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6600 or 8400

Bill Hinkle
Bill Hinkle Member ✭
in Community Topics
I took a direct lighting hit. Lost everything in the shack and one antenna. Hopefully insurance will cover replacement costs.

I run 100% remotely and I could control everything in the shack.

I see that a pre-loved 6600 cost more than a 8400. I know the 6600 is an older radio by far.

So, which do I choose and why?

73, Bill KV3R

Best Answer

  • Neil D Friedman N3DF
    Neil D Friedman N3DF Member ✭✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    Another advantage of the 6600: it allows you to monitor four band slices simultaneously, instead of just two. For example, if you have a triband yagi and a 40 meter dipole, you can monitor all four bands simultaneously on their native antennas with the 6600.

Answers

  • KD0RC
    KD0RC Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    Hi Bill, the 6600 is a two SCU radio, the 8400 has only one SCU. With two SCUs, you can listen on two antennas at the same time (on the same or different bands). If you are a contester, this allows for SO2R or 2BSIQ operation (waay to complicated for me...).

    The dual SCUs also allow you to do diversity reception: Two receivers on the same frequency, but different antennas. This helps mitigate fading and some types of QRM.

    The 6600 also has 7 pole bandpass filters where the 8400 has 3 pole filters (50 ish dB out of band rejection vs 30 ish dB). If you have multiple transmitters in close proximity, this can be a deciding factor.

    So how you operate should be the major factor in your decision.

  • Neil D Friedman N3DF
    Neil D Friedman N3DF Member ✭✭✭✭

    Also, the 6600 has two receive-only ports (instead of one), two transverter ports (instead of one), and a balanced mic input.

  • Neil D Friedman N3DF
    Neil D Friedman N3DF Member ✭✭✭✭
  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    There may come a time where the 8000 radios support new features in SmartSDR that, because of hardware limitations, the 6000 radios cannot support. Currently, only the 8000 radios support adaptive Pre-Destortion. ( and the new Aurora radios) Also, the new radios don't depend on SD cards for storage. If frequency stability is important to you, and you don't want to spend the money for a GPSDO, the 8000 radios and the Aurora radios have a built-in GNSS receiver which is very good. Finally, the new radios have faster and newer hardware. That should translate into a better supply of replacement parts should the need arise. The 6600 radios are very good. And if you like the current features they support and the price is right, it would be a decent investment. But, if you are looking for future enhancements, then the 8000 and the Aurora radios are a better choice. It really boils down to your current and possible, future, needs.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Bill Hinkle
    Bill Hinkle Member ✭
    Thank all of you for your help.
    I had a direct lighting strike the end of June. Still haven't got it resolved with the insurance company.
    I lost one antenna and everything in the shack including 3 HF Radio's. The only thing still working is the power supply.
    I ran the station remotely. Radio, Amp, Tuner, Rotor and antenna switching. If insurance covers the three radios that will just about cover the cost of a 6600. I would like to get an 8600 but I just can not swing the extra money.

    73, and again thank you.

    Bill KV3R

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