I admit I spend too much time browsing on eBay, but thankfully I don't buy everything I look at. But every now and then you hit on something that's too good to pass up.
I've owned a Datong FL-2 audio filter for quite some time, and it's still the best external filter I've every used. Right now my FL-2 is connected to my Heathkit HW-16, and for good reason — the filtering on the HW-16 is minimal, and when the band is active, the many signals in the rig's passband make copying CW more of a chore than it need be.
Datong filters are made in the U.K. I'm not sure who imported them to the U.S., but you don't see them show up on eBay often. I've been delighted with the FL-2, and I've considered buying a second one, but the eBay price usually outstrips my desire for a second unit. The FL-2 seems to show up more often than the FL-1 or the FL-3.
I was browsing newly listed eBay listings sometime back and stumbled across a Datong FL-3 audio filter listing. The FL-3 is essentially the same as the FL-2, but it also has an automatic notch filter. The unit was listed with a Buy It Now price of $30, which was too good to pass up.
The unit had only been listed a couple of hours, so I was fortunate that no one else had snapped it up. Instead of buying more filters for the TS-430S, I'm going to try the Datong.
The Datong's filtering is remarkable, particularly when you consider it's 20-plus year old technology. On my HW-16, I can crank the bandpass down incredibly narrow, eliminating QRM as well as anything my IC-746PRO offers. Of course the PRO has a better receiver to start with, but the Datong sure breathed new life into my old CW workhorse.
The only problem I've had with the Datong on the HW-16 is that I often run the filtering so tight that it wipes out the rig's sidetone. The HW-16 uses the old neon bulb-generated sidetone, which is more akin to a screech than what we think of when we say the word “sidetone.” The frequency of the sidetone and its screwy waveform typically gets filtered out when I've got the Datong cranked down tight.
Sending CW without a sidetone takes me back to the days when I was first licensed. My first rig, “Old Ironsides,” (Hallicrafters SR-150) did not have a sidetone for CW operation. Making my first CW contacts with this rig was interesting, to say the least! I remember trying to hook up my Heathkit code practice oscillator to provide a sidetone. I recall watching the meter jump during key-down as my only keying indicator. The SR-150 also had no CW filtering. I really didn't jump into CW operation until I bought my Heathkit SB-102, which was equipped with both a sidetone and 400 Hz CW filter. My interest in CW really took off with the SB-102.
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I've been getting the itch for a new rig, believe it or not. Despite the PROIII and 746PRO, I've got the bug to try something different — not necessarily a new rig, but perhaps a used one that was out of my price range new.
I've always wanted to try a Kenwood TS-850 or 870, though those seem to still be hot items on the used market. The Yaesu FT-1000 series are reasonably priced on the used market. I almost opted for a Mark V Field rather than a PROIII, and I would still like to try one sometime.
There's the newer Kenwood HF rigs I've not really looked at much — the TS-480 and TS-570. The TS-480's styling is ok, but for whatever reason, the big round buttons on the TS-570 never looked good to me. I had a cheapo shortwave radio one time that had similar styled buttons, and perhaps that receiver's poor performance is what I associate with that style button. There's something about the TS-2000 that I just don't like. I've operated the rig on Field Days (correction – tried to operate it on Field Days) and the rig seems to have a steep learning curve. Hell, I had to ask the owner how the heck do you changed bands on the thing. I don't like the looks, but the features seem very complete. It's not a good Field Day radio IMHO simply because you can't sit down and run the rig without someone to help guide you around the front panel. Even the 746PRO is a simpler rig to use at Field Day.
There are some Yaesu's that I've often wanted to operate too. I would love to have an FT-920, any of the FT-1000 series (finding room for a Mark V Field might be a challenge). I think the FT-990 is a very handsome rig too. I've watched a few auctions for the FT-890, which is nothing more than a slightly restyled FT-757GX (part of my curiousity with this rig is to determine if they improved the rig's front end). There seems to always be a lot of interest in the Kenwood TS-950S and SDX models. The demand keeps prices surprisingly high, but the selling price wasn't exactly cheap originally either.
The Yaesu FT-847 always impressed me with its features and styling. I really like the Yaesu FT-2000, but I'm not yet ready to spring for one. I could sell my Icoms and do it, but I'm not ready to take the leap. I would want to have the external DMU unit with the FT-2000, and that ups the price considerably.
The new Yaesu FT-450 looks interesting (and affordable) but I don't find the rig that appealing. Again, part of it comes down to the buttons on this rig. As much as I would like to, I can't make myself believe this rig is an attractive one. Such a tiny tuning knob reminds me of my Alinco DX-70T (I don't like the size of its VFO knob either).
Other new Yaesu HF mobiles (FT-857D, FT-897D) aren't on my radar screen. I'm pretty attached to my Icom IC-706s. Of the two, I have finally decided the FT-857D is the one I would consider. Since both rigs use the same internals, I'm sure either would suffice. To their credit, both have sizeable tuning knobs.
The only used Icom I might try is the venerable IC-735. A friend of mine who is a non-ham bought one and he lent it do me some years ago. I enjoyed the rig, which is a fairly basic rig that compared favorably with the FT-757GX I was using at the time. They seem to seldom sell below the $400 level, which isn't bad considering their age, and the fact that you can buy a new Icom rig that's superior for less than $200 more.
The rig that I really want isn't used, but new. The Icom IC-7700. I would have to put the entire shack on eBay probably to afford one. I've been slowly adding to my radio fund over the months, so perhaps in time my radio fund and the retail price of the rig can meet … well, it never hurts to dream, does it? I could probably save and raise the funds for it over time, just like I did to buy the PROIII. The PROIII would be surplus anyway with a new IC-7700 in the shack, so selling it would help immensely. Well see. In the meantime, I'll wait and see how the new IC-7700s work once they're on the market. I'm interested to see where the street price lands on the rig too.
73, de KY4Z … dit dit …