Ken,
I too wish for a V/U purpose built rig and in particular a portable one. A rig with dual VFOs and full duplex capability. I don't see this type of rig offered from the "Big 3" anytime soon.
I think instead of everyone trying to get them on board, we should pursue the smaller manufacturers. I see these Xiegu HF rigs and they look pretty nice. My guess is a company like this has facilities to produce a nice, modern sat rig. Perhaps we should send our votes of support to a company that would cater to a niche market.
As far as ancient tech goes, I think it still works pretty good. Used two 817s to work Russia from a park in LA county about a week ago on AO-7, launched back in 1974. It's not the most ideal rig but it can still get the job done.
73's
Mike Diehl AI6GS
On Mar 18, 2017, at 10:53 PM, Ken M va7kbm@outlook.com wrote:
Hello all,
Is it not hard times for new and prospective satellite operators (like me) in terms of equipment choices, at least in terms of the "big three"? (And, to be clear, I'm talking about current, in-production models only.)
I'm looking for an HF base/mobile radio, and also a VHF/UHF-only all-mode base/mobile radio that I can use for the linear satellites but
- wait - there are no VHF/UHF-only all mode radios! That means I need to
buy a "shack in a box" but - wait - there are only two choices (at what I will call moderate prices), the ancient TS-2000 and equally ancient FT-857D. There is the new and somewhat more expensive FT-991A and, although that sounds like a very good radio, for HF at that price point I might prefer the IC-7300 but that would mean no satellite work.
I'm also looking for a portable HF QRP radio, and a portable radio I can use for the linear satellites. Again the venerable but ancient FT-817ND is pretty much the only game in town. As with the HF base radios above, if I am only interested in HF QRP I would probably rather put my money toward a KX2 or KX3 of newer design but, again, that would mean no satellite work.
So as a new operator, to get into linear satellites it seems I am forced to either (1) troll the swap meets for ancient gear; (2) buy new gear of old design (which in my mind is even worse); or (3) buy new gear of modern design that works for satellite and HF, but is not necessarily the radio I would choose for HF alone.
I should add that the situation is not much better for HT/mobile radios for the FM satellites, but at least there are some cost effective workarounds including the less expensive Baofeng/Wouxun/Tytera radios and their clones.
Thanks for indulging my shopping frustrations, and my inexperience, but I have to think there are others new to the hobby that are having similar thoughts. Do Amsat members see this as a problem?
Probably off to spend some new money on an old radio...
73 - Ken - VA7KBM
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