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!