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  • Best HF rig for new ham?

    From Diamond Dave@VERT/DMINE to All on Sat Mar 23 21:16:56 2013
    I got my ham radio license just over a year ago (tech in Jan 2012, upgraded to general in Feb. 2012).

    I'm in the market for a HF rig. I already bought an off center dipole antenna, but still not sure what kind of HF rig I want to get.

    I am looking at three HF rigs under consideration:

    Kenwood TS-2000 (HF/6/2/440)
    Yaesu FT-950D
    ICOM IC-7410 (the replacement for the famous IC-746 Pro)

    I'm leaning towards the Kenwood TS-2000 since it not only does HF but 6 & 2 meeters and 440 (70 cm).

    Anyone have a preference of a good HF rig to use?

    Thanks!

    73

    *** Diamond Dave ***
    KK4GBC


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    ■ Synchronet ■ Diamond Mine Online - bbs.dmine.net - Fredericksburg, VA USA
  • From John Guillory@VERT/MAINLINE to Diamond Dave on Wed Mar 27 20:24:55 2013
    Re: Best HF rig for new ham?
    By: Diamond Dave to All on Sat Mar 23 2013 21:16:56

    I got my ham radio license just over a year ago (tech in Jan 2012,
    upgraded to general in Feb. 2012).
    I'm in the market for a HF rig. I already bought an off center dipole antenna, but still not sure what kind of HF rig I want to get.
    I am looking at three HF rigs under consideration:

    Kenwood TS-2000 (HF/6/2/440)
    Yaesu FT-950D
    ICOM IC-7410 (the replacement for the famous IC-746 Pro)

    I'm not really sure of the features, or how much money you plan on forking out on a rig. Just know good HF rigs go between $900 and $3,000.00 new. I do the mobile stuff my self and love my Yaesu FT-857D. Apparently the 950D is no where near the FT-857D. The 857D does 70cm, 2m, 6m, and 10m->160m with the ability to auto-adjust an ATAS-200 antennae for any freuency between 2m and 40m on the ATAS-200. I use a little tarheel 2 myself. All three of the companies make comparible rigs, you can find a Yaesu with 2m/70cm/6m support as well. Te biggest differences tend to be what type of controls you like.

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    ■ Synchronet ■ Roach Guts -- kingcoder.net