If you were going to buy a new rig

[n2nh]

Okay, Jesse AC0CL asked which rig to buy FT-857 or FT-817 and after a few messages, Harold, WD5KCA said, this would make a great poll - so here it is.

Which of the new mini rigs would you buy? Some from America, Some from Asia... if you've got something to say about your pick please tell us.

(Because of space limitations, some models were grouped together under their Makers name.)

[ka9inv]

I owned the FT-897D with both batteries installed in it. Wonderful rig to use portable with 20W out on HF. Lotsa fun. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[n2nh]

I own the FT-857 and 817 and happy with both. It's great to get on my bike w/ the 817 and find a great operating place (beach, park, promenade) which I couldn't do with my 857.

I notice that therer is a lot of 'another radio' choices on the poll. Anybody want to discuss that choice?

[kf6rdn]

I'm waiting for the Icom 7000

[KC5SAS]

I want another Kenwood TM-D700

[kj3n]

Don't care for the screen sizes of the Yaesu. Certainly don't like the layout of the menu system. I've used them and they seem ok, just don't care for them.

I own both the 703 and the 706mkiig. I've had the 706 for 6 years now. The 703 I've had less than a year. I used the 703 on FD with a makeshift antenna. Seems to do pretty good.

My vote went to the Elecraft. Don't have one, but would like to build one some day. Amazing RX on it from the 2 times I've ever used one. Very quiet.

[AK7V]

For me, it would be a choice between an 897 and the Ten Tec Argonaut V. I think I'd get the Argo. I already have an Elecraft - it's great - but expensive or time consuming, your choice.

[W0LC]

Elecraft hands down. Best performer among the group. However, if you need 2, 430, etc., then it wouldn't apply.

I had two 897's and didn't like them. Controls too embedded, too many menus within menus. Otherwise, a nice radio. 817 too small, not enough power. Good for QRP and playing around.

Alinco. Forget that. Terrible overload problems. 706 is a good choice for an all around multi band radio. Not too hard to navigate without the manual constantly in front of you. Less learning curve. Proven track record to date.

SGC-202 ADSP2 is a great rig also. Great performer and wonderful customer service support. I would put it under the Elecraft in generic HF only radio selection.

TS-50 is a very nice radio, but dated. Would require the external tuner as does the others.

Probably in order:

HF Only
1. Elecraft
2. SGC-2020


HF with VHF/UHF
1. 706
2. 897

Don't know much about the 857.

[K0RGR]

The 817 is a great toy! I call mine my "Swiss Army Knife". But if you want a serious radio, I'd suggest the 857 or the 706.

The 857 is essentially the same rig as the 897 without the low-power battery provision. I've seen references to a mod that will let it operate like the 897, so I suspect that can't be real hard to achieve, and for the difference in price, size, and flexibility, it is probably worth it. It took me a while to get used to the menus on the 817, but now I don't have any trouble with them.

I liked my 706, too, but recent price increases have made it less attractive.

The K2 is interesting, too, particularly with the transverters for VHF.

[N8CPA]

If size were the consideration--the 817. If overall satisfaction of brand, the 706 in whatever release form. Though--gosh!--I'd really like to have another IC-735, with a transverter for 6 and 2M.

[WB2WIK]

Having used most of these (never used the SGC), I'd say the K2 blows the rest of them away, very far away.

However it doesn't work VHF-UHF and you do have to build it.

For HF work, it would be by far my highest preference of this list.

WB2WIK/6

[W3MIV]

If I don't win the ICOM IC-756Pro III that GigaParts is giving away, I am thinking about buying the TenTec Jupiter.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[w8znx]

hello all

not much of a choice
all little radios

for the most part prefer
my radios big

the Elecraft K-1 and K-2
are not even close to being the same

K-2 truly great little radio
but darnd expensive kit

FT- 817 too small
hard to use menu
has vhf/uhf that this op would never use

SGC 2020 phone man radio
most cw ops do not like this radio

this May
bought a IC-703
my first Icom rig ( hard core Yaseu op )
very much pleased with this radio
easy to use knobs and display
( same as 706 )
detachable head
rig and gelcell bat
fit inside old camera bag
with head on the outside

too heavy for real backpacking
but all of these rigs are too heavy for
true backpacking

most real backpacker hams
use small cw only rigs like the
Small Wonder DSW ect ect

yours truly
helm down grab your beer
Mac

[WA5KRP]

Kenwood TS-2000 has a lotta fans out there. The longer I own it the more I love it - I still haven't learned all it's functions.



WA5KRP
Texas

[KC5SAS]

Well, up until now I haven't considered buying an HF rig. But now that I'll probably be a No-Code General this time next year I guess I'd better start looking to see what's out there.

[WA2ZDY]

Quote[/b] (n3jja @ July 20 2005,09:52)]Don't care for the screen sizes of the Yaesu. Certainly don't like the layout of the menu system. I've used them and they seem ok, just don't care for them.
You talked me out of the 857 and into the TS480S for exactly that reason. Glad to say, you were 100% correct. I LOVE my Kenwood!

[n4tia]

If I had a blank check to get a new radio I would have to choose between the Kenwood TS-2000, TS-950SDX, Icom 746Pro, IC-756PROIII or Motorola Micom 2T or 3T.
Alexander KG4OGN

[W5HTW]

Do they make one with only a volume control, squelch control and channel selector? I think you left out Cobra.

Oh, not yet? Coming soon to a ham store near you.

Ed

[wb6bcn]

I used to own a non-dsp SGC 2020. Like a fool I traded it off for something bigger and better. The rig I got had more output power, but poorer performance. Right now I have an ok rig. It is rated at 100 watts. The feature I miss most is the fully adjustable IF. You can go from 100 hZ to 2700 hZ in 100 hZ steps. Very likely I will get another downstream, and order the DSP modlel.

I forgot: They are built super tough.

[al2i]

I think I could get along with almost any HF rig with really tight IF filters and smooth QSK.

The most humble radio with decent IF filters is more usable to me than the most exotic one without.

[al2i]

Since I own 2 ten-tecs, I have to wonder why all of these junkers made the list? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[kj5t]

If right now I was to get another HF rig, I would get the something in the IC-706 series, for the purposes of this poll I voted IC-706MKIIG, but in reality, the original IC-706 is what I could afford. I will be getting my own vehical somtime in 2005 or Early 2006, and will need a radio, since I will be starting college fall of 2006 and won't have much time sitting back in here in my shack, I want somthing with HF/VHF in the mobile, then I can check into the nets from a college parking lot, and perhaps catch from DX. I am going to be cheap, and have hamsticks to begin with on HF/6m, and a window mount on 2 meter. Though it may be awhile before I get HF in what ever vehical I will end up getting. Who knows, I may not get somthing for HF mobile until after college and when I have a job, and by then I might be able to afford that new IC-7000.

[AC0H]

I've got an K2/100, #4684.
The next HF radio purchase will be an Ten Tec Orion. The Orion II comes out in September.

[n2nh]

I recently got a Red Hot Radio, was too late to get the kit and bought it used... what I wouldn't do to get a new 40 M kit (for a reasonable price). Too bad they're gone. OTOH, I like .7- 2- 10 M FM and both the FT-817 and FT-857 have it.

[n2nh]

Reasonable showing...

12 For the FT-857/897 (which are pretty much the same rig).
8 For the IC-706
7 For the Elecraft

These guys must be doing something right. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Sorry about the Ten Tecs. I've heard the QRP rigs are excellent units, but ran out of room. The original Question was which of the Yaesu's would you get (which is why there are 3 categories for them). I threw in the rest to see what the representation would be in general.

Anybody else with opinions/advice/other comments??

[KG6YTZ]

Make, model? No idea here. Something for the car, definitely. Easy to operate while driving, easy to mount using my existing setup [and if "the other radio" has to come out to make room, then {sigh} so be it], and preferably multi-band - at least 2m and 70cm if not also 6m and perhaps 1.25m as well. All-mode, or at least SSB in addition to FM, would be nice.

Any suggestions?

[kc0ukk]

I just built an Elecraft K2 and an Elecraft XV50 6 meter transverter. I not only enjoyed building the kits, but I learned a lot along the way.

I'm a new ham, so I can't fairly compare the K2 to other rigs, but I can say that the K2's receiver is outstanding. There are eight filter settings for each mode of reception, and there are 6 separate modes: CW, CW Reverse, USB, LSB, RTTY and RTTY Reverse. The Reverse options switch to the other side band when you wish to avoid strong adjacent signals.

Great little rig, a lot of fun

[ka0gkt]

I couldn't decide whether to vote for something that I might be able to afford or if I should sucumb to my meglomaniacial side and vote for something I wish I could afford...With a daughter in College and another in High School, most new radios fall under the second catagory.

After College comes weddings...I think I'd better keep the old Galaxy V MkII running, I think I'll be needing it for a while.

[W1SMC]

I would get a TS-950SDX in a blink of an eye ..... (owned one in the early 90's .... awesome performer)

Right now though I'm waiting for the Orion II .... after Ten Tec works out any of the bugs that is .... middle of next year I hope.

I have a 706 and other misc. rigs, but I'm going American made this time.

[KG4CGC]

IMHO, the best thing to do is make the trip to a ham radio dealer and touch, feel, hear and smell each unit on the same and different antennas. My biggest issue is the receiver noise floor. I monitor with my FT-100 with and without a 10 band equalizer (regular old stereo/audio device) into a 8'' speaker for HF and a 6" speaker for FM. Just sounds best that way. Normally I cut all the low and high frequencies and tweak the middle. If the main purpose is to go mobile then at least use a 4" speaker with some manual filtering. I had some luck once with 3-way crossover network that I added some capacitors to with a 6 position rotary switch. I'm not as impressed with the AF/DSP as the manufacturer would like me to be but at least the FT-100 has a real working noise blanker where the 706 series has one but it is useless.
# I know the FT-100 is not on the list but like I said earlier. Go visit a dealer and spend some time making real comparisons. Yes, we made the 160 mile trip to Atlanta just for that purpose. If that is not possible for you then all I can say is talk to as many hams in your area as possible and check out their rigs. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[al7n]

Ten-Tec.

[G8ADD]

My only rig at present is an FT817. It really is an amazing little box of miracles, I use it on 12 bands and have worked some good DX. When I get tired of the challenge of QRP I will uprate to an FT897D because the menus work the same way and I will not have too steep a learning curve! I wouldn't consider the FT857 because I like to watch the S meter and can't be bothered to use a magnifying glass!

73

Brian G8ADD

[KC0REY]

When I finally had saved enough money to buy that 706 I wanted, They raised the price. I went with the FT-857D and seperation kit. Added a CAT cable and I run it in my big truck. It takes everything the Peterbuilt can throw at it and continues to work beutifully. I can easily navigate the menu system while driving.
A great radio for the money and tough as nails as well. I wish it would have come with a DTMF Mic.

[KI6ADA]

Well still being a NCT I am slowly learning about satellite communications and repeaters. I have been scoping out the IC-910A. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[KF6IRP]

I'm looking at the Yaesu FT8900 quad band, (10/6/2/440) mobile.

KF6IRP http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[ai4ep]

older model synthesized ICOM / KENWOOD YEASU mobile that has

all the ctcss tones
memory channels ( as few as 5 )
limited recieve out of 2 meter amateur bands ( if I want to recieve police scanner stuff I will get a police scanner to do it )
no tx out of 2 meter band

[ai4ep]

irp... the yeasu QUAD bander is FM only on transmit.

you get all 4 bands 10 meter, 6 meter, 2 meter and 440 ( nct arent legal for 10 meter use ...yet )

fm mode only...lots of folks use ssb on 10 meters and 6 meters

even IF modified it wont transmit / recieve on CB frequencies.

...but it is a good radio... dual recieve on 2 bands at same time.

[WA2ZDY]

EP: Last rig that did all that was the Icom IC255A except it had no CTCSS. # Fortunately when I had my 255, only closed and unwelcoming repeaters used CTCSS, so didn't need it. #No out of band anything, two VFOs, 5 memories that were lost when power was off - like taking it in and out of the house, and it was 25w at a time when nearly all other 2m FM rigs were 10w. #The 255A was the first ham rig I bought brand new. #It cost me $349.95 in March 1980. #That was a LOT of scratch for an 18 year old then!

That's right kids, synthesised rigs were fairly common by 1980 though rockbound rigs could still be found. # CTCSS was a private thing for the exclusive types who wanted to keep the rest of the riffraff away. # And all these 50, 65, 75w 2m FM rigs - 10w was the "standard" 2m rig until the IC255A came out at 25. #And there were no dual band rigs except the Drake UV3 that needed modules installed for 2m, 220 and 440. #I guess it came with one, you picked what else you wanted. And that thing was BIG and expensive. #And I don't recall hearing too many of them either.

And aside from the UV3, I don't #remember any other 440 ham rigs. #In 1980, most guys on 440 were still using converted commercial land mobile stuff.

Times change and so do rigs. #Woo hoo!

Oh, I just found the receipt for my IC2AT. #Cost me $250 in August 1981. #I got the SS32M CTCSS encoder in Dec 81 for $32 and installed it myself in an hour. #That IC2AT should go down as one of the best rigs ever in ham radio. # They sold zillions of the things, they were indestructible except for the BNC antenna conector that wasn't too tough to replace, and it was the second synthesised handheld after the Tempo S1 that was really a Henry S1 and who knows who actually made it! # Of all my Motorola stuff I have now, I still have my IC2AT -in a box but it works.

[W3MIV]

Quote[/b] (al7n @ Aug. 08 2005,16:44)]Ten-Tec.
Second that.

[LB1UE]

I miss IC-7800, TS-2000, FT-1000 MkV, TenTec Orion and some JRC models.

---

[ky5u]

Same rig I use now. Kenwood 2000. Best all around rig I have ever seen. There are rigs that do specific things better, but none that do it all better.

Second choice would be ICOM 756PRO whatever or the Ten Tec Orion.

For the newbees, both then ICOM 718 and the Yaesu 840 are good rigs. Nothing fancy. Of the two, I guess I like the 840 better.

[KF6IRP]

AI4EP,

A couple of questions.

1. #How important is SSB for 6/10 meters?
2. #On the Kenwood site, they have a Frequency Chart.pdf. #It shows for 10 meters, Novice / Technician 28.3 to 28.5 for phone. #Are NCT allowed to use this area?

Kenwood data sheets. (http://www.kenwood.net/indexKenwood.cfm?do=SupportFileCategory&FileCatID=8)

I've had my NCT for about 8 1/2 years, but is was primarily used for the local DRT communications. #I mostly used my Kenwood TH-79a.

I am interested in using the available bands for voice, and based on that chart, I thought that the FT8900 would be a good choice.

KF6IRP.

[WA2ZDY]

NCTs may not operate below 6m. So not allowed on 10m. Also, the 10m novice/tech plus band is SSB only for novice/tech pluses. No other modes allowed.

[W5MJL]

There is only one rig to buy at this time. An OIL RIG!!!!

[AB8TM]

out of the choices i picked the elecraft. i had a ts 520 which was just an all around fun rig but lacked internal qrm fighting ability, had a omni d that I really liked the receive on, a 570 that was pretty good but I couldn't get used to the LCD. right now i have an 850 that i really like the rx and tx on, if it lasts it may be my favorite...the only rig i had that i can say i really didn't like was the ts 440 and that was probably because it had been through cb land one too many times.

[ai4ep]

...like ZDY said, 10 meters is not legal for a NCT, so why buy a rig that has that capacity ?

No, you cant modify the 8900 for CB use either, ( cb is on AM and the 8900 is only on FM...oops --- them YEASU folks arent all that dumb, are they ? )

[KC0KBH]

Probably an '897. I already have an 817.

[KC0KBH]

Also, for HF rigs here, I have a IC-765 and my new used FT-817. A winning combo! The '765 is no t the most portable rig in the world.

[KG4CGC]

Quote[/b] (ai4ep @ Aug. 29 2005,11:53)]...like ZDY said, 10 meters is not legal for a NCT, so why buy a rig that has that capacity ?
Sometimes looking at something that can do something that you can not use yet is just the right amount of motivation a person needs to upgrade. If you are a mature individual, you will know better than to transmit somewhere you are not licsenced for.
That said, it's back to the books for me!

[k4kyv]

I'd look around for a retired broadcast transmitter to convert to the ham bands.

[n2nh]

Quote[/b] (WA2ZDY @ Aug. 26 2005,23:36)]NCTs may not operate below 6m. So not allowed on 10m. Also, the 10m novice/tech plus band is SSB only for novice/tech pluses. No other modes allowed.
Actually there are a number of CW "Novice/Tech+" sub-bands that can be operated by Tech+ also, including one on 10 Meters.

10 Meter 28.100-28.300 Novice/Tech+ CW sub-band
28.300-28.500 Novice/Tech+ SSB sub-band

15 Meter 21.100-21.200 N/T+ CW sub-band

40 Meter 7.100-7.150 N/T+ CW sub-band

80 Meter 3.675-3.725 N/T+ CW sub-band

Of course you still need to pass the CW Element at this time to operate there.

[KI6ADA]

Emergency situations and powerline interference is pushing my interest to any type of QRP rig. FT 817 seems to be a good bang for the buck. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[w2ass]

im thinking of buying the new ftdx9000mp. or the new icom, both are over 10,000