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Message |
    
Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 369
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 - 9:50 am: | 
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I think the people that sell these radio's are going to raise the price so high that they will be selling less radio's. If you have your ham ticket you can get a brand new ham radio with more option's and more bang for the buck for less. For example look at the price of the 2995dx and compare. Depending on where you shop you can get an Icom 718 for the same price or less than this radio. I know I can get it less. So people if you want to save money make your ham ticket and Save. GO HAM. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 2300
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2014 - 9:06 pm: |
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Comparing the 2995DX to an Icom 718 isn't fair at all.
The 718 is Icom's entry level amateur (ham) HF radio, while the 2995DX is Ranger's top of the line 10-12m base radio.
Sure, the 718 has a general coverage receiver and can transmit on all the HF bands, however, it also lacks some features that the "export radio" crowd might want.
Also, the 718 is finicky about how you set it up for AM operation. Since you have direct control over the carrier power (not so much the envelope power), it is possible to make the 718 sound really horrible on AM unless you set everything exactly perfect. Meanwhile, the 2995DX is a solid AM performer without needing to learn the difference between carrier and PEP power levels and balancing said levels.
You also overlooked that the Icom 718 does NOT come with a power supply, you have to provide that unless using it as a mobile (too big to be a mobile). The 2995DX comes ready to operate either as a base station plugged in to the wall outlet OR as a mobile on 12 VDC.
Not many people would care, but some do- The 2995DX comes with rack ears and is rack mountable in a standard 19" rack. The 718 is a desktop only deal. A Novex rack mount kit for an Icom 718 (when you can get them) will cost you close to $200 extra.
Completely different radios, not a good comparison.
Your radio 'Mythbuster' since 1998
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Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 372
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 22, 2014 - 6:45 am: |
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There is one thing different though and I do not disagree with you on anything you said for it is true. One thing more to say though is that the Icom 718 is fcc aproved and the export radio's are not. Now some will do the 11 meter mod on the 718 and from what I understand that is illegal to do a do as well. What I was also trying to point out is that if you make your ham ticket you have more frequencies and the same power for about the same price and with a little looking for less. Most of all with the ham ticket you can be legal instead of free banding. |
N8fgb
Intermediate Member
Username: N8fgb
Post Number: 112
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 - 4:59 pm: |
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There is no comparison between the 2. Look at the specs and features. The Icom is an HF radio and the RCI is a cb radio.
Rich |
Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 373
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2014 - 6:09 pm: |
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The rci is a 10 and 12 meter radio that can be mod to 11 meter. It is not Fcc approved. Sure there is some pro and con between the two and it an entry level radio but the feature's are more than the rci and you have the option of adding more that will help on filter's and antenna tuning and digital speech processor. I could go on but make a list and the pro will out weigh the con. For a little bit more money you can have even better. I just wanted to point out that the people that is selling these radio's are going to price these radio's so high that getting your ham ticket and a ham radio will be less costly because ham radio's have dropped a lot on their price while these radio's are going through the roof. |
Milkman21218
Advanced Member
Username: Milkman21218
Post Number: 605
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 2:22 am: |
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I must have missed the dropping ham radio prices. My Yaesu FT-857D cost me $625 new. Now I see them about $800+. Icom 718 $549 new. Now about $650. My Galaxy DX 2517 was $399 in 1999. Now they are $425. Which I feel is not much of an increase in 15 years. If you can buy them for less than I paid please tell me where so that I can get in on the good deals too!
Izzy
CEF#502
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Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 374
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 1:35 am: |
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Once before I had mention the competition by name and the post never seen the light of day. I can even tell you where you can get the 2995dx 50 to 64 dollar's cheaper and less shipping. I doubt if this post will make it either but we will have to see. Look how much the price of the 2995dx has went up in the past several month's. Not year's but month's. At one time the 718 hit about 710 but now I can get it for 625 with free shipping. Hey I really like the rci. That is all I have for now except for my handheld ham radio. Look real close at the feature's of the ham radio's and then look and see if the rci have them or even offer them. The cost of the 2995dx and the 2970n2 is getting to high in my opinion. Milkman you have some very nice radio's. You should already know about the difference's between the ham radio's and the rci. Even if you pay a little more for a ham radio you get a lot more for the your money. I have a friend that is a ham operator and he to had mention to me about the price's coming down. |
Revpo
Advanced Member
Username: Revpo
Post Number: 718
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 8:30 am: |
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It seems every thing is going up anymore. I got my FT857D at $450 but that was 6 years ago, it was a demonstrator, which I took a chance on, it still works great.
CB Radios still coming out with new designs etc. Still a market although on the activity on the road has diminished. When I travel to LOUISVILLE, KY around 27 miles on the interstate I hear if lucky 2 or 3 truckers and that's it. 10 years ago it was jammed.
When the band is open<skip> it is wall to wall on all channels.
It is cheaper to get a ham ticket more frequencies that 11 meters. In another year or stretching it to two years it will be like 10 meters nearly dead the sun spots are gone, I wonder what activity will be heard or worked then.
CEF 795
73
REVPO/DOCTOR/CEF 795
Wavin a hand from the cornfields of INDIANA
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Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 2303
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, September 28, 2014 - 12:08 pm: |
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You don't need type accepted equipment on the HF ham bands, so it doesn't matter. You DO need type accepted equipment for part 95 (CB), and neither of these radios is type accepted for part 95, so that point is moot.
If you're going to compare an Icom 718 to a Ranger 2995DX.... We might as well compare an Icom 718 to a Kenwood TS-590. For about the same money, you get a WAY better radio that does a lot more with the TS-590. But, you really can't compare these, even though they are around the same price point, because the TS-590 is more of a "serious" ham HF radio while the Icom 718 is more entry level with a simplified user control layout and fewer user-controlled features.
The point is, the Ranger 2995DX and the Icom 718 are not a fair comparison because they are purpose built for different purposes. If you compare the Icom 718 to a similar purpose built radio, it is just so-so.
Your radio 'Mythbuster' since 1998
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Charliebrown
Intermediate Member
Username: Charliebrown
Post Number: 375
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, September 29, 2014 - 10:22 pm: |
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Here is it is. I tried to let you guy's know where is cheaper but they will not post it here. Thanks to everyone for their response on the subject. It is always good to here from everyone. ALL I can say is shop around. |
