I have owned the FT-847 for five years and tried the TS2000 extensively. Both are excellent rigs. The only downside I see with the TS2000 is the birdie. However, it has a more sensitive and quieter receiver, has an antenna tuner and dual receive. On the other hand, the FT847 is probably the most used and reliable sat radio, from my observations working other people on the sats. Probably because it came out first and can be bought a little cheaper, now. If I was starting over and had to choose, it would be REALLY tough to choose between them. I probably would go with the TS2000 because it is a little more refined, quieter, and has a few more features. But the FT847 is solid, I love the rig, and you would have to pry it out of my cold dead hands. You can't go wrong either way. The FT847 is great IF you get a newer one in really good condition. Some of the early runs had some problems. The TS2000 wins on bells and whistles. Man.I'm no help at all!
At 03:49 PM 5/2/2010, John wrote:
I have owned the FT-847 for five years and tried the TS2000 extensively. Both are excellent rigs. The only downside I see with the TS2000 is the birdie. However, it has a more sensitive and quieter receiver, has an antenna tuner and dual receive. On the other hand, the FT847 is probably the most used and reliable sat radio, from my observations working other people on the sats. Probably because it came out first and can be bought a little cheaper, now. If I was starting over and had to choose, it would be REALLY tough to choose between them. I probably would go with the TS2000 because it is a little more refined, quieter, and has a few more features. But the FT847 is solid, I love the rig, and you would have to pry it out of my cold dead hands. You can't go wrong either way. The FT847 is great IF you get a newer one in really good condition. Some of the early runs had some problems. The TS2000 wins on bells and whistles. Man.I'm no help at all!
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Just to stir the mud a little: I decided to keep my FT-847 for satellite operation and casual FM/SSB. Instead of the TS2000x I bought a Elecraft K3/10 (10w version) and am adding the new design DEMI 28/144 xvtr (ordered to arrive in June). Eventually sw will be developed for the K3 for doing cross-band full-duplex and then I might part with the grand ole FT-847 (circa 1998). I will have to add a DEMI 28/432 xvtr for that.
But in my opinion K3 (dual Rx) + DEMI is far above the TS2000x for near the same money.
73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-600w, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa@hotmail.com ======================================
On May 2, 2010, at 7:38 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
But in my opinion K3 (dual Rx) + DEMI is far above the TS2000x for near the same money.
While I understand the K3 performance being above the TS-2000X, I don't understand the "near the same money" comment?
A K3/10, with sub receiver, K144XVK for 2 meters, KRX3 subreceiver, KXVA3A transverter interface, preamp for 6M, a DEM 432/28 transverter (or Elecraft $32 Transverter), a DEM 144/1296 transverter, will run you $3400 or more. It is hard to get an exact number as the DEM transverters are not currently available. Throw in a 100 W 2M linear and you are close to $3700. A TS2000X with the same capabilities is $1850, nearly half. The TS-2000X has full duplex capability for satellites now. The K3 full duplex capability is not available now and it is not clear to me that Elecraft is working on it, particularly as they have openly stated that it is hard to do in a single box. I hope they do succeed in this, and when they do, I shall purchase one.
Now, granted the performance of the K3 is better than the TS-2000, particularly in strong signal handling capability and the DSP performance, but the price differential is a lot greater than you imply. And the K3, even outfitted with 432 and 1296 transverters will not do full duplex satellites out of the box.
I am not an Elecraft basher, I have a K1, K2, and XV222, and am reasonably happy with them, but the capability of working satellites with the K3 is a ways down the road and the cost will be roughly twice the TS-2000X.
I bought a TS-2000X primarily for my VHF roving activities and satellite work. It is nice to have all the capabilities in one box and I was aware of the shortcomings going in and they are not overwhelming in roving. I considered a K3 and associated transverters, but it is, as they used to say, not quite ready for prime time as far as satellites go. And the 100W on 2M vs the 10W on 2M for the K3 is a real deal swinger when it comes to roving. - Duffey
-- James Duffey KK6MC DM65tc Cedar Crest NM < jamesduffey@comcast.net >
At 06:51 PM 5/2/2010, James Duffey wrote:
On May 2, 2010, at 7:38 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
But in my opinion K3 (dual Rx) + DEMI is far above the TS2000x for near the same money.
While I understand the K3 performance being above the TS-2000X, I don't understand the "near the same money" comment?
A K3/10, with sub receiver, K144XVK for 2 meters, KRX3 subreceiver, KXVA3A transverter interface, preamp for 6M, a DEM 432/28 transverter (or Elecraft $32 Transverter), a DEM 144/1296 transverter, will run you $3400 or more. It is hard to get an exact number as the DEM transverters are not currently available. Throw in a 100 W 2M linear and you are close to $3700. A TS2000X with the same capabilities is $1850, nearly half. The TS-2000X has full duplex capability for satellites now. The K3 full duplex capability is not available now and it is not clear to me that Elecraft is working on it, particularly as they have openly stated that it is hard to do in a single box. I hope they do succeed in this, and when they do, I shall purchase one.
Now, granted the performance of the K3 is better than the TS-2000, particularly in strong signal handling capability and the DSP performance, but the price differential is a lot greater than you imply. And the K3, even outfitted with 432 and 1296 transverters will not do full duplex satellites out of the box.
I am not an Elecraft basher, I have a K1, K2, and XV222, and am reasonably happy with them, but the capability of working satellites with the K3 is a ways down the road and the cost will be roughly twice the TS-2000X.
I bought a TS-2000X primarily for my VHF roving activities and satellite work. It is nice to have all the capabilities in one box and I was aware of the shortcomings going in and they are not overwhelming in roving. I considered a K3 and associated transverters, but it is, as they used to say, not quite ready for prime time as far as satellites go. And the 100W on 2M vs the 10W on 2M for the K3 is a real deal swinger when it comes to roving. - Duffey
-- James Duffey KK6MC DM65tc Cedar Crest NM < jamesduffey@comcast.net >
OK, James.
I was under the impression that the TS2000 ran about $2500 without 1.2 GHz. So you are right I have $2800 in my K3/10 with KRX3, KXV3. Add $79 for the ARR 50-MHz preamp and $479/ea. for the assembled DEMI 144/28 and DEMI 432/28 xvtrs. If one can buy a new TD2000x with 2m/70cm/23cm for $1850 then it is clearly cheaper. Without 432 I will have nearly $3800 in my radio+xvtrs.
But the K3 has way better weak signal specs due to the low phase noise LO's and a huge lack of birdies due to its simple dual down conversion architecture. Although it will not do satellite at this time I suspect sw changes coming for that, given enough VHF operators buying one. The K3 is rapidly becoming the microwave operators radio of choice.
To be fair, I did not purchase it with satellite in mind. My prime objective was for a super IF for VHF-microwave and eme. I am building a 300w HF PA kit for only $150. I am hoping that it will operate near 100w on 6m, but that remains to be seen.
73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-600w, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa@hotmail.com ======================================
participants (3)
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Edward R Cole -
James Duffey -
John