The HF Radios of KK4Z

First off, I managed to work W8S this morning (Wed.) on FT8. I tried CW but they were running about 32 wpm and my best is about 25 wpm. I thought I would give an update on my radios and how I feel about them. Before I go on, my comments and reviews are not deep-dive, technical reviews. They are more of what an average operator might do. Take the radio out of the box, skim through the manual, and use the radio, occasionally referring to the manual when he or she finally gets stumped.

My top radio is still the IC-7610 (Zeus). This is my do-all base radio. I have had this radio since 2018 and it does everything I need it to do. The radio is easy to use with top marks given to ergonomics. It is the radio I use the most in the shack.

My other QTH radio is my FTDX10 (Sheldon). I have had this radio for about a year now. I have a love/hate relationship with this radio. Where the 7610 has the best ergonomics, the FTDX10 has the worst. I have large hands and it is difficult to navigate the controls without careful consideration. The radio does not have auto-notch and the notch /Contour/APF controls are in the lower right-hand corner. It’s hard to get to. The only thing I found that helps is to use the radio with my left hand. Yes, I believe the radio is left-handed. Luckily, it sits to my left in the shack. There are things I like about the radio and I find I use it for casual CW like POTA. One feature I do like is the ability to send CW while in SSB mode. Some of the nets I check into have both CW and SSB check-ins.

The rest of the radios are field radios that I use for EmComm and FunComm. First on the list is actually a pair of IC-7300s (Peter I and Peter II). I’ve had an IC-7300 since 2016. These radios are my rocks. They do everything very well. If I could only have one radio, this would be it. It is the radio I recommend for first-time HF Hams. I have two for EmComm purposes. I have a backup that uses all of the same stuff as the main radio.

I have a new to me Elecraft K3/10 #8640. This was a case of happenstance. I originally had my sights on a KX2, but this opportunity came up in a trade negotiation. Most of my field activations happen while camping or near my vehicle so this works out well. I am calling this one Carlos because it is as smooth as Carlos Santana. It is a great radio; however, it does have an addictive nature similar to buying a vintage car. Money goes in but it doesn’t come out, but you are left with a big smile on your face. I have added the internal ATU and changed the filters to my liking with emphasis on CW. I am in the process of converting the K3/10 into a K3S/10. I haven’t decided if I am going to put the 100-watt amp in it yet.

I have an IC-705 with the AH-705 (Jack). I really enjoy using this radio. I like that its ergonomics are similar to my other Icoms and the radio plays well. I have apps on my iPhone and iPad that connect to the 705 via Bluetooth for logging, CW, and FT8. This means I can bring less stuff with me. I also have the Begali Adventure paddle and the 705 mount for it. It’s a very pleasant radio to use in the field. The AH-705 is a brilliant design. It operates like Icom’s AH-4 tuner, which is a real sleeper. If I don’t bring the AH-705 with me, I can always use my Elecraft T-1.

For my occasional SOTA activations, I can bring the 705 with me but I refer my WA3RNC TR-35 (Penny for Penntek). This is a QRP CW transceiver that operates on 40, 30, 20, and 17 meters. Looking at my POTA stats, these are my most used bands. The radio is lightweight, well-built, and is a joy to use. It makes for a very lightweight SOTA kit.

I have a QRP Labs QMX on order, and last time I checked, my order sequence was in the mid-80s. Maybe I’ll get it for Christmas. This will be a fun radio for SOTA/Hiking POTA activations. I am looking forward to using it.

That’s my radio collection as it stands. Any others I had have either been sold or traded. I am pretty content with what I have. I feel all the boxes have been checked. Hopefully, in the upcoming weeks, I can get back to spending time in the field. in the meantime 73 de Scott