have to use my Icom IC-736. It is a NEVER FAIL system which is PARAMOUNT in DXing. I can't take chances with DX!

For just general playing around, then I can use my Heathkit SS-9000, which sort of works.

KX0Z

08-21-2011, 04:05 AM

Yaesu FT840

G4OTU

08-22-2011, 01:31 PM

I'll stick my neck out and say that in the UK Yaesu is probably the most popular. actually voted Kenwood as my primary rig is a TS530S but I also have an elderly Yaesu/Sommerkamp FT767 and know that the majority of local hams run Yaesus for HF.

2E0OZI

08-22-2011, 06:52 PM

Primary? In my case the word "only" ccould be used. It was about usability and the price (near new) for me. Bells and whistles were irrelevant.

KB9BVN

08-22-2011, 06:55 PM

All I buy in HF gear is Ten Tec or Elecraft. Period. My VHF/UHF stuff is all Yaesu.

KC2USH

08-23-2011, 03:25 AM

I have both an old Kenwood ts-820s and an Icom IC-718. The 820 was my primary till I bought the 718 so now that one is the primary one.

AE5YJ

08-23-2011, 04:14 AM

Flex SDR-1000. Feels like operating blind when not using a panadapter. Very cool, wish I could afford the 3k

K8JD

08-27-2011, 01:28 AM

I actually have two Kenwoods, A TS440s that I use for 160, 40, 30 and 20M and a TS520 for 80M CW.
Other HF rigs I use occasionally are a HTX10 for 10M fone, two MFJ Cubs, 80 and 40M and a MFJ 9030 (30M CW) QRP rigs.

PA5COR

08-27-2011, 02:29 PM

Yaesu FT 2000 D.
Nothing fancy actually.

AC0VI

08-27-2011, 05:47 PM

Kenwood TS-520 station and TS-440S/AT station :D

KD8LCD

09-08-2011, 12:30 AM

I chose other , after being bent over by one on your list I am really looking hard at either Elkcraft or Flex

There made in US so when there is a problem I can go and visit them!

W3PO

09-23-2011, 12:54 PM

Mine is a Yaesu FT 1000d so I picked the Yeasu box which was the closest to my rig.
Got to try one of these Yeasus one day.

KG4NEL

09-23-2011, 06:45 PM

Last two primary HF rigs were Icoms (746, now 706MKIIG).

Thinking of either going Kenwood or Elecraft for the next one, depending on what kind of numbers the KX3 puts up...

WB4WHJ

09-27-2011, 03:10 AM

nice heath set up!

K3ROJ

09-28-2011, 12:42 PM

The Flex 5000A is becoming very popular since I hear a lot of them on the air, especially on cw. Hams enjoy the thrill of setting up their computer to run a Flex Radio. On SSB and FM, they have the best audio around thanks to the audio equalizer and being able to use balanced microphone inputs.

AH6RR

10-03-2011, 07:18 AM

I have been using Kenwood rigs since I was first licensed 2 520's 1 530 2 430's 1 440 and 2 830's and now I have a 850 with the Inrad Roofing filter kit. The 850 the way mine is set up stands neck and neck with the K3's I have operated (except it only has one receiver). I did have a Yeasu FT-707 but it had the ears of a alligator and a Atlas 210 (it was OK).
I do own a Heathkit but it is a SB-220:).

Roland AH6RR

KI6USW

10-03-2011, 08:22 AM

A Kenwood TS-2000, Flex SDR-1000, and a Kenwood TS-120S as a backup.

M1BCM

10-04-2011, 06:55 PM

Yeasu huh .. don't know who they are but i HAVE heard of YAESU .. :D

M5DND

10-06-2011, 04:46 PM

I voted YAESU because my beloved KENWOOD TS-850sat is still awaiting repair (Needs a new display panel from somewhere!!).
I run a FT-897 now..

W1KON

10-06-2011, 05:42 PM

Can't say enough about my new FLEX 3000. A gift from my 91 yr old Ham father, KA1WWB, Fred Schultz. Thanks, dad. Working 80-10M with great success on a 80M small space, very folded dipole. Second rig a late model Yaesu FT-1000 pre-digital filter era.

WW3QB

10-07-2011, 02:54 PM

Omitting Elecraft, Flex, and even Heathkit make this poll useless. 10% (fourth most popular, after the obvious big three) said "other" and we don't know what those others are or how much of each. After the big three manufacturers, it would be interesting how Elecraft and Flex (with Ten Tec) ranked.

K3ROJ

10-12-2011, 02:05 PM

For me, the Flex Radio 5000A is the ultimate rig, especially after it's VHF/UHF addition. Just from the experience of setting up and maintaining a computer to operate it is an exceptional feat in itself. It is actually a laboratory grade transceiver when using a 10 MHz reference oscillator. Am going to donate my antique FT847, ICOM 910H and transverters to a good cause.

WB4WHJ

10-16-2011, 05:19 AM

NA0AA

10-16-2011, 04:34 PM

I use a similar Yaesu radio, not a choice above.

NA0AA

10-16-2011, 04:42 PM

Seriously though, I own a bunch of Yaesu radios, and a legacy IC-735 [in storage currently] and a couple of icom HT's that I'm waiting to wear out [not likely].

While I like the color display on the Icom radios a lot, I find the operation of Yaseu 'big rigs' [I have both the FT-2000D and the FTdx-5000d] to be much more pleasant because it's got knobs and buttons for almost every conceivable operating adjustment you might want to make - the only one not adjustable on the front panel is transmit bandwidth, but you CAN assign one key to that function if you change it a lot - and if you go from DX to ESSB [with the 3000 setting it's about as close as SSB will get], then it's something you might use regularly.

NA0AA

10-16-2011, 04:43 PM

deleted double post

KL7AJ

10-16-2011, 06:10 PM

E.F. Johnson, now that 10 meter A.M. is working again. :)

NL7W

10-16-2011, 10:43 PM

A Johnson "White Face" no doubt? What a rig it was... outstanding audio and a great squelch circuit.

E.F. Johnson, now that 10 meter A.M. is working again. :)

KB5DOH

10-23-2011, 10:56 PM

My main rig is a SWAN 350 2nd Alinco DX-70 TH

KL7AJ

10-23-2011, 11:24 PM

A Johnson "White Face" no doubt? What a rig it was... outstanding audio and a great squelch circuit.

Nope...actually a Johnson RAnger II. And heathkit AR-3 for reception. :)

K4JC

10-25-2011, 09:29 PM

My primary rig for the past few years has been a Yaesu FT-920, and I could not be happier with its performance. It has just enough bells and whistles for me. Yes it's a big radio, but I guess I'm old school in that I like having knobs and buttons to play with. I find that with this rig I rarely have to go into the menus; most everything I need to adjust often is on the front panel. Unfortunately it has developed tx audio distortion on 15m phone. It's been frustrating trying to figure out what the problem is, and no one will work on the radio, so it looks like I may have to part with my beloved '920 :( . I've been researching new rigs but so far I haven't found one that floats my boat (at least nothing under a couple of grand!)

I still have my old Ten Tec Omni-D as a backup rig. This is another radio I really enjoy using. Too bad it doesn't have the WARC bands.

AB2T

10-26-2011, 03:07 AM

My TS-830S and I are never parting ways. It's real love.

I might build a quality QRP rig (elecraft?) for portable work, or get a used yaesu all-solid-state qrp rig. But that's about it, really.

73, Jordan

WA4LZC

10-26-2011, 03:10 AM

I have a Yeasu FT-450 that I have used for a few years but now run boatanchor radios Collins S-Line ( 32S-1 and 75S-1 ) and Collins KWM-2A. I hope to get an R-390A and a 30L-1 soon....:)

WD0GOF

10-28-2011, 02:24 PM

Other, Hallicrafters

73 Walt

K2CLH

10-30-2011, 09:26 PM

I chose Yeasu only because I am using one currently but I am looking at a Kenwood seriously.

WA4BRL

10-31-2011, 09:50 AM

Other, Hallicrafters

73 Walt
Oops Walt, I see a Drake in there!

Seriously though, beautiful station!

N0NB

11-05-2011, 02:41 AM

Other == K3 here.

K7IOA

11-05-2011, 05:30 AM

I have both an old Kenwood ts-820s and an Icom IC-718. The 820 was my primary till I bought the 718 so now that one is the primary one.

Same two rigs I have! Next you will be telling me you use a Hustler 5BTV antenna!:D

WB2WIK

11-06-2011, 12:59 AM

I chose Yeasu only because I am using one currently but I am looking at a Kenwood seriously.

Let us know if it's looking back at you. There are stalking laws in most states.

AF6LJ

11-06-2011, 01:03 AM

Other, Hallicrafters

73 WaltWay nice. :)

NL7W

11-10-2011, 10:36 PM

Walt!

Yep... Great lookin' station! Congrats.

Oops Walt, I see a Drake in there!

Seriously though, beautiful station!

K3ROJ

11-17-2011, 11:54 PM

There is no better rig than the Flex 5000A---period. All other tranceivers with knobs are obsolete as far as I am concerned. There is no need for IF amplifiers, IF filters, and of course the antique looking knobs. Why not upgrade now and toss that old radio with cumbersome knobs into the dumpster?

VK6ZGO

11-18-2011, 09:01 AM

Mine is a Yaesu FT 1000d so I picked the Yeasu box which was the closest to my rig.
Got to try one of these Yeasus one day.

Bummer! you beat me to it!

My only HF radio is a Yaesu FT301.

73,VK6ZGO

W5INC

11-20-2011, 01:02 AM

After 7 years of not having a home QTH to operate from I finally decided it was time to make it happen. I cleaned out the back bedroom of car parts and radios I have collected over the years and got these BAs setup up and running. The 30S-1 amp is over in the corner. I waited a long time to get these rigs on the air and I am happy to see the tubes glowing, once again.

95% of the way to completing the setup and the POS Weller sodering gun dies making up the coax jumper cables, after being used 1 time before. What garbage and the SS contest is going on right now full blast. ND, SD and Idaho blasting into the rcvr and I have no Xmtr because of no jumper cables. :( I am going to the Frys where I bought the POS Weller gun, get another gun and see if I can get in on the action.

79037