Selecting an HF Transceiver - Greater Fairfield …gfara.com/uploads/3/4/7/4/34743220/hf_xcvr_2017.pdf · ‡Single unit radio, others have separable control head. *FT-857D is 50

Selecting an HF Transceiver

Sept 12, 2017

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, FM or AM operation

Built-in CW electronic keyer

Collins mechanical filter DSP operating bandwidth selection

100 W PEP output 100 W PEP output

Manual Pi-network tuning No-tune final amplifier

Internal automatic 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

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, FM or AM operation, keyer

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 2017 dollars: $ 9,383.46 Price in 2017: $679 (11.4 dB!)

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

Interference

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


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.


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



Reciprocal mixing dynamic range




Example -- Intermodulation dynamic range


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

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 $ 479 No Yes No No

Alinco DX-SR9T† $ 649 No Yes No No

Icom IC-718‡ $ 655 NB, NF No No No

Icom IC-7100 $ 919 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm No

Kenwood TS-480SAT $ 839 AF Yes 6 Meters Yes

Yaesu FT-450D‡ $ 679 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes

Yaesu FT-857D* $ 869 AF Yes 6, 2 M; 70 cm No

Yaesu FT-891A* $ 699 IF Yes 6 Meters No

†Provides I/Q output for DSP with external PC and sound card. ‡Single unit radio, others have separable control head.

*FT-857D is 50 W output on 2 meters, 20 W on 70 cm;

IC-7100 is 50 W output on 2 meters, 35 W on 70 cm;

FT-991 is 50 W output on 2 m and 70 cm.

What Else Is in the Entry-level Category?

Icom IC-718 $655

100 W output, IF XTAL filters

160 through 10 meters

Yaesu FT-857, $ 900


160 meters through 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 DSP 60 M VHF UHF Ant Tuner

Alinco DX-SR8T $ 479 No Yes No No

Alinco DX-SR9T† $ 649 No Yes No No

Icom IC-7100 $ 919 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm No

Kenwood TS-480SAT $ 841 AF Yes 6 Meters Yes

Kenwood TS-480HX** $1029 AF Yes 6 Meters No

Yaesu FT-857D* $ 899 AF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm No

Yaesu FT-891A* $ 699 IF Yes 6 No

Yaesu FT-991A‡* $1390 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm Yes †Provides I/Q output for DSP with external PC and sound card. ‡Single unit radio, others have separable control head.

*FT-857D is 50 W output on 2 meters, 20 W on 70 cm; IC-7100 is 50 W output

on 2 meters, 35 W on 70 cm; FT-991 is 50 W output on 2 m and 70 cm.

**200 W output; requires one 40 A, or two 20 A power supplies.

What’s in the Portable-Mobile Category?

Icom IC-7100 $919

100 W output, IF DSP filters

160 Meters through 70 cm

Kenwood TS-480 SAT, $ 841


Built-in antenna tuner

160 through 6 meters

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)

Apache ANAN 100B*** $1795 IF Yes 6 Meters No TBD

Elecraft KX2+KXPA100 $1550 IF Yes No $380 TBD

Elecraft KX3+KXPA100 $1850 IF Yes 6 m, 2 m ($290) $380 IM 100

Icom IC-7300 $1500 RF Yes 6 Meters Yes TBD

Icom IC-7410 $1580 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes RM 78

Kenwood TS-2000* $1469 IF No 6, 2 m; 70 cm Yes IM 57 ◊

Kenwood TS-2000X* $1930 IF No 6, 2 m; 70, 23 cm Yes IM 57 ◊

Kenwood TS-590SG** $1269 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes RM 94**

TEN-TEC Eagle $1699 IF Yes 6 Meters $249 RM 95

Yaesu FT-991A $1390 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm Yes RM 75

Yaesu FTDX1200 $1170 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes RM 81

*Includes a second receiver for simultaneous AM or FM reception only.

**Downconverting bands: 160, 80, 40, 20 and 15 meters. DR is generally less on the

upconverting bands — 60, 30, 17, 12, 10 and 6 meters — as well as general coverage.

***Requires a PC for operation.

◊ Data taken before December 2007, only blocking and intermodulation DR data available.

Kenwood TS-590SG

The Newish Ones in the Mid-range

Elecraft K3S

Icom IC-7300

Yaesu FT-991

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)

Apache ANAN 100D* $3299 Yes 6 Meters No IM96

Apache ANAN 200D* $2694 Yes 6 Meters No IM 96

Elecraft K3S/100F** $2900 Yes 6 Meters (2m $380) $380 IM 103

Elecraft K3S/100F*** $3589 Yes 6 Meters $380 IM 103

FlexRadio FLEX-6300* $2499 Yes 6 Meters $299 IM 92

Icom IC-7600 $2679 DW**** 6 Meters Yes RM 82

Icom IC-9100 $2340 No 6, 2, 70 cm† Yes RM 77

TEN-TEC Omni VII $2899 No 6 Meters $300 IM 82 ◊

Yaesu FTDX3000 $1879 no 6 Meters Yes RM 82

*Requires a PC for operation.

**Basic model assembled 100 W unit. DR measured with optional 400 Hz roofing filter.

***Assembled with dual receiver with 2700 Hz roofing filter in each receiver. DR measured

with optional 400 Hz roofing filter.

****Dual receive channels on single band in a single mono audio stream – “dual watch.”

“Top of the Line” Category

Model Price 60 M Power V/UHF Tuner IMD(2k)

Apache ANAN 8000DLE** $3995 Yes 200 W 6 Meters No ITBD

Elecraft K3S/100F* $5169* Yes 100 W 6 M (2 m $380) Yes IM 103

FlexRadio FLEX-6500†** $4299 Yes 100 W 6 Meters $299 TBD

FlexRadio FLEX-6700** $7499 Yes 100 W 6 Meters Yes IM 92

Hilberling PT-8000A $15,500 Yes 200 W‡ 6, 4, 2 meters Yes IM 100

Icom IC-7700 $5854 No 200 W 6 Meters Yes RM 78

Icom IC-7851 $12,499 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes IM 105

Kenwood TS-990S $6780 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes RM 87

Yaesu FTDX5000MP $3599 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes RM 104

Yaesu FTDX9000D $8359 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes IM 87 ◊

Yaesu FTDX9000MP $9259 Yes 400 W 6 Meters Yes IM 85

*Assembled; 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.

◊ Data take before December 2007, only blocking and intermodulation data available.

ICOM IC-7851

FTDX-9000MP

Hilberling PT-8000

VE7CA HBR-2000

Or Build Your Own!

Put a Bunch of Modules Together to Make a Top Performer!

See QST for March 2006 2 kHz Spacing: BDR – 122 dB, 3OIMD – 93 dB

The American Radio Relay League

A word from our sponsor –– ARRL books by Joel R. Hallas, W1ZR

Thanks for Your Attention

Questions, Comments?

73, Joel, W1ZR

Documents

Selecting an HF Transceiver - Greater Fairfield …gfara.com/uploads/3/4/7/4/34743220/hf_xcvr_2017.pdf · ‡Single unit radio, others have separable control head. *FT-857D is 50