On 28 Jun 2004 08:29:07 -0700, (Ringo Langly) wrote:

Hi all,

I've been studying for my Ham license over the last week, and if all
goes well I'll be licensed in a few weekends with any luck So now
the big step -- which radio to go with.

As I said, I'm a total rookie to the Ham radio world, so I have no
idea what I'm looking for. I've just started reading-up on
frequencies, so I'd like to find something that'll handle a majority
of (if not all) the frequencies I'll be licened to use. Also I'd love
a baseunit with PC software that'll allow me to control the radio via
my computer. This isn't a must, but it'd be nice to have.

Also what antenna would you guys suggest? I live in the country, so
I'm unrestricted on what kind of antenna I deploy. Also since I live
kinda far out I'd like to have a radio powerful enough and antenna
high enough to reach the larger cities around me (15-20 miles away as
the crow flies).

Pricerange is $200-$400, but I can go abit more if needed. I want to
buy something with TONS of stuff I have no clue about so I can learn


Your most efficient buy would be an Icom 706 mk11g or Yaesu 857d. You
don't say what bands you will be licensed for -- I'm assuming it'll be
vhf/uhf. These rigs will give you 6m/2m/70cm, plus the hf bands, and
every popular transmitting mode, for about $7-800, plus the cost of a
power supply. Your $2-400 will get you no more than an FM-only rig for
one or two vhf bands, and you'll still need a power supply.

With the all-mode rigs, you would be able to do ssb & cw, station to
station contacts -- pretty exciting stuff, compared to simply trying
to hit some FM repeater, which is sorta like shooting fish in a
barrel, as radio things go.

Have fun...

bob
k5qwg


My future goals are to eventually setup an IRLP repeater since I do
have broadband, plus a good friend of mine lives some 1500 miles away
and there's an IRLP repeater not far from him. Also I'd love to give
back to the local HAM group (what little of a group there is anyway).
I also ran across this guy's website -
http://www.gravitywell.org/index.htm - and I'd love to get a rig going
like his.

Thanks for any comments or suggestions, and take care --

- Ringo -