[ICOM] Re: [-] [dx-list] The law of diminishing returns

[W8AEF]

Antenna, antenna, antenna.

A good antenna will overcome radio performance short coming, but the reverse 
is not true.

Further, one of the radios you mentioned as an 'upgrade' possibility is 
deaf.  Very popular, but still deaf.

As long as your existing radio is capable of split frequency operation (for 
DXing) and you are happy with it's performance, why change?

When my last tube type transmitter was on the verge of dying, I did side by 
side comparisons between it's associated solid state receiver and the 'big 
three' receivers then on the market.  I was impressed with how well my 20 
year old receiver worked and disappointed with the big three because they 
could not hear anything my antique could not.

I do have a more modern radio today, and I do like it's bells and whistles, 
but in normal operation the bells and whistles are just that - bells and 
whistles.

I have invested my time (not much money) in antennas.  4 square phased 
arrays, monoband yagis and crank up towers (for convenience).

I do well in contests, as well as I want to anyway, and am at 336 current 
countries worked and 334 confirmed.  I have worked several stations in the 
country I am lacking but none were accepted for DXCC credit.

de Paul, W8AEF


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Geiger" <johngeig at yahoo.com>
To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>; <dx-list at yahoogroups.com>; 
<icom at mailman.qth.net>; <yaesu at contesting.com>; <yaesu at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 8:06 PM
Subject: [-] [dx-list] The law of diminishing returns


> Here is a question I have about station design, but
> first let me set up the situation:
>