Dave,
Sorry, my QRZ page is really dated! I'll have to take some time an
update it! Currently, I'm in an antenna restricted situation (condo) and
my antenna is a MFJ loop that I wheel out into the parking lot in order
to operate.
As far as the radio goes, it seems to work very respectfully. Makes
me wish I had that vertical! But currently, my biggest problem is noise.
This radio does seem to mitigate that to some degree. Of course, getting
DXCC or any other award does require you spend much more time on the air
than I currently do! {'-)
k WB9FMC
On 3/6/22 08:49, David Bunte wrote:
Kurt -
If I may add a little more information… my friend with the ‘7851 and
the K4D is the only person I have told until now… but I recently
ordered a K4D.
Another friend near me has been using a Flex (6600 or 6400 I don’t
recall) and it has been driving him nuts… rebooting in the middle of
contests etc. he just picked up an Icom 7610 from another friend who
got a K4D.
I also noted on your QRZ page that you have a vertical antenna. Some
folks knock them but on less than 10 years using one I confirmed 9
band DXCC, 308 countries and about 1900 toward DXCC Challenge.
Dave - K9FN
On Sun, Mar 6, 2022 at 9:17 AM Kurt Pawlikowski <[email protected]> wrote:
Dave,
Very interesting and useful experiential info! It's much
appreciated.
k WB9FMC
On 3/6/22 06:45, David Bunte wrote:
> Kurt -
>
> I am sending this just to you because I don't want to get into the
> middle of a battle over which radio is the best. We are
fortunate that
> there are a LOT of very fine radios from which we can choose.
Clearly
> only you can decide which radio is best for you. I am writing
because
> a very good friend of mine has owned some of the finest. He
currently
> has an IC-7851, which replaced the '7850 he used for many years. He
> bought an Elecraft K3 when they were first introduced. He had
that set
> up next to his '7850 and alternated between them. He thought
they were
> both excellent radios, but preferred the Icom... because the audio
> sounded better on receive. He and I are both CW operators so when
> evaluating rigs phone performance does not matter to us at
all... but
> I preferred his K3 because I use QSK, which was flawless with
the K3.
> About 11 years ago he loaned me his K3/P3 combination when I
installed
> an antenna at my new house. I had been operating mobile for 5 years
> and finally could operate from the comfort of my own shack. I liked
> the k3 so much that at Dayton in 2011 I was made the first
purchase of
> the weekend when I bought my K3 in kit form.
>
> I am still using that radio today. I have made several upgrades and
> have NEVER second-guessed my decision. I now also have the
KPA500 and
> KAT500.
>
> Now, to the heart of my email. My friend bought an FTDX101MP (I
think
> that is the nomenclature) and put it next to his '7851. He used one
> for a week, and then the other for a week... he alternated like
that
> for months. He was very impressed with the radio in many regards...
> but stopped using it because in a few small ways he felt it did not
> measure up to the Icom. The thing I most clearly remember him not
> liking was the noisy relays when operating semi-breakin on CW. I
> played with the radio for just a little bit and could not stand the
> relay noise. The relays in the '7851 don't bother him at all.
Because
> I use full QSK I could not stand the Yeasu and felt the Icom was
only
> a little better. Also... I lived just under 4 miles from him.
When he
> was on the air I could glance at my P3 and knew which radio he was
> using because the CW waveform was wider on the Yaesu... it was
pretty
> good but the Icom was clearly better. When he was using his Icom we
> could be chewing the rag 2 kHz from each other and not even notice
> that the other was on the band. When he used the Yaesu I had to
be at
> least 4 or 5 kHz away.
>
> I have recently moved to a new QTH and am now just under 1.5 miles
> from him. We had a rag chew last Monday on 40 meters. We
exchanged 40
> db over S9 reports, but at 2 kHz away from his new K4D I could have
> had a QSO... although I am pretty sure I could hear slight
evidence of
> when he was transmitting.
>
> I have no idea if any of my meanderings are helpful or not, but for
> me... a CW operator who loves QSK, I have a hard time considering
> anything other than Elecraft.
>
> I wish you the very best as you consider what to do in the future.
>
> 73 de Dave - K9FN
>
>
> On Sat, Mar 5, 2022 at 10:45 PM Kurt Pawlikowski
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Scott,
>
> Well, yes: The "numbers" say one thing (or several
things!),
> but,
> like I said, I'm in love with Elecraft... So, yes, I'm
prejudiced! Of
> course the "top radio (FT-DX101D)" is somewhat more
expensive then
> the
> 6400, and does seem to have some nice whistles and bells.
Who knows?
> Maybe I'll do a switch to Yaesu... {'-)
>
> k WB9FMC
>
> On 3/5/22 18:46, Scott Manthe wrote:
> > Actually, the Yaesu FTDX101D/MP has the best receiver
numbers on
> > Sherwood's list. That doesn't mean that it's the best
radio for
> you,
> > but the Flex and the K4 aren't "far and away" better
receivers than
> > anything else in the amateur market. Ironically, Rob seems to
> really
> > like Icoms...
> >
> > 73,
> > Scott N9AA
> >
> >
> >
> > On 3/5/22 7:26 PM, Kurt Pawlikowski wrote:
> >> Rich, Et Al,
> >>
> >> Thanks for the comments.
> >>
> >> Yes, I'm aware that this might bring up some sort of
issues
> >> people have with the manufactures or personal experience. My
> own is
> >> that when I was ordering the radio, I could afford the 6400.
> But what
> >> I was hoping for, maybe in vain, is some information
about how the
> >> rigs perform comparatively. I know that either of them are
> >> far-and-away better receivers than anything else on the
amateur
> market.
> >>
> >> I my situation, I'm up against a lot of noise (live in a
> condo).
> >> The Flex seems to mitigate some of that. I was hoping
that the K4
> >> would be at least comparable.
> >>
> >> CW delay: Well, I wired my key and headphones
directly to the
> >> Flex. My control PC would be way too slow to operate CW
through it.
> >>
> >> Well, I'm not sure which way to go at this time. I
like the
> Flex,
> >> but I'm "in-love" with Elecraft! Just wish I had a more
> experiential
> >> based opinion to consider!
> >>
> >> Thanks all for your comments! I'll keep my eye on this
> thread...
> >>
> >> k WB9FMC
> >>
> >>
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[email protected]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list:
http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [email protected]
>
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[email protected]
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [email protected]
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[email protected]
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [email protected]
