[Icom] Decision time and request for advice (long)

[icom@mailman.qth.net]

Hello Ed,

Some weeks ago I placed a review of both the ProII and the Mark V:

Here is my impression of a comparison between the Yaesu FT-1000MP Mark V and
the Icom IC-756ProII.

This is a very personal opinion. When you want a more objective comparison,
then please gather more of such field tests or try the rigs yourself and
make your own opinion.

In the Mark V I installed INRAD filters (250, 400, 2.1 and 2.8 kHz) and the
INRAD IF-modification.
Menu 5-9 on 6.0, 7-7 all off and 8-9 all 0.000.

In The Netherlands and Germany (countries where I buy my HAM-equipment) the
price of the Mark V is about $ 3500 and the ProII about $ 3000. The Mark V
includes Power Supply.

Both transceivers are excellent, but very different!

Strong points of the Mark V:
- 200 Watt output
- Class A
- Ergonomics (solid knobs, some of them are rubberized)
- IF-monitor (also in CW!)
- VRF (Variable RF Front-End Filter)
- Shuttle Jog
- Front Panel Connections
- Front and Top Panel Controls
- FH-1 Remote Control Panel as option, with Tune in every mode

Strong points of the ProII:
- 5-inch TFT color LDS display (8 display types and 7 fonts)
- >100 choices of filters (between 50 Hz and 15 kHz) including the choice of
two different shape factors
- Twin Pass Band Tuning (you'll find graphic adjustments on the display)
- Variable Noise Reduction
- 50 MHz
- Spectrum Scope
- Triple Band Stacking Register
- User friendly menu
- Standard Digital Voice Recorder
- Standard 0.5 ppm TCXO
- RTTY Decoder on the display

Things which could be better on the Mark V:
- Display (e.g. LCD)
- Adjustment of IF-filters (was much better on the MP)
- Visible (graphic) adjustment of the IDBT (Shift and Width)

Things which could be better on the ProII:
- Some of the knobs (too tiny)
- The place of the AF/RF knob (should have been at the place of the
NR/balance)
- Tune
- Rear connections; e.g. for keyer
- PS-125 and SP-21 (bad quality for huge price)

They both make too much fan noise. The ProII starts immediately when you
PTT.

The audio!
The Mark V sounds (really noticeable) much more natural, more analogue.
The ProII sounds clear, flat, more digital.
Both ways; receive and transmit!
I tried this with various fellow stations under different conditions and
with different adjustments. They all told me the same. I can't tell you that
one of the audio sounds better, but they are noticeable different!
Not very surprising, because the ProII is all-DSP.
By the way; I use the Yaesu SP-8 for both rigs. With the Mark V I use the
MD-200 deskmic and with the ProII the standard handmic.

Sensitivity: Both excellent. I did'nt use a radiocommunication service
monitor or spectrum analyzer for this comparison... I just listened to
various signals on different bands under different conditions.

Signal/noise ratio (more important then sensitivity): both excellent. On the
lower frequencies (1,8 - 7 MHz) I don't use pre-amps.

Third Order Intercept Point: both very good. Even in Europe on 7 MHz.

Dynamic range: could be better on both.

I did not meet any serious quality problems with both the rigs.

Conclusion:
I prefer the sound, the ergonomics and the look of the Mark V. It is a very
good rig for contests. It is more solid.
The ProII is very advanced with innovative features, like the display and
the filtering. Very suitable for digital modes.
For SSB and CW and with the linear (TL-922) I use the Mark V.
For digital modes, for 50 MHz and as second receiver I use the ProII.

73, Hans PA1HR.

e-mail: hans@remeeus.nl
site: www.remeeus.nl
Ham Radio call: PA1HR


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ed Gaitley" <edgait@earthlink.net>
To: <icom@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2002 8:49 PM
Subject: [Icom] Decision time and request for advice (long)


>
> Fellow listers,
>
> I'm getting ready to purchase my very first HF radio and I'm
> looking for some advice.  This is a big decision for me and it
> involves a big chunk of hard-earned cash.
>
> So far, I've narrowed my choice to the either the new 756ProII
> or the the Yaesu FT-1000MP MkV. After spending many hours over
> the past several weekends at the local ham store using, comparing,
> playing with, and listening to both radios, my decision is to
> go with the 756ProII. It wins over the Yaesu hands down. I won't
> get into all the reasons why I
> chose it but I just like the ProII all around. It seems to be
> an evolution in HF radio design. Sure, it doesn't put out 200
> watts or have a 75watt Class A transmitter like the FT-1000MP
> MkV does but I can live with that. I live in an apartment and
> also very near some power lines so I want the most modern and
> best DSP and noise management capabilities that I can get.
>
> For Icom owners in general and any 756Pro or ProII users specifically,
> have you had any serious quality problems with your radios? If
> so, how has the Icom service been? Are you still glad you bought
> the radio?  Any concerns, problems or issues I should be aware
> of? I haven't found any seriously negative press on this radio
> so far so that's good news to me. Of course it's still fairly
> new radio too.
>
> I plan to go buy the radio this weekend but it will be a few
> weeks until I'm on the air because I have to get an antenna mast
> holder made for my apartment balcony. I plan on using a *ham
> stick" dipole on a telescoping mast. The antenna has to be put
> up before each use taken down when I'm not on the air to avoid
> the wrath of the apartment manager (my lease says absolutely
> no antennas of any kind so I have to operate in stealth mode
> - when I put up a DirecTV dish, I got an eviction notice - yes
> I know I should move but that can't happen until next year).
>
>
> Thanks in advance for any comments or help.
>
> 73,
>
> Ed, N6EG
>
>
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