[CW] What is best CW transceiver??

[John Seney]

Hi John:

There are several attributes that combine for "serious CW" and "best".

QSK performance

Size

Filtering - How many, how adjustable

Receiver Performance        http://www.sherweng.com/table.html

Tone Quality

Display Quality - Size, types (Spectrum, Waterfall, etc.)

User Interface - Ease to Learn, Ease to Re-Learn, Ease of Use

Bands Covered

Second Receiver - And its performance (same band only? same specs as  
primary?)

Connectivity - I/O

Options

Accessories

Support

Firmware Upgrades - Are you locked in or can it get better?

Cost to get

Total Cost with all options and accessories

I think its notable that the (3) top rig vendors are American  
manufacturers,
their highest performance offerings are all SDR (software defined),  
and all
(3) have beyond cult followings on-line that create incredible support
environments for users.


Elecraft  (K3)
Flex	  (SDR-5000A)
Ten Tec	  (Orion II)

And dozens of reviews from real users are at   http://www.eham.net/
Each rig also have several dozen stories where the attributes of the  
radio
combine in novel ways. Sometimes its the unique features and  
capabilities
of the feature stacks that nudge out the others.

So sift through the evidence and I think you'll find its a pretty flat- 
topped pyramid with
those vendors at the top. Get the one you like the best and you won't  
go wrong.
Better yet, get one of each. Not here for a long time, just a good time!

Cheers and 73,

John Seney, WD1V [fn42]
john.seney at gmail.com
www.wd1v.net
617 686-9882






On Aug 20, 2008, at 12:58 PM, John Barnwell wrote:

> Hi folks, new to this list. Retired Coast Guard radioman, just  
> setting up my first HF station primarily for CW. I want to save  
> myself some disappointment by hopefully purchasing the best CW  
> transceiver for serious CW work. I am leaning toward Ten-Tec based  
> upon posted reviews of this equipment. Appreciate all opinions  
> regarding this subject. Thanks, John Barnwell
> P.S. hello to all my former shipmates who are probably on this list!!
>
>
>
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