John,
I have to agree with Bob G4UJS.
Any rig made in the last 25 years will do a great job. That comment is
designed to reinforce the concept that you can spend as little as $300
or as much as $4000 and still secure a radio more than capable of
supporting your 'ham style'
But as for the antenna - most definitely. So many people seem so happy
to spend Kilo$ on a rig and then worry about spending so little on an
antenna. A great antenna will always make a rig look better.
Spend your money on a better antenna. Spend your effort and time taking
a long hard look at your situation and
figure out a way to get yourself the biggest/best antenna for the
quantum of money you want to spend &/or
the quantum of comfort that the spouse or the neighbours are prepared to
accept.
Do this and you wont be disappointed with any radio you have.
You mentioned you like 6 - so go with a great antenna for 6. Look
seriously at a long-john yagi for 6 and either build it yourself or get
an antenna mate to build it. You mentioned 10 - maybe a multi-freq beam
supporting at least 6 & 10 is for you.
Some of us like to buy 'old rigs' I used to buy the latest greatest rig
(25+ years ago). No I go looking for old rigs - 20+ years and then
spend my time repairing them and getting to know them. Many folk on
this mail list know that some of the best radios are OLD. Like wine to
some extent ;-)
Hope this 2c is helpful.
enjoy.
73's
phil vk4kvk
Bob Harrison wrote:
> John,
>
> I understand where you are coming from and a new rig wouldn't make a step
> change in performance for you.
>
> However spend the 800 on getting a bigger antenna as high as possible and
> you will not see a diminishing return!!
>
> Regards 73
>
> de Bob G4UJS
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Geiger" <johngeig@yahoo.com>
> To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>; <dx-list@yahoogroups.com>;
> <icom@mailman.qth.net>; <yaesu@contesting.com>; <yaesu@mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 4:06 AM
> Subject: [Yaesu] The law of diminishing returns
>
>
>
>> Here is a question I have about station design, but
>> first let me set up the situation:
>>
>> Current setup-I recently picked up a rig in good
>> condition that does a pretty good job for me. It
>> covers HF and 6 meters (my favorite band) and knocks
>> the noise out at my QTH as good as any rig I have
>> seen. It is not considered a contesting rig or big
>> gun DX rig, but I do like it and it does all the
>> bands/modes that I am currently interested in.
>> I won't list the brand or model to avoid biasing
>> responses from people who love or don't like that
>> brand or model.
>>
>> Current operating-DXing, casual contesting, and some
>> ragchewing, plus hunting grid squares on 6m. I have a
>> full time job, and a fairly young family with a 3 1/2
>> year old daughter. Just can't get alot of time in
>> front of the rig, especially for hard core contesting.
>> Plus I have a fairly simple antenna system (2 element
>> mini quad) but have worked 310 countries, and did 850
>> QSOs a few years ago in the 10 meter contest for my
>> best contest effort ever (pre daughter days).
>>
>> Now here is my question. Given that I am a fairly
>> limited budget, when do I hit the point of diminishing
>> returns. By that I mean, when does spending extra
>> money to upgrade to another radio not pay for itself
>> in the extra performance you buy. Would spending an
>> extra $800 to upgrade to a 756PRO or FT1000MP really
>> be worth it? Given my operating style, would I be
>> getting my money's worth out of that extra money?
>> That would be pushing things a bit financially, but it
>> wouldn't make up homeless or starving, or anything
>> like.
>>
>> I am sure that others have similiar situations and
>> similar questions. So when do you hit the point where
>> the extra money isn't worth the extra performance?
>>
>> 73s John
>>
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>
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>
--
Thank you.
KVK Antenna Systems
Ph: 3216 8060 Fax: 3216 8075
http://www.kvkantennas.com.au
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