Elecraft K2/100 or Kenwood TS-570D(G)?
 

I am trying to decide whether to purchase a new Elecraft K2/100 (to be
built by me) or a new Kenwood TS-570D(G). I enjoy kit building, but not
so much I want to compromise on basic operating enjoyment (which for me,
however, doesn't include a need for a lot of "bells and whistles). I
plan on using either rig as a base station operating mostly SSB. At
this point, the plusses for Elecraft seem to me to be the enjoyment of
the building process and the quality of the unit's receiver while the
plusses for the Kenwood seem to be inclusion of a .5-30Mhz general
coverage receiver (I like to SWL occasionally) and the availability of
FM and AM operating modes.

Thanks in advance for any helpful comments or suggestions (another rig
to consider at the $1000 price point?).

On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 09:16:15 -0700, Paul Clay
wrote:

Since you're planning on ssb mostly, I'd say the Kenwood.

Kenwood is well-known for having good transmit audio. Elecraft is
well-known for having good little cw rigs -- their ssb audio may or
may not equal the Kenwood's.

Bob
k5qwg



I am trying to decide whether to purchase a new Elecraft K2/100 (to be
built by me) or a new Kenwood TS-570D(G). I enjoy kit building, but not
so much I want to compromise on basic operating enjoyment (which for me,
however, doesn't include a need for a lot of "bells and whistles). I
plan on using either rig as a base station operating mostly SSB. At
this point, the plusses for Elecraft seem to me to be the enjoyment of
the building process and the quality of the unit's receiver while the
plusses for the Kenwood seem to be inclusion of a .5-30Mhz general
coverage receiver (I like to SWL occasionally) and the availability of
FM and AM operating modes.

Thanks in advance for any helpful comments or suggestions (another rig
to consider at the $1000 price point?).

On Mon, 07 Jul 2003 09:16:15 -0700, Paul Clay
wrote:

Since you're planning on ssb mostly, I'd say the Kenwood.

Kenwood is well-known for having good transmit audio. Elecraft is
well-known for having good little cw rigs -- their ssb audio may or
may not equal the Kenwood's.

Bob
k5qwg



I am trying to decide whether to purchase a new Elecraft K2/100 (to be
built by me) or a new Kenwood TS-570D(G). I enjoy kit building, but not
so much I want to compromise on basic operating enjoyment (which for me,
however, doesn't include a need for a lot of "bells and whistles). I
plan on using either rig as a base station operating mostly SSB. At
this point, the plusses for Elecraft seem to me to be the enjoyment of
the building process and the quality of the unit's receiver while the
plusses for the Kenwood seem to be inclusion of a .5-30Mhz general
coverage receiver (I like to SWL occasionally) and the availability of
FM and AM operating modes.

Thanks in advance for any helpful comments or suggestions (another rig
to consider at the $1000 price point?).

Thierry wrote:

Hi,

One say excellent things about the RX module equipping the K2, maybe one of
the best on the place.
But I suspect that if you want a RTX this is also to emit and reach pileups
or DX stations. So the TX part is probably as important as the first one.
And a performing DSP is today quasi mandatory.
I cannot decide for you, so check here :
About K2, http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/117
My page about TS570D, http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/qsl-ts570.htm (or on
eham)

All users of the TS say that the report that they received is often "very
clear signal". Up to now, even equipped with a longwire (I own vertical, a
beam and soon a G5RV too) I can hear ANY DX station and even JT in QRP (see
my SWL QSL gallery ONL5183, very soon upgraded to the licenced version,
LX1SKY).
A friend of mine also bought a TS570 and he appreciate much his new rig for
the relatively low price it cost.

At last, your best friend should be a HF engineer. He could help you to find
the best rig in terms of performances, filtering, DSP capabilities, etc.

Hope this helps


It did help. Thanks very much. Really, for me, the biggest attraction (and
it's a big one) of the K2 is the kitbuilding and future
customization/modification elements. From a day-to-day operating standpoint,
the Kenwood probably makes more sense. Too bad I can't afford to buy both
units. :=)

- Paul
N6LQ

Thierry wrote:

Hi,

One say excellent things about the RX module equipping the K2, maybe one of
the best on the place.
But I suspect that if you want a RTX this is also to emit and reach pileups
or DX stations. So the TX part is probably as important as the first one.
And a performing DSP is today quasi mandatory.
I cannot decide for you, so check here :
About K2, http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/117
My page about TS570D, http://www.astrosurf.com/lombry/qsl-ts570.htm (or on
eham)

All users of the TS say that the report that they received is often "very
clear signal". Up to now, even equipped with a longwire (I own vertical, a
beam and soon a G5RV too) I can hear ANY DX station and even JT in QRP (see
my SWL QSL gallery ONL5183, very soon upgraded to the licenced version,
LX1SKY).
A friend of mine also bought a TS570 and he appreciate much his new rig for
the relatively low price it cost.

At last, your best friend should be a HF engineer. He could help you to find
the best rig in terms of performances, filtering, DSP capabilities, etc.

Hope this helps


It did help. Thanks very much. Really, for me, the biggest attraction (and
it's a big one) of the K2 is the kitbuilding and future
customization/modification elements. From a day-to-day operating standpoint,
the Kenwood probably makes more sense. Too bad I can't afford to buy both
units. :=)

- Paul
N6LQ

There is no rig of which you ever will be as proud of as the Elecraft K2.
Because you built it yourself! And its performance is top class, and its
handling as easy as it can get. Elecraft is ham radio back to its roots.

73´s de Per SM0WRA K2/100 no 1623

"Paul Clay" skrev i meddelandet
...
I am trying to decide whether to purchase a new Elecraft K2/100 (to be
built by me) or a new Kenwood TS-570D(G). I enjoy kit building, but not
so much I want to compromise on basic operating enjoyment (which for me,
however, doesn't include a need for a lot of "bells and whistles). I
plan on using either rig as a base station operating mostly SSB. At
this point, the plusses for Elecraft seem to me to be the enjoyment of
the building process and the quality of the unit's receiver while the
plusses for the Kenwood seem to be inclusion of a .5-30Mhz general
coverage receiver (I like to SWL occasionally) and the availability of
FM and AM operating modes.

Thanks in advance for any helpful comments or suggestions (another rig
to consider at the $1000 price point?).

There is no rig of which you ever will be as proud of as the Elecraft K2.
Because you built it yourself! And its performance is top class, and its
handling as easy as it can get. Elecraft is ham radio back to its roots.

73´s de Per SM0WRA K2/100 no 1623

"Paul Clay" skrev i meddelandet
...
I am trying to decide whether to purchase a new Elecraft K2/100 (to be
built by me) or a new Kenwood TS-570D(G). I enjoy kit building, but not
so much I want to compromise on basic operating enjoyment (which for me,
however, doesn't include a need for a lot of "bells and whistles). I
plan on using either rig as a base station operating mostly SSB. At
this point, the plusses for Elecraft seem to me to be the enjoyment of
the building process and the quality of the unit's receiver while the
plusses for the Kenwood seem to be inclusion of a .5-30Mhz general
coverage receiver (I like to SWL occasionally) and the availability of
FM and AM operating modes.

Thanks in advance for any helpful comments or suggestions (another rig
to consider at the $1000 price point?).

They are both good rigs, but I would give the edge to the
Kenwood...........I believe that the Elecraft is using a Mini-Circuits Level
7 mixer, which would give an IP3 of right around +14dBm, assuming the 1dB
gain compression point is at 0dBm. The Kenwood uses that Quad JFET ring
mixer, which gives a slightly better IP3 of +20dBm, and it does give you a
general coverage receiver. I have had mine since the late 90s, with no
problems. That Elecraft unit does look like a winner, though.

Pete

Per Enocson wrote in message
...
There is no rig of which you ever will be as proud of as the Elecraft K2.
Because you built it yourself! And its performance is top class, and its
handling as easy as it can get. Elecraft is ham radio back to its roots.

73´s de Per SM0WRA K2/100 no 1623

"Paul Clay" skrev i meddelandet
...
I am trying to decide whether to purchase a new Elecraft K2/100 (to be
built by me) or a new Kenwood TS-570D(G). I enjoy kit building, but not
so much I want to compromise on basic operating enjoyment (which for me,
however, doesn't include a need for a lot of "bells and whistles). I
plan on using either rig as a base station operating mostly SSB. At
this point, the plusses for Elecraft seem to me to be the enjoyment of
the building process and the quality of the unit's receiver while the
plusses for the Kenwood seem to be inclusion of a .5-30Mhz general
coverage receiver (I like to SWL occasionally) and the availability of
FM and AM operating modes.

Thanks in advance for any helpful comments or suggestions (another rig
to consider at the $1000 price point?).

They are both good rigs, but I would give the edge to the
Kenwood...........I believe that the Elecraft is using a Mini-Circuits Level
7 mixer, which would give an IP3 of right around +14dBm, assuming the 1dB
gain compression point is at 0dBm. The Kenwood uses that Quad JFET ring
mixer, which gives a slightly better IP3 of +20dBm, and it does give you a
general coverage receiver. I have had mine since the late 90s, with no
problems. That Elecraft unit does look like a winner, though.

Pete

Per Enocson wrote in message
...
There is no rig of which you ever will be as proud of as the Elecraft K2.
Because you built it yourself! And its performance is top class, and its
handling as easy as it can get. Elecraft is ham radio back to its roots.

73´s de Per SM0WRA K2/100 no 1623

"Paul Clay" skrev i meddelandet
...
I am trying to decide whether to purchase a new Elecraft K2/100 (to be
built by me) or a new Kenwood TS-570D(G). I enjoy kit building, but not
so much I want to compromise on basic operating enjoyment (which for me,
however, doesn't include a need for a lot of "bells and whistles). I
plan on using either rig as a base station operating mostly SSB. At
this point, the plusses for Elecraft seem to me to be the enjoyment of
the building process and the quality of the unit's receiver while the
plusses for the Kenwood seem to be inclusion of a .5-30Mhz general
coverage receiver (I like to SWL occasionally) and the availability of
FM and AM operating modes.

Thanks in advance for any helpful comments or suggestions (another rig
to consider at the $1000 price point?).

They are both good rigs, but I would give the edge to the
Kenwood...........I believe that the Elecraft is using a Mini-Circuits
Level
7 mixer, which would give an IP3 of right around +14dBm, assuming the 1dB
gain compression point is at 0dBm. The Kenwood uses that Quad JFET ring
mixer, which gives a slightly better IP3 of +20dBm

Elecraft IP3 is +21.6 dBm preamp off and +6.9 preamp on.... The best Kenwood
data is available on is the TS-870 and it's IPS is +16 dBm preamp off and +4
with preamp on.....

I personally don't think the TS-570 comes close to the TS-870 or the K2.
The K2 has, according to tests, one of the finest receivers in amateur use
today. Comparisons are available on the ARRL Tech web pages and on the
Elecraft web page.

Mike, W9WIS