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Best CW rig?
Hello-
After a hiatus of about 25 years or so, I recently got back into ham radio. I bought an IC 706MkII G rig, an antenna tuner, an audio filter, and an artificial ground. I quite like the 706, but I have the feeling that it is just an "OK rig". I mostly operate CW (with only modest success) - very often, I am unable to pick out stations that seem to be in the mud, even using my audio filter. I have the feeling that there are better transceivers out there for CW, and I don't want to rely upon the word of radio salesmen (whom I believe generally to be honest guys), and so I am asking people who are experienced operators for their opinion. (I have spoken to a few of my local friends, but not many operate CW, so their opinions are suspect). The write-ups in the adverts make my mouth water (especially the ones for the Orion and the K2/100), but I have found that in real life a product NEVER matches the advertising. I am also a bit suspicious after reading the product reviews in eham.net. I suspect that a lot of the "5/5" type of review says "Look, I bought it, and therefore it has got to be great". Now that I have retired and have a few extra bucks available for a rig, I would welcome any comments that you DX operators would be kind enough to offer. Thanks and 73, Joseph |
Joseph,
I have two K2 radios. They are the best you can buy. The Orion is pretty good; but, it is not as good as the Elecraft K2. I sent the Orion back as did Earl, K6SE. I am a wireless (RF) engineer by training and vocation; I have one of the world's best RF labs at my disposal. I have over thirty years experience in wireless design, development, and implementation. I know what I am talking about. Go onto the Elecraft website and sign up to send and receive messages on the Elecraft reflector. Ask to borrow one of the rigs. Once contest season is over I might let you borrow one of mine if you pay the freight both ways. I bet you'll have a new rig by then though. There are plenty of amateurs who will build it for you if you don't enjoy construction. Really, though, it is easy to build if you know how to solder. Give me a call or email back if you want more details on the K2. Bill, NI5F On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 16:14:31 -0500, jotis wrote: Hello- After a hiatus of about 25 years or so, I recently got back into ham radio. I bought an IC 706MkII G rig, an antenna tuner, an audio filter, and an artificial ground. I quite like the 706, but I have the feeling that it is just an "OK rig". I mostly operate CW (with only modest success) - very often, I am unable to pick out stations that seem to be in the mud, even using my audio filter. I have the feeling that there are better transceivers out there for CW, and I don't want to rely upon the word of radio salesmen (whom I believe generally to be honest guys), and so I am asking people who are experienced operators for their opinion. (I have spoken to a few of my local friends, but not many operate CW, so their opinions are suspect). The write-ups in the adverts make my mouth water (especially the ones for the Orion and the K2/100), but I have found that in real life a product NEVER matches the advertising. I am also a bit suspicious after reading the product reviews in eham.net. I suspect that a lot of the "5/5" type of review says "Look, I bought it, and therefore it has got to be great". Now that I have retired and have a few extra bucks available for a rig, I would welcome any comments that you DX operators would be kind enough to offer. Thanks and 73, Joseph |
Joseph,
I have two K2 radios. They are the best you can buy. The Orion is pretty good; but, it is not as good as the Elecraft K2. I sent the Orion back as did Earl, K6SE. I am a wireless (RF) engineer by training and vocation; I have one of the world's best RF labs at my disposal. I have over thirty years experience in wireless design, development, and implementation. I know what I am talking about. Go onto the Elecraft website and sign up to send and receive messages on the Elecraft reflector. Ask to borrow one of the rigs. Once contest season is over I might let you borrow one of mine if you pay the freight both ways. I bet you'll have a new rig by then though. There are plenty of amateurs who will build it for you if you don't enjoy construction. Really, though, it is easy to build if you know how to solder. Give me a call or email back if you want more details on the K2. Bill, NI5F On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 16:14:31 -0500, jotis wrote: Hello- After a hiatus of about 25 years or so, I recently got back into ham radio. I bought an IC 706MkII G rig, an antenna tuner, an audio filter, and an artificial ground. I quite like the 706, but I have the feeling that it is just an "OK rig". I mostly operate CW (with only modest success) - very often, I am unable to pick out stations that seem to be in the mud, even using my audio filter. I have the feeling that there are better transceivers out there for CW, and I don't want to rely upon the word of radio salesmen (whom I believe generally to be honest guys), and so I am asking people who are experienced operators for their opinion. (I have spoken to a few of my local friends, but not many operate CW, so their opinions are suspect). The write-ups in the adverts make my mouth water (especially the ones for the Orion and the K2/100), but I have found that in real life a product NEVER matches the advertising. I am also a bit suspicious after reading the product reviews in eham.net. I suspect that a lot of the "5/5" type of review says "Look, I bought it, and therefore it has got to be great". Now that I have retired and have a few extra bucks available for a rig, I would welcome any comments that you DX operators would be kind enough to offer. Thanks and 73, Joseph |
jotis wrote:
Hello- After a hiatus of about 25 years or so, I recently got back into ham radio. I bought an IC 706MkII G rig, an antenna tuner, an audio filter, and an artificial ground. I quite like the 706, but I have the feeling that it is just an "OK rig". I mostly operate CW (with only modest success) - very often, SNIP Joe, the 706MKIIg is an excellent mobile/portable rig. It's bandwidth is factory set for SSB at approximately 2.7 KHz at -6 dB on the filter curve. It opens up to approximately 6.0 KHz at -60 dB. A poor set up for CW to be sure! You could add the FL-100, a 500 Hz filter, for fair CW. Then the 3rd order performance will limit performance. Moving on to the IC-746, not PRO, I use the FL-100 for CW and find it entirely adequate. The 3rd order performance was tested by ARRL and determined to be 99 dB at 20 KHz at 14.02 MHz. That corresponds to an adjacent signal at +50 over S9 at 20 KHz from the receive frequency with a bandwidth of 500 Hz producing a barely discernible change in the minimum detectable signal level. This is about average to average plus for a $1200 - $1400 rig. With the APF function I can DSP the bandwidth down to almost 100 Hz or slightly below. I own both the 706 MKIIg and the 746 [non-PRO] models. The IC-756PRO has a better receiver than the 746. I'll let the YAESU users comment on the performance of that line of equipment. Deacon Dave, W1MCE |
jotis wrote:
Hello- After a hiatus of about 25 years or so, I recently got back into ham radio. I bought an IC 706MkII G rig, an antenna tuner, an audio filter, and an artificial ground. I quite like the 706, but I have the feeling that it is just an "OK rig". I mostly operate CW (with only modest success) - very often, SNIP Joe, the 706MKIIg is an excellent mobile/portable rig. It's bandwidth is factory set for SSB at approximately 2.7 KHz at -6 dB on the filter curve. It opens up to approximately 6.0 KHz at -60 dB. A poor set up for CW to be sure! You could add the FL-100, a 500 Hz filter, for fair CW. Then the 3rd order performance will limit performance. Moving on to the IC-746, not PRO, I use the FL-100 for CW and find it entirely adequate. The 3rd order performance was tested by ARRL and determined to be 99 dB at 20 KHz at 14.02 MHz. That corresponds to an adjacent signal at +50 over S9 at 20 KHz from the receive frequency with a bandwidth of 500 Hz producing a barely discernible change in the minimum detectable signal level. This is about average to average plus for a $1200 - $1400 rig. With the APF function I can DSP the bandwidth down to almost 100 Hz or slightly below. I own both the 706 MKIIg and the 746 [non-PRO] models. The IC-756PRO has a better receiver than the 746. I'll let the YAESU users comment on the performance of that line of equipment. Deacon Dave, W1MCE |
"Dave Shrader" wrote in message news:gDYRb.46509$U%5.243832@attbi_s03... jotis wrote: Hello- After a hiatus of about 25 years or so, I recently got back into ham radio. I bought an IC 706MkII G rig, an antenna tuner, an audio filter, and an artificial ground. I quite like the 706, but I have the feeling that it is just an "OK rig". I mostly operate CW (with only modest success) - very often, SNIP Joe, the 706MKIIg is an excellent mobile/portable rig. It's bandwidth is factory set for SSB at approximately 2.7 KHz at -6 dB on the filter curve. It opens up to approximately 6.0 KHz at -60 dB. A poor set up for CW to be sure! You could add the FL-100, a 500 Hz filter, for fair CW. Then the 3rd order performance will limit performance. Moving on to the IC-746, not PRO, I use the FL-100 for CW and find it entirely adequate. The 3rd order performance was tested by ARRL and determined to be 99 dB at 20 KHz at 14.02 MHz. That corresponds to an adjacent signal at +50 over S9 at 20 KHz from the receive frequency with a bandwidth of 500 Hz producing a barely discernible change in the minimum detectable signal level. This is about average to average plus for a $1200 - $1400 rig. With the APF function I can DSP the bandwidth down to almost 100 Hz or slightly below. I own both the 706 MKIIg and the 746 [non-PRO] models. The IC-756PRO has a better receiver than the 746. I'll let the YAESU users comment on the performance of that line of equipment. Deacon Dave, W1MCE The answer to your question is constantly changing. The best stats appear to go to the Orion and K2. However, you ought to consider how you operate. Do you like large or small knobs? Do you like menu operation? Etc. Try the rigs you think you might like and make a choice based on the ergonomics you like rather than the statistics. There is the best radio and then there are the most comfortable and the most capable. Ed, N5EI |
"Dave Shrader" wrote in message news:gDYRb.46509$U%5.243832@attbi_s03... jotis wrote: Hello- After a hiatus of about 25 years or so, I recently got back into ham radio. I bought an IC 706MkII G rig, an antenna tuner, an audio filter, and an artificial ground. I quite like the 706, but I have the feeling that it is just an "OK rig". I mostly operate CW (with only modest success) - very often, SNIP Joe, the 706MKIIg is an excellent mobile/portable rig. It's bandwidth is factory set for SSB at approximately 2.7 KHz at -6 dB on the filter curve. It opens up to approximately 6.0 KHz at -60 dB. A poor set up for CW to be sure! You could add the FL-100, a 500 Hz filter, for fair CW. Then the 3rd order performance will limit performance. Moving on to the IC-746, not PRO, I use the FL-100 for CW and find it entirely adequate. The 3rd order performance was tested by ARRL and determined to be 99 dB at 20 KHz at 14.02 MHz. That corresponds to an adjacent signal at +50 over S9 at 20 KHz from the receive frequency with a bandwidth of 500 Hz producing a barely discernible change in the minimum detectable signal level. This is about average to average plus for a $1200 - $1400 rig. With the APF function I can DSP the bandwidth down to almost 100 Hz or slightly below. I own both the 706 MKIIg and the 746 [non-PRO] models. The IC-756PRO has a better receiver than the 746. I'll let the YAESU users comment on the performance of that line of equipment. Deacon Dave, W1MCE The answer to your question is constantly changing. The best stats appear to go to the Orion and K2. However, you ought to consider how you operate. Do you like large or small knobs? Do you like menu operation? Etc. Try the rigs you think you might like and make a choice based on the ergonomics you like rather than the statistics. There is the best radio and then there are the most comfortable and the most capable. Ed, N5EI |
I have been using the Yaesu FT-1 for quite a few years. This was one of the
first super rigs, from Yaesu. I have over 300 CW DX countries logged, most with this rig. They come up on EBay at times. Mine has the memory module and the CW filters. For the price as a used rig it would be a great buy. Art K5FNQ "jotis" wrote in message ... Hello- After a hiatus of about 25 years or so, I recently got back into ham radio. I bought an IC 706MkII G rig, an antenna tuner, an audio filter, and an artificial ground. I quite like the 706, but I have the feeling that it is just an "OK rig". I mostly operate CW (with only modest success) - very often, I am unable to pick out stations that seem to be in the mud, even using my audio filter. I have the feeling that there are better transceivers out there for CW, and I don't want to rely upon the word of radio salesmen (whom I believe generally to be honest guys), and so I am asking people who are experienced operators for their opinion. (I have spoken to a few of my local friends, but not many operate CW, so their opinions are suspect). The write-ups in the adverts make my mouth water (especially the ones for the Orion and the K2/100), but I have found that in real life a product NEVER matches the advertising. I am also a bit suspicious after reading the product reviews in eham.net. I suspect that a lot of the "5/5" type of review says "Look, I bought it, and therefore it has got to be great". Now that I have retired and have a few extra bucks available for a rig, I would welcome any comments that you DX operators would be kind enough to offer. Thanks and 73, Joseph |
I have been using the Yaesu FT-1 for quite a few years. This was one of the
first super rigs, from Yaesu. I have over 300 CW DX countries logged, most with this rig. They come up on EBay at times. Mine has the memory module and the CW filters. For the price as a used rig it would be a great buy. Art K5FNQ "jotis" wrote in message ... Hello- After a hiatus of about 25 years or so, I recently got back into ham radio. I bought an IC 706MkII G rig, an antenna tuner, an audio filter, and an artificial ground. I quite like the 706, but I have the feeling that it is just an "OK rig". I mostly operate CW (with only modest success) - very often, I am unable to pick out stations that seem to be in the mud, even using my audio filter. I have the feeling that there are better transceivers out there for CW, and I don't want to rely upon the word of radio salesmen (whom I believe generally to be honest guys), and so I am asking people who are experienced operators for their opinion. (I have spoken to a few of my local friends, but not many operate CW, so their opinions are suspect). The write-ups in the adverts make my mouth water (especially the ones for the Orion and the K2/100), but I have found that in real life a product NEVER matches the advertising. I am also a bit suspicious after reading the product reviews in eham.net. I suspect that a lot of the "5/5" type of review says "Look, I bought it, and therefore it has got to be great". Now that I have retired and have a few extra bucks available for a rig, I would welcome any comments that you DX operators would be kind enough to offer. Thanks and 73, Joseph |
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