[Elecraft] Apples and Pomegranates

[Lyn Norstad]

Richard -

I am using the IC-7300 / KPA500 / KAT500 combination every day, and I love
it.  

Most of my ragchewing is SSB, but I am using CW more often these days.  The
digital modes, especially FT8, FT4, JS8 etc. probably account for 75% of my
operation.  Of those, JS8 is the ragchew choice.  I also use it extensively
for EmComm - principally with digital modes such as Winlink (P2P).

The 7300 is a natural for digital modes, and requires only a cable to
interface.  The menu structure is a joy ... very logical and easy to
optimize (tweak) settings for any specific mode and save to SD card for
immediate recall.  For example, I have arrived at very specific settings for
CW by researching what other, more active CWers, are doing and find that I
am able to carry on a good QSO with stations I couldn't even hear before and
a bandwidth that knocks out the ham down the street.

Operation with the Elecraft "twins" for me is nearly fully automatic.  In my
shack, if I am operating digital modes, I am facing 90 degrees away from the
rig, amp, tuner.  But I don't even need to see them.  The amp and tuner
track the 7300 perfectly except that the tuner does not update until it
receives some RF. 

I can't say anything authoritative about Yaesu, except that the only Yaesu I
currently own is their top-of-the-line FTM-400XDR mobile - and the menu
structure bears no semblance to operating logic.  For me anyway, Icom just
makes more sense.

I regularly get unsolicited reports of "absolutely perfect audio" which is
nice too.

73
Lyn, W0LEN


-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Richard
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2021 5:36 PM
To: Elecraft
Subject: [Elecraft] Apples and Pomegranates

For the casual rawchewer and DXer, how does the IC-7300 compare to the
FTDX10? 

Think in terms of using them with a KPA500 and a KAT500.

Richard Kunc ~ W4KBX
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