[50mhz] [6 Meter Sked] A question for 52.525 FMers ONLY...

[Bob]

On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 10:48 AM, n8ofs at mjbrowns.com <n8ofs at mjbrowns.com>wrote:

> **
>
>
> > While I have yet to devote one radio entirely to 6 meter FM, I am using
> an
> > Icom 706MKIIG and a Kenwood TS-60s for radios.
>
> Which do you prefer???
>


Funny you should ask that!  I just put the TS-60 on the bench and went
through it, tweaking everything to perfection, in hopes of making it my
"stand alone" 6 meter rig.
I even wired an SM-8 microphone to it, modified the mike to do the Kenwood
up/down scheme, and replaced the "a/b" switch on it with a 50k audio taper
pot and knob to have some flexibility between modes since the radio has no
front panel microphone gain control.  I then put it side by side with the
706MKIIG on a switch so I could toggle between them and compare.  Keep in
mind, I was HOPING the TS-60 would "win".....

Results as follows:
TX- I had my friend a few towns away using a SDR rig digitally record me on
each mode, making a multitude of adjustments during this process on both
rigs.  Very close results.  The TS-60 had a wider range of tone available,
but the 706 had less "imperfections" on SSB and AM (mainly differences in
the way the ALC reacts in each mode).  I can send the sound files to anyone
who is interested, and you can draw your own conclusions.  Neither would
outshine the other as far as ability to make the contact though.

RX- Listening to the Yankee SSB net on Sunday morning, where unless the
guys (most of them up by Boston, and some along the coast from the Cape up
to Maine) actually point at me, most of them are a marginal copy, I found
the 706 to be overall the easiest to copy on.  It was "noisier", but also
had more signal to work with.  Turning off the so called "preamp" (really
just the front end stage) on the 706 put the radios at almost equal status
and eliminated the "noisy" part on the 706.  The sound quality of the TS-60
however was more pleasing, and while there were no close stations on to
verify this, I suspect the Kenwood would have handled a busier band (like
sprint/contest conditions) better.  Both noise blankers had their
weaknesses and their good points.
Later, I pointed down to PA and monitored two very weak operators in QSO,
and again, the 706 was the easiest copy.
On FM, the radios were much closer, though when I add the "narrow" function
on the 706 the s/n ratio drastically improves and the signal rises an
S-unit.

Prior to this, I had always had a nagging suspicion the 706 was lacking,
but I feel better about it now.  The results surprised me. I have more
confidence in it's ability to receive than I do in the TS-60.

Post testing, the decision was made to leave the TS-60 in line as the main
6 meter rig, however, to also leave the switch in line to allow changing
quickly to the 760 if necessary.

The hunt for the perfect rig continues......and my gut has been suggesting
to me that an Icom IC-736 may be what I need.  I missed a clean on for $500
a year ago.  The TS-60 was free though, so it is staying for now.

Thanks for the complimentary comments Andy, and I'm sure we will work at
some point.

I hope my long winded reply hasn't put anyone to sleep......

73, Bob N1UJS