[bars] New Ham/new Radio recommendations

[Richard Heckbert]

Happy Holidays everyone,

I recently got into ham radio after retiring.  I purchased a QRZ-1 Explorer handheld soon after getting my license and have been using it to check in to the Wednesday night net.  I replaced the stubby antenna with a hamstuff one and seem to be getting out much better but occasionally I still hear “I think I heard you say . . . “   My thought has always been to get a decent base unit eventually although to be honest I’m not sure if ham radio is for me (but I want to try!)  My wife asked for my Christmas list this year and I mentioned several radios that had been recommended on the hamradio and amateur radio subreddits on Reddit.  Unfortunately, if you follow those subreddits, you’ll know that for each recommendation asked you’ll get a hundred different suggestions that soon devolve into a Yaesu vs ICOM vs Kenwood battle.  My wife was even more overwhelmed than I so rather than purchase one she put aside a budget of $1,000-$1,200 and asked me to purchase it myself.

So, I’m not sure what I really want to do specifically, at this point I’d just love to be heard a little better Wednesday nights!   I think I’d like a rig that gives me the most options – a shack in a box as they say.  I would also need an antenna and associated wiring although I’m not nearly as spry as I once was and I’m not putting anything in a tree any more.  Maybe an attic antenna?  I see ARRL has a new Indoor Antenna book out, has anyone looked at it yet?

I’d ask on Reddit but I don’t want 100+ different opinions from 100+ fellow Redditors so I figured you all (the local Elmers!) would be a much better place to ask.  I did get my Amateur Extra ticket recently so no band restrictions.  The rigs I’ve heard mentioned are (in no particular order)


Yaesu FTdx-10 (might be too much of a stretch)

Yaesu FT-991A (did see a nice used one on one of the forums for $875 shipped)

ICOM-7300



But I am definitely open to others.  I’ve looked at used rigs but besides less features, there seem to be no bargains in that area!  I’ve thought about asking to borrow the club loaner rig but I don’t want to set something up only to have to take it down in a bit – it wouldn’t be fair to other new users/members to keep it too long (in my opinion).



In addition to choosing a rig, I need to choose where to order if from.  I primarily research and purchase online.  A few places I’ve heard about are Gigaparts, DXEngineering, HRO in Salem, NH, any other good places to buy? I did look on eBay but right now, it seems lower power Japanese versions are the vast majority of offers.  I also worry about warranty purchasing on eBay.



Just to throw this out, I have a background in electronics courtesy of the USN and I taught electronics at a trade school for a number of years as well as retired from a career in IT so I have this crazy idea that pops up occasionally to build my own gear?  Is this even done any more? I feel I might be biting off way more than I can chew with that approach.



This might be a dumb question but are the included microphones decent enough?  In my way younger CB radio days the mic was the first thing you upgraded

So, thanks for taking the time to read through this and many, many thanks to those who take the time to answer (and many thanks to everyone in BARS who also made me feel welcome)

73s,

Rick Heckbert
W1OLU


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