[ICOM] Icom 756PRO as contest rig

[Ynkedragon at aol.com]

In a message dated 06/27/2005 19:15:55 Eastern Daylight Time, ne0p at lcisp.com 
writes:

<< I have seen some very good prices recently on used Icom 756PROs, and 
wonder how they do as contest rigs?  This is not the II or III model, just the 
straight PRO.  >>

I own a PRO and have used it, in contests, where the other radio was a PROii 
or PROiii.  Yes, there are differences among the three, but they are subtle.  
>From a contesters viewpoint, I think the most important is the ability, on the 
PRO ii and iii to key the voice keyer from an external switchbox hooked to 
the mike input while simultaneously using the bandscope.  Otherwise, all models 
receive well and transmit well.  For a couple of criteria, in one pair of 
published reviews, the original PRO tested nominally above the PRO ii.

All of the PRO's share a design with a broad roofing filter which limits 
their ability to work really close to a strong adjacent signal.  

I think of it as a good contest radio, not a great contest radio.  However, 
right now it is a good match for my skills and antennas.  

The audio is clean and has less perceived distortion than some radios I've 
operated.  This makes long operating intervals seem a little less exhausting.

73,  Blair k3yd