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Is There A Difference Between 100 Watt & 20 Watt Radios?

Ham Radio Tube

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Could A 20 Watt Radio Be Just As Good As A 100 Watt Radio?
What Should You Buy? Yaesu FTDX-10 Or Icom IC-7300
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20 Comments

@KH6WI 2 years ago

When I use my 705 at 10w in Hawaii, I usually get around 20-25 QSOs. When I use my 7300 at 100w, I'm getting 150-250 QSOs in the same amount of time. Power is important when working more than a single hop.

@bobkonkel6344 2 years ago

It was fun to work you for this video. There really was very little difference in the signal! POTA Bob KD9TQH

@geoff37s38 1 year ago

With the G90, set multi function knob to control RF gain. Turn off AGC and set RF gain to minimum. Now increase RF gain for best readability. Too much RF gain just increases noise and degrades readability. This will improve G90 reception enormously

@w4mps1964 2 years ago

Well done Mike. Not controversial at all. Just nicely presented with valid viewpoints.
73, Marc, W4MPS

@heidamath6794 2 years ago

I started with the G90 when I upgraded to General. I made my first contact within an hour of passing my exam....600 miles. After 9 months I upgraded to Extra and treated myself to the FT710. My first thought was "wow, I can hear now." I also doubled the number of DX contacts in less than a month. Was it because I could hear them or they could hear me? No idea, but I love the upgrade and enjoy the FT710 every day. Thanks for showing power is not as big a deal as we might think but a better receiver is worth a penny or two......

@BlessedLaymanNC 1 year ago (edited)

That was the best explanation of power differences I've heard someone give. As for the demonstration of the receivers, you had perfect timing. I don't know if you caught it, but when you turned on noise reduction, there was a qso that could not even be detected without it. (at least over the computer.)

I love your videos, keep up the good work.
72/73 N4PGW

PS If you want to prove the noise reduction, etc, give us a demonstration during field day. That's where the radios are put to the test.

@gilpi552 1 year ago

I don't own a 7300 but I can tell you that the G90 can give you a good "listening experience" starting off by using decent headphones and an outboard speaker. Managing the AGC and the gain can also benefit. Good video, keep them coming!

@jasonsnyder9394 2 years ago (edited)

From the desk of WV3V, ALL of my POTA/SOTA activations have been with 20 watts or less, period. I don't own a portable rig with 100 watts and if I did, I guess I would use it for POTA. I like the challenge and it's not for everybody. 12,15, 20 contacts during an activation is OK with me. Making 100's of contact would also be nice but that's not what I am after. I am after the joy of going portable, limited power, antennas and, working for it. Again, that's what makes it a hobby, and to each their own. It's OK to like QRP, and it's OK to like QRO. For me, it's about having fun doing it. -Jason, WV3V

@bpsengineer 1 year ago

Great video!
I agree that the extra power really shines when the noise is high or the bands are weak. It’s easy to forget that we can always dial back to low power when desired. I frequently have to stay at 100w to get out of the Seattle area on POTA, but I just did 5 activations at 12w CW in the Midwest.

@EhdrianEh 1 year ago

I want the G90 even more now. You could buy three of them for the price of one 7300 and I think it's a better SHTF radio with 20w and its physical size. And, I don't spend all day listening to far away signals beside power plant. :)

@John_Ai9D 2 years ago (edited)

A borrowed G90 without noise reduction made me decide to buy an FT-891. The inability to clean up the receive signal was a big decider in and around my home. I find on POTA in an isolated park I use zero noise reduction in most cases as the noise floor is nearly nothing. I think a G90 would be great there. The built in antenna tunner is a huge advantage.

@Brent_N4BDW 2 years ago (edited)

Mike, not that you ever make a bad video, but this one was def one of the best Monday Mailbag videos. I run a 7300 at home also, coicidentally about to send it off to repair the multi-function knob which operates the notch filter and it’s imperative to have it in working order because that filter is INVALUABLE! Great job, appreciate the hands-on you did in this. 73 buddy 🤘

@j0hnmartinez 2 years ago

This was a faint idea. Thank you so much for the detailed answers and actually showing a live demonstration!

Excellent channel!

@Philip-KA4KOE 2 years ago (edited)

1.2 S units between 20W and 100W on a perfectly calibrated S meter using the old Collins standard. But I am not aware that any such radios exist.

@Vic-KE8JWE 2 years ago

Thanks Mike for a very good vid. I hope it helps those who have had the same question. You exibited the results very well, and quite frankly I wanted to see a recived audio comparison for a long time between the G90 and any other rigs like the 7300. I own 2 7300s and a 705 (I Love them by the way) and have looked at the g90 and others for lower food chain type radios.I was just very curious and based on what I just heard, I will be sticking to my higher end stuff. Thanks again and 73, I hope to one day get to meet up with at one of the many HAM fest I attend. I have made contact via ft8 and feel honored to have you there in my log. Now to to get you via Voice some day. take care, Vic de KE8JWE.

@billt26 5 months ago

Just came across this video. I like how you explain both questions and did not stick to the “it depends”. Very good explainations and can help new techs understand better. Thanks for this one.

@3henry214 2 years ago (edited)

Awesome video!! One of your best ones to date IMHO. That 7300 to G90 comparison sure explained a lot to me and has changed my mind about QRP transmit power.

@rpcomms1 10 months ago

EFFIENT ARIELS SYSTEMS AND TERRAIN FACTORS IS WHERE HIGH POWER VS LOW POWER REALLY COMES INTO PLAY,THIS SEEMS TO BE OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN THE EQUATION.

@sandynewman5533 2 years ago

1 S unit can mean being heard or not in a pile up, or bad band conditions.

@donz7992 2 years ago

Thanks for the honest video, Mike. I am also an ICOM fanboy with 2 7300s and a 705. Permanently loaned my FT-891 to my son for portable use as I always struggled with the searching for functions during POTA activations. I loved the DNR function but hated most everything else (relative to the 7300.) If I were to buy a new rig now, as much as I want the 7610 for all the wrong reasons, I would be torn between the FT-710 and the FTdx-10 because of the receiver sensitivity as well as DNR. I also have a G90 which rarely is used now that I have the 705 for CW/QRP. Just like the features and functionality better with the ICOMs than the G90. Thanks again!