Best CW transceiver for $2,000

[K9AIM]

Thanks for all the replies.
You guys really are great.

It came down in my mind to the K2 and Eagle.
I chose the Eagle after I had a QSO with an owner.
I also spoke with a couple Ten-Tec owners on the air.
I was converted, renounced all other brands and then they said something about cool-aid.

I'll let you know what I think.... Heck it's only money hi hi

Stan

Stan, when will you get it?  I like your choice, If I could get a new rig -- that would be my choice.
I do love my 2003 Jupiter (538at) which i 'stole' off eBay for a Buy It Now price of just $900 with 705 mic.

73 and hpe to find u in the log ..

[KF7IPW]

Its suppose to be here Friday.  Of course I'm suppose to go
to my wife's family cabin for the weekend.  Being a doting
husband is a demanding job!

I got it with the tuner, noise blanker, 300 & 600 Hz filters.
I'm powering it with an Alinco 330MVT.

On my next to buy list is the speaker, 777 Pro headset and
then the RF speech processor.

Today a used K3 was listed for the same price.  I'm glad I pulled
 the trigger.... that would have seized my brain up!

Stan

[AA2CB]

Im in the same boat as you. I narrowed it down to the K3 and the TT Eagle. Im going with the Eagle because I would like to spend my time on the air and not studying an operating manual. A lot of negative feed back from people on the K3 with the learning curve. Sure its a great radio but you have to dedicate a lot of time to learning how to use it. You have to sleep with the manual, and those small multi function buttons I think would drive me crazy.

[N7HTS]

Hi Stan,

I went through the same thing a couple of months ago and I had some of the same radios on my list.  I narrowed it down to the K3.  I already own a K2 which I really love but, building a rig isn't for everyone, I realize.  I also own Ten Tec and Kenwood rigs.  They are all great rigs.  So, you really can't go wrong with any of them.

I picked the K3 because, I am familiar with the quality and how it works since I already have a K2.  I have the 400 and 200Hz roofing filters in mine.  It is a fantastic rig and I can customize the way I want.

Have fun with your Eagle and hopefully we will work each other on the air.

73,
Gary, N7HTS   

[K0ZN]

Take a very serious look at the Icom IC-7200. Don't just blow it off due to price and size. It is a grossly under estimated radio, especially the receiver.
 Look at the reviews on Eham. The last time I looked there was a long string of 5.0's. I have an IC-7200 and a 756Pro2. As far as just "hearing stuff", the 7200 is probably the better of the two; filters are excellent.  ....and you would have a $1,000 cash left in your pocket! It is not "perfect", but it is also a raving bargain.

 FYI: About 95% of my operation is on CW, so my comments are pretty much purely as a CW op, although, the 7200 gets good audio reports on SSB too.

 No matter what radio you get, make sure it has good filters and good dynamic range.

 The good news is that there are a LOT of very decent radio's out there now.

73,  K0ZN   

[K7KBN]

98% or more of my operating is CW, and I've never used a "memory keyer" in over 52 years of hamming.   Certainly wouldn't be a deal breaker here.

[KF7DS]

98% or more of my operating is CW, and I've never used a "memory keyer" in over 52 years of hamming.   Certainly wouldn't be a deal breaker here.

Wasnt for me either. I have both the 7200 and 7600. My 7200 hears just as well as the 7600, and at around 10-12lbs, is my portable rig that can do qrp to 100w. Essentially same size and weight as a fully loaded K2 but a better rig for a lot less $. Got mine over the holidays from HRO for less than $1,000. Great Value

Don KF7QZB

[AE6ZW]

I think those more expensive , narrow spaced ( 2 kHz ) high dynamic range radio do good, if you have large antenna, which bring in strong signal to receiver.   because I use random wire indoor antenna, it seems like it does not make much difference if the radio has high dynamic range or not.   if you are same situation as me, just about any HF radio do the job,  I have been using TEN TEC OMNI-V, which I bought on ( QTH classified web site ) for $600.  despite of being more than 20 years old design it do pretty well.  500 Hz IF filter in 1st IF is must, 500Hz, 250 Hz filter on 2nd IF are also very nice.  I see similar OMNI-V  with those filter for around $800.  however, my OMNI-V being 20 years old, it require adjustment, repair once a while, so ability to repair own radio is way to buy inexpensive radio, and keep maintenance cost low.  before OMNI-V,  I had used FT-757GX(1),  it worked well too. which I got it for around $400.

[ZENKI]

I own both a K2 and K3 and frankly speaking the K2  on RX   the signals have more body and sound more robust. The K3  and SDR receivers sound weak and anemic on the CW notes. On weak signals the analogue K2 behaves much better than the K3. My view is that analog radios beat SDR radios on RX especially on CW. If the signals are all S9 then it does not make much difference.

For CW only

1. K2
2. K3 and TS590S

I have not tried the Eagle, however I wont buy any radio with such lousy TX IMD

Any old analog radio makes a better CW radio if the dynamic range numbers are OK, you will have far better luck fighting pileups using a analog radio. If you need a good reference  to what good  CW sounds like on RX, try a direct conversion receiver. Its amazing how crap SDR radios are on CW receive.