Comparing various multimode/multiband rigs for satellite usage

Data collected from manufacturers brochures and ARRL's Product review. I would very much appreciate feedback helping me to improve this information.

A compiled list of various vendors are supplied here.

The following rigs are discussed:

Rig QST Product review Manufacturers Web site

Kenwood TS-790 April 1991, p 39 http://www.kenwoodcorp.com/i/products/hamindx.html

Icom IC-821 March 1997, p70 http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/satellite/

Yaesu FT-760 May 1990, p30 http://www.yaesu.com/ft736.html

Measurement results from QST

Property Detail Unit TS-790E IC-821H FT-736R

Mode CW/FM/LSB/USB y/n y y y

TX/RX coverage 2m MHz 144-148 144-148 144-148

70cm MHz 430-450 430-450 430-450

23cm MHz 1240-1300 NA 1240-1300

Sensitivity (500 Hz filter) 144 MHz dBm -143 -144 -140,5

432 MHz dBm -142 -143 -141,5

1296 MHz dBm -142 NA -

Sensitivity FM, 12 dB SINAD 144 MHz uV 0,12 0,12 0,15

432 MHz uV 0,12 0,14 0,15

1296 MHz uV - NA -

Squelch sensitivity Min 144 MHz uV 0,2 - 0,06

432 MHz uV 0,35 - 0,1

1296 MHz uV - NA -

Squelch sensitivity Max 144 MHz uV 0,04 - 0,6

432 MHz uV 0,1 - 0,7

1296 MHz uV - NA -

Dynamic range, Blocking 144 MHz dB 126 - 125,5

432 MHz dB 111 - 74,5

1296 MHz dB - NA -

Dynamic range, 2tone, 3order int.mod dist 144 MHz dB 79 84 77,5

432 MHz dB 81 87 64,5

1296 MHz dB - NA -

Dynamic range, 3order inp intercept 144 MHz dBm -24,5 -8,2 -24

432 MHz dBm -20,5 -13,5 -44

1296 MHz dBm - NA -

FM adjacent channel rejection 144 MHz dB - 67 -

432 MHz dB - 75 -

1296 MHz dB - NA -

FM 2tone 3order IMD dynamic range 144 MHz dB - 67 -

432 MHz dB - 73 -

1296 MHz dB - NA -

RIT range CW/SSB kHz 1,9+/- - -

FM kHz 9,9+/- - -

S-meter sensitivity (uV for S9 reading) 144 MHz uV 4,5 5 4,4

432 MHz uV 7,5 4 5,2

1296 MHz uV - NA -

SSB squelch sensitivity 144 MHz uV 0,05-0,5 0,07 -

432 MHz uV 0,3-1,1 0,4 -

1296 MHz uV 1 NA -

Transmitter output min CW 144 MHz W 4,4 5 -

432 MHz W 4 4 -

1296 MHz W 1,1 NA -

Transmitter output max CW 144 MHz W 50 46 23,7

432 MHz W 44 42 22

1296 MHz W 11 NA 9,1

Transmitter output min FM 144 MHz W 4,2 5 -

432 MHz W 4 4 -

1296 MHz W 1,1 NA -

Transmitter output max FM 144 MHz W 48 46 26,9

432 MHz W 44 42 25

1296 MHz W 11 NA 10,3

Transmitter output min SSB 144 MHz W 3,2 4 -

432 MHz W 3,2 4 -

1296 MHz W 1,1 NA -

Transmitter output max SSB 144 MHz W 37 36 26,1

432 MHz W 35 32 22

1296 MHz W 11 NA 9,6

Spurious signal and harmonic suppression 144 MHz dBc -60 -60 -60

432 MHz dBc -60 -60 -60

1296 MHz dBc -50 NA -

Third-order intermodulation distortion prod. 144 MHz dB -30 -31 -22

432 MHz dB -32 - -

1296 MHz dB -25 NA -30

Fifth-order intermodulation distortion prod. 144 MHz dB -40 -45 -30

432 MHz dB -43 - -

1296 MHz dB -40 NA -42

TX/RX turnaround (PTT release->90%audio) S1 ms 19 7 (for 9K6) 46

S9 ms 16 42 46

Power requirements, 13,8V RX A 2,2 2,5 1,5

TX A 13 16 8

Audio out into 8 Ohm load at 10% THD Power W 1,8 2,8 2

IF/audio response at 6dB points CW-N Hz - 515-1061 -

CW-W Hz - 317-2736 -

USB Hz - 161-2546 -

LSB Hz - 424-2864 -

IF/audio bandwidth CW-N Hz - 546 -

CW-W Hz - 2419 -

USB Hz - 2385 -

LSB Hz - 2430 -

Size Width mm 343 241 368

Height mm 135 94 129

Depth mm 368 239 286

Weight kg 9,2 5 9

Supplementary data from manufacturers brochures

PROPERTY DETAIL UNIT TS-790E IC-821H FT-736R

Digital 9k6 compatible y/n/mod mod y mod

PC interface y/n y y y

Memory channels 68 160 100

DTMF TX y/n ? y y

DTMF RX y/n ? ? ?

PA control line y/n y y y

Preamp control line y/n y y y

Radio Crossband duplex y/n y y y

First manufactured 1991 1996 1990

VFO's 2+2+2 ? 2

Tuning steps SSB/CW Hz 20-100 0,1 - 100 ?

Tuning steps FM kHz 5-10-12.5-20-25 1 - 10 - 50 - 100 ?

Complimentary accessories Mic y/n ? y y

Power cord y/n ? y ?

Pros & Cons

+
-

TS-790 A Direct frequency entry 100 Hz resolution display

Automatic lock tuning on 23 cm No RF gain on RX

HF-like operation Sub-optimal on FM

Good CW & SSB RX Change operating frequency when changing mode

CW VOX locked on

IC-821H Good 9k6 Baud packet performance No 23 cm

Switchable RF attenator Missing automatic frequency tracking

IF shift control for main band RX

FT 736R Included AC supply Complicated user interface

Quiet receiver RX offset not kept in memory

Poor blocking dynamic range

Change operating frequency when changing mode

Rig	QST Product review	Manufacturers Web site
Kenwood TS-790	April 1991, p 39	http://www.kenwoodcorp.com/i/products/hamindx.html
Icom IC-821	March 1997, p70	http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/satellite/
Yaesu FT-760	May 1990, p30	http://www.yaesu.com/ft736.html

Property	Detail	Unit	TS-790E	IC-821H	FT-736R
Mode	CW/FM/LSB/USB	y/n	y	y	y
TX/RX coverage	2m	MHz	144-148	144-148	144-148
	70cm	MHz	430-450	430-450	430-450
	23cm	MHz	1240-1300	NA	1240-1300
Sensitivity (500 Hz filter)	144 MHz	dBm	-143	-144	-140,5
	432 MHz	dBm	-142	-143	-141,5
	1296 MHz	dBm	-142	NA	-
Sensitivity FM, 12 dB SINAD	144 MHz	uV	0,12	0,12	0,15
	432 MHz	uV	0,12	0,14	0,15
	1296 MHz	uV	-	NA	-
Squelch sensitivity Min	144 MHz	uV	0,2	-	0,06
	432 MHz	uV	0,35	-	0,1
	1296 MHz	uV	-	NA	-
Squelch sensitivity Max	144 MHz	uV	0,04	-	0,6
	432 MHz	uV	0,1	-	0,7
	1296 MHz	uV	-	NA	-
Dynamic range, Blocking	144 MHz	dB	126	-	125,5
	432 MHz	dB	111	-	74,5
	1296 MHz	dB	-	NA	-
Dynamic range, 2tone, 3order int.mod dist	144 MHz	dB	79	84	77,5
	432 MHz	dB	81	87	64,5
	1296 MHz	dB	-	NA	-
Dynamic range, 3order inp intercept	144 MHz	dBm	-24,5	-8,2	-24
	432 MHz	dBm	-20,5	-13,5	-44
	1296 MHz	dBm	-	NA	-
FM adjacent channel rejection	144 MHz	dB	-	67	-
	432 MHz	dB	-	75	-
	1296 MHz	dB	-	NA	-
FM 2tone 3order IMD dynamic range	144 MHz	dB	-	67	-
	432 MHz	dB	-	73	-
	1296 MHz	dB	-	NA	-
RIT range	CW/SSB	kHz	1,9+/-	-	-
	FM	kHz	9,9+/-	-	-
S-meter sensitivity (uV for S9 reading)	144 MHz	uV	4,5	5	4,4
	432 MHz	uV	7,5	4	5,2
	1296 MHz	uV	-	NA	-
SSB squelch sensitivity	144 MHz	uV	0,05-0,5	0,07	-
	432 MHz	uV	0,3-1,1	0,4	-
	1296 MHz	uV	1	NA	-
Transmitter output min CW	144 MHz	W	4,4	5	-
	432 MHz	W	4	4	-
	1296 MHz	W	1,1	NA	-
Transmitter output max CW	144 MHz	W	50	46	23,7
	432 MHz	W	44	42	22
	1296 MHz	W	11	NA	9,1
Transmitter output min FM	144 MHz	W	4,2	5	-
	432 MHz	W	4	4	-
	1296 MHz	W	1,1	NA	-
Transmitter output max FM	144 MHz	W	48	46	26,9
	432 MHz	W	44	42	25
	1296 MHz	W	11	NA	10,3
Transmitter output min SSB	144 MHz	W	3,2	4	-
	432 MHz	W	3,2	4	-
	1296 MHz	W	1,1	NA	-
Transmitter output max SSB	144 MHz	W	37	36	26,1
	432 MHz	W	35	32	22
	1296 MHz	W	11	NA	9,6
Spurious signal and harmonic suppression	144 MHz	dBc	-60	-60	-60
	432 MHz	dBc	-60	-60	-60
	1296 MHz	dBc	-50	NA	-
Third-order intermodulation distortion prod.	144 MHz	dB	-30	-31	-22
	432 MHz	dB	-32	-	-
	1296 MHz	dB	-25	NA	-30
Fifth-order intermodulation distortion prod.	144 MHz	dB	-40	-45	-30
	432 MHz	dB	-43	-	-
	1296 MHz	dB	-40	NA	-42
TX/RX turnaround (PTT release->90%audio)	S1	ms	19	7 (for 9K6)	46
	S9	ms	16	42	46
Power requirements, 13,8V	RX	A	2,2	2,5	1,5
	TX	A	13	16	8
Audio out into 8 Ohm load at 10% THD	Power	W	1,8	2,8	2
IF/audio response at 6dB points	CW-N	Hz	-	515-1061	-
	CW-W	Hz	-	317-2736	-
	USB	Hz	-	161-2546	-
	LSB	Hz	-	424-2864	-
IF/audio bandwidth	CW-N	Hz	-	546	-
	CW-W	Hz	-	2419	-
	USB	Hz	-	2385	-
	LSB	Hz	-	2430	-
Size	Width	mm	343	241	368
	Height	mm	135	94	129
	Depth	mm	368	239	286
	Weight	kg	9,2	5	9

	+	-
TS-790 A	Direct frequency entry	100 Hz resolution display
	Automatic lock tuning on 23 cm	No RF gain on RX
	HF-like operation	Sub-optimal on FM
	Good CW & SSB RX	Change operating frequency when changing mode
		CW VOX locked on

IC-821H	Good 9k6 Baud packet performance	No 23 cm
	Switchable RF attenator	Missing automatic frequency tracking
	IF shift control for main band RX
FT 736R	Included AC supply	Complicated user interface
	Quiet receiver	RX offset not kept in memory
		Poor blocking dynamic range
		Change operating frequency when changing mode

Comparing various multimode/multiband rigs for satellite usage

Measurement results from QST

Supplementary data from manufacturers brochures

Pros & Cons

+

-

Further reading