Because I teach classes, I often get asked about HF starter rigs. In the past, I’ve recommended the ICOM IC-718, mainly because I know several people that have had them and I like ICOM products. The IC-718 is getting a little long in the tooth, though, and there are other options out there.
The Yaesu FT-450D is a real contender. For just a little over $700, the FT-450D has DSP features and a built-in antenna tuner. That’s quite a deal.
Another option is the Alinco DX-SR8T. You don’t hear too many of these radios on the air, but I worked a guy with one last night and asked his opinion of the radio. He e-mailed me this morning:
I’m a pretty new ham, and can’t compare this to much. I don’t think you can get a 100w new HF rig much cheaper, and it seems fine to me. It has a “narrow” filter, not sure the makeup, and an IF shift, and you can turn of the 10dB gain, and switch on a 10 or 20dB attenuator. All of those things help some, but in a DX pileup, if the pile is 1kHz up and loud, it makes it REALLY tough to hear the DX. Also, during contests, when the band is full, it is tricky to hear a weak station…. usually impossible to copy, because I can’t turn off the AGC.
But for the price, I dig it. The front comes off so you can mount it in a vehicle separate from the rig itself. There’s a guy online who is reverse engineering the interface in order to make free software to control the rig via the cable from a computer. This is needed, because it has no computer interface for digital modes. I’m working on rigging a cable for audio and PTT in order to do RTTY and some JT65 maybe. I haven’t had time yet, though.
Anyway. I would recommend the rig for the budget-wise ham looking for 100 watts (in a new rig).
The DX-SR8T costs about $530, making it really the cheapest starter rig out there.
If you’re using an Alinco DX-SR8T, or an ICOM IC-718, or a Yaesu FT-450D, I’d love to hear what you have to say about your radio. You can e-mail me directly or simply enter your comments below. Thanks!
Dave, N8SBE says
I’d start here:
http://www.arrl.org/what-rig-should-i-buy
The articles linked to (except full product reviews) are open to anyone to view. The full product reviews are available to ARRL members and are a great resource when considering a purchase. All of the rigs mentioned above have been reviewed, along with many others.
As far as the Alinco radio goes, the review was not optimistic. There were a number of frustrating limitations noted by the reviewer, including no variable power output (just 10 or 100 W switchable — 10 watts is too much for QRP, and 100 watts is too much for most digital modes), no ALC indication, which is really needed to set levels for digital modes, things like the mic gain were internal pots, instead of either being set from the menu system or a front- or rear-panel pot, and no computer control and no digital mode jacks (as noted above).
There was even a worrisome PLL heat instability problem noted in the lab tests, that Alinco responded to by suggesting that the customer place a vinyl shield over the offending chip (very difficult to get to), to keep air from the fan from blowing on it. It helped, but didn’t completely fix the problem, and Alinco only promised to start shipping radios with the piece of vinyl attached.
The receiver fared poorly in the lab tests, and there were usability issues with the menu system and the manual. The CW keying waveform and transmitter composite phase noise were poor, as well. The radio also doesn’t cover 6 meters, which is now pretty much standard on modern HF radios.
In short, I’d steer clear of the Alinco. There are much better radios to be had for just a bit more. Why spend $500-plus on a radio that will likely just make you unhappy, and you won’t be able to sell used to help generate the extra cash you’d need to buy the radio you should have saved for in the first place?
James Johnson says
I read that this radio has three power levels… 100 watts, 10 watts, and a variable low power level that ranges from 100 milliwatts to about two watts. Is this information incorrect?
James
AJ5AE
Richard Swanson says
Yes it is.
David g says
Mine dos 10 -40 -100 works great im happy with it. Check several state nets and couple national nets everyone says im strong and clear .hooking to computer this weekend i hope
w3fis, paul says
I do digital modes with a SignaLink USB through the microphone jack and audio from speaker line into AUX on the SignaLink. Have even done SSTY with it. If there is any complaint, the bandwidth on CW is a bit much. Using any of the switched capacitance audio filters cleans this problem up nicely. I do a lot of CW with mine (at 10 watt level), so this is a consideration. Really rugged and simple rig to use.
Peter Hender says
I traded my Icom 718 for a Yaesu 450d. The 718 is a nice radio and very easy to use-almost plug in and play. However, I believe the 450d receiver does a better job of you improving the in-coming signal and weeding out QRM. N2PH
Keith D Carpenter says
I have a Alinco DX-SR8T running as a mobile rig in my Silverado pickup truck. I use a LDG AL-100 running to a Chameleon V2 on a Breed love mount.
I bought it because of the large display, and easy remote mounting of the control head.
The DX-SR8T has worked well for me in this configuration. The FT-450 or ICOM 718 could have been mounted in the truck but lacked the ability to remote mount the head. I own all three radios, and like each for different uses and capabilities. Of the three the FT-450 is a better overall radio, but the Alinco does a great job.
I run a TS480 HX with a Tarheel II in my Mustang, and a ICOM 706MIIG with a Chameleon V1 on my Cavalier, and all three are quite capable. For the total price, the Alinco does what I need, and I have no regrets. Keith WD0FIA
Poon hammer says
I just ordered a Alinco dx-sr8t so I haven’t had a chance to play with it yet, I ordered it for mobile use in my truck . I currently own 2 Ft- 450d’s which I think one of best radios out their for the price with built in antenna tuner ,I love them . One I use for a base station the other one is mounted in a oversize .50 cal. Ammo can for portable use, I would get another on for my truck but it is to big and that is why I ordered the dxsr8t and optional cable and separation plate so I can mount the radio under the seat and only have to mount the face plate with in reach .
Randall Cox says
Is there a video out there that would show me how to operate the controls (in lieu of of someone familiar with the radio coming to my home and showing me how to use it).the manual is okay but only tells what everything is. I’m a Vietnam vet and a slow learner,sorry! I needed an all mode radio for my 5BTV hustler antenna.any help would be appreciated. Thanks,((Wi9cox). Randall Cox. P.s. Alinco dx-sr8 transceiver
Richard Swanson says
Hi Randall, I just bought an Alinco SR8T and know what you mean about the owners manual not being not much help in learning how the radio gets programed. I am still trying to figure out how to program it for a straight key setting. I am also a Vietnam Vet and spend about 90% of my time on CW. 73, Richard
Albert says
I just got another new DX-SR8T. I had one for years but sold it. I really missed that rig. Just a plain hf rig that works great. Sounds good and very easy to use. I might buy another one for backup.
Timothy S. Kraus says
I am Tim Kraus/KC4ZGP. I’ve had my SR8T for near two weeks. Still cannot find a fault. I’ve only used it on phone coupled to my EB-104 amplifier and D-104 microphone thus far, however. It’s such a cutie, I might buy another.
Be careful everyone.
July 11th, 2017.
Kraus
David Mchedlidze says
Hello, friends! I want to ask the radio amateurs. Sorry for my bad english.
I bought Alinco DX-SR8 from a radio amateur, who said that he had a transistor of the final cascade out of order(Q 802) RD100HHF1, which he replaced. My transceiver worked one night and again the same transistor went out of operation Q 802. I replaced it, Alinko adjusted the technology, but … I was not happy for a long time. Again the transistor went out of order Q 802. SWR of my antennas with the tuner is not worse than 1.1. Power Supply – PS-60 (ICOM) The transceiver can work one day, a week, but still this damn transistor will fail. I thought I was the smartest :) and bought a new board PA UNIT.
And what do you think? And on the new board, the same transistor went out of order Q 802.
As a result, I already have 6 faulty transistors RD100HHF1 :)
The cause (malfunction) I can not find. What can you recommend. Thank you!
4L6FU, David.
Dan KB6NU says
I don’t know much about this radio, and I Googled to see if I could find any information on this problem, but nothing came up, so I’m guessing that it’s not a widespread problem. Have you tried contacting Alinco directly about this?
David Mchedlidze says
Thank you! I do not know how to do that…
Dan KB6NU says
Go to http://www.alinco.com/parts/ and contact one of the companies there.
David Mchedlidze says
Thank you! I’ll ask …
Hugh Taylor says
I’ve been a ham for quite a while, and just got back on HF. I could not afford anything new but the Alinco DX-SR8T. I use a portable MFJ 40-2m coil with a 10 foot MFJ telescoping ant. I use a Drake MN7 ant matching unit. This radio is putting out 110 to 120 watts and I’m getting at least 100 watts out the end of the antenna. My return loss is 20. The radio works great on ssb, have not tried cw yet. Hope this helps.
Shawn says
If you go to Alinco’s site you can download the service manual. I scanned through it, and it wants the transistors to have an idle current of 400mA each–are you doing that? Have to adjust VR801 and VR803. I’m not sure if both transistors should be replaced and matched to each other.
You could check C803/5/7, and R809, might as well check R804 (heck check R822, R815 while at it).
Good luck.
shawn kb1ckt
Oh: how are you replacing the transistor? I don’t have one, but I would look at youtube videos. I’m not sure if heatsink compound is used under the transistor–but if it is, it should be a thin layer, not thick. Also take ESD precautions, as these are MOSFETS which can be damaged by static electricity.
David Mchedlidze says
Thank you, Shawn ! I adjust the transistors by Alinco technology and set the current exactly 400 mA. If the Q 802 would fail only on one card, but I bought another, a new board and the same thing happens on it – the Q 802 is out of order. Probably there is a malfunction on the main unit. Received a response from REMTronix. They offer to send a transceiver for repair or replace both boards, but it will cost more money than a new transceiver :))
The transistor, after the replacement, can work either one evening or two or three weeks, but it will still fail. I suppose already fantastic variants: whether there can be a reason a static pressure in the aerial? But, in this case, out of order would be a pin-diodes. Maybe a UFO is to blame? :)) I do not know …. I guess I’ll buy a new transceiver in Ham Radio Outlet
David, 4L6FU.
David Mchedlidze says
Hello, colleagues! Received recommendations from Alinko (Japan). They think that this is an excitement and gave recommendations for modification. Will work:)
Bill Kumpe says
I am a new ham. After much research I ordered an ICOM 718. I was looking for a well built basic radio with a low learning curve, a reasonable feature set and good reliability. The 718 fit the bill nicely. It is solidly built, rock solid in operation and very easy to get on the air. The receiver is actually quite good for the money, you just have to learn to work with it a bit. The options are there. You just have to learn to use them. I regularly get good reports on the quality of my transmitted signal. Bottom line, for a base level HF rig the 718 is hard to beat. I am very happy with mine.
Tom says
I started with an IC-718 + tuner, used, 4 years ago… still working it on my simple 80m wire loop. I’ve added on a signalink & 2008 discarded laptop running Ubuntu to work all the digital modes. Periodically I fantasize about a newer, better radio but still don’t have a real reason to change. I think that pretty much states my satisfaction of its capabilities. 73, K1RDY
MAC P POWAS says
I own two ICOM 718s and two ALINCO DX-SR8s. Love them both, but find receive on the ALINCO easier to listen to for long periods. I modified ALINCO with a pot on rear of radio to allow power out to be adjusted for driving my SB-200 and changed frequency response of mic amp IC for boost of low frequencies to improve transmit audio,
Very happy with radio!
73, Mac KB7QKS
ron says
how did you modify the audio ckts to improve low response? tnx ron ne0x [email protected]
VE3CFF says
Im having a problem with this radio on 10 meters. When I key up on ssb its making a strange sound, its like a screeching sound. Does anyone what the problem is?
Stefan E Baartman says
Does anyone know what the option pads do? I know A and B open up the 10 and 11 meter bands, but can find absolutely no information anywhere on what C, D, E, F, G, H and I do.
Ray D'ough says
Obviously limited information on this, but if you haven’t yet viewed this page it may be useful.
https://www.worldwidedx.com/threads/alinco-dx-sr8t-band-plans.167853/
Bernie says
I had an Icom IC-718, and now an Alinco DX-SR8T, and I like them both.
With the Icom IC-718 though, if you like to work either FM repeaters or FM simplex,
you can’t do so, since 10-Meter FM isn’t available even as an option, but the Alinco
DX-SR8T does have 10-Meter FM.
I didn’t really care for, or I wasn’t really impressed, with the DSP with the Icom IC-718,
which I had added myself as an option, even though it was advertised as already
installed, but that’s probably why I got mine about 70 dollars cheaper on sale, as
mine probably was an older IC-718 that didn’t originally come with DSP installed.
However, I did like the Notch Filter, with the Icom IC-718’s DSP, as if someone was
tuning up on a nearby frequency, the notch filter took the “tone” out.
With the Alinco DX-SR8T I programmed the M/F button to change power the level
instead of having to use the Function and the H/L/S or 0 button to change the
power level.
The only thing that I wish Alinco would’ve done would be to put the secondary label,
of what a button does, above a button instead of underneath the button, because
when I reach to press a button for the secondary function of a button, the word that
shows what the button does is blocked by my finger, but if the word was above the
button instead of below the button, then the word for the secondary function would
still be viewable when reaching to press the button.
I know, some comments are months, and years old, but maybe this will still do some
good for those thinking about getting one of these two transceivers, or an entry
level HF transceiver.
73 and CUL,
Bernie
KA9WDX