TRANSCEIVER PERFORMANCE OVERVIEW

 

C A U T I O N

 

The ARRL has changed its methodology of testing several times in the last 10 years.

Be careful when comparing transceivers with each other, using the ARRL "Specs".

Often the transceivers being compared were tested differently

and the results cannot be directly compared with each other.

 

Read MORE on this:  ARRL CHANGES

 

INTRODUCTION

 

We all know that you can work the world on 5 watts & a dipole -

  • when everybody else is watching the Super Bowl, the World Cup, or the Olympics on TV!   ;-)

If you want to be competitive though, you have to have a good antenna, and if you are going to work on a weekend, especially the weekend of a major contest, you need a very good radio.



NOBODY WANTS A BAD RADIO;                               

Everybody wants a good radio.

  • Some new radios cost just over $600, 
  • while most radios cost over $2000, 
  • some cost more than $10,000.

 

WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY?

  • Does spending more money assure you get more performance?
  • Are new radios better than old radios?
  • Features? Frills? Bells and Whistles?
  • What about ergonomics?
  • How much radio is "good enough" ?

 

GOOD ENOUGH?  (good enough for what?)

  • for daily QSOs?
  • for contesting?   (the most demanding)
  • for DXing?
  • for mobiling?

 

CONTESTING?  

  • SSB contesting?
  • CW contesting?
  • is there a difference?   (YES; a BIG difference!)

 

OLD vs. NEW?

  • I will discuss this one on a separate, dedicated page.
  • Rob Sherwood also talks a lot on this subject in his 4 presentations.


SOME REALITIES OF THE REAL WORLD:

  • Not everybody is or even wants to be a serious DXer or Contester.
  • Even rag chewers may want the very best radio they can possibly get.
  • Typically, you have to spend a lot more money to get just a little more performance.
  • Most people are not going to spend over $5000 on their transceiver, for whatever reasons they may have.
  • Many hams have spent lots of money on new transceivers which disappointed them.  :-(


  • There is NO PERFECT RADIO - not at any price.