[NLRS] Transverters

[Brent Casavant]

On Fri, 1 Aug 2003, Dan Larson wrote:

> The dilemma I see is that I can spend a lot more buying pieces instead
> of a
> whole rig which can meet my HF and my VHF desires, BOTH. An HTX-10 and
> two transverters is about the same price as a used / new 100W mobile
> All band/ all mode
> rig. Then I could add transverters to *that* for
> 900,1.2,2.3,2.4,3.3,5.7 and up.....

I take it you're referring to something like an IC-706MkIIg, or a Yaesu
FT-100.

In my experience, they're OK radios.  Now take the following with the
weight it accords since I have little experience with radios other than a
706: I wouldn't go with it for serious transverter work or fixed station
contesting.

Transverters: Yes, it can be done.  In fact my 706 plus a DEMI 222-28
is being used by KC0IYT for the UHF contest this weekend.  But I'm less
than impressed by the interfacing options. And between the clunky ACC
jack breakout box I had to build and the alternatives of either using a
DEM TIB (*lots* of cable clutter) or the 10W drive kit (and risk blowing
out your transverter at some point), I'm not thrilled with the final
result of the station.  FWIW, I'm -->this<-- close to deciding to switch
to the 10W common-IF drive for the transverter, mostly because the TIB
doesn't seem capable of keeping a consistent ALC voltage output from one
day to the next.  I wish I'd paid more heed when I heard that the other
NLRS members use the 10W drive almost exclusively.

Contesting:  Having heard what sort of equipment some other people are
using, and realizing that the only major difference in my station is
the rig, right now I believe that a 706/FT100 doesn't quite cut it
for contesting.  I've invested money in Icom's 1.9KHz SSB and 350Hz CW
filters, which have helped tremendously, but there are still far too
many stations that others are working that I can't hear at all (at
least on 6m).  A high-quality HF rig plus transverters should have
performance characteristics that beat my 706 handily, though I will
admit to not having researched this very deeply (mostly to keep myself
from running out to spend money I shouldn't be parting with).

(Incidentally, if someone wants a UT-102 voice synthesizer chip for
their Icom rig, drop me an offer -- I didn't care for it in fixed
station operation but I can see how it would be useful in a mobile
environment or to someone with poor eyesight.)

Overall I think the 706/FT100 and similar radios are good general-duty
radios that give you an easy, inexpensive, and convenient way onto all
of the heavily used bands.  And one certainly can't fault them in the
portability department.  But for serious weak-signal work I think
you'll find them wanting (unless perhaps you are rovering, in which
case their mobile attributes becomes a godsend), and you'll eventually
relegate them to other tasks.  That said they are good starter rigs,
and truth be told if I hadn't gotten bit by the weak-signal bug I'd be
quite content with mine.

Hope that helps,
Brent

-- 
Brent Casavant			http://www.angeltread.org/
KD5EMB				-.- -.. ..... . -- -...
44 54'24"N 93 03'21"W 907FASL	EN34lv