<div dir="ltr">Jason - <div><br></div><div>The most common answer in ham radio is "it depends" :) ... If you can tell us a bit more about how you hope to use the radio, and what experiences you do/don't already have, or which parts of the hobby / operation you're inclined to explore, then the advice can be more specific and well tuned. If you're buying current-generation radio, there are very few "duds" out there at this point, unless a used set is broken or has been abused/neglected. That said, there's no one radio that's perfect for every ham or every use, and there are also styles and preferences that don't show up on a technical spec sheet.</div><div><br></div><div>I personally lean toward the "different radios for different uses" advice, but sometimes that's not practical (budget, space, etc). My advice is to focus on the uses that you know you'll have for the radio now, or a limited set that you want to explore soon. There's always the possibility that you'll go in another direction later - it's a wide hobby. </div><div><br></div><div>73,</div><div>Adam / AA1N</div><div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 12:08\u202fAM Jwahar Bammi via bars <<a href="mailto:bars@w1hh.org">bars@w1hh.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg7672461957645534249"><div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div class="m_7672461957645534249WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Hi Richard,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">I don\u2019t disagree with most of your points, but will point out buying a HF only Rig + VHF/UHF FM mobile or handheld rig like you did with the Anytone, it still leaves you with a gap with the inability to do CW, SSB, Digital and limited Satellite, for the VHF/UHF bands and the inability to optimize your base station setup for VHF/UHF bands. Yes, having a separate quality all mode VHF/UHF radio (like a 9700 or a 736) will be great but it will more than double the cost.<br><br>The mobile VHF/UHF FM mobiles/handhelds are quite inferior to what you would find in the 991, even the 857 because they are made for compromised mag type installations or hand held rubber ducks. You can look all this up on any of the published specs or better try them for yourself.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Don\u2019t have any idea or opinion on the new FTX-1 m/optima, but those are in the 2K range by the time you walk out of HRO<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">73 de ws1m<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt">Bammi<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div><div style="border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(225,225,225);padding:3pt 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> bars <<a href="mailto:bars-bounces@w1hh.org" target="_blank">bars-bounces@w1hh.org</a>> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Richard Heckbert via bars<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 5, 2025 11:16 PM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:bars@w1hh.org" target="_blank">bars@w1hh.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> [bars] FW: Icon 7100<u></u><u></u></span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Sorry,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I apparently replied directly to Jason versus the list.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Rick \u2013 W1OLU<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div style="border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(181,196,223);padding:3pt 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">From: </span></b><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Richard Heckbert <</span><a href="mailto:richard.heckbert@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">richard.heckbert@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">><br><b>Date: </b>Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 5:31\u202fPM<br><b>To: </b>Jason Sanroma <</span><a href="mailto:jason@sanroma.net" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">jason@sanroma.net</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">><br><b>Subject: </b>Re: [bars] Icon 7100<u></u><u></u></span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Hi Jason,</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I just went through trying to find my first rig. After a lot of searching I settled on either an ICOM-7300 or a Yaesu FT-991. I had only heard great things about the both of them but I was leaning towards the Yaesu due to it being a shack-in-the-box but then I read a few other things that made me change my mind. I was having issues being heard on the Wednesday night BARS net using my Explorer QRZ-1 so I wanted to make sure I had 2m covered. However, a LOT of people said I was better off with two rigs versus the single rig. One reason was single point of failure vs. multiple points. Another reason was I could only monitor/use one band at a time. I also heard the Yaesu menus took some getting used to but discounted that figuring I didn\u2019t know any menu system so none would be \u201cweird\u201d to me.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I ended up getting an ICOM-7300. I found it on eBay. It was being sold by a silent-key\u2019s daughter-in-law. The radio came with all attachments, was in fantastic shape and also came with a practically new ALINCO power supply and an LDG-100 autotuner. I verified it was a US Spec (has an FCC ID label) as there are a ton of Japanese spec rigs on eBay. They have limited power as well as smaller bands (i.e. the BARS PART repeater would be out of band on them). I got it for a good price and the money saved between a new one I purchased an AnyTone AT-778UV which is a 25-watt very small 2m and 70cm mobile radio. I was able to purchase the ICOM with PS and Autotuner, the Anytone and a magmount antenna for less than the cost of a new ICOM (currently $999 after rebate). I\u2019m pretty happy with my choices although explaining to my wife why I needed another radio after the ICOM was interesting.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">I also heard great things about the ICOM\u2019s waterfall display being among the best.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">What are you trying to do with the radio? The Yaesu is more of a base rig and the ICOM-7100 is more of a mobile rig. Figure out if you\u2019re more into base operations or mobile and that might help your decision.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Also, a lot of people are raving about the new Yaesu FTX-1 (Field or Optima configuration). Both the FT-991 and the ICOM-7300 are a few years old and getting a bit long in the tooth so much ado about a new rig.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Let me know how you make out/which rig you choose. If you look at the BARS email archives I asked a couple of times (last month) for advice and received quite a lot of good info here.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Rick - W1OLU</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><div style="border-right:none;border-bottom:none;border-left:none;border-top:1pt solid rgb(181,196,223);padding:3pt 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">From: </span></b><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">bars <</span><a href="mailto:bars-bounces@w1hh.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">bars-bounces@w1hh.org</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">> on behalf of Jason Sanroma via bars <</span><a href="mailto:bars@w1hh.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">bars@w1hh.org</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">><br><b>Reply-To: </b>Jason Sanroma <</span><a href="mailto:jason@sanroma.net" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">jason@sanroma.net</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">><br><b>Date: </b>Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 9:50\u202fPM<br><b>To: </b>"</span><a href="mailto:bars@w1hh.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">bars@w1hh.org</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">" <</span><a href="mailto:bars@w1hh.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">bars@w1hh.org</span></a><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:black">><br><b>Subject: </b>[bars] Icon 7100</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal">Hello,<u></u><u></u></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">If anyone is, or knows of someone who is selling an Icom 7100 or Yaesu 991A, please reach out. I am in the market for a new radio and would like to find something cheaper than brand new.<u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Alternatively if anyone recommends a different radio, or has positive comments about either please let me know!<u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">73<u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Jason K1NAD<u></u><u></u></p></div></div></div></div>_______________________________________________<br>
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</div></blockquote></div><div><br clear="all"></div><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature">"Be well, do good work, and keep in touch." -Garrison Keillor</div>