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[KE8QZL]

I think the 7100 is a fantastic first radio and it would leave you some budget for power supply and antenna. I have had one for awhile now.  Just tonight I have sat in a recliner in my living room with the radio head on my arm of my chair and checked in a 2m net, a 80m net and made several dstar contacts through the local repeater and my hotspot.    I chose the 7100 because of the form factor because I didn't have access to a desk, and I am so glad that I did.

[AC7CW]

The 991A I have was daunting at the outset. The menus!! Truth is that once I got into it I realized that the few settings or controls I might want to use while operating can be set up to be at the bottom of the touch-screen. Further they change with the mode and the mode changes with the band. The whole thing can be extremely simple to operate in realtime.

[N3EG]

I'm a big Icom guy so it pains me to say this but I vote for a Yaesu FT-991A as well.
Or an Icom IC-7000 if you're going mobile.

Icom 7000 is the best for mobile.  Don't need the distraction of a SDR waterfall, and the 7100 is an ergonomic nightmare.  I've used mine on two cross-country trips as well as everyday driving, VHF/UHF contest rover, and mobile Field Day.

[K5LXP]

That's interesting, I bought a 7000 to replace an aging 706 and put the 706 back in after one trip.  The 7000 was unusable at arm's length with small menu fonts, too menu centric overall and the kicker, unreadable with polarized sunglasses.  If I had the room for an external monitor (what some do) then there's little point to having the small form factor control head.  I use the 7000 as a portable rig now and it's an amazing shack in a box but not mobile friendly.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

[US7IGN]

Some time ago I bought an Icom 706mk2g for 500 bucks and a tuner AH-4 for another 150. Wires and cables cost a maximum of 50 more. The trees in the forest are given to me for free)
I got the opportunity to work effectively on the air on all bands - http://www.us7ign.com/?p=2014
Antenna on VHF is also cheap and not difficult - http://www.us7ign.com/?p=1840

[KT4WO]

RE: "FT8 has a wider bandwidth than the typical rig with a 2.4 kHz crystal filter, more like 3 kHz."

WHAT??   If your FT8 signal is 3Khz wide, you are doing something BAD WRONG!!!! lol

I add a vote for the IC-7100 or IC-7300. Stay AWAY from the FT-891, it has one of
the "nastiest" TX that the ARRL has tested and they even say "don't hook to an amp or even a good antenna" !!
The FT-991A TX is almost as bad.
The IC-7300 has, by far, the best RX in that price range.

[K3XR]

The "what is the best" thread comes up from time to time and for me it's an opportunity to recommend...STAY AWAY FROM ICOM RADIOS...  Every Icom radio I have ever owned has been a problem going back to the Icom IC-701 and that's way back.  I have had new Icom radios that have failed within the first week and had to go to Icom for repair. Basic common sense would dictate you don't experience those kind of problems with a manufacturer and go back for more.  After over 61 years in the hobby I can recommend rigs with the best reliability....Ten Tec (still in business?), Yaesu, Kenwood. Rigs no longer being produced but great choices on the used market...Japan Radio Corporation (JRC), Drake. 

[K0UA]

I have had nothing but success with the Icom radios I have owned and still own 3 HF rigs from Icom.

[W1MOW]

I always get a kick out of threads like this one...It's like asking what is better, Ford, Chevy, or a Dodge. You're always going to get a lot of personal opinions, and you know what they say about opinions...

From reading this thread, a Ft-991A and the IC-7001 seem to be the front runners. Personally I'd like to find a good IC-7000 at a reasonable price.

Gary W1MOW

[HAMHOCK75]

RE: "FT8 has a wider bandwidth than the typical rig with a 2.4 kHz crystal filter, more like 3 kHz."

WHAT??   If your FT8 signal is 3Khz wide, you are doing something BAD WRONG!!!! lol

I suspect you know I was referring to the 3 kHz bandwidth of the entire sub band of FT8 transmissions not the 50 Hz typically used by one ham within the sub band, lol!

Rigs with 2.4 kHz IF filters cannot view the entire sub band.

I would like to add that due to the popularity of FT8 there are new 3 kHz wide sub bands.

https://www.dxzone.com/new-ft8-frequencies-with-wsj-x-2-2-0-rc2/#:~:text=On%20a%20trial%20basis%2C%20and%20in%20response%20to,frequencies%20are%207.071%2C%2010.133%2C%2014.071%2C%20and%2050.310%20MHz.

[K3XR]

I always get a kick out of threads like this one...It's like asking what is better, Ford, Chevy, or a Dodge. You're always going to get a lot of personal opinions, and you know what they say about opinions...

Gary W1MOW

Yes, opinions are one thing to which all are entitled.  Information based on years of having problems using different brand(s) of equipment is not opinion it's a record of one's experiences.

[KE0ZU]

I recently installed an ICOM 7100 (PICS HERE), along with a Tarheel 100HV antenna and micro controller.   Couldn't be happier, the unit is HF, VHF, UHF all mode, and works well.   The control head is quite small and will fit in the smallest of vehicles, and will easily fit in the center console glove box when you're away.