<div><div dir="auto">Hi Richard,</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I went through the same thing when I bought my HF rig just over a year ago, but it was the 7300 or the FT-710 because I knew I wanted two radios. I ended up getting the FT-710.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Choosing a VHF/UHF rig can be easier because there are a lot of good lower cost options out there. Before pulling the trigger, I suggest you decided on a few things?<br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">1. Mono, dual, or triband? Personally I\u2019d get at least a dual 2m/70cm. There are a number of 70cm repeaters out there. I got a triband because there are some 1.25m repeaters I wanted to be able to use and I\u2019m glad I did.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">2. Do you want to do any digital radio modes? If you haven\u2019t experienced digital radio this may be hard to answer. I use DMR, but System Fusion, D-Star, and others exist and are in use. If you have a nearby repeater with one of those you may want to use it with your base unit.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">3. Do you want a radio that can be connected to your computer? There are many reasons to do this on HF and VHF/UHF. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) sends data over the air for public service reasons. There is APRS with a number of services behind its technology. Winlink has VHF nodes. There are even multiple BBS systems on VHF. If this may be of interest consider how easily you want to be able to make this radio to computer connection.</div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">4. Do you want to be to listen or scan other non-ham bands? My local police, fire, and ambulance are still using analog, air traffic and airport transmission are interesting, and I get more GMRS traffic than I thought all from home. Some radios will allow receive of these frequencies. Also, I like to scan with my rig, some rigs are awfully slow while I have one radio that does 200 frequencies per second!</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">5. Finally, do you want to monitor two frequencies at the same time, \u201cdual VFO\u201d? I have. Couple repeaters that I use and I don\u2019t want to miss traffic on one because I was tuned to the other so I have a dual VFO rig and can listen to both at the same time. Some radios will allow \u201cdual watch\u201d which checks both frequencies but only receives one at a time but others have dual VFO where you can hear both simultaneously.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><b>Lastly, my best advice is, get a base antenna up first.</b> This doesn\u2019t have to be an expensive one, just something better than your handheld\u2019s whip. Get it up high even if that means it\u2019s inside the attic. Connect that to you handheld and it should improve performance significantly. This is a cheap way to give you more thinking time on the ultimate rig you want.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">FYI, I have an Anytone AT-D578UV III with a digirig for a computer connection. It has its limitations too, I\u2019m not sure there is a best, but I am happy with it.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Good luck,</div><div dir="auto">Dave KC1TLF</div><div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Tue, May 13, 2025 at 9:24\u202fPM Verhulst via bars <<a href="mailto:bars@w1hh.org" target="_blank">bars@w1hh.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204)"><u></u>
<div>
Richard,<br>
<br>
The choice between a 7300 and a 991A is hardly settling IMHO -
either is a good choice.<br>
<br>
<div>On 5/13/2025 7:54 PM, Richard Heckbert
via bars wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">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.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<br>
I have an AT-778UV in the car. Since retiring I don't drive much so
I didn't want an expensive mobile unit and, since it is only a 25W
unit, I have good success using a cigarette lighter \\\\\\\\\\
excuse me, a 12V socket and with a mag mount, since it's small, it's
easy to switch between cars.<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">What does
everyone use for VHF and getting on the weekly net? Do most
people have multiple rigs? Any recommendations for fairly
inexpensive can\u2019t-miss rigs?</span></p>
</blockquote>
<br>
In the shack, I have an Icom 7600 for HF and an Icom 5100 for
144/440 FM and D-STAR. I don't really care for D-STAR on the 5100 as
I find it to cumbersome to use. I'm hardly a techno-phobe having
spent a career in system software development I just don't care for
it, YMMV. I also have a Open Spot 4 Pro tuned to the 5100 second
receiver. That gives me easy access to DSTAR, Fusion and, DMR.<br>
<br>
73 Tony W1DYS<br>
<br>
</div>
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</blockquote></div></div>
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