You can get into a TenTec for that much money. Since you have time to
check it out, there are some good deals out there but be very careful
in the used market. Most of us feel there is no ethical way to sell a
lightning struck transceiver, regardless of brand.
Having said that Ham Radio Outlet has a very good reputation here in
the Piedmont area of North Carolina.
TenTec takes a personal interest in every customer. They (and everyone
else) can be checked out pretty well on YouTube.
I have had my TenTec Jupiter since the were first available and I am
willing to upgrade when something better comes along. That just has
not happened.
I am 72 this month and I hope that I am young enough to need another
radio in the future.
However, if Yaesu does not come up with the Free Mod to make my FT-857
comply with the 60 meter changes, I am looking at my last Yaesu
product. Since this is to be a long term radio, consider issues such
as that!
On Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:54:38 +0000, Channel Jumper
wrote:
Native Terran;789413 Wrote:
On Tue, 10 Apr 2012 07:28:34 -0700, wrote:
-
On Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:16:42 -0400, Native Terran
wrote:
-
I'm getting a substantial refund check this year. I need advice
regarding some new hard ware.
I'm looking at the FT-950 from Yaesu or Kenwood TS-590 and Icom
IC-7200.
I have a FT897 currently and have some familiarity with their way of
doing things. I'm not totally
in love with all of their design choices however.
But other than that, I'm open minded.
Suggestions?
-
All three have been reviewed in QST. I suggest you read and review the
articles and technical measurements from these units. Much could also
depend on your intended usage. Portable vs. mobile vs. home station;
ssb vs. cw; what is your total budget; etc. Good luck on your
research. For a similar total monetary outlay, there might be more
capable rig availaable.
73 de Don W7WST-
Yes, but I was looking for personal recommendations. I _have_ read the
reviews. But these are
written by experienced operators and are hardly ever critical.
But let me add that the radio is for base operations. I have a capable
radio (FT 897) for mobile
use. I like it allot. However I'm open to other opinions..
Perhaps someone has used two from my list and can offer a comparison of
those two radios. I'm not an
experienced user but this isn't my first day either. Say top of the
newbee level or the bottom of
the intermediate level. Plenty of things to learn.
Not an unlimited budget, around $2000. I'm 60 and I am thinking about a
radio that will last me the
rest of my days.
Jim KC8UGV
--
We live in a society exquisitely dependent
on science and technology,
in which hardly anyone knows anything about
science and technology.
Carl Sagan
What can't you understand?
Call Bob at Ham Radio Outlet in Delaware.
Unless you have $3300 + for a Ten Tec - the only other transceiver you
can afford that does it all well is the Kenwood TS 590S....
Most hams wouldn't waste their money on two relatively new rigs at the
same time unless they had a unlimited budget or had a problem with the
one or the other. And I am not aware of any supplier that would just
take the one back - USED and replace it with another new transceiver of
a different manufacturer.
Your best bet is to drive to a ham radio store and look at them before
you buy them.
My experience came from buying a transceiver sight unseen - by
reputation and a recommendation only.
If the TS 590S has only been released here in the USA for one year,
there is not going to be a lot written about it other then a glowing
report written by the ARRL Labs that was posted in QST Magazine last
year....
No one can hold your hand and no one can tell you what to buy.
Regardless of what they tell you - if you look hard enough, with a
electron microscope - you will eventually find something wrong with all
of them.
The Kenwood is just too new to have problems yet.
There isn't even any updates available for the one I bought last
September.
John Ferrell W8CCW