If I may jump in for a moment - I think you're very close to reality
here. But, given a reasonably efficient set of antennas, the
overwhelming factor that hasn't been mentioned is the skill and
experience of the operator. In the few contests I've run in the past
10 years (including 160M CW contests), I had no problem scoring better
than others in the nearby chapter of a major contest club even though I
was using (prepare yourself) an Icom IC-756 Pro III. Up-converting to
be sure, and lower 3rd order IMD numbers than all the K3s and Orions
that didn't do as well. On 160, I had no problems hearing and working
long strings of weak Europeans using only a modest Beverage-on-ground.
Maybe owning the Orion II at that point would have garnered an
additional half dozen contacts, maybe not.
I ended up with an Orion II because it's perhaps the most flexible and
easy to operate of the top-of-the-line rigs. The down-converting IF was
important because it allowed me to implement a top-notch panadapter
using off-the-shelf hardware and software. I looked closely at the Omni
VII at a hamfest, and rejected it because of the relatively poor display
compared to the Orion II.
Interesting that Rob Sherwood also believes that the emphasis on 3rd
order IMD ( his receiver rankings are in that order) are overblown.
Last time I checked, his favorite rig was still the Icom IC-781, an
up-converting receiver that's nowhere near the top of the listing. And,
the rig that was at the top of the listing (Yaesu FTDX-5000) has
probably the worst CW transmitter in recent history. Even the lowest
TenTec will produce a cleaner signal, QSK or non-QSK. But, many folks
will continue to buy rigs only because they're at the top of the
listing, just as many people buy their autos based on their 0-60 time.
Almost all radios today are far superior to those of the past, and
TenTecs are still among the very best - and for reasons not related to
their conversion scheme or Sherwood rankings. The human factors
considerations in the rig design are very important, and TenTec gets
those right most of the time.
73, Floyd - K8AC
Orion II
On 11/10/2011 12:20 AM, Richards wrote:
OK... OK... ENOUGH !!
Here is my challenge:
How many of you guys lost a contest because your radio had
up-conversion? How many DX stations did you really lose out on for
that reason? Did it really matter that much? What did anyone do before
this came along?
We used all up-conversion radios to set a record in the MI QSO party,
using a couple of Omni VIIs and K3s.
We were 1st in MI, 1st in 8 Area, and 7th in the US IN THE CQ WW 160
CONTEST - competing from our Midwestern location with stations on the
East coast - which means it is just a little harder to get those
multiplier stations... WITH AN OMNI VII.
But, no one complained of the radios. I am with Rick... worry about
your antennas first.
All this fuss over a little statistic. We will always have troubles
with loud stations next to quiet stations, but I doubt anyone has lost a
contest over this.
(He said... donning his flame retardant, Teflon suit... ;-)
I think this whole thing is over blown.
Just MY take...
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