True--everyone's got their own preferences. Also depends on how good a salesman is: for example I remember one QSO I heard on 40M where an op bought a brand new radio, wanted bragging rights that he had top of the line, but then when he actually operated it realized he didn't need at least half of the bells 'n whistles that came with the radio. (I wonder how many other people that's happened to?)
New to HF and need Equipment advice
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True--everyone's got their own preferences. Also depends on how good a salesman is: for example I remember one QSO I heard on 40M where an op bought a brand new radio, wanted bragging rights that he had top of the line, but then when he actually operated it realized he didn't need at least half of the bells 'n whistles that came with the radio. (I wonder how many other people that's happened to?)
w2xq
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Assuming you are a member of the ARRL, you have access to QST in digital form. Take the time to read the equipment reviews in each issue. The consistency of the comprehensive reviews and spec measurements should provide a starting point for comparing radios. HTH.
I think it could be. Imagine if Icom could supply every new born with a new IC-7300, the world would be a much better place in a few years.
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IC-7300
SuperG900
WG5ENE
Exactly what I paid! - $800 for a used IC-7300
- and it took less than a minute to update its firmware to the latest version. It may be used, but to me, for all intents and purposes, it's a new radio.
Another vote for the IC-7300. The difference in receive performance between one of those and 'top of the line' isn't worth discussing. The transmit performance is equal to the best of the 12V radios - and if you are interested in 'digital' modes, the 7300 has a built-in digital modem.
Get a linear 12V power supply and put up the best antenna(s) you possibly can.
Welcome to HF!
Get a linear 12V power supply and put up the best antenna(s) you possibly can.
Welcome to HF!
Everyone has their opinions and their personal preferences. Just keep that in mind - what one person says is junk another person may love. This can go off the rails very quickly What Should be your FIRST Ham Radio?
I'm a new ham and I bought a Xiegu G90. Fight me!
I'm a new ham and I bought a Xiegu G90. Fight me!
Not true. Read Sherwood's review on the Kenwood TS-590SG, it's right up there with Icom's IC-7300.
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Are you using that as a base radio or just SOTA/POTA stuff since it’s QRP? Did you get an amplifier if you are running as a base radio at your QTH?Everyone has their opinions and their personal preferences. Just keep that in mind - what one person says is junk another person may love. This can go off the rails very quickly What Should be your FIRST Ham Radio?
I'm a new ham and I bought a Xiegu G90. Fight me!
I have a friend who got a 590SG and loved it. Then he got a 7300 and hasn't used his 590SG since. That's been about almost 4yrs and he just told me over the radio as I'm typing this that he will probably put the 590 up for sale since it will never get used again. The 590 is very good. The 7300 is more good.
I just got it a couple of days ago... plan on testing it out camping this weekend. I don't have an antenna at the house quite yet, but I'm probably going to build something for the house. Going to play with my 20W for a good while and see how well that works before I get an amp. I do miss playing with 15KW transmitters, though.
Some people like Chevy's others like Fords...
3 dB. Half an S-unit. For how much more battery consumption?
Get a FTDX-101D and be done with it.
That's like saying a Yugo has more horsepower than a Ford Escort. There is a little more to consider than raw output power like the Icom 705 will probably talk circles around the Xiegu even with half the power due to its superior mic processing and EQ. I think the receiver experience on a 705 will put a smile on your face compared to the Xiegu. Can you plug and play your router into a Xiegu and use it fully remote control? How about a single USB connection for digital modes containing both computer control and audio? How big is the battery in a Xiegu? Oh wait, there isn't one. I know this thread is about HF equipment advice, but how does the Xiegu work on 2m and 70cm? Oh, I'm sorry, it doesn't have those bands. So who services the Xiegu when it breaks? MFJ, I see. And what reputation do they have? Hmm, not so good.
For Littona, I'm not specifically bashing your radio, I just don't think the two radios compared belong in the same sentence and I'm just pointing out a few differences in general. I don't think an Icom 705 is a good choice for a first HF radio anyway, its a niche item and 10 watts would be frustrating if that's all you could come up with during these bad propagation times.
I'll tally up all the different votes for HF radios quietly in my corner and see what make and model has been recommended most so far.
For Littona, I'm not specifically bashing your radio, I just don't think the two radios compared belong in the same sentence and I'm just pointing out a few differences in general. I don't think an Icom 705 is a good choice for a first HF radio anyway, its a niche item and 10 watts would be frustrating if that's all you could come up with during these bad propagation times.
I'll tally up all the different votes for HF radios quietly in my corner and see what make and model has been recommended most so far.
Twice the power of the ICOM IC-705!
One question for the OP: Do you know which brand's interface "feels right" to you? If not, see if a local club is able to help with some time spent operating the various radios they have available. There is no use spending a chunk of money on something you have not tested out, only to discover you dislike how it operates.
I have a late build IC-718 along with a Kenwood TS-990S, Icom IC-9100 and other radios and receivers.
Whie the IC-718 has it's fans the receiver isn't the best, suffering somewhat with strong stations close in frequency. The AGC isn't adjustable, being fixed for each mode, and the SSB setting is a little fast for my liking. These limitations can be reduced somewhat by use of the RF and AF gain controls.
The technology is dated, with Rigpix mentioning an ARRL review in 2000 but it is after all an entry level radio, and the fact that it is still being manufactured says something.
I recommend one of the later Icom/Yaesu/Kenwood models released e.g. the IC-7300.
You don't want to buy a IC-718 then wish you'd spent a bit more and got something better.
Whie the IC-718 has it's fans the receiver isn't the best, suffering somewhat with strong stations close in frequency. The AGC isn't adjustable, being fixed for each mode, and the SSB setting is a little fast for my liking. These limitations can be reduced somewhat by use of the RF and AF gain controls.
The technology is dated, with Rigpix mentioning an ARRL review in 2000 but it is after all an entry level radio, and the fact that it is still being manufactured says something.
I recommend one of the later Icom/Yaesu/Kenwood models released e.g. the IC-7300.
You don't want to buy a IC-718 then wish you'd spent a bit more and got something better.
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