Selecting an HF Transceiver

Dec 16, 2015

Joel R. Hallas, W1ZRContributing 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/VFONational HRO-60 Receiver, Hallicrafters TO Keyer

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

Features of KWM-2Transmit 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-450DTransmit 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-450DTransmit 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 limitedMost have less tuning range than external units – same $Not as useful if you use a linear amplifier.

What About Interference and Noise Reduction

Interference80s – 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

Noise80s – 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 rangeAt some level, a signal on another frequencywill 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 rangeTwo signals, both outside the passband you wantcombine to create a signal inside your passband.

Reciprocal mixing dynamic rangeOff-frequency LO noise mixes off-frequency signals into receiver passband.

What’s it Take to be a Top Receiver

Sensitivity – Typically -130 to -140 dBmSelectivity – The more choices the betterDynamic 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 range20 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 range2 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

What Is in the Entry-level Category?

All 100 W HF Radios

Model Street Price DSP 60 Meters V/UHF Ant TunerAlinco DX-SR8T $500 No Yes No NoAlinco DX-SR9T $790 No † Yes No NoIcom IC-718* $655 AF No No NoIcom IC-7100** $994 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm NoIcom IC-7200* $890 IF Yes 6 Meters NoKenwood TS-480SAT $900 AF Yes 6 Meters YesYaesu FT-450D* $650 IF Yes 6 Meters YesYaesu FT-857D*** $750 AF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm NoYaesu 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” CategorySimilar to entry level, price overlap, compact, more

featuresRemote front panel mounting (except *)

Downside – tiny controls, menus

Model Price Power 60 M VHF UHF Ant TunerAlinco DX-SR8T $500 100 W No 6 M No NoAlinco DX-SR9T $790 100 W No 6 M No NoICOM IC-7100** $994 100 W yes yes yes noICOM IC-7200* $1070 100 W yes 6 M yes noKenwood TS-480SAT $930 100 W yes 6 M no yesKenwood TS-480HX $1050 200 W yes 6 M no noYaesu FT-857D*** $750 100 W yes yes yes noYaesu 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 menusMore control flexibility – more choices,

more filters (or slots), more AGC settingslarger displays showing more information

Some have better receiver performanceSome have internal antenna tunersMany add 6 meter coverage – some 2 meters or higher.

At the upper end:Usually some kind of dual-receive capabilitySome provide 200 W output

“Middle Class” Category

Model Street DSP 60 V/UHF Ant IMD DRPrice Meters Tuner (2 kHz)

Elecraft K3S/100F* $2900 IF Yes 6 Meters $370 103 dBIcom IC-7300 TBD SDR Yes 6 Meters Yes TBDIcom IC-7410 $1650 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes 88 dBKenwood TS-2000** $1600 IF No 6, 2 m; 70 cm Yes 57 dBKenwood TS-2000X** $1900 IF No 6, 2 m; 70, 23 cm Yes 57 dBKenwood TS-590SG $1760 IF Yes 6 Meters Yes 93/106 dBTEN-TEC Eagle $1499 IF Yes 6 Meters $249 98 dBYaesu FT-991 $1760 IF Yes 6, 2 m; 70 cm Yes 82 dBYaesu 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 menusEven more control flexibility – more choices,

more bandwidth choices, more AGC settingslarger displays showing more informationgood spectrum display

Serious dual-receive capability with stereo output

“Upper Middle Class” CategoryAll are 100 W transceivers. All have IF DSP and 60 meter coverage.

Model Street 2nd V/UHF Ant IMD DRPrice Rcvr Tuner (2 kHz)

Elecraft K3S/100F $3580* Yes 6 Meters $370 103 dBFlexRadio FLEX-6300 $2499** Yes 6 Meters $299 92Icom IC-7600 $3370 DW*** 6 Meters Yes 88 dBIcom IC-9100 $3930 No 6, 2, 70 cm† Yes 87 dBYaesu 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” CategoryModel Price 60 M Power V/UHF Tuner IMD(2k)Elecraft K3/100F* $5169* Yes 100 W 6 Meters Yes 103 dBFlexRadio FLEX-6500** $4299 Yes 100 W 6 Meters $299 TBDFlexRadio FLEX-6700** $7499 Yes 100 W 6 Meters $299 102Hilberling PT-8000A $18,000 Yes 200 W† 6, 4, 2 m Yes 100 dBIcom IC-7700 (single rcvr) $6900 No 200 W 6 Meters Yes 87 dBIcom IC-7851 $12,999 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes TBDKenwood TS-990S $8000 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes 101 dBYaesu FTDX5000MP $5900 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes 103 dBYaesu FTDX9000D $8800 Yes 200 W 6 Meters Yes 87 dBYaesu 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.