From: Lee, AA4GA aa4ga@mcimail.com Well, now that the replies have slowed to a trickle...thanks to everyone who responded to my question concerning the best $2,000 radio for contesting! By popular demand, I submit the following compilation of responses: First, here's how everyone voted: USED FT990 TS850 OMNI IC736 IC765 FT1000 K0GU X K1KP X N0BIW X AA4V X KA9FOX X WN3K X or X K1BV X WQ5G X N4DVW X K8CV X K5ZD X WX0B X K8DO X N3BDA X AI7B X WT2G X Totals 3.5 1.5 4 1 3 3 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bob Wilson, N6TV included a listing of the pros and cons of each of the currently available rigs: Pro Con TS-850 Solid Receiver Inconvenient Filters Good SW support from TR-log No RIT clear button Small, compact size Needs external RS-232 interface No support for separate RX ant. Fair QSK FT-990 Nice control layout Unusuable QSK Nice controls/display Hissy receiver audio Supports sep. RX ant Needs external RS-232 interface Omni-VI Very light weight Clunky controls/buttons Excellent receiver/filters No RIT clear button Built-in RS-232 conn. Requires external 12V p.s. Supports separate RX ant. No antenna tuner Superior QSK IC-73x (Ask WM2C, I have no experience with this radio) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now, for some random comments: Lee I was in the same situation about three years ago and the rigs offered are still pretty much the same ones. I couldn't get everything I wanted in a radio with any of them. I finally ended up borrowing some extra $$$ and buying a FT-1000. I wasn't impressed with the review of the TS-850 transmitter in QST a few years ago. The FT-990 wasn't quite what I wanted and a contest friend didn't like his too well. The IC-765 looked OK but is a old model. I think the OMNI VI maybe the sleeper in the group but I haven't heard great things about reliability from TenTec (although the service is reported to be great). =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= For my money, you can't beat the IC-765. Available used (only) at around 1700$ plus or minus filters. One of the 5 best rx's ever tested at ARRL, so says the review in QST. Be sure to add the PBT mod, and K3LR's tracking sidetone pitch on CW. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I can recommend the 850sat with 2 250 hz cw filters and the 1.8 ssb filter. This radio is outstanding and during CQWW CW a few years ago when I first got it, with both filters in, i had my own clear freq in the low end of 20!!! Very reliable in the it played thru TWO cqww rtty contests. I can't rave enough about this radio!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Why don'cha take some of that $$$ that you have stashed away and get yourself a radio that will last until all of us OT's die off and there will be no one on to work in the contest (unless it is on 2M)...an FT1000...got one last year...I've tried them all...it's a real winner in any environment. [please tell me Steve, where _did_ I stash all that cash??!] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I think you could get a IC-765 for about $1600 used. That'd be a great rig. Used 'em countless times at KS9K, K3LR and W0AIH. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The 990 has the same rcvr virtually as the FT-1000, which is the best of all radios right now, plus it has a digital filter, which reacts very similar to the KenWood slope tuning, if you remember that type of tuning. It works great on CW, I use it at home for digital modes, works super on all of them. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I don't know about the others, but I would avoid the 950 like the plague! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Hi Just got a used omni 6 for $1700 and it's every bit as good with filters as my FT-1000D and a ton of money less. Got 4 filters for $320 bucks 500hz 9mhz first if and 1.8, 500 and 250 hz for second if 6 mhz and the $20 was for upgrade on software to ver. 2.2 Ten-Tec is great to deal with and I now have 4 of them rangeing all the way to an old Argonaut 515 . =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Why does it have to be a new one? Get a good condx used radio and get more for your money (kind of like used cars). I really like my IC-765. Best CW radio I have ever used. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Had the same decision this spring.... I purchased the Omni VI with a full set of filters... It has been used in 2 contests so far.... And, I still like it far better than the FT1000, etc., outstanding audio and filters.... And it is USA designed and made.... Highly recommended... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The biggest drawback is its [ICOM IC-736] CW sidetone. I'm only a casual CW op, but serious CW contesters complain that the sidetone is too high pitched and there's no control to bring it down. As I progress towards contest-quality CW ability myself, maybe I'll also develop an annoyance with the sidetone. Fo now, however, it seems just fine with me. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I was a cnfd ICOM fan but the 765 and filter blow by caused me to look elsewhere for my next rig....the goal was a FT1000D but short on bucks so settled for half of one in the 990...... filters and big signal handling excellent .... much improved over the ICOM.... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I have been using the Ten-Tec Omni VI for quite a few years and have really enjoyed it. I am not a contester but do work a lot of DX (ssb & cw) and have found the Omni VI to be a good performer and very east to use. I have all of the filters which are exceptional (compared to what I have had on TS-930, Icom IC-781, FT-890). The rig is great on c.w. and the filters are a delight to use . =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= If I had no radio and wanted to get real competitive real fast, a pair of used Drake TR7s or used Kenwood TS-930s or, for 2K even a pair of used TS-940s would be a sensible pair. In other words, a pair of radios would be more bang for the buck than just one newer or nicer one. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The way contesting is getting shouldn't it be "Which radio(s) ?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So, what am I gonna do? I dunno, I _hate_ decisions! What I'd like to do is save up and get the FT1000 - better for my low power operating (depending on the contest rules, of course!) and I'm used to using one at AB4RU's. If I don't, I think I'm leaning toward the TS850, but I'd like to borrow an '850 and a '990 (both with filters) and compare. Most likely, I'll probably take the cheap route and just stick with the old reliable TS440!! 73 de Lee, AA4GA aa4ga@mcimail.com "I ain't changin' my call...I never hear 'Yeah, I used to have that call back when I lived in Kentucky...'"