[K3PZN-List] (no subject)

[W3JJH]

Curt,

The club has a TS-850.  It's a very nice raido.  I agree with Jim that a used
850 in good shape probably offers the most performance per dollar of any radio.

William has an original version IC-746.  It's performance is roughly on par with
a 706.  It does have more eye candy and a bit more output on 2 m.  It's not a
bad entry level radio, but I wouldn't want to use it in a contest.

I've owned an FT-990.  It was a upgrade in performance from my TS-570, but I
sold mine after I got a TenTec Omni VI (Opt. 3).  The final version of the Omni
VI was the VI Plus which was an upgrade that also included a revison to use
surface mount parts.  The (Opt. 3) is a factory upgrade of the original version
to Plus specs using through-hole parts.  I bought mine from TenTec.  They take
their older radios as trade-ins, refurb them, and sell them with a warranty.  I
can strongly recommend the Omni VI (Opt. 3) or Plus, especially as a CW rig! 
Mine has the best receiver I've ever owned.

There are two other TenTec rigs you might consider.  First, if you've got the
budget, TenTec is running a sale on used Orion I radios that they've taken as
trades on Orion IIs.  The radios come with a 30-day warranty and a 10-day
no-questions money back return policy.  I believe Steve Beckman has an Orion;
you can ask him how he likes it.  The other radio is the Argonaut V.  I think
you had a chance to play with mine during Field Day.  It's only a 20 W radio,
but it's a very confortable CW and digital rig.

73 de W3JJH
John
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!