Re: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios
When we went to T33C (Banaba) we use exclusively the Elecraft K2.The resuklts speak for themselves.I believe the Voodoo Contest Group now use the Elecraft K2. Its light and portable. Has nice filters and does everything that you would want an expedition radio to do. Last year we used three from TY (Benin) and made some 30,000 QSOs including RTTY. Borrow one try it and see for yourself. Now the K3 is coming out the K2 will be a very cheap expedition radio/ Tom GM4FDM Duane, WV2B wrote: Hi Folks, Seems the 706 gets the worst reviews, and the data on the elecraft web page concurs. This is valuable info as we were considering a 706 as the 6 meter/beacon rig, but sounds like it is not a very good choice. The K3 was recommended often, but no one mentioned any actual experience, but the data looks the best. We will likely have at least one K3, as one op mentioned possibly purchasing one for the trip, but yes, they are expensive, especially if you get into the ATU and other options. The other choice seems to be the IC-7000. I know this has been used by several major expeditions. Cheaper than the K3, and hopefully not with the same troubles as the 706. No mention of any Kenwoods, other than a big negative on the TS-50. So not sure how the 570/480 class rank, but certainly not as good as the K3. There are probably other larger radios better suited, but weight limitations make the 8 lb class radios the ones of choice. Thanks for the input. Duane, WV2B www.sabledx.com http://www.sabledx.com The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.- Ralph Waldo Emerson Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
[DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios
Hi folks, Anyone have experience with the current smaller size radios in a strong signal environment? Looking for something smaller like K3, FT-450, IC-7000, or ? Need something which will perform well with at least 3 stations closely spaced, questionable grounding, etc. Typical DXpediton situation. Ideally need to be able to operate 3 stations at once, with minimal inter-station interaction. Will use bandpass filters, etc., but any comments on which rigs have been better in this situation? Thanks and 73, Duane, WV2B www.sabledx.com The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.- Ralph Waldo Emerson Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios
K2/100 would seem to fit the bill. John K5MO At 08:30 AM 9/23/2007, Duane, WV2B wrote: Hi folks, Anyone have experience with the current smaller size radios in a strong signal environment? Looking for something smaller like K3, FT-450, IC-7000, or ? Need something which will perform well with at least 3 stations closely spaced, questionable grounding, etc. Typical DXpediton situation. Ideally need to be able to operate 3 stations at once, with minimal inter-station interaction. Will use bandpass filters, etc., but any comments on which rigs have been better in this situation? Thanks and 73, Duane, WV2B http://www.sabledx.comwww.sabledx.com The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.- Ralph Waldo Emerson Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
RE: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios
Well, I don't know if this exactly helps Duane, but... A few years ago, during a club operation during the Pa QSO Party, I observed (and operated) an IC-706M2G and an Argonaut V operating in very close proximity with overlapping antennas. The Argonaut acted like it was the only rig there. The 706 could get blown out of the water when the Argonaut was transmitting. I've heard good things about the Omni VII, which could be considered the big brother to the Argonaut (or little brother to the Orion Orion II) but haven't had hands-on experience with one yet. Might be worth a look, though. 73 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Duane, WV2B Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 8:31 AM To: dx-chat@njdxa.org Subject: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios Hi folks, Anyone have experience with the current smaller size radios in a strong signal environment? Looking for something smaller like K3, FT-450, IC-7000, or ? Need something which will perform well with at least 3 stations closely spaced, questionable grounding, etc. Typical DXpediton situation. Ideally need to be able to operate 3 stations at once, with minimal inter-station interaction. Will use bandpass filters, etc., but any comments on which rigs have been better in this situation? Thanks and 73, Duane, WV2B www.sabledx.com The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.- Ralph Waldo Emerson Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
RE: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios
At 12:05 PM 9/23/2007, Ron Notarius W3WN wrote: The Argonaut acted like it was the only rig there. The 706 could get blown out of the water when the Argonaut was transmitting. Would have to agree regarding the 706. It's front end is as bad as the New York Giants pass defense. Yes, *that* bad. Cheers, Peter, W2IRT Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
[DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios
Hi Folks, Seems the 706 gets the worst reviews, and the data on the elecraft web page concurs. This is valuable info as we were considering a 706 as the 6 meter/beacon rig, but sounds like it is not a very good choice. The K3 was recommended often, but no one mentioned any actual experience, but the data looks the best. We will likely have at least one K3, as one op mentioned possibly purchasing one for the trip, but yes, they are expensive, especially if you get into the ATU and other options. The other choice seems to be the IC-7000. I know this has been used by several major expeditions. Cheaper than the K3, and hopefully not with the same troubles as the 706. No mention of any Kenwoods, other than a big negative on the TS-50. So not sure how the 570/480 class rank, but certainly not as good as the K3. There are probably other larger radios better suited, but weight limitations make the 8 lb class radios the ones of choice. Thanks for the input. Duane, WV2B www.sabledx.com The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.- Ralph Waldo Emerson Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios
At 07:15 PM 9/23/2007, Duane, WV2B wrote: No mention of any Kenwoods, other than a big negative on the TS-50. So not sure how the 570/480 class rank, but certainly not as good as the K3. The 570 is a great first-radio. It's NOT a great first DXpedition radio. If you put in a 2100 or 1700 SSB filter it's passable on SSB, but on CW it's unusable. You can only add one filter to that radio, so if you put in an SSB filter, which it does need, CW is useless. If you put in a CW filter (which I never did), reports are that on SSB if you're QSX is 5 to 10 up you won't need to touch the tuning. The AGC is so bad on the 570 that if there's a strong CW station even 10 kHz away the pumping will be so intense as to render the radio almost unusable. That was the first brand-new radio I ever bought and it got me up to about 225 countries and through 4 or 5 CQWW-SSBs and ARRL-SSBs, but that was by killing the AGC and riding the RF Gain. Once I started to get into CW the bloom really came off the 570's rose. I liked it as a n00b, but now that I've had a Mark V and an IC-7000, I wouldn't touch a 570 on a bet, unless it was to donate it to a new ham. You do NOT want that as a DXpedition radio, hands-down. My only concern with the K3 is the knobs are big and stick out a little more than on the IC-7000. Not a big deal, and may even be a Good Thing to the big-handed, unless we're talking about it bouncing around in a cargo hold or in hand luggage. I seriously don't know how much abuse that radio is capable of taking. I can say beyond a doubt that my IC-7000 took a poundin' the last two years I went to the Bahamas where it was in my carry-on luggage. Cheers, Peter, W2IRT Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org
Re: [DX-CHAT] DXpedition radios
Duane, WV2B wrote: The other choice seems to be the IC-7000. I know this has been used by several major expeditions. Cheaper than the K3, and hopefully not with the same troubles as the 706. The K3 is too new to rely on. The IC-7000 has been vetted through a couple of major DXpeditions. Plus it's cheaper, so one could afford an extra backup radio compared to the K3. 73- Jim AD1C -- Jim Reisert AD1C/0, [EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.ad1c.us Subscribe/unsubscribe, feedback, FAQ, problems http://njdxa.org/dx-chat To post a message, DX related items only, dx-chat@njdxa.org This is the DX-CHAT reflector sponsored by the NJDXA http://njdxa.org