What equip to buy?
 

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?

Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away. With either rig you have all mode 160 thru 70CM operation.
They are not too large and do 100W 160 thru 6M--50 W on 2m and 20 W on 70CM.
If you want QRP then the FT-817 is the rig you want, ALL MODE 5W 160 thru 70
CM.

wrote in message
...
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?

Try eham reviews for user opinions -- and they are just that --opinions
http://www.eham.net/reviews/


--
Caveat Lector (Reader Beware)
Help The New Hams
Someone Helped You
Or did You Forget That ?



"John Franklin" wrote in message
ink.net...
Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away. With either rig you have all mode 160 thru 70CM
operation. They are not too large and do 100W 160 thru 6M--50 W on 2m and
20 W on 70CM. If you want QRP then the FT-817 is the rig you want, ALL
MODE 5W 160 thru 70 CM.

wrote in message
...
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?

Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away.

Of those two above..... what do you like best and why?

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?

John Franklin wrote:

Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away. With either rig you have all mode 160 thru 70CM operation.
They are not too large and do 100W 160 thru 6M--50 W on 2m and 20 W on 70CM.
If you want QRP then the FT-817 is the rig you want, ALL MODE 5W 160 thru 70
CM.

wrote in message
...

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?

wrote in message
...
Well let's see.........the Yaesu FT-857D or the Icom 706 Mk 2G come to
mind right away.

Of those two above..... what do you like best and why?

I HAD an ICOM 706 MK IIG and now I have an FT-897, the 897 is the same
rig pretty much as the 857 only it has a bigger box for batteries to be
added for portable ops. I got rid of the 706 because the DSP was done in the
audio stages and not in the IF where it belongs. I also think the 897 has a
better receiver. The 706 is not a BAD rig, I am just more demanding for what
I want to do. Have you considered PSK-31?

I also think the 897 has a
better receiver. The 706 is not a BAD rig, I am just more demanding for what
I want to do.

I see

Have you considered PSK-31?

For what use? can you explain?

There are other small radios also. I'd would stay away from QRP radios.

That's my gut feeling as well... to stay away from QRP
rigs for now

Again...... the intended usage is to get back into ham
radio..... and to keep in touch with outside world in
possible remote locations

Plus.....Im very interested in the ham equivalent of
internet email..... i.e. dig comms that is

On Mon, 21 Feb 2005 10:35:32 -0600, 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?

It is a lot easier to keep in touch with other hams with ham radio,
somewhat more difficult to keep in touch with non-hams.

Having a 2 meter FM rig will allow communications locally, and with
repeaters around the country. Other VHF or UHF bands will add to this,
but 2 meter only will get you through.

An HF rig with a decent antenna will allow long distance comms. You
will have to compromise to get one that is portable, and mounts on
your vehicle.

Packet radio would work for email, but bandwidth is rather limited
compared to the worst dialup options. 1200 baud is common, 9600 is the
most out there. Dialup Internet providers range from 28.8 to 53K.

Depending on who and how you wish to keep in touch, you may still want
a cell phone and set up with a national dial-up ISP.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
--
At the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom