New Ham
- Thread starter Tim
- Start date
k3roj
Star Member
Hi Tim, congratulations on passing the Technician test. If you are planning on getting your general class soon, you may consider an HF transceiver that includes VHF and UHF bands. If you possibly remain a technician, you would enjoy a VHF/UHF transceiver which has higher power such as the Icom 910H and other radios if you will be operating from your shack station. Of course a Handi-Talkie would be good if you have enough repeaters close by and you like the portability. Operating mobile is very nice if you travel to and from work or on the road often. Then of course it all boils down as to how much money you want to spend. There seems to be a lot of amateur radio gear out there for sale nowadays with the economy not doing so well. Good luck and 73's, AL
Ham4CW
Administrator
Hiya Tim
To answer your question you need to stop and have a good think about what you want to do with your station.
There is such a variety of equipment out there these days it's hard to decide which is best, but once you work out what bands and modes you are likely to use choosing a radio becomes much easier!
The 'easy' way out is to use something like an Yaesu FT-897D or perhaps a Kenwood TS-2000, since sets such as those have all bands and all modes in one 'box'.
However, you may prefer say HF only, or maybe you like the look and feel of the older valved (tubes) equipment.
Maybe too you fancy trying your hand at Morse Code or possibly data modes.
Once you know what you want your station to do, then you can decide upon a rig. There is nothing worse that buying a big fancy set only to find that you only use one tenth of its capabilities.
Also you need to consider what antennas you can errect at your QTH. Very often these days Hams are unable to set up large HF antennas, so you may be limited to VHF/UHF bands, or perhaps stealth antennas.
Maybe you might want to use the rig at home and in a car or RV etc.
There really is LOTS to consider BEFORE you make that first purchase.
Mark.
To answer your question you need to stop and have a good think about what you want to do with your station.
There is such a variety of equipment out there these days it's hard to decide which is best, but once you work out what bands and modes you are likely to use choosing a radio becomes much easier!
The 'easy' way out is to use something like an Yaesu FT-897D or perhaps a Kenwood TS-2000, since sets such as those have all bands and all modes in one 'box'.
However, you may prefer say HF only, or maybe you like the look and feel of the older valved (tubes) equipment.
Maybe too you fancy trying your hand at Morse Code or possibly data modes.
Once you know what you want your station to do, then you can decide upon a rig. There is nothing worse that buying a big fancy set only to find that you only use one tenth of its capabilities.
Also you need to consider what antennas you can errect at your QTH. Very often these days Hams are unable to set up large HF antennas, so you may be limited to VHF/UHF bands, or perhaps stealth antennas.
Maybe you might want to use the rig at home and in a car or RV etc.
There really is LOTS to consider BEFORE you make that first purchase.
Mark.
WV9E
New Member
Tim:
Congrads on your license and I hope you will keep studying. There are alot of good used radios out there, I am sure you have checked on QTH.
I started with a Radio Shack HTX-202 and a cheap discone antenna in the shack. I used it for APRS, DXcluster and ISS packet. As for used gear;
My first big radio was a Yaesu FT-847 which you can find used for about a grand, they aren't made anymore. The Yaesu FT-897's can be found for
around 6-8oo bucks sometimes less. Icom 706's or Kenwood 726's or 736's. There are just a boat load of good gear to get on the Tech bands
with. As was mentioned by Mark and Al prior, it mostly depends on what you want to do. There are 2 meter HT's for less than 100 bucks out there, and new ones just a tad more. Ours can be an expensive hobby, but what worth while activity isn't anymore?
Have fun and maybe we'll chat on air someday.
73
Dave, WV9E
Congrads on your license and I hope you will keep studying. There are alot of good used radios out there, I am sure you have checked on QTH.
I started with a Radio Shack HTX-202 and a cheap discone antenna in the shack. I used it for APRS, DXcluster and ISS packet. As for used gear;
My first big radio was a Yaesu FT-847 which you can find used for about a grand, they aren't made anymore. The Yaesu FT-897's can be found for
around 6-8oo bucks sometimes less. Icom 706's or Kenwood 726's or 736's. There are just a boat load of good gear to get on the Tech bands
with. As was mentioned by Mark and Al prior, it mostly depends on what you want to do. There are 2 meter HT's for less than 100 bucks out there, and new ones just a tad more. Ours can be an expensive hobby, but what worth while activity isn't anymore?
Have fun and maybe we'll chat on air someday.
73
Dave, WV9E