[bars] New Ham/new Radio recommendations

Tue Dec 31 14:33:24 CST 2024

I really enjoyed my first rig: iCom 7100...... Worth a look.

Eric  Johnson KC1OAV

On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 3:55 PM Jim Idelson <jim at k1ir.com> wrote:

> Following up on Richie's comments, you should go down a path of exploring
> areas that interest you. Have you been able to get some first-hand exposure
> to any of the many different potential activities you could try?
>
> As I'm writing this note, I literally just remembered that I have a radio
> for sale that could be an option for you. It's a Yaesu FT-847. It is truly
> the shack-in-a-box that you are thinking about. It can be
> computer-controlled and it can operate from 160m to 70cm (except 60m). You
> will need a separate computer interface to do the digital modes, but that's
> not hard. It also works as a satellite ground station, if that is of any
> interest. If you have a budget of $1000-1200, the price of this radio would
> leave you some hundreds to spend on other accessories that you will
> definitely need - power supply, antenna(s) and feedline(s).
>
> Contact me directly if interested, Rick.
>
> 73 Jim K1IR
>
>
> On Fri, Dec 27, 2024 at 2:12 AM Richard T <radiohamateur at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Well Rick, congrats and welcome to the Fraternal order of Ham Radio. You
>> pretty much have most of the research needed. But answer a few questions.
>> 1. What bands interest you? If just 2 Meter ragchewing, a Vhf/Uhf rig may
>> be all you need. Yaesu has  many rigs  that will serve you well. They have
>> basic to full boat rigs available. If you like HF band work, Yarsu again
>> has a wide choice of rigs, starting with their FT 710 AESS SDR rig or the
>> FTdx10. The Icom 7300 is the Volkswagen of radios, good but now a bit
>> dated. The Yaesu rigs offer more bang for ham buck IMHO. As for antennas,
>> Diamond or Comet are good choices for Vhf/Uhf. For HF look at  Palomar
>> Engineers for their wire units, especially their Off Center Fed or their
>> Non Resonant End Fed models. If still unsure, trek up to HRO in Salem NH
>> and play with the display models there and ask a salesman your questions.
>> You may just be happy with a 2 Meter handheld. I own two (!) Baofeng UV 5RM
>> HTs bought on Amazon. The complete pair cost $70. This is two radios,
>> batteries, chargers and three different antennas plus earphone/mic and
>> programming cable. Hope this gives you some ideas and welcome to BARS.
>> RichieT
>> W1RJT
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 27, 2024, 12:36 AM 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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-- 
Eric L. Johnson
ericlee.johnson at gmail.com <johnson at gmail.com>
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