multiband base choices...

[Se7en]

well darn it i have been in a huge debate on which radio is my next purchase for the shack.

Radios i like:
Icom-756 PRO (II or III color dazzles me)
Icom-746 PRO (it has 2m @ 100w)
Kenwood TS-2000 (HF,vhf uhf) i want 1.2GHz.
Yaesu FT450D (color)
Yaesu FT874 (HF,vhf uhf)


Darn it! if i buy a simple HF radio ( im a tech ) what good is a big radio with the limits of 10m.... so i think some of these radios are canceled out.

Which leaves me:
746pro
ts2000
ft847

I do a bit of 10m rag chewing "daily", Hours & Hours of rag chewing on vhf & uhf. Night time SWL listening....and sandbagging on the pirate stations on HF.

The sky is the limit!

So here it is the big 3 of my choice icom,kenwood,yaesu.
i like all three company's.

If your reading this and have owned or do own a Icom IC-746 Pro or Kenwood TS-2000 or a Yaesu FT-847. Please do leave your comment.

I am open minded about all three radios and would like to read more about the radios.​

 

[depark]

Well I have the 746pro and I think it is a great radio. It has more that enough features for me and it is very easy to use and navigate the menus. I can't comment specifics on the others but I know that hey are also good choices.

"Choose wisely grasshopper"

 

[Highlander_821]

Of those 3, I'd pick the FT-847. I've had mine since 2001, and I love it. I have a 2.1 Khz Inrad crystal filter in the RX, and a Collins 2.5 Khz mechanical filter in the TX.

Awesome rig, does everything I want it to do, it works well with HRD. I have a Tini-cat 847 interface with it for digital modes.

Only drawback is you will have to shop used, which is something I really don't like. But check out how used 847 prices are almost as much as what they sold for new 10 yrs ago! That tells you something about the product right there.

You do realize that the Icom does not have 70cm, while the other 2 do, right?

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Darn it! if i buy a simple HF radio ( im a tech ) what good is a big radio with the limits of 10m.... so i think some of these radios are canceled out.

​

Well there's your problem. Don't limit yourself to a tech ticket and go for at least general and then you can have the big radio and enjoy all it has to offer. Sort of like having your cake and eating it too.

 

[EDUK8TR]

Well there's your problem. Don't limit yourself to a tech ticket and go for at least general and then you can have the big radio and enjoy all it has to offer. Sort of like having your cake and eating it too.

Good Advice Capt.K.! Upgrade!:blink:

In regards to the rig. I have a IC706MKIIG in the Pickup and a TS-2000 in the shack. I really like both of these rigs.

I preferred the 706 in the PU because of its larger display and the menus were a little less complicated.

My TS-2000 has served me quite well over the past several years and I always get glowing audio reports from those that I rag chew with. This is made possible via the EQ adjustments that you can tailor yourself based on your own voice qualities. Be advised, the 1.2G add on will be an additional 5+ C notes and has to be installed by Kenwood. There is only some local 1.2G activity in my area and it is scant anyway so I couldn't justify this add on.

If you know some locals who own some of your choices ask to visit them and get a preview of the rigs. That is what I did.

73

 

[RatsoW8]

Go with a 756 Pro II or III and you won't be sorry. I second what Capt K said...UPGRADE your license. I went from Novice to Extra in less than two years back in the 80's when there was a 20 wpm code requirement for the Extra ticket. No reason you shouldn't be able to upgrade to General with a little study time while your playing with that sexy Pro II.

 

[ahamoperator]

Hello, another vote for for the FT847 here. I have two IC706Mk2G's also, one mobile and the other a backup in the shack. Both good radios. All the other
rigs mentioned are very nice also..

A friend of mine has the TS2000 and he has had a few issues, but I think it's an awesome rig when I played with it.

Highlander, I also have the INRAD 2.1 ssb filter and it made a new rig out of the
the 847, a lot more selective now. have been thinking taking the same route as you
with the new TX filter, wonder how you liked the TX audio change an so
forth?? Been thinkin about their 2.8 crystal filter for TX but it may be a bit
wide and costs like hell. It would be a "tape in" filter also but there is room
for one more...hi...I bought my rig new about the same time you did..

One thing about the TS2000 that is cool is that you can say listen to 2m
while operating HF...The 847 and 706...no..

One thing I HATE about the FT847 is, if you have the VFO in "fast" and go
to change bands it skips all over the place...don't see a need for that!

Boy those IC756 pro's are nice sounding rigs, quite selective I've heard,
and so much you can do filter and TX audio-wise. A high-class rig!

Had been looking at the FTDX-5000 and the IC7700 here but the XYL just
flat out says NO!...lol

73, Keith

 

[Mudfoot]

A guy I know has an FTDX-5000. Has it hooked to an Antron with 175' of RGX8 on a 30' tower.

He won't even talk to me anymore. Done went and got all snooty.

 

[Highlander_821]

Hello, another vote for for the FT847 here. I have two IC706Mk2G's also, one mobile and the other a backup in the shack. Both good radios. All the other
rigs mentioned are very nice also..

A friend of mine has the TS2000 and he has had a few issues, but I think it's an awesome rig when I played with it.

Highlander, I also have the INRAD 2.1 ssb filter and it made a new rig out of the
the 847, a lot more selective now. have been thinking taking the same route as you
with the new TX filter, wonder how you liked the TX audio change an so
forth?? Been thinkin about their 2.8 crystal filter for TX but it may be a bit
wide and costs like hell. It would be a "tape in" filter also but there is room
for one more...hi...I bought my rig new about the same time you did..

One thing about the TS2000 that is cool is that you can say listen to 2m
while operating HF...The 847 and 706...no..

One thing I HATE about the FT847 is, if you have the VFO in "fast" and go
to change bands it skips all over the place...don't see a need for that!

Boy those IC756 pro's are nice sounding rigs, quite selective I've heard,
and so much you can do filter and TX audio-wise. A high-class rig!

Had been looking at the FTDX-5000 and the IC7700 here but the XYL just
flat out says NO!...lol

73, Keith

To be honest, I never listened to the difference after moving the Collins 2.5 to the TX side. I had bought it with the rig and used it in the RX until I got the Inrad 2.1 . I just figured it was better than the factory TX filter. I get good responses to my TX audio from other hams, so it certainly didn't hurt anything. I use the MD-100 desk mic.

 

[MitchellB]

After I got my Tech license, and I first began looking for a base radio; I wanted one that I could grow into, because I knew I would probably want to use it for many years before I could ever afford to get another one. I wanted a radio that could do more than I knew or were allowed to do. Back when I got my Tech license, we did not have any HF privileges (like now). I got a FT847 and have been very happy with it all these years. I've never had a problem with it (which is more than I can say for my Yaesu 8000R mobile) I think the FT847 gives me a wide range of modes and frequencies that I can use. After 12 years and an upgrade to General, the radio can still do more than I’ve learn to do. I’ve never gotten bored with the possibilities of this radio. The used value seems to vary between bargains to still pretty expensive. If you can find a good deal in a used 847 in excellent shape, I’d say go for it. I don't know much about the other radios though.
KF4FVG

 

[W5LZ]

m42duster,
Naw man, wrong way of looking at it. Since he has a radio that has AES (Amateur Electronics Supply) in the middle of it, he's probably too ashamed to talk to people. Most 'Yazoo' owners are that way you know. And everybody knows what Icom means...
- 'Doc

 

[Se7en]

Anyone have any cons about the kenwood ts-480sat?

 

[mr_fx]

Well there's your problem. Don't limit yourself to a tech ticket and go for at least general and then you can have the big radio and enjoy all it has to offer. Sort of like having your cake and eating it too.

I was going to get just the tech, but I decided to it was too simple so I decided to study a little more and go for at least the general, I found the General tests to be more entertaining.

 

[ahamoperator]

It's Compressors Often Muddled??

Just kidding... I used to be all ICOM till I saw the Light...hi...

 

[Se7en]

I used to be all ICOM till I saw the Light...hi...

Enlighten us, what light ?