good, used, contest rig

[excess3]

I have been away from the mic
for a long time.
............
perhaps someone can suggest a good contest rig,
from 10 years ago, or so.

main concern, is good front end receiver performance
in the presence of loud signals.

looking at,
Ken., TS830, 850, 930, 950
Icom, 751, 765, 775, 781
Yas, FT820, 1000

200 RF watts out, a plus.
want, cw wide and narrow
IF shift, passband tuning, or something like that
...for SSB
best possible noise blanker
best possible tx audio compressor

don't need...
spectrum analyzer.
goofy display
dual receiver
AM, FM, 6m, or gen coverage
don't need DSP, except for maybe for rx-audio/mic processing
.......................
bonus questions...

nowadays, what do modern rigs use for
a first mixer? IMO, fets are cheap (compared to a diode ring)
and are used because the Mnfr wants to save 2 bucks in parts.

what do modern rids use for pre-selection,
as they don't seem to have a 'drive' knob?

edit, add...
is there, somewhere online, a big
site that has ham stuff,,, tried Ebay, was disappointed,
expected hundreds of transceivers, there were
only a handful, maybe I was in the wrong category.


(((((((((((((((((((3333333333
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3333333333s))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

 

[hookedon6]

one word,........ FLEX

 

[Wire Weasel]

Well at least you DIDN'T say "good AND cheap"

Icom 775DSP from that list. For the performance and the 200 watts.

good luck

 

[928bolo]

The TS-950, IC-775, IC-781, and FT-1000 are still in use by many contesters.

I have used the IC-775 and the FT-1000 several time at a multi-multi contest station. I prefer the panel layout of the FT-1000. I don't think their is much, if any, performance difference between the two.

In my opinion the sub receiver is a must for 40 and 80 meters during a DX contest. The SSB privileges for most of Europe on 40 and 80 extend below our band plan. You will often hear a station calling say on 7.075 and listening at 7.275. If you are the calling station the opposite is true. Sure it can be done with the A/B VFO but it is more difficult to do and would likely lower your Q rate compared to running 2 receivers.

This is just my opinion of course. To each his own.

 

[Moleculo]

How much do you want to spend?

 

[excess3]

hook, wire, 928, Moleculo...
thanks for your comments.
.........................
hook.
what is 'flex'?
is that a sales website?
...............
wire
will double look at IC 775dsp!!!
..............
928...
as far as dual VFOs, split, and all that stuff.
I would prefer something in the style of
Drake R4-B T4-B, but that is no longer possible.
Which is why I would look as a Ken TS830 + VFO.
unfortunately, something that old
will likely have extra-more problems than other rigs discussed.
As for a second receiver,, I think I can come
up with something.

(((73)))

 

[M0GVZ]

Forget about getting one with 200W.

200W gets you 3dB gain which is half a S point. However 200W puts you in the High Power categories where you're competing with stations running 1.5kW. Far better to be a LP 100W entry where everyone is at the same level power wise.

what do modern rids use for pre-selection,
as they don't seem to have a 'drive' knob?

Don't need it with solid state radios.

If you're going to be paying Yaesu FT1000 money you might as well get a used Kenwood TS590 which on Sherwood Engineerings table of receiver performance is up in the top 10.

 

[n0zna]

I run a yeasu ft450d and run it qrp and have won many contest with it on 10mtrs qrp...and also before that ran a rci2950 at qrp...i also run my ts520 cant beat them,and i very much dilike Icom anything.If you get one order spare parts because after a few years you cant get them.I have heard alot of flex computer radios,and they all sound funny...i guess me being from the tube era i just dont like the sound of them.And another one that i like is the Yeasu ft2000...and the ft1000d is a good one,73 de n0zna