[ICOM] Pro 2 vs. 746 Pro

Wed Oct 6 16:40:26 EDT 2004

Steve,

I haven't had a scope on any of my rigs in 35+ years. After reading your
description of what I have been doing all this time I must say I am amazed that
I ever worked any stations at all! However, thanks to your explanation it should
be crystal clear to my XYL, also a ham, that I NEED at least a ProII if not a
ProIII! She will insist, I'm sure, that I keep those animals out of the house,
particularly the snake and the bear.

Thanks! :)

Ken, WA2LBI

Quoting n4lq <n4lq at iglou.com>:

> Justify the expense of the scope the same way you justify the expense of
> the radio. Just consider the scope as part of the radio. The speaker
> provides the aural link and the scope the visual link to the spectrum.
> Without the scope, you are driving blind, thrashing about the bands,
> helplessly grouping for signals while aimlessly cranking the tuning knob
> back and forth from one end of the band to another hoping to luck upon a
> carrier that happens to be transmitting at precisely the same instant
> you swish across his frequency while with the scope you can visualize
> the entire band segment, spot the signal and lock in on him like an
> English Pointer dog. Push the freeze button and lock the screen like
> stopping a DVD then slither over to his frequency like a cobra and
> pounce on him like a Grizzly Bear. Now open that wallet and let the
> moths go free!
> Steve N4LQ
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Jeff Frank" <jafrank at nyc.rr.com>
> To: "ICOM Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>
> Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2004 14:09:22 -0400
> Subject: Re: [ICOM] Pro 2 vs. 746 Pro
>
> > John - That's the problem ... how do I justify spending almost a
> > thousand
> > dollars more for a scope that I think is window dressing for my
> > purposes?
> > Jeff -KX2P
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "John Geiger" <johngeig at yahoo.com>
> > To: "ICOM Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 12:47 PM
> > Subject: Re: [ICOM] Pro 2 vs. 746 Pro
> >
> >
> > >I don't have a 756 but I have never seen the true use
> > > of the band scope either.  Maybe I am way off base
> > > here, but it seems that a little knowledge of
> > > propagation, plus using a DX internet cluster, will
> > > fulfill its purpose.  For example, if it is daylight,
> > > then 20 and 17 are probably going to be open.  I can
> > > tune the band and actually listen for signals, without
> > > having to see them.  If I am looking for rare DX, then
> > > I can turn on the cluster and look for the spots, or I
> > > can tune the band and actually listen.
> > >
> > > 73s John NE0P
> > >
> > > --- Jeff Frank <jafrank at nyc.rr.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Thanks Dave - What you say makes sense. Just not
> > >> sure about the scope. I've
> > >> seen it and have a hard time accepting it's going to
> > >> be useful to me for hf
> > >> work. One guy told me it's good if you're doing
> > >> something else and are
> > >> waiting for a signal to appear on a closed band
> > >> (like 15 at night). I guess
> > >> it would help in a frantic contest situation to know
> > >> where the activity is
> > >> if you're hunting for a better band at the time.
> > >> Otherwise it looked to me
> > >> like somebody took a can a green paint and threw it
> > >> against a wall.
> > >> Jeff - KX2P
> > >>
> > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >> From: "Dave Edwards" <kd2e at comcast.net>
> > >> To: "ICOM Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>
> > >> Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 11:22 AM
> > >> Subject: Re: [ICOM] Pro 2 vs. 746 Pro
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> > Jeff... I have a 756Pro. I don't have the 746, but
> > >> I think the answer is a
> > >> > no brainer.
> > >> > The Pro2 is a better radio.
> > >> > Even if the performance were the same....Once you
> > >> start using the
> > >> > 'fish-finder', you will not want to be without it!
> > >> > I passed on the ProII....not much differance. But,
> > >> I may be tempted by the
> > >> > ProIII.
> > >> > Sad thing though...for essentially the same
> > >> rig..the price will be near
> > >> > double what I paid for my Pro a few years ago!
> > >> > ...Dave
> > >> > ----- Original Message -----
> > >> > From: "Jeff Frank" <jafrank at nyc.rr.com>
> > >> > To: "ICOM Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>
> > >> > Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 10:59 AM
> > >> > Subject: Re: [ICOM] Pro 2 vs. 746 Pro
> > >> >
> > >> >
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Gus - Thanks for the lead to the Sherwood
> > >> web-site. Haven't seen that one
> > >> >> yet. But from what I've read, performance isn't
> > >> always exactly correlated
> > >> >> with "numbers" and some argue that tests for
> > >> esesentially analogue radios
> > >> >> don't always apply well for more dsp designs. I'm
> > >> looking more for actual
> > >> > on
> > >> >> the air experiences with the Pro2 vs. 746Pro. But
> > >> thanks.
> > >> >> Jeff - KX2P
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> ----- Original Message -----
> > >> >> From: "Augie Hansen" <augie.hansen at comcast.net>
> > >> >> To: "Icom Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>
> > >> >> Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 10:08 AM
> > >> >> Subject: Re: [ICOM] Pro 2 vs. 746 Pro
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> > On 10/6/04 7:31 AM, "Jeff Frank"
> > >> <jafrank at nyc.rr.com> wrote:
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >> I'm trying to decide between buying the Pro 2
> > >> or the 746 Pro. Read
> > >> >> >> just
> > >> >> >> about
> > >> >> >> everything I could find on the internet about
> > >> it. Besides the
> > >> > difference
> > >> >> >> in
> > >> >> >> extra features and price, some technical types
> > >> have been saying the
> > >> >> >> Pro
> > >> > 2
> > >> >> >> has
> > >> >> >> a more "bullet-proof" front end against very
> > >> strong signals than does
> > >> > the
> > >> >> >> 746
> > >> >> >> Pro. I like working 40 meters (ssb and cw) at
> > >> night, as well as and
> > >> > some
> > >> >> >> contest activity, so that could be an
> > >> important factor for me. Does
> > >> >> >> anyone
> > >> >> >> have any experience with both those radios
> > >> under very strong signal
> > >> >> >> conditions?
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > Hi Jeff,
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > Given your intended use you want a radio that
> > >> has good dynamic range
> > >> >> > characteristics. Check out Rob Sherwood's
> > >> comparison chart on his web
> > >> >> > page:
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > http://www.sherweng.com/presentation.html
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > The close-in (2KHz) is particularly critical to
> > >> CW contest operators. I
> > >> >> > have
> > >> >> > an Elecraft K2 and an old, but still very
> > >> capable Drake R4C with the
> > >> >> > Sherwood mods. Both have exceptional dynamic
> > >> range characteristics.
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > The two Icom radios you are looking at have
> > >> virtually the same DR
> > >> >> > numbers --
> > >> >> > good, but not great. A 2KHz number of 80 or
> > >> higher is preferred. So
> > >> >> > your
> > >> >> > choice will probably be based more on cost vs.
> > >> features (dual watch,
> > >> >> > etc.).
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > 73, Gus Hansen
> > >> >> > KB0YH at arrl.net
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > ----
> > >> >> > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> > >> icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> > >> >> > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> > >> >> > Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> > >> >>
> > >> >> ----
> > >> >> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> > >> icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> > >> >> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> > >> >> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> > >> >
> > >> > ----
> > >> > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> > >> icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> > >> > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> > >> > Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> > >>
> > >> ----
> > >> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
> > >> icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> > >> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> > >> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________
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> > > http://vote.yahoo.com
> > > ----
> > > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> > > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> > > Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> >
> > ----
> > Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> > Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> > Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
> >
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
>