After only 3 days of use, I've decided that selling my IC-746 and replacing
it with a 2000 was one of the better moves I've made of late. Can you tell
I'm happy with my choice? :) I replaced my Icom IC-746 with this radio and
still have a Yaesu FT-847 w/INRAD filters.

While I have the capability to run all sorts of technical tests on the
radio, I've only ever found that useful as a starting point. Things like
MDS in DBm, etc... only go so far in telling the real world truth about a
radio. Hands-on is what matters in the long run, not to mention personal
tastes. I'll start here..

"FEEL"

I've always owned Kenwood rigs and found them to be the best (to me at
least) in ergonomics and just plain 'feel'. The 2000 is no exception. Nice
feeling buttons, nice feeling tuning and so on. I've never gotten quite the
same overall tactile feedback from Yaseu or Icoms.

HF versus VHF

My main interest in such a radio is really VHF/UHF weak signal work,
including 2 meter EME work. I don't really care about the satellite
functions, but they're there if I ever get interest in that area. But the
receiver on 6 and 2 is outstanding, noise floor wise. On 2 meter EME, I'd
put it up against the best transverter/hf rig combo I've ever used. I live
out in the boonies, so I can't speak to any intermod problems. In my case,
who cares? :) HF wise and for my limited use there, it seems entirely fine.

DSP

This is one of the best built-in DSP systems I've run across so far. For
years, I used a TimeWave DSP-59+ and found it hard to find a radio's DSP
that worked as well. The 2000 certainly comes close, especially in regards
to noise reduction. But the proof is in the pudding as they say - the 2000
will pull a super weak signal out of the mud (as in 2 meter EME) every bit
as well as the TimeWave. Anyone want a good deal on a DSP-59+?

I particularly like the ease of use of the 2000's DSP system. Unlike the
847 - where you have to access a menu item in order to adjust bandwidth and
center freq - the 2000 with its front panel controls are a breeze. I love it!

Features

While I haven't had a chance to get to everything yet, some features really
stand out as outstanding to me:

1) Being able to set it up to switch to CQ if you're in SSB and hit the
key. This is absolutely fantastic for weak signal VHF work, where it's
common to tune around in SSB looking for signals.

2) Being able to choose whether to display CW offset while maintaining the
same received frequency, or not displaying the offset and changing the
received freq. when switching between SSB and CW.

3) Fairly intuitive panel layout, along with being able to set up a quick
menu.

All and all, I absolutely love this radio. And unlike the Icom, its not
sensitive to RFI!

Ken, ah6le