We’ve been testing them here in SoCal. Newer units won’t accept the IJV firmware (which also only references SSB receive and not transmit in it’s documentation) and the quality of the DSB has been iffy at best. Cw has been working though.
The ‘sheng isn’t true SSB but the original challenge posting did mention them as a reason to use these modes for the event, though one could argue that potentially the MT did not know they were DSB and not true SSB, as that wasn’t common knowledge then.
They’re a little deaf compared to some more modern radios but their “bullet proof” front ends and the way they gently sip current on RX makes them useful radios. If for nothing more than when you need 2x 2m multimode radios or driving transverters,
I’ve now owned all three at some time. 690 MkI which worked Europe, N.America, Asia and Africa with a 25W amp, long sold. I’ve had a 290 MkI since 1996 which has been used for SOTA chasing Gerald @g4OIG when he’s been up in GM. A recently acquired 290 MkII because the price was something I could not refuse. That’s one more 290 than I need or can justify. And also a 790 Mk1, again because the price was just too good.
My IC202 (not S sadly) is poorly-sick and needs a few hours TLC to bring back on song.
Not sure if they are too new for your tastes Dom but the Japanese eBay seller had both a Kenwood TM-255 and TM-455 multi mode 2m & 70cm radios on offer. Both for silly money compared to the UK prices. I managed to contain my desires for TM-255 (a longing since I first saw them advertised in the late 90s) and now the 255 has been sold. Good, I resisted and bad because it was a good price.
EDIT: Oh noes!!! My eBay search-fu was poor and the TM-255 is still for sale. Must resist, resist!
My experience with a Quansheng (V1) and IJV firmware is that CW is ok, but receiving my own DSB locally on an FT817 showed that there was quite a bit of residual carrier as well as the two sidebands, which together with perhaps some frequency error resulted in an audible tone over the top of the DSB audio when demodulated by the FT817 on SSB Rx. It may not be so bad with a greater path loss between Tx and Rx where the residual carrier tone would be buried in noise perhaps. The audio wasn’t super clear either.
A bit too modern for me. Seen as my FT227 has decided not to put out any power Im not buying anything till its fixed. The Mizuho was nice but as soon as the bids past £80 is what a no from me.
