There are many radios to look at.
The Icom 706 mk IIG is a great small 100 watt HF rig that will also do
VHF and UHF. The Icom is driven via menus and takes time to get use to.
I have a Yaesu FT-847, a small base radio that can be used in the car
and does 160 - 10 plus 2 meters and 440. It's larger than the Icom.
There are other small radios also. I'd would stay away from QRP radios.
They work well but you need a lot of patience. They only run about 5
watts or so and many people get annoyed using them because they just
don't have enough power for every day use.
73 and good luck.


wrote:
I have a general class ham license but have been out of
it a LONG time

I want to get back into some form of free ham radio
comms that would allow me to stay in touch with people
while living in an RV

So.... I want something small and compact. And Im not
sure what "mode" of communications I want. I may want
some form of digital comms like packet or pactor....
not sure

Any advice on all this? What to get equip wise? What
modes to get into?