[bars] New Ham/new Radio recommendations

[Juan Jiménez]

The Yaesu FT-991A will do everything you could ever want to do in HF &
VHF/UHF in a compact package you can easily go mobile with of you want to,
or operate as your base.

If you want to do digital modes it has a built in USB interface and sound
card. With two outputs you can hook up a J-Pole antenna and an HF antenna
separately. The built in antenna tuner means you don't need to spend extra
money for that.

You really can't go wrong with it. I absolutely love mine.

73,
K1CPR
Joan

On Fri, Dec 27, 2024, 00:35 Richard Heckbert <richard.heckbert at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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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>
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