Contesting Online Survey

Survey Question Current Survey Question

Do you plan to enter the CQ WW DX Contest?
Recent Surveys

Recently the RDXC committee reclassified P3F to high power from low power without publicly providing strong evidence that any infraction had occurred. They concluded was that the contestant was running HP on 80/40m but not full-time, just 10 minutes here and there without any convincing evidence. It appears they used the RBN as their source of information. Should the RXDC contest have to publicly provide convincing evidence before reclassifying a station from LP to HP?
2021-10-27

Randy, K5ZD, wrote a sidebar titled " Convergence and Change" in the 2015 CQWW CW printed results in CQ magazine. He wrote that the "convergence of personal computers, Internet access, DX clusters, and CW Skimmer have changed the nature of CW contesting". He goes to say that it is "more difficult to police the line between the single operator working alone and those who are using the assistance of DX spotting." In light of this convergence and change is it time to recombine SO and SOA into a single category?
2016-05-28

What's your primary Software for HF Contests ? ( no VHF/UHF ! )
2015-07-17

Are you ready the this year's winter contest season
2015-07-05

What ways have you found to be effective to attract newcomers to our hobby?
2015-04-28

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Which rig do you use to contest?
Posted: Sep 21, 2014 (208 votes, 17 comments) by K3MD

Yaesu FT-1000, 3000, 5000, etc.
Kenwood TS-590S, etc.
Icom IC-7700, etc.
Elecraft K2, K3
Ten Tec Orion I, II, etc.
W. German rig
Other
(208 votes, 17 comments)

Survey Results

Yaesu FT-1000, 3000, 5000, etc. 33% (68)

Kenwood TS-590S, etc. 12% (24)

Icom IC-7700, etc. 11% (23)

Elecraft K2, K3 23% (48)

Ten Tec Orion I, II, etc. 7% (14)

W. German rig 0% (0)

Other 15% (31)

Survey Comments

IC-9100

Currently I am primarily a VHF Contester on 50/144/432.
Posted by NT9E on September 8, 2015

Contest rig

Icom IC-735
Posted by KN0JI on July 17, 2015

IC7600

Using the IC7600, bare-foot, no PA.

It can handle quite large signals without
hesitation and the DSP capabilities are great.

Adding the v2.xx f/w and you will see also
that the view is very sweet and handy.

An FT1000/2000 fully loaded was tested here
and was of no use due to the large signals
here. This contradicts what I hear from others
though.
Posted by PA3MET on May 25, 2015

rig

icom 7000 and lomgwire qso king and 100w
even in contesting. 73 good dx k8fzy steve.
Posted by k8fzy on January 15, 2015

FTDX3000D. There is no substitute. It's an amazing radio.
I've used FT1000MK5 with an optional roofing filter for many years and it did a very good job in contests.
Posted by W3PAL on November 15, 2014

FT-5000D

Have had for 2 years. Runs circles
around other rigs I have had...TS-93S0,
TS-950SDX, FT-1000MP, K2, K3, IC-765Pro
III, IC-7800.
Especially excellent in CW and RTTY
contests, and processing allows
competitive action in SSB... very nice
audio processing by octave, each octave
individually adjustable. Built in DVK
very clear.
Hard to believe there is a rig better than
the IC-7800, but here it is!
Built-in CW keyer is FB.
Skirts on CW and RTTY difficult to
believe. DNR takes out S-5 hash from
plasma TV to S-2.
Posted by K3MD on November 11, 2014

ts-870s

this old workhorse with its if-dsp works like a charm,
interfaced to my computer,it serves me well..and
contrary to popular belief...it can be turned down to
5w for qrp contests..

k9wis
Posted by K9WIS on November 2, 2014

ts-870s

this old workhorse with its if-dsp works like a charm,
interfaced to my computer,it serves me well..and
contrary to popular belief...it can be turned down to
5w for qrp contests..

k9wis
Posted by K9WIS on November 2, 2014

Icom/Elecraft

I used a borrowed K3 the last 5 yrs I was in NV... Here in TX I am back to my old IC-746 with an ailing IC151 PA Bias chip and dead Display Lamp Control Transistor. Of all the radios I have used and owned... I want two... A K3 with all the whistles and A TS930S With All The Whistles....

Your Mileage May Vary...

73s de Tim - K7XC - EM12ur... sk
Posted by k7xc on October 29, 2014

Flex 5000A

I love to use this rig in RTTY and CW contests. I cannot work the long hours anymore, but give it a go just the same!
Posted by n5pu on October 23, 2014

FT-950

Not as fancy as some, but serves well as a poor Ham's contest rig.

KF7CG
Posted by kf7cg on October 6, 2014

IC-7600

This radio serves me extremely well during contests. In fact, I can hear many more stations than I can actually work! This rig outperforms my antenna, which is the weakest link for me.
Posted by w8asa on October 6, 2014

Orion

I have 12 Orions in my multi-multi station for a number of good reasons...they are bullet proof...you can run 2 stations on the same band and not burn up either receiver..They have very good specifications for transmitter and receiver and work well in multi-multi environment...and mostly they are reasonable in cost...lots of bang for the $$

de Rick NQ4I
Posted by nq4i on October 2, 2014

Contest radio

We have used FT-1000 MP's at OH5Z for a
number of years. With Inrad filtering they
have been good work horses. For the couple
of last years we have used a K3 which is a
superb radio. We have also tested TS-590
and I agree with Jukka, OH6LI, that it is
the best value for the money. I only hope
that Inrad would come out with better
filtering for that radio.
See you all in cq ww
73, Timo OG9X
Posted by OG9X on September 30, 2014

Elecraft K2

Best radio I've ever used in any of the Cw
contest I've been in. Great AGC. Superb
filtering. Have 2 of these one QRP and 100w.
Been running since 2004 since I built the 1st
one.
David KR4OW
Posted by KR4OW on September 26, 2014

Good Old FT1000MP

I use original FT1000MP model with better
receiver and filtering options than any
newer Yaesus have.
Newer Yaesu radios provide less for
invested Euro.
The transmitter spectrum modification was
easy to do to the old 1000MP.
Newer Yaesus have the very same
transmitter click problem ..
Unsatisfactory company and product
management.

If I would select my radio now, I would
take TS590. Best value for Euro.

590 is missing the other receiver. Easily
overcome by buying two radios. Still
matching the value per Euro criteria.

Posted by OH6LI on September 23, 2014

FT1000MP Mk V

I use 2 of these radios in my competitive SO2R station. They play nicely in crowded contesting conditions if you shut off the AGC, engage the IPO (on 160 - 20), and adjust the RF Gain based on how crazy the pileup coming your way is. I have no problem handling packet pileups with these radios. And they consistently get great transmitted audio reports despite good contest style processor punch.

Don't count these babies out yet.

N1UR
Posted by N1UR on September 22, 2014

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