Thanks for all your input. I do a lot of RVing and lug my IC756 in and out
of it all the time. I was just wondering about getting another rig for the
RV to run my Hamstick.

Thanks, Pete

You might check out the Alinco DX-77T. If you read the ARRL review,
they were quite taken with the radio for cw. New about $550 used and in
good shape around $400.

wrote:
In article ,
Bob Miller wrote:


On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 05:17:20 GMT, "Pete Holden"
wrote:


A few years ago, when I was really getting fired up for ham radio, I bought
an IC756. Well, as time has passed I've settled in on what I really like.
I don't do contests, don't do SSB, no AM or FM, no RTTY, etc. I just do CW.
Okay, not straight key, but I just like CW and mostly on either 20 or 15
meters.

I don't need memories or computer control or whatever. I'm just looking for
the best rig for CW. I want something that will dig a signal out of the
QSB, QRN and QRM. I read a lot of guys raving about their QRP rigs but I do
want something that'll run 100 watts.

Now, I'm not necessarily looking for an inexpensive rig. In fact, maybe my
756 will do as good a job as any. If that's the case, tell me.

Suggestions please.... Thanks, Pete


I'd just look at the Ten Tec offerings, as they pay a lot of attention
to CW operation. The Orion, Jupiter or Argonaut V. Also, email Ten Tec
for their used/demo rigs -- they take older Ten Tecs in for trade and
resell them w/30 day warranty.

On the other hand, will any Ten Tec do better than your 756, loaded
with good cw filters? Hard to say.

Bob
k5qwg




A few years ago the CW guys liked the T.T. Corsar II. I think you can
still find them around for $600. Good rig with a clean recever if you
don't mind not having bells and whistles.

73
Dale

You might check out the Alinco DX-77T. If you read the ARRL review,
they were quite taken with the radio for cw. New about $550 used and in
good shape around $400.

wrote:
In article ,
Bob Miller wrote:


On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 05:17:20 GMT, "Pete Holden"
wrote:


A few years ago, when I was really getting fired up for ham radio, I bought
an IC756. Well, as time has passed I've settled in on what I really like.
I don't do contests, don't do SSB, no AM or FM, no RTTY, etc. I just do CW.
Okay, not straight key, but I just like CW and mostly on either 20 or 15
meters.

I don't need memories or computer control or whatever. I'm just looking for
the best rig for CW. I want something that will dig a signal out of the
QSB, QRN and QRM. I read a lot of guys raving about their QRP rigs but I do
want something that'll run 100 watts.

Now, I'm not necessarily looking for an inexpensive rig. In fact, maybe my
756 will do as good a job as any. If that's the case, tell me.

Suggestions please.... Thanks, Pete


I'd just look at the Ten Tec offerings, as they pay a lot of attention
to CW operation. The Orion, Jupiter or Argonaut V. Also, email Ten Tec
for their used/demo rigs -- they take older Ten Tecs in for trade and
resell them w/30 day warranty.

On the other hand, will any Ten Tec do better than your 756, loaded
with good cw filters? Hard to say.

Bob
k5qwg




A few years ago the CW guys liked the T.T. Corsar II. I think you can
still find them around for $600. Good rig with a clean recever if you
don't mind not having bells and whistles.

73
Dale

"Pete Holden" wrote in message news:AzCYb.58403$uV3.248805@attbi_s51...
A few years ago, when I was really getting fired up for ham radio, I bought
an IC756. Well, as time has passed I've settled in on what I really like.
I don't do contests, don't do SSB, no AM or FM, no RTTY, etc. I just do CW.
Okay, not straight key, but I just like CW and mostly on either 20 or 15
meters.

I don't need memories or computer control or whatever. I'm just looking for
the best rig for CW. I want something that will dig a signal out of the
QSB, QRN and QRM. I read a lot of guys raving about their QRP rigs but I do
want something that'll run 100 watts.

Now, I'm not necessarily looking for an inexpensive rig. In fact, maybe my
756 will do as good a job as any. If that's the case, tell me.

Suggestions please.... Thanks, Pete

Hi Pete,

I,m just adding my $0.02 here. From the other responses I take it that you
are looking for something that's semi-portable. The rig I use is not
very portable but works very well. I use a Heathkit HX-1681/HR-1680
combination that I put together over 20 years ago. The pair runs about
100 Watts on 80-10 Meters and is CW only. The audio filter is a little
weak and you have to re-tune if you make big changes in frequency, but
the part I like the best that the setup runs "Full Breakin". I just
scan the band with the receiver, zero beat the signal on the transmitter,
and start sending. Nothing else to touch but the audio level. No annoying
clicking from the relays or the audio output.

If I was ever to look for another CW only setup, "Full Breakin" would
be a must have.

--
Martin E. Meserve, K7MEM

I respond to news groups and E-Mail on my own time and therefore
my responses may not be as timely as you, or I, would like them to
be. If I seem to be ignoring you, send me another E-Mail to jog my
memory. Opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinions of my
employer.

"Pete Holden" wrote in message news:AzCYb.58403$uV3.248805@attbi_s51...
A few years ago, when I was really getting fired up for ham radio, I bought
an IC756. Well, as time has passed I've settled in on what I really like.
I don't do contests, don't do SSB, no AM or FM, no RTTY, etc. I just do CW.
Okay, not straight key, but I just like CW and mostly on either 20 or 15
meters.

I don't need memories or computer control or whatever. I'm just looking for
the best rig for CW. I want something that will dig a signal out of the
QSB, QRN and QRM. I read a lot of guys raving about their QRP rigs but I do
want something that'll run 100 watts.

Now, I'm not necessarily looking for an inexpensive rig. In fact, maybe my
756 will do as good a job as any. If that's the case, tell me.

Suggestions please.... Thanks, Pete

Hi Pete,

I,m just adding my $0.02 here. From the other responses I take it that you
are looking for something that's semi-portable. The rig I use is not
very portable but works very well. I use a Heathkit HX-1681/HR-1680
combination that I put together over 20 years ago. The pair runs about
100 Watts on 80-10 Meters and is CW only. The audio filter is a little
weak and you have to re-tune if you make big changes in frequency, but
the part I like the best that the setup runs "Full Breakin". I just
scan the band with the receiver, zero beat the signal on the transmitter,
and start sending. Nothing else to touch but the audio level. No annoying
clicking from the relays or the audio output.

If I was ever to look for another CW only setup, "Full Breakin" would
be a must have.

--
Martin E. Meserve, K7MEM

I respond to news groups and E-Mail on my own time and therefore
my responses may not be as timely as you, or I, would like them to
be. If I seem to be ignoring you, send me another E-Mail to jog my
memory. Opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinions of my
employer.

: I'm just looking for the best rig for CW.

Pete,
I too run only CW. I've run CW only since my first license in '72. Been
Extra now for 30 years, since '74.

The transmitter is never the issue. Any rig with a clean output waveform
that supplies your required power level, 100 W, will be a perfectly
satisfactory transmitter. The key is the receiver. I think that the Yaesu
rigs have the best RX in the world, and am saving pennies and dimes to buy
the new FT-1000 MP Field.

Apparently I am not the only man who thinks so. Johan Sebastian Bach
wrote a beautiful solo about this very idea. My wife and I had it sung at
our wedding back in 1967:

Yaesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

VY 73 DE N6UF,
Jim

: I'm just looking for the best rig for CW.

Pete,
I too run only CW. I've run CW only since my first license in '72. Been
Extra now for 30 years, since '74.

The transmitter is never the issue. Any rig with a clean output waveform
that supplies your required power level, 100 W, will be a perfectly
satisfactory transmitter. The key is the receiver. I think that the Yaesu
rigs have the best RX in the world, and am saving pennies and dimes to buy
the new FT-1000 MP Field.

Apparently I am not the only man who thinks so. Johan Sebastian Bach
wrote a beautiful solo about this very idea. My wife and I had it sung at
our wedding back in 1967:

Yaesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

VY 73 DE N6UF,
Jim

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 05:17:20 GMT, "Pete Holden"
wrote:
....
Now, I'm not necessarily looking for an inexpensive rig. In fact, maybe my
756 will do as good a job as any. If that's the case, tell me.

Suggestions please.... Thanks, Pete

I have both the 756pro2 and the elecraft k2 /100 and the k2/100 beats
the pro2 hands down for cw. not only is the k2 a better receiver but
it's got good ergonomics too

--
Brendan Minish

On Wed, 18 Feb 2004 05:17:20 GMT, "Pete Holden"
wrote:
....
Now, I'm not necessarily looking for an inexpensive rig. In fact, maybe my
756 will do as good a job as any. If that's the case, tell me.

Suggestions please.... Thanks, Pete

I have both the 756pro2 and the elecraft k2 /100 and the k2/100 beats
the pro2 hands down for cw. not only is the k2 a better receiver but
it's got good ergonomics too

--
Brendan Minish

"Pete Holden" wrote in message news:AzCYb.58403$uV3.248805@attbi_s51...
A few years ago, when I was really getting fired up for ham radio, I bought
an IC756. Well, as time has passed I've settled in on what I really like.
I don't do contests, don't do SSB, no AM or FM, no RTTY, etc. I just do CW.
Okay, not straight key, but I just like CW and mostly on either 20 or 15
meters.

I don't need memories or computer control or whatever. I'm just looking for
the best rig for CW. I want something that will dig a signal out of the
QSB, QRN and QRM. I read a lot of guys raving about their QRP rigs but I do
want something that'll run 100 watts.

Now, I'm not necessarily looking for an inexpensive rig. In fact, maybe my
756 will do as good a job as any. If that's the case, tell me.

Suggestions please.... Thanks, Pete

Dunno, I think the 756 with a cw filter is good enough for gov work. I
mean, can you really hear something on another brand that you wouldn't
on the 756? I sort of doubt it. I'm sure others may be better CW rigs,
but I would think what you have is capable enough. It's no slouch
radio. Heck, for portable these days and even many times at the house,
I'm usually on a lowly 706mk2g. My old TS-830 is a very good cw rig.
The best I have anyway...And thats comparing it to drake twins, icom
730,706, etc..
The old TS-830 with a cw filter is a mean machine. With the VBT, you
can dial up any filter width you want. In my case with the stock 500
hz -455 filter, down to appx 150 hz width. I rarely if ever use it
that narrow. Then you can peak the signal with the IF shift. No DSP
artifacts or blowby. Maybe not as steep sloped as DSP, but it's not
far off. Even a 830 with no cw filter can dial down to 500 hz just
using the VBT. Maybe not as good as some of the new fangled high end
stuff, but for the used radio price, pretty good. Same for the old
930s and 940's. They had much the same abilities with both VBT and
slope tune. Get a 500 hz filter for your 756 if you don't have one
and like to work busy bands like 20m. MK