Yaesu: Ft-450d & ftdx1200

[KB4REA]

Man HRO has a killer deal on these radios (and others) coinciding with the Dayton Hamvention. I'm pretty much sold on the 450D, it's only $590 after rebate! But I notice the 1200 is down to $900 after rebate, tempting but still a little much. But am I wrong that these are great prices? Here's my problem tho, I live in a condo and after much research, I feel my best antenna solution is a magloop and they aren't cheap, like $400. So it would be 1 kilobuck for my first HF station. I'm not licensed as a general yet so hopefully I'm not getting ahead of myself but soon enough. Anyone own both rigs?

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[AK9R]

I've heard good things from owners of the 1200.

 

[N8OHU]

The radio club I'm a member of bought two of the FT-450D's for our communications trailer, which we will be using for Field Day again this year, plus one couple owns one of them. WE got a good deal (or so we thought) last fall on them. There is also a guy we know that has the FTDX1200, and he seems to like it, so it's really a toss-up as to which is best.

 

[KB4REA]

The radio club I'm a member of bought two of the FT-450D's for our communications trailer, which we will be using for Field Day again this year, plus one couple owns one of them. WE got a good deal (or so we thought) last fall on them. There is also a guy we know that has the FTDX1200, and he seems to like it, so it's really a toss-up as to which is best.

A toss up is right I'm now seriously considering the 1200 over the 450. I just feel like it won't be down to $900 again for a good while and I don't want to regret passing it up. It seems to be a lot more radio for 'only' $300 more...

 

[horizonscanner]

go for 1200 and forget magnetic loop, had almost a month playing with mag loop and stored it yesterday.. an end fed seems to work better.


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[KB4REA]

go for 1200 and forget magnetic loop, had almost a month playing with mag loop and stored it yesterday.. an end fed seems to work better.


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You use the end fed indoors?
I have a screened-in lanai that's about 10'x6' with vaulted ceiling. Any ideas for using that space?

Yeah I'm not so inclined on spending so much for a magloop. I'm thinking I should at least give a wire antenna a shot first...

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