Morgan,
Wow! That's a LOT of very useful information. While my situation
doesn't include an amp, I like your comment about not being able to
"kill" the Mercury III's. I'll keep that in mind.
Well, thank you (and everyone else!) for these responses! Now I
have some thinking to do and a decision to make. If the FTDX-101D really
can help with my particular noise, that would be great... I'll have to
really think about that! It means I'd have to sell the Flex (I'm already
in the process of selling my vintage Drake equipment). We'll see!
Thanks again!
k WB9FMC
On 3/6/22 09:31, Morgan Bailey wrote:
For me it is all about the RX. What really stands out with the FTDX101
is the noise control that it offers. Each button on the rig actually
does something. And, each something is significant. No other rig that
I have operated has ever measured up to the 101. I really need that
advantage of noise control because I live in a city on a city lot,
with power lines on 3 sides and 3 transformers easily visible from my
back or front yard. I have electrical noise and that coupled with band
noise presents quite a problem. The 101 Rx is hands down the best. It
makes SSB sound like FM. It makes the bandpass quiet until an actual
signal shows up in it. No roar or harsh static is heard. Once I
figured out how I want stuff to sound, I hardly touch the buttons or
knobs during a contest, other than the RIT (Clarifier on Yaesu) and
Width controls. I consider myself an average contester. I live on a
city lot with 68 linear feet for antennas. I cover all frequencies
from 160 to 2 meters. I can run SO2R with ease running 2 radios on any
of the 2 coax feeds to the switch. Each radio can run 1kw loafing and
still not interfere with the other...sans other than the direct exact
multiple harmonic, even still, it is only S7 to S9.
Yes I know everyone complains about the relays. I do not. I grew up
with open frame relays that cerchunked like motor control stuff in an
industrial shop. I wear headphones, W1 Inrad, and do not give a
tinker's damned for QSK. Running SO2R takes QSK off the board. I suck
at SO2R. Even when I am SO1R, which is 99% of the time, I still choose
semi breakin and I relax not having to listen to the static and noise
in between each character. Running 36 to 40 WPM pretty much negates
QSK so why listen to the noise. Noise fatigue during a long contest
will wear you out. I found that when I drove motorcycles, having loud
pipes wore me down. I wore ear plugs all the time. Later I found that
doing 1k miles a day an easy task only after I got rid of the pipes
and switched to a much quieter, meaning silent exhaust. This again
carries over to my experience with radios.
I love the 101 so much, that yes I have 2 of them for SO2R. But for
Field day, I took one out and had to tear down the station to move the
radio to Field Day. Well, yes it works well at Field Day but also so
does an FTDX10. I believe the FTDX10 is the premier radio for Field
Day conditions. I love it so much that I bought one just for Field
Day. Again it is 95% of what the 101 is but mainly it does not have
the VC tune which is a game changer. I feel that the DX10 will be
utilized for many DXpedions based on cost and receiver quality being
able to be operated in an RF noisy environment with ease.
In closing, I love my FTDX101MP, FTDX101D and FTDX10. Taking them out
of the box, turning them on, having them work the first time, what a
joy it is having a finished product that performs like a miracle
solution for my situation. DVRs that work, are easily run by N1MM,
Keying memories the same, excellent parametric equalizers for transmit
Audio, some of the highest average power out on ssb that I have ever
seen, a great pan display, noise control second to none, enough menu
options that are PLAIN TEXT and easily understood without having to go
to the manual to look up stuff to decode the led shorthand
hieroglyphics---for me, Yaesu just hit it out of the park,
especially when the value for the dollar is considered, NO one,
absolutely NO one has come remotely close. I make this conclusion
based on my ears, and my operation ease after having tried, 6500,
6600, 6600M, 6700, K3S, 7610, 890, 590, 991, 830, Omni6 and many more
over the years. I played for an hour or so with a 7851 but for the
$$$$, it is not a value for me when the 101 blows it away for my
station needs.
As for Linear Amps that is a whole different ball of wax. I have had
many over the years. I have given many the torture test and can tell
you which ones work and I would trust. But today, if i were to advise
you to buy an AMP, i would ask a simple question, do you want to run
FT8? If you run FT8 and want to run power there are very few amps that
will stand the test. The next question I would ask is do you want a
tube amp or a transistor amp. Tube amps, at least some of them are far
more rugged for the dollar. Transistor amps are all about cooling. If
you can't keep them cool they are toast. In the end you pay for what
you get. So your choices are limited. If you want a great tube amp and
are willing to pay the dollars for 1500 key down then, ACOM or OM
Power are the choices. If you want a transistor then there is only one
that is stellar and that is the PGXL. If you want a middle of the road
amp that is easy on the pocket then KM3KM produces the Mercury IIIs
which will do a solid KW on CW and 699 watts on FT8 and easily 1200
SSB. I own 2 of them and have not been able to kill them. They are
simple and would fit in most any shack. NO they do not have all the
bells and whistles that other higher dollar amps have but saying that,
they have less to go wrong and cost far less. My choice for an amp for
a modest station is either an ACOM 1000 or a Mercury IIIs. This is
based on Dollar Per Watt and reliability.
HP 2 CU on the air!
73, Tnx for the Qs
Morgan NJ8M
BS + MS + $2.98 = COFFEE
Real Life Experience = Priceless, says the man who set his back yard
on fire with a breadboard tuner loading a 160 meter inverted L with
1000 watts. LOL
On Sat, Mar 5, 2022 at 9:49 PM Kurt Pawlikowski <ku...@pinrod.com> 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
>>
>>
>
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