Rice Box Suggestions

[N1ESE]

I'm shopping for a new used rice box but want to get one that receives well on AM as well.  I'm currently leaning towards a Kenwood TS-850S and then applying KW0AM's RX IF and AM TX mods to it.  I have about $700 to spend and the TS-850's are currently just under this figure judging by posts on eGay and QTH.com
 
Are there any other rigs I should be looking at?  I need something with a stable VFO for so looking at late '80s or  early '90s gear and newer.

Thanks
 
- JT

[n2bc]

JT, do some research on the '850.  I owned one for quite a while, for it's time a very good RX. But there were a couple of problems, especially with earlier 850s.  There were problems with the backup battery leaking and eating up the circuit traces below it. Also a problem with a specific IC that was eventually updated, the 850 had 4 or 5 of this IC in it and they would invariably crap out.

The first time mine failed with the IC problem it wasn't recognized as a widespread problem, so I spent a couple hundred bucks to have them put in another one which would soon go bad. The second time it died - they knew of the problem and I had all of the chips replaced with the updated version.  Then the rig went to eBay!

I'm sorry I do not recall the specifics but I'm sure a google  search will give you more information, specifically the serial number break-point for the IC fix.

Hope this helps.

73, Bill  N2BC

[K3ZS]

Why buy used when you can get new transceivers for the $700.   An  Icom 718 runs around $500 with audio DSP, add CW filter and stabilized oscillator, you will have the $700.   Although you do need a power supply that some older rigs have built in.    Forget the CW filter and you still have $700 including a good linear supply.  Many of the new rigs have acceptable AM both receiving and transmitting.

[N4JOY]

I recently purchased a IC-718 for SSB use.  Let me just say that I am very pleased with the quality of my audio on AM.  I simply set the rig for about 25 watts carrier and adjust the mic gain to approximately 1/4 to 1/3.  It looks near perfect on my scope.  In fact, the 718 sounds far better than most of my stock AM transmitters.  I love my boat anchors, but I have to give credit to the 718... not bad for $500.

[N1ESE]

Thanks guys, I just bought a 1 month old, still in the box, IC-718 for $475 from a local ham.  Going to go pick it up Monday morning.

[K3ZS]

JT-
Congrats on the IC-718 purchase.   As K4JOY sez, set it at 25% output power, with the compressor on, turn the mod level  down to a level where the power output doesn't drop down on modulation peaks.    Get a good low efficiency HIFI speaker connected to the ext. speaker jack and you will have a remarkable AM rig, as well as a great SW receiver.

[N4JOY]

K3ZS makes a very good suggestion about the speaker.  The internal speaker for the 718 is horrible.  This is the only negative thing I will say about the 718.  A quality external speaker is a must.  Also, the 718 has very sensitive SWR protection circuitry (begins to fold back at a SWR of > 1.5:1).

[N1ESE]

Any recommendations for a speaker that will not break the bank?

Thanks

- JT

[K3ZS]

JT-  I am using an old Radio Shack Realistic Minimus bookshelf speaker.   Radio Shack has one now that is sort of equivalent called Presidian 2 way bookshelf speaker. It is about $15.   

[wb2fof]

It's probably best to use a high end quality speaker like something manufactured by JBL or Klipsch. Look for used and save a few bucks.
 
The cheap crap, because of simple poorly designed residual magnetism, can cause strong magnetic fields, creating a Bio-Hazard which could cause brain damage to humans or worse yet destroy any close by electronics, such as a computers or radio equipment.

That's why most of the tall ship AM'ers have large big A$$ speakers standing on opposite corners of the hamshack.

Bob

[kf6pqt]

If I understand correctly, the 718 is pretty much the same as the IC-706 series?

I was screwing around last week with my ic-706 mk II G on 7243 kc... set it pretty much as described, and received many compliments on the audio from a station in Tucson AZ.

He was also impressed he could hear me running a measly 20 watts!

This qrp business is kinda cool sometimes.

73,
Jason kf6pqt

[Ed WA4NJY]

   I have heard the 718's on the air,  not bad.  A bit more upscale, especially in receiver selectivity would
 be the Kenwood TS-570 series.  Seems the DSP would help on tightening the filter skirts(in audio).
 Anyone using one on a regular basis?
                                                      Ed WA4NJY
                                                      Bradenton, Fl

[N3DRB The Derb]

I thought it was a law that all Icoms had to sound like crap on am? I must be living in the past.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I thought it was a law that all Icoms had to sound like crap on am? I must be living in the past.

Yep, you are. The early Icoms (in the 80's and early 90's) had a very poor showing in the AM mode. When DSP technology started to infiltrate their designs, all their modes improved in quality. All Icom, off the shelf rigs today, require little or no modifications for AM operation. Most Icom rigs today also have a back panel direct connection to the modulator to bypass the front end audio mike tailoring, compressor, etc. And you don't have to buy or install any additional filters. On AM receive, my Icom 756 PRO II can be opened up to 9 KHz and even has a detector output to drive an external audio tube amplifier.