HF Base Station Recommendations

[teotwaki]

Dave!

I sent you an email with a phone number for an Icom 7000 rig.

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/products/amateur/hf/7000/default.aspx

 

[cnynrat]

Thanks Jim, I'll check it out.

 

[Charlie56]

I've gone back and forth a bit on whether mobile or field use would be of interest. I'm concerned that the smaller rigs targeted at that sort of operation are likely to be harder to use due to the dense packaging and inevitable menu driven interfaces. Perhaps it might be better to have a rig dedicated to that purpose if/when that becomes a real interest. Open to others thoughts on that subject though.

I will weigh in on this subject.
Everything is a compromise. A perfect base station is not going to be a perfect mobile station and vice-versa. My HF interests (for now) center around operating portable (not mobile) but I also want to work out of the shack as well. I started with an Icom 7000. It gave me tons of features, the ability to work portable, and functioned as a pretty decent base station. I have since switched over to a KX3 (not the K3). The KX3 is the K3's little brother. Its a QRP rig that is loaded. Yes its more menu driven than a big base with lots of knobs and display space, but, for home use you can tie it together with a PC and make it look and feel like its in a bigger box. Its QRP right now which meets my portable needs, but Elecraft is soon to release a 100w amp and 2m board for it. Once I get that, my Icom 7000 will need to find a new home.

Let us know where you land.

 

[cnynrat]

I have been very intrigued by the KX3 (actually all the Elecraft products). I've been a little reluctant to go in that direction for a few reasons. You touched on one - ease of use. I'll have to look into what operating that radio would be like from my PC. They will be in the same place, so that's not a difficult thing to do.

The other concern is that by the time you buy the KX3 itself, perhaps some options, plus the 100w amp it gets a little expensive. I'm sure it's a very nice setup, just not sure I want to put that much into a first base station.

Thanks for the advice, and I'll look into that option some more.

 

[cnynrat]

So, I've made a decision. I found a nice used Kenwood TS-570S and have bought that radio. Hopefully it will prove to be a good place to start for my first HF base station.

I was intrigued by the Elecraft radios, but in the end I couldn't justify spending that much for a first base station. I didn't think I'd be thrilled being limited to QRP operation for very long, which ends up driving the price up a fair amount. If my level of interest justifies it I figure I can always upgrade somewhere down the road.

I'm pretty well decided that I want to put up an OCF dipole, so I'm working on the details of how to hang that. Also looking at power supplies and the other stuff I'll need to get on the air.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

 

[teotwaki]

http://www.kenwood.com/i/products/info/amateur/ts570dg570sg.html for those of us who know little about this rig :elkgrin:

 

[1911]

Congratulations Dave, I think you did well. Kenwood makes a nice radio.