[bars] Radio Question

[Juan Jiménez]

If you just want to do 2 meter from home I would suggest installing an
inexpensive J-pole antenna on your roof and running the coax into your
shack to connect it to your handheld with an adapter. Use one of those
mikes with a speaker. Then if that doesn't work look for a radio with more
oomph.

73,
K1CPR
Juan


On Wed, May 14, 2025 at 9:03 AM Andy Wallace via bars <bars at w1hh.org> wrote:

> Rick, and everyone - congrats on the 7300 and I hope you’ll enjoy it for a
> long time.
>
> I’d like to toot my own horn and point you to an article I did about the
> IC-7300 particularly highlighting the waterfall and filter settings. It’s
> in the April 2022 newsletter.
>
>
> https://www.w1hh.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/April2022_BARSNewsletter_Web.pdf
>
> I recommend anyone with a 7300 (or an FT-710 etc) get the full manual and
> explore all menu settings. In my opinion Icom default settings are a good
> start but improvements can be made to settings and customized to your
> liking.
>
> Good luck in the VHF/UHF rig search too.
>
> Andy
> KA1GTT
>
> On May 13, 2025, at 7:54 PM, Richard Heckbert via bars <bars at w1hh.org>
> wrote:
>
> 
>
> Hi all,
>
>
>
> Some of you may remember I posted a while ago that I was looking for a
> primary rig.  Based on recommendations and budget I had settled on either
> an ICOM-7300 or a Yaesu FT-991A.  I had heard a lot of great things about
> both but I was leaning toward the Yaesu as it could do VHF (2m) as well.
> My Explorer QRZ-1 HT with a SignalStick antenna struggles to be heard a lot
> of times on the weekly net so I wanted something that might make those
> contacts a little less frustrating.
>
>
>
> After asking around, especially on Reddit, I found most people used at
> least two rigs, one for HF and another for VHF (2m).  The logic was with a
> shack-in-the-box you could only monitor one at a time, you had a single
> point of failure and depending on model you had to deal with antenna issues
> when switching bands.  There also was some talk the Yaesu’s menus took some
> getting used to and all-in-one radios were a bit of a compromise but single
> use radios were more suited for their intended function.
>
>
>
> So, I finally decided on a slightly used ICOM-7300. It belonged to a now
> SK who bought it just before he got sick and passed so it’s in like new
> condition.  It also came with a nice power supply and an antenna tuner and
> I got it for a good price.  Hopefully it will be here fairly soon.
>
>
>
> Which leaves me with still needing the 2nd half of my shack.  Something
> that at least does 2m.  People have mentioned various radios like the
> Anytone AT-778UV as well as TYT TH-9800 (I know, back to the
> shack-in-a-box) or a Yaesu FT-150 or 300.  Something a bit more powerful
> than my 5w HT.
>
>
>
> What does everyone use for VHF and getting on the weekly net?  Do most
> people have multiple rigs?  Any recommendations for fairly inexpensive
> can’t-miss rigs?
>
>
>
> Also, any suggestions for a quick antenna until I can put something more
> permanent, more larger, more taller, more longer, more expensive, etc. up?
> Indoors or attic would be ok for now.
>
>
>
> Lastly, and this part is key!  Any good arguments I can borrow to explain
> to my wife why I still need a radio even though I just bought one?   I
> believe her exact words were “Thank goodness, now I don’t have to hear you
> talk about which radio to get anymore!”  Yeah, about that . . .
>
>
>
> Thanks as always for the great advice I’ve gotten here.
>
>
>
> Rick
>
> W1OLU
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