"My friend CJ, K4XTC, recently bought a new SG-2020ADSP² but said he was not having any luck with it. So last weekend I met him on City Island, across the bay from Sarasota, FL., where we live to work portable together. We set up both of our identical 2020s and swapped back and forth between CJ's buddy pole. Well, needless to say, both radios worked very well. CJ was a little bewildered at the button combos needed to make the 2020 work, but he caught on quickly.

We managed to work a bunch of stations during the SSB contest that was going on and several on the 17 meter HFPack frequency. I put up a half wave end fed wire that was only 8 feet off the ground at the far end and connected it to my little MFJ 971 tuner. It worked as well, and probably a bit better than the buddipole at about the same height. CJ had with him an 817, 857, 897, 703 and numerous portable antennas. he buys everything that comes out it seems....But I think he was a bit fascinated by the 2020. At least he said he will definitely keep it for now. My radio stable is a bit sparser. I own the new 2020, a Kenwood 570sg, Hw-9 Heathkit and an MFJ 9040.

But the 2020ADSP² has become my favorite radio, both in the shack and for portable use. I just got a new Par Electronics End Fedz qrp antenna, the 20/40 combo yesterday and I will get it set up and tuned. i think it will make a fine portable antenna  for 20 and 40 meters, which seems to be where I spend most of my portable time unless 17 is open. It also won't require a tuner for the two bands it is designed for. I have been impressed by the buddipole my friend has, but the complete set costs about 300 bucks, and for a fraction of that, I can use an end fed half wave FULL SIZED antenna that has to be more efficient.

Needless to say, the little 2020 really fulfills its mission as an outstanding radio for portable use. It also has gotten to be the radio I seem to listen to more in the shack than any other,  but I will be the first to admit, the 100 watts of the TS-570s can sure come in handy when the bands are poor. But most of the time, the little 2020 is the radio I have on in the shack. I like to tune into an ongoing QSO while sitting at my operating desk and just listen while I read or fiddle with something, and the dsp on the 2020 cuts thru the summertime static I have better than the Kenwood. So 75% of the time, I have the SG-2020 turned on.

Lately, I have been enjoying backyard-portable with the 2020 and a wire thrown up in a pine tree next to the house and a 7 amp hour gel cel. I am only sitting a few feet away from my shack and the permanent antennas, but it is fun just to sit outback with the 2020 and a wire in the tree. I guess it is the best of both worlds. My wife just stares and shakes her head...after being married almost 35 years to a ham, I guess nothing surprises her...."