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 <[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
>>
>>
>
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