Shortwave radio help?

[Rastus]

I had a Frog 7 for years. I only traded it away when I updated my license to Extra and got a Yeasu DX 3000. The Frog was an excellent radio and have a big following.

I have the FTDX 3000 and I "likes" it a lot.  One day I'll force myself into the Extra test....

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So what would be the next HR rig?  If it's ICOM I'm a little confused as to what's available.  I'm not going top end multi-multi-thousand.  Basic rig.  7300 seems to be the mid-line desk top rig.  718 the lower cost option.  But what about the 7100 with separate front panel?  Is there a Yeasu or Kenwood champion out there that can convince me to change brands? 

Yaesu FTDX-10 is supposed to be really hot and goes for $1,500 on sale which is roughly comparable to the ICOM IC-7300MK2.  I don't seen anything economically priced on the Kenwood front in that range.  For a Kenwood you jump up to $2k with the Kenwood TS-590SG. 

I think of the ICOM 7100 as a mobile unit (at $1,200) and is like the Yaesu FT-991A.  For $100 bucks more you get a much better display on the FT-991A plus an internal antenna tuner which helps out quite a bit for me.  Both do UHF/VHF.  I love the FT-991A which is a good performance upgrade from the FT-857d (which is hiding in a box somewhere around here).  Comparing the FT991A to the FTDX 3000 on HF, the 3000 is a noticeably better unit but it is discontinued.  However, if you want one to do it all I would go with the FT-991A.

I'm going to say that if I was primarily interested in HF and otherwise had VHF/UHF covered I would go with the FTDX-10 which is supposed to eclipse the discontinued FTDX 3000 which Jim and I have. 

Just my 2 soon to be extinct cents.