Too many radio choices!

[pmraiders]

Hey Scott,

Thanks for your input, that makes a whole lot of sense, the problem is that when I enter into a hobby I usually research to no end then pull the trigger on something new and go from there. I was planning on buying a HF radio tomorrow but I will look into/inquire about the used scene at a saturday breakfast first Most of the rigs I am looking at were released in 2005-2008 so I don't think there will be any problem finding something used, the problem is that the used ham market is local (and for good reason!) I just need to get hooked into that scene more.

Thanks,
Jordan
KG7DBM

[KF7DS]

KX3 with amp. Most flexibility and best receiver.

Don KF7DS

[NA0AA]

Hm.  Well, I have an FT-897, and while it's a fine portable radio and a useful 'shack in a box', I suggest you will outgrow it quickly - which is NOT to say that if you can lay your hands on a used one, that it would not be a good buy - esp. if it came with filters added.  I found the performance greatly enhanced by the SSB narrow filters.

However, I don't operate portable nearly as much as I though I would so mine sits mostly unused these days.

You are right about the battery issue - it's much more cost effective to simply buy a seperate AGM/Gell battery for portable use if and when.

I would recommend that you consider something like a dual band FM VHF/UHF radio and a separate HF/6 meter radio.  And buy a base station radio first then if you find yourself really yearning to operate portable, examine your options at that point - a KX3 will make much more sense then.

Taking the radio out of your station to go operate, then have to reinstall it gets old really, really fast.

[W8JX]

Taking the radio out of your station to go operate, then have to reinstall it gets old really, really fast.

I did not know that a antenna connector and a power plug was that much of a big deal. If I want to grab my 570 there is a antenna, accessory DIN plug for digi and power plug. Takes less than a minute to disconnect and same to reconnect.

[NQ3X]

My thoughts:

I have a 7000, and prefer it over its Yaesu competitors.  The IF-DSP is simply superior in my opinion to the AF-DSP.  Yes, you can add crystal mechanical filters to the Yaesu models, but once you accessorize the Yaesus to a point where they begin to become competitive with the Icom you start to approach the price point of the Icom out of the box. 

That said, the Yaesus, especially the 897, are eminently more suitable for portable operations than the 7k.  They all run hot, but the 897 stays cooler.  Plus you can get internal batteries for it.

Which radio you prefer depends on a variety of factors.  Your intended use, for one.  My intended use was a small, full-featured radio that would form the centerpiece of a carry-on mini-DXpedition station.  That was in 2008.  If I was going to do it today, it'd be a K3. 

Another consideration is just playing with the things to get a feel for them.  If you have the ability to do so - ham radio store or club members - go and fiddle with them.  The worst thing in the world is to buy a rig because of other considerations then hate using it.

Don't forget the other US manufacturer, too - Ten Tec.  They have a few models that meet your criteria.  The Argonaut is a QRP radio like the 817, but in my opinion vastly simpler and superior performance.  The Eagle is only a little bit larger and gives you the full 100 watts out.  I't actually considering an Eagle for my own shack.  I like the simplicity of the thing compared to the layers of menus and relatively complicated access of those menus on my Icom.

Coax loss is only not a factor when your antennas are resonant.  If you intend to use an antenna tuner in your shack to tune an antenna at the other end of 200' of coax, you may really only be heating up the coax. 

Which leads me to my last thought: All this back and forth about this rig or that rig means positively squat if you don't have an antenna plan.  What kind of rig you have, what features it has, its receiver characteristics, none of that amounts to a hill of beans if you don't have a good antenna with which to receive and transmit signals.  I'd like to hear more about your antenna plan.

Cheers,

Bob WP2XX