Hey guys, thanks for the sound advice. Since my last post, I have also upgraded my license to General! I got licensed when I was just 13 and am just returning to the hobby after nearly 10 years away. So far, I have spent a few weeks with the radio and now feel pretty comfortable with it. Needless to say, I have 0% regret pulling the trigger on this radio. The filters are everything everyone said they would be. I can't believe how much you can clean up a poor signal due to QRM/QRN. I am still just working with a hamtenna dipole @ 23' and only on 10M. When the weather gets better I will be putting up more antennas. However, if I can hear them on 10, no matter how crappy their signal is (before filters), I can work them! Sometimes I swear I am on FM and not SSB!!

73's!

Thanks for the replies. I just pulled the trigger on the 590 and will have it in a few days. I'll let you know my thoughts after I get it up and going.

Thanks for the reply! Here are the answers to your questions.

1. Short term is DX. I would like to get  into digital, RTTY later. No CW
2. I have read every single review there is for both rigs.
3. I don't know anyone who owns either.
4. I would like to purchase a rig in the next few weeks so Dayton is a no-go for this purchase.  Thanks for the headsup about Ham Station as I had no idea there was a ham shop in my state. Although, I doubt I'll make the 5 hour trip to go down there or to Cleveland.
5. I dont have any problem with ICOM's, it just seems that I have read a lot of repair issues with those rigs,  especially with the screens.
6. The optimized G5RV will have to do for now, I  understand that it is a compromise antenna.
7. Looking at hamradio.com and gigaparts for the best pricing right now.

I see that you own a TS-480SAT and that was on my short list for a while also. It seems that everyone recommends the Kenwood's receive over any other radio. I'm just trying to decide if it is worth $250 more right now. You sure dont see the 590 on the used market much, but I do see a few 950's.

Thanks!

I am beating myself up between these two radios. I have read hundreds of reviews and am searching for a video comparing the two operating. I can't seem to find one on YouTube that does these 2 radios together. The price difference is about $250 right now and $1400 is my budget. This will be my first and only HF rig so I am searching for the best one that will last.  Just when I think I have convinced myself of one, I find a reason not to. The radio will be hooked up to a ZS6BKW/G5RV @ 40'.

Thanks!

How are the coaxial relays controlled?

How are the coaxial relays controlled?

Thanks for the reply.

Just to summarize.

Let's say I use 2 diplexers. Hook up the 6m/70cm loops to one and the 2m loop and 2m FM to the other. You are saying that the diplexers will be able to differentiate between which antenna I need to use if I have a diplexer at the radio and at the antenna? How does this work?

What would I do when hooking the 2m loop and 2m FM antenna back to the radio when it only has 1, 2m pl-259 connector?

Wouldn't separate lines be more cost effective and less loss? We are talking 60-75' runs.

Can you please go into more detail on how you would set this up. If I use a diplexer to carry the 6m and 70cm antennas back I will still have to mount a switch to separate the two before the radio. Then I have the 2m vertical and 2m loop to work with. Can a Diplexer distinguish SSB from FM use?

What is the downfall to having all seperate coax? I am pretty sure the cost would be less than the switches and diplexers.

Say I use a triplexer at the antennas connecting the 6 2 and 70cm loops to 1 feed line. Will I then have to use an antenna switch by the radio since I have to feed that 1 coax into 3 different ports on the back of the radio? Not to mention that the 2m Vertical would have to be there as well. I am guessing with your plan the 2m would probably have to have its own coax coming back.

Will all of these switches have significant losses?

Would it be more ideal to run separate coax for every antenna?

Thanks for the reply!

Hello,

I am trying to get some antennas put up in anticipation for a new radio.

I plan to buy the Kenwood TS-2000 which has 4 antenna ports on the back, (HF,6,2,70cm).

I currently have a 20' or so antenna tower mounted on the side of my house with an OTA TV antenna that I will remove. The tower is about a 60-75' run from where the shack will be.

Below is a link to rough idea of the antennas I would like to mount. The top antenna will be a 2m vertical followed by loops for 2m, 70cm and 6m.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CKHPBssscGgtvv3zXusQ7A?feat=directlink

I thought about adding a remote relay switch and only running 1 cable back to the shack but I think it might be more hassle that way. If I do it this way I think I will have to have a 4-port switch with cables going to the radio's 6m, 2m and 70cm outputs. I will also loose the capability to monitor 2m FM while working other VHF/UHF modes.

So, I plan to run 4, individual wires. I know that I will still have to have a 2-port switch to distinguish between the vertical and loop for 2m (unless there is another way).

I really don't want to drill a hole and run 4 coax cables through the side of my house. The cables will be coming in below the roof line into the attic. I was wondering what kind of ideas you guys have for a more finished installation. I was trying to find some type of permanent 4-5 port coupler that I can mount to the house. That way I could run shorter cables from the antenna to the coupler and have cables running from the backside of the coupler to the radio. Does this make sense?

Thanks for all the help.

Jordan

Hello,

I am trying to get some antennas put up in anticipation for a new radio.

I plan to buy the Kenwood TS-2000 which has 4 antenna ports on the back, (HF,6,2,70cm).

I currently have a 20' or so antenna tower mounted on the side of my house with an OTA TV antenna that I will remove. The tower is about a 60-75' run from where the shack will be.

Below is a link to rough idea of the antennas I would like to mount. The top antenna will be a 2m vertical followed by loops for 2m, 70cm and 6m.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CKHPBssscGgtvv3zXusQ7A?feat=directlink

I thought about adding a remote relay switch and only running 1 cable back to the shack but I think it might be more hassle that way. If I do it this way I think I will have to have a 4-port switch with cables going to the radio's 6m, 2m and 70cm outputs. I will also loose the capability to monitor 2m FM while working other VHF/UHF modes.

So, I plan to run 4, individual wires. I know that I will still have to have a 2-port switch to distinguish between the vertical and loop for 2m (unless there is another way).

I really don't want to drill a hole and run 4 coax cables through the side of my house. The cables will be coming in below the roof line into the attic. I was wondering what kind of ideas you guys have for a more finished installation. I was trying to find some type of permanent 4-5 port coupler that I can mount to the house. That way I could run shorter cables from the antenna to the coupler and have cables running from the backside of the coupler to the radio. Does this make sense?

Thanks for all the help.

Jordan

I am purchasing a Yeasu VX-7R radio and I see that it is WIRES ready. I see that you have to purchase an additional unit to hook to your computer to use it. I have read about it and it seems pretty neat. Does anyone have any personal experience with using it? The only question I can come up with is, Does the VX-7R TX/RX wirelessly to the controller? And if so, how far can you be from your controller?


73's

N9ZEZ

The last Omni-directional antenna I bought for 2m was an AEA Isopole. I have been inactive for the past few years, and now I see that they went out of business. I really liked that antenna for general 2m FM use. It had great gain, and stood up well to the weather here in Indiana. Does any other company make a Isopole antenna of the same quality? Does anyone have any experience with this antenna?

73's

N9ZEZ

I got my Tech. license when I was 12 thanks to a 5th grade Science Teacher who had an after school class called S.H.A.R.P (Student Ham Amateur Radio Project). I was very active on 2m a bit on 70cm. As I got older, college, work, etc.. started consuming my time. Well, I am nearly 23 now and I have found that I have more time and definatly a better budget to work with. But I do want to say thanks to my dad for purchasing that first radio! Before I get into my main question, I am quite suprised to see the prices of Ham equipment, especially HT's. They have came down so much. I have a Yeasu FT-51R that I have had since 1998. I paid nearly $500 for it. Now I am getting ready to purchase the Yeasu VX-7R, I cannot beleive all the features for $300.

Ok, the question. I want to upgrade my license and I am about to start trying to learn CW, seeing as they lowered it to 5WPM for all licenses. But in the meantime, I would like to try to get active on SSB of 2m or 70cm or give 6m a try. I guess the only experience I have really besides Field Day is 2m FM. I would like to know what you guys suggest I try. I remember I thought about buying a 6m rig a few years ago, but the 6m band really wasn't open. How is it now? Keep in mind, I live in town so a 20 antenna farm really won't work. Also, I am thinking of purchasing a rig. I think I would like a HF+6M rig. Any good "Starting" rigs you can think of? Also, what are some good rigs for 2m, 70cm, etc SSB? I know the rigs that have HF+6+2+70 are ultra expensive. 33cm and 23 cm, I know I can operate on them, but from what I have been reading, they are still rather expensive. Oh, I dont want to forget 1.25m, what is the word there?

Thanks for taking time to read all 900 of my questions, your feedback is greatly appreciated.

73's

Jordan