Radio Question

[donnie]

ID like to get some opinions from the members here as to what would a good radio be for a newbie to ham?
Havent taken the test yet but Im planning ahead.
I was thinking about a Yaesu VX 7R.
Any thoughts??
Thanks.

[whodo]

Have you spent any time at all on the different bands? Which one or ones did you find yourself most interested in?
These two questions will help you eliminate a lot of radio's right off.

Personally I do not like multi-band VHF-UHF equipment. I prefer to have dedicated radio's to a given band. There has been more than one field day where I was operating 2,3,4 different bands at the same time, awful hard to do with a single multi-band radio. (Remember, field day is all about contacts. If you can make multiple contacts at once, all the better.)
Like any thing else that you buy new, depreciation on initial purchase is terrible, I prefer to buy used from some one that always has to have the latest and greatest. By doing this most times I get the unit that I want around a year old or less and at a tremendous discount.

One more item to consider, radio's just like any thing else that is new to the market will have bugs, problems, etc. and by buying used you already have heard all the good points and bad points of a given unit.

One last thing to consider, if a multi-band radio dies, you are dead in the water, if you have multiple radios, you only lose a single band.

Good luck testing, and with what ever radio you purchase.

[donnie]

Whodo,
The main one Im interested in is 2 Meter for the repeater capability.
Maybe 220 and possibly 6 Meter.
Are there repeaters for any other bands?
Still in the learning stage of that aspect of it.

[whodo]

Whodo,
The main one Im interested in is 2 Meter for the repeater capability.
Maybe 220 and possibly 6 Meter.
Are there repeaters for any other bands?
Still in the learning stage of that aspect of it.

6 meters has some FM repeater activity depending upon area, not really wide spread. 6 meters has a tremendous following of DXers that never use it until the sun spot cycle opens the band up and then it comes to life with SSB use, other wise you can listen to it for weeks on end with out ever hearing a thing.

I quit using 2 meters 15-20 years ago, it got to sounding like 11 meters, so I can't say much about 2 meters. (Every once in a great while I will turn it on to 146.55 or 146.58 to talk to some one local but that's it.)

1-1/4 meter band (the 220 band) has localized repeaters, not a lot of activity, actually it makes for a great experimentation band. There are a couple of other hams that I work 2304 MHz and up with, we use 220 as a direct link, almost like a phone line.

3/4 meter band (the 450 band) has lots of repeaters and in some areas is more active and more used than 2 meters.

1296 MHz today with the commercial equip. that is available has a lot of localized activity and a few repeaters.

2304 MHz has been gaining in popularity due to commercial equip availability. During the 1970's those of us that were operating these freq's were lucky to get at 1/2 watt out to a stacked array and make contact more than a mile or two away.

Personally I would suggest that you buy a used 2 meter radio and see if you happen to like the two meter band, you might also consider buying a used 450 rig and check it out as well.

Until you decide for your self what bands that you personally like to use and what bands the people that you like to talk to are using, I wouldn't buy a NEW radio, I wouldn't even buy a multi-band radio until then.

[donnie]

Thanks for the assits Who,
I was thinking about getting something used anyway.:confused:
Like was previously mentioned, why buy new if Im not going to like it.
Besides, this way the "bugs" are worked out of it:D

From the practice tests I'v done from a couple of sites, I do pass.
Iv found a couple of places that are testing near me next month so Ill give it a try.
Ill keep y all posted.

[kd8wdave]

ID like to get some opinions from the members here as to what would a good radio be for a newbie to ham?
Havent taken the test yet but Im planning ahead.
I was thinking about a Yaesu VX 7R.
Any thoughts??
Thanks.

That is a good 2m radio, but there are probably others to consider. I think the first thing you might want to do is 'pass' the test and then spend time talking to local hams in your area. There are thousands of 2m repeaters around the country and most are 'open'(anyone can use them who has a license). I respectfully disagree with the idea that a 'dual' band is not advisable. I do prefer them over a single band radio. You have to decide WHAT you want do in the hobby and I'm not going to write a book here about that. Join the ARRL national group, it will be worth it.

Good luck

[donnie]

Found a site that has members giving their impressions of different radios and I think Iv narrowed it down to a dual band handheld.
The biggest desision is exactly which dual band manufacturer I would like to go with.
Im looking into a local ham group and will be talking to them about which would be the best for a rookie.
I do appreciate all the replies.
They do help.

This is one Im thnking about
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/0690.html#feature

This is the other one.
http://www.universal-radio.com/CATALOG/ht/0066.html

[whodo]

First you have to remember that Ham Radio's just like RV's, everyone has a varying opinion of what is the best. Every one's preferred usage will be different.

In the area where you live there is an abundance of repeaters from 10 m all the way to 1296. Now when you get away from your home area there in SoCal you will find that the majority of repeaters will be on 2 & 440 bands, also the majority of repeater activity will also be found on those two bands.

As I have mentioned before I am not a fan of multi-band radio's, this is not to say that there is any thing wrong with them, I just prefer dedicated radio's for a single band.

Kenwood has a good reputation and builds great radio's, BUT I have had nothing but terrible luck with them (Kenwood is the Black Cloud over my head). Would I recommend for some one to buy one, yes.
I have had excellent luck with Icom & Yaesu. Personally I would recommend either one over a Kenwood, now remember I have had great luck with them vs the Kenwood, that doesn't mean that Kenwood is not as good or even better.

Considering the fact that you will be using what ever you buy in the MH traveling, in my opinion you would be better off to go with 2 & 440, you will find some one or a repeater in most parts of the country on one or the other of those two bands. Now as far as all the other bands are concerned, it can be hit and miss depending upon where you are.

You can join the QRZ forum with out your license, ask questions and let everyone know that you are working at getting it and looking for info on what radio(s) everyone would recommend. There very well could be some one in your local area that will offer to have you come over and let you get some hands on experience with different radio's.
http://forums.qrz.com/index.php?main=1

Asking other Hams there opinion is a great idea, but remember the opinions you get will be based upon personal preference for area that they live in, not necessarily what would be best for traveling.

Now between the two Radio's Icom IC-T90A & Kenwood TH-F6A, both are good units, but personally I would recommend the Kenwood TH-F6A for some one that is just starting out. I would recommend checking out a few of the other radio's (brands & models) that are available before you buy either one of the two that you have listed.

[kroving]

ID like to get some opinions from the members here as to what would a good radio be for a newbie to ham?
Havent taken the test yet but Im planning ahead.
I was thinking about a Yaesu VX 7R.
Any thoughts??
Thanks.
Hi
First let me say that many of whodo's points are very good. I have learned a lot from him. BUT,,, as a fulltimer, I understand the space problem. For that reason, I like multi band and function equipment. I have, and love, a Yeasue FT8900 VHF UHF double. It can monitor two freq.s at once and transmit on either one.
There are several radios that can operate multi-mode on all ham bands from 80mtrs to 450megs.
Good luck and hope to hear you sometime:)
Dave

[donnie]

After doing some further checking, I think Im going with the Kenwood for the main reason its 5 watts on all bands which is what I would like.
None of the others I found had this.
If I deciede to forgo the triband and go dual, Yeasu F 60R would be the choice.
Checking a repeater map, I found most of the repeaters are more in the 2 meter/440 range.