[Elecraft] [FT817] ELECRAFT

[Mike Morrow]

Wayne wrote:

> The KX3 will have about 30 dB better dynamic range than the IC-7000,  
> even without the roofing filter.

The IC-7000, like almost all Asian-origin HF rigs (including the FT-817)
also does NOT allow selection of iambic keying mode!  They are all set
permanently for mode B.

The ICOM display boss at Dayton 2011 was very dismissive when I asked why
a rig with as many selection options as the IC-7000 does not permit a
function as basic as iambic mode selection.  (At least he knew what "iambic
mode" meant.  The others there thought I was talking about whether dots
or dashes were sent when a left or right key closure was made!)  He blamed
it on "engineering" (!?) and lamely, disinterestedly, claimed that he couldn't
control what "they" came up with.  Well, there'll never be any purchases
at KK5F of HF rigs that are so poorly designed in these small details that
the larger ones are suspect as well.

HF rig reviews in QST *now* state what iambic modes the keyer in a review rig
supports.  Some time ago I asked for that information for QST reviews, and
happily the editor for that department agreed.

Elecraft rigs have always supported iambic mode selection.

Mike / KK5F