Selecting an HF Transceiver Dec 16, 2015 Joel R. Hallas, W1ZR Contributing Editor, QST

What HF Transceiver to Buy? What do you want it for? Casual operating Fixed/mobile/portable Phone/CW/Digital Contesting DXing Traffic nets IF strip for V/UHF There’s no “one best transceiver”

What HF Transceiver to Buy? How Much do You Want to Spend? Used gear $150 - $5000 Entry Level $500 - $1000 Portable-mobile $500 - $1500 Mid-range $1000 - $3000 Upper mid-range $4000 - $7000 Top of the Line $10,000 and up

Before Transceivers – Separate Transmitters and Receivers 1950s Station – Johnson Viking II Transmitter w/VFO National HRO-60 Receiver, Hallicrafters TO Keyer

Early Vacuum-Tube HF Transceiver—Collins KWM-2A

Features of KWM-2 Transmit frequency follows receiver Coverage of 14 200 kHz wide bands 3-30 MHz Frequency read-out to 1 kHz SSB or CW operation Collins SSB mechanical filter 100 W PEP output Fixed or portable operation Moderate receiver performance Price in 1962: $1150

Current “Entry-Level” HF transceiver — Yaesu FT-450D

Features of KWM-2 Features of FT-450D Transmit frequency follows receiver Same, but also has RIT/XIT, Dual VFO Coverage of 14 200 kHz bands 3-30 MHz Receiver coverage 30 kHz – 56 MHz Frequency read-out to 1 kHz Frequency read-out to .01 kHz (10 Hz) Transmit, all amateur bands, 160 – 6 meters SSB or CW operation SSB, CW or AM operation Collins mechanical filter DSP operating bandwidth selection 100 W PEP output 100 W PEP output Manual Pi-network tuning No-tune final amplifier Internal antenna tuner Fixed or portable operation Fixed or portable operation Moderate receiver performance Moderate receiver performance Frequency memories, PC control DSP noise and interference rejection Built-in electronic keyer Price in 1962: $1150 Built in speaker

Features of KWM-2 Features of FT-450D Transmit frequency follows receiver Same, but also has RIT/XIT, Dual VFO Coverage of 14 200 kHz bands 3-30 MHz Continuous Receiver coverage 30 kHz – 56 MHz Frequency read-out to 1 kHz Frequency read-out to .01 kHz (10 Hz) Transmit all amateur bands, 160 – 6 meters SSB or CW operation SSB, CW or AM operation Collins mechanical filter DSP operating bandwidth selection 100 W PEP output 100 W PEP output Manual Pi-network tuning No-tune final amplifier Fixed or portable operation Built-in antenna tuner Fixed or portable operation Moderate receiver performance Moderate receiver performance Frequency memories, PC control DSP noise and interference rejection Price in 1962: $ 1150 Built-in electronic keyer Built in speaker In 2015 dollars: $ 9087 Price in 2015: $650

What Features are Important? Whatever you like! Casual operator, Traffic handler – Ergonomics, display, audio, interference and noise rejection. Contester or DXer – Above plus top receiver performance, computer control, lots of flexibility, panadapter, dual receivers. Display – Color video or monochrome text – your choice! Internal antenna tuner – Convenient if you’re space limited Most have less tuning range than external units – same $ Not as useful if you use a linear amplifier.

What About Interference and Noise Reduction 80s – Separate filters for each BW, 1-5 Passband tuning, analog IF notch filter 90s – Above plus audio DSP Passband tuning, AF DSP notch filter Current – IF DSP – no other filters needed Passband tuning, IF notch filter Narrow roofing filters Noise 80s – Noise limiter 90s – Noise blanker Current – DSP Noise blanker, noise reduction and multiple notch filters

What’s it Take to be a Top Receiver Sensitivity – Not an issue Selectivity – Not an issue Dynamic range – The current hot-button! The difference between the strongest and the weakest signal you can hear

What’s it Take to be a Top Receiver Flavors of Dynamic range: Blocking dynamic range At some level, a signal on another frequency will reduce the level of the signal you want. The further away the other frequency the easier to filter: 100, 20, 5, 2 kHz. Intermodulation dynamic range Two signals, both outside the passband you want combine to create a signal inside your passband. Reciprocal mixing dynamic range Off-frequency LO noise mixes off-frequency signals into receiver passband.

What’s it Take to be a Top Receiver Sensitivity – Typically -130 to -140 dBm Selectivity – The more choices the better Dynamic range – The current hot-button! The difference between the strongest and the weakest signal you can hear Blocking dynamic range 20 kHz separation 100 to 140 dB 5/2 kHz separation 80 to 140 dB Intermodulation dynamic range 20 kHz separation 80 to 110 dB 5/2 kHz separation 60 to 110 dB Reciprocal mixing dynamic range 20 kHz separation 60 to 140 dB 5/2 kHz separation 60 to 140 dB

What’s it Take to be a Top Receiver Example -- Intermodulation dynamic range 2 kHz separation 60 to 110 dB You are listening to a prime DX station, S-5 on 14, 020 kHz you are receiving through your 500 Hz filter – in the clear! There are two strong stations, one at 14,022, another at 14,024. (2 × 14,022) – 14,024 = 14,020 In a perfect receiver you wouldn’t know they are there! In a real receiver, 3OIMD generates a signal on top of the DX! With a 60 dB 3OIMDDR, the resultant signal will be the same as the DX if they are at S-9 + 6 dB With a 110 dB 3OIMDDR, it takes S-9 + 56 dB 15

What Is in the Entry-level Category? All 100 W HF Radios Model Street Price DSP 60 Meters V/UHF Ant Tuner Alinco DX-SR8T $500 No Yes No No Alinco DX-SR9T $790 No † Yes No No Icom IC-718* $655 AF No No No Icom IC-7100** $994 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm No Icom IC-7200* $890 IF Yes 6 Meters No Kenwood TS-480SAT $900 AF Yes 6 Meters Yes Yaesu FT-450D* $650 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes Yaesu FT-857D*** $750 AF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm No Yaesu FT-897D* *** $860 AF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm No †Provides I/Q output for DSP with external PC and sound card. *Single unit radio, others have separable control head. **50 W output on 2 meters, 35 W on 70 cm. ***50 W output on 2 meters, 20 W on 70 cm.

“Portable/Mobile” Category Similar to entry level, price overlap, compact, more features Remote front panel mounting (except *) Downside – tiny controls, menus Model Price Power 60 M VHF UHF Ant Tuner Alinco DX-SR8T $500 100 W No 6 M No No Alinco DX-SR9T $790 100 W No 6 M No No ICOM IC-7100** $994 100 W yes yes yes no ICOM IC-7200* $1070 100 W yes 6 M yes no Kenwood TS-480SAT $930 100 W yes 6 M no yes Kenwood TS-480HX $1050 200 W yes 6 M no no Yaesu FT-857D*** $750 100 W yes yes yes no Yaesu FT-897D* *** $860 100 W yes yes yes no *Single unit radio, others have separable control head. **50 W output on 2 meters, 35 W on 70 cm. ***50 W output on 2 meters, 20 W on 70 cm.

So Whadda You Get for the Extra $ to Move into the Middle? In general; A bigger box with more controls and fewer menus More control flexibility – more choices, more filters (or slots), more AGC settings larger displays showing more information Some have better receiver performance Some have internal antenna tuners Many add 6 meter coverage – some 2 meters or higher. At the upper end: Usually some kind of dual-receive capability Some provide 200 W output

“Middle Class” Category Model Street DSP 60 V/UHF Ant IMD DR Price Meters Tuner (2 kHz) Elecraft K3S/100F* $2900 IF Yes 6 Meters $370 103 dB Icom IC-7300 TBD SDR Yes 6 Meters Yes TBD Icom IC-7410 $1650 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes 88 dB Kenwood TS-2000** $1600 IF No 6, 2 m; 70 cm Yes 57 dB Kenwood TS-2000X** $1900 IF No 6, 2 m; 70, 23 cm Yes 57 dB Kenwood TS-590SG $1760 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes 93/106 dB TEN-TEC Eagle $1499 IF Yes 6 Meters $249 98 dB Yaesu FT-991 $1760 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm Yes 82 dB Yaesu FTDX1200 $1550 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes 83 dB *Base assembled 100 W unit. IMD measured with optional 400 Hz roofing filter. Internal 10 W, 2 meter transverter available. **Includes a second receiver for simultaneous AM or FM reception only.

And Whadda You Get for the Really Big Bux? In general; A much bigger box with more controls and fewer menus Even more control flexibility – more choices, more bandwidth choices, more AGC settings larger displays showing more information good spectrum display Serious dual-receive capability with stereo output

“Upper Middle Class” Category All are 100 W transceivers. All have IF DSP and 60 meter coverage. Model Street 2nd V/UHF Ant IMD DR Price Rcvr Tuner (2 kHz) Elecraft K3S/100F $3580* Yes 6 Meters $370 103 dB FlexRadio FLEX-6300 $2499** Yes 6 Meters $299 92 Icom IC-7600 $3370 DW*** 6 Meters Yes 88 dB Icom IC-9100 $3930 No 6, 2, 70 cm† Yes 87 dB Yaesu FTDX3000 $2400 no 6 Meters Yes 104 dB *Assembled with dual receiver with 2700 Hz roofing filter in each receiver. IMD measured with optional 400 Hz roofing filter. **Requires a PC for operation. ***Dual watch — combines reception of two signals in same band into same audio channel. †23 cm available as an option.

“Top of the Line” Category Model Price 60 M Power V/UHF Tuner IMD(2k) Elecraft K3/100F* $5169* Yes 100 W 6 Meters Yes 103 dB FlexRadio FLEX-6500** $4299 Yes 100 W 6 Meters $299 TBD FlexRadio FLEX-6700** $7499 Yes 100 W 6 Meters $299 102 Hilberling PT-8000A $18,000 Yes 200 W† 6, 4, 2 m Yes 100 dB Icom IC-7700 (single rcvr) $6900 No 200 W 6 Meters Yes 87 dB Icom IC-7851 $12,999 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes TBD Kenwood TS-990S $8000 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes 101 dB Yaesu FTDX5000MP $5900 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes 103 dB Yaesu FTDX9000D $8800 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes 87 dB Yaesu FTDX9000MP $9295 Yes 400 W 6 Meters Yes 85 dB *Assembled, loaded; price can vary greatly with internal and external options. See Elecraft website for a full list of options and prices. **Requires a PC for operation. Not yet tested in ARRL Lab. †100 W on VHF.