First radio question

[kmc127]

Hi All-

This relates to my other question, but I felt like it needed its own post. I am thinking about getting a handheld as my first radio to get the most use out of it (scan while I am in the office, able to use in the car, and use at home.) I was thinking I could hook it to an external antenna in the car and home as well as an amplifier. When I am in the office just ease-drop on anything I can get using the stock system. Would this actually work as well as I am hoping? Or should I just go with a different kind of radio. My budget total is about 500$ but can add in the future.

Thanks!

Kyle

[kc2plj]

Hello Kyle, A good question! A lot of folks getting into amateur radio ask the same question. What do I buy? You already stated that your budget is $500 and that is enough to get a nice start. Most people are debating over a hand held unit or "HT" or a mobile version with more power. In both cases the antenna is the factor that will play into the performance of the radio and your effectiveness at getting out to distant repeaters as well as simplex stations. I started out with a mobile mono band unit for 2 meters. It served me well for the few years that I have had it. HT's are nice also but you will be limited by the antenna (usually an ineffective rubber whip). However you can take it anywhere and that makes it nice. The other thing you can do is look into getting both! With a budget of around 500 dollars that can get you used versions that will set you back far less than new....just be careful and ask for pictures of the unit(s) you are interested in.

Research the area you live and travel in. Whats the terrain like? What repeaters are in the area and what band(s) are they on?

Either way make sure you do your homework first! Good Luck. Mike KC2PLJ

[kmc127]

Thanks for the reply Mike. I am worried about buying used, when I say my budget is 500 that is set by my wife... so if I get something that does not work with my 500 she will say I have to wait until the budget open up again (read: after she gets hardwood floors heeh)

I am in Chicago so it is mostly flat here. I really really want to be able to talk to my friend in CO that is getting into hams as well. We are going to try try try to talk on our sets until we hear each other, but we don't know what we will talk about. lol! I am debating on the Yaesu VX-8DR and FT-817 right now... unless someone else wants to throw in their two cents.

[M6PAP]

Go with the FT-817 low power output but had mine since March this year with very good results, and new for the money!!
I was like you had the money at the time so got the radio that done everything, that way your not thinking I wish I had HF as well as 2 meters!!

And small and flat so you can cover it with an A4 sheet of paper while on your desk!!

[kc2plj]

I have a FT-817ND model. It's a nice rig in a small package. One must be aware however that this radio is only capable of 5 watts on all bands. Not a problem if you are patient and don't mind a bit of a challenge when using it on HF. Knowing CW also helps (I am slow....about 5-7 wpm but I manage). The FT-817 also gives you the opportunity to use SSB on 2/432 and is a nice feature! I made many 6 meter contacts last summer via sporadic E propagation with only 5 watts and even lower at time!!!! The handheld is not to bad an idea but again, you are limited by the power out and the stock "duck" antenna that comes the HT. The FT-817 gives you a chance to "grow" so If I had a choice looking back, the FT-817 would have been my first. Good Luck though either way, you should be fine with whatever decision you make. Keep us posted! It's nice to hear how people are making out with new gear. Take Care. Mike KC2PLJ

[K7KBN]

Kyle - if you're going to be trying to talk to your friend in Colorado from Chicago, I definitely would not recommend the VX-8. That's a VHF/UHF HT for which you'd need an extremely good antenna system plus a power amplifier and a fair amount of luck to establish reliable two-way comms. The 817 operates HF, and this is the spectrum you'll need. However, as a technician you'll only have access to a portion of 10M SSB, unless you and your friend have learned Morse code well enough to try it out. You'd have access to small portions of 80M, 40M and 15M, plus 10M.

Antennas for HF are going to be larger than their VHF/UHF counterparts (frequency and wavelength are inversely proportional) so that's a consideration also.

It's just one decision after another, but that's ham radio! Enjoy.

73
Pat K7KBN