[SixClub] AMPLIFIER-RM Italy.

[Roger (K8RI)]

On 1/2/2011 6:10 PM, Howard Bingham wrote:
> Don't know what the attraction in these high priced ICOM, when there are
> several Yaesu&  Kenwood's that pretty well fit the bill for much less,
> with enough change difference to buy an AMP to boot..!
It's pretty much you get what you pay for.  I have both the Icom 7000 
and the Yaesu 897D as backup/mobile rigs. The 7000 has a much better 
receiver and noise reduction system than the 897D. It's also constructed 
much more solidly.  Both are small, menu driven rigs that are fine if 
you don't do a lot of band hopping, mode changing, or want to ramp up 
the power to tune up and amp. I find the 897D to be overloaded much 
easier on a crowded band than the 7000.   Otherwise I find both of them 
to be a royal PITA to use from my home station.

Unless you spend a LOT of time with either rig, keeping the manual close 
at hand is a must.  The only Kenwood in that frequency and performance 
range that I know of is the 2000 which is much larger and twice (or 
more) the cost. It's also getting a bit long in the tooth and does not 
have the performance of the newer rigs.

The 9100 (if they ever get FCC approval) is a complete base station rig. 
from all modes on HF through VHF and UHF that does virtually everything 
a good HF rig, all most VHF and UHF rig, plus it has the capability of 
working just like a FM duobander.   Although small it is still much 
larger than either the 7000 or 897D and *appears* to be a much better 
rig.  It pretty much does everything a duobander will do complete with 
cross band repeat, yet is a good all mode HF, VHF and UHF rig as well. 
(including a 1296 option)

So far, IF the 9100 does everything it's billed to do it really is an 
all mode HF through UHF base station in one box that also has dual band 
receive and split operation between any of the bands.

> This being said, not knowing all the bells&  whistles included in the
> ICOM 9100..
>
Just about anything you can think of...which may be why it's taking 
quite a while to get the FCC's blessings.

My guess as I said earlier is it will be a bit pricey, but nothing like 
the 7700 and 7800.
Of course Yaesu also has a batch of those top end rigs that are very 
good with tremendous dynamic range and big price tags as well.
Kenwood appears to be the only one who has not entered the Cadillac rig 
race.

73

Roger (K8RI)