|
looking for first radio
going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio
would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 |
My first was a Heath HW101 which was a less expensive version of the
SB-101..but, that was about 1971. I'd suggest you look for all solid state. I have an Icom IC-730 (vintage 1980 +/-) which would be a great starter rig. I recommend you stay away from QRP rigs until you get some experience on the bands. Tom, NE1R "Tater Schuld" wrote in message om... going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 |
My first was a Heath HW101 which was a less expensive version of the
SB-101..but, that was about 1971. I'd suggest you look for all solid state. I have an Icom IC-730 (vintage 1980 +/-) which would be a great starter rig. I recommend you stay away from QRP rigs until you get some experience on the bands. Tom, NE1R "Tater Schuld" wrote in message om... going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 |
"Tater Schuld" wrote in message
om... going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 "TomC" wrote in message ... My first was a Heath HW101 which was a less expensive version of the SB-101..but, that was about 1971. I'd suggest you look for all solid state. I have an Icom IC-730 (vintage 1980 +/-) which would be a great starter rig. I recommend you stay away from QRP rigs until you get some experience on the bands. Tom, NE1R Thanks for the info. I am amazed no one else out here has been able to suggest a response. from what i read on the net, there appears to be thousands of options out there, but it apears that only a few are good for the area I am lookign for. |
"Tater Schuld" wrote in message
om... going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 "TomC" wrote in message ... My first was a Heath HW101 which was a less expensive version of the SB-101..but, that was about 1971. I'd suggest you look for all solid state. I have an Icom IC-730 (vintage 1980 +/-) which would be a great starter rig. I recommend you stay away from QRP rigs until you get some experience on the bands. Tom, NE1R Thanks for the info. I am amazed no one else out here has been able to suggest a response. from what i read on the net, there appears to be thousands of options out there, but it apears that only a few are good for the area I am lookign for. |
going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio
would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 None of those radios would be appropriate for someone getting a tech license. Techs are limited to 50 MHz and above, those are all HF (30 MHz and below) rigs. If you want to learn the code, and get HF privileges, the Kenwood is a decent radio. I've used one for more than 10 years, and as far as I know it still has the original final tubes in it (The TS-520 uses 3 tubes in the final amplifier section of the transmitter). I always get good comments about my transmit audio. If you only want to stay a no-code tech, you can get a decent used VHF and/or UHF radio(s) made by Icom, Kenwood, or Yaesu, although new radios are generally more capable and aren't that much more expensive than the used ones. To look up what other people are saying about used and new radios, got to he http://www.eham.net/reviews/ 73 de N2KMF -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Real men use flintlocks... In the rain. -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio
would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 None of those radios would be appropriate for someone getting a tech license. Techs are limited to 50 MHz and above, those are all HF (30 MHz and below) rigs. If you want to learn the code, and get HF privileges, the Kenwood is a decent radio. I've used one for more than 10 years, and as far as I know it still has the original final tubes in it (The TS-520 uses 3 tubes in the final amplifier section of the transmitter). I always get good comments about my transmit audio. If you only want to stay a no-code tech, you can get a decent used VHF and/or UHF radio(s) made by Icom, Kenwood, or Yaesu, although new radios are generally more capable and aren't that much more expensive than the used ones. To look up what other people are saying about used and new radios, got to he http://www.eham.net/reviews/ 73 de N2KMF -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Real men use flintlocks... In the rain. -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
|
Any particular models? any opinions on what brands are better, or
easier to use/understand? I like my Icom IC-2100H. I don't think they make them anymore in favor of a 2100 with a new suffix The Icom 2100 series has been around for a little while, and enjoys a good reputation. I'm somewhat of a unique case myself. I use an old Kenwood TS-700A 2 meter all-mode (AM, FM, USB, LSB and CW) at home, and an old Radio Shack HTX-202 handheld for my APRS station. In the car I have a new HTX-252 2 meter mobile, mainly because I found a new one for only $70. I used to use a different HTX-202 in the car as a mobile rig, but the finals blew after about ten years of daily use. I have the Kenwood TS-520 for HF work, along with a Heathkit HW-99 novice rig that covers the CW portions of 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters. I also have a RS HTX-420 dual band handheld, again mainly because it was so damned cheap on closeout. -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Real men use flintlocks... In the rain. -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Any particular models? any opinions on what brands are better, or
easier to use/understand? I like my Icom IC-2100H. I don't think they make them anymore in favor of a 2100 with a new suffix The Icom 2100 series has been around for a little while, and enjoys a good reputation. I'm somewhat of a unique case myself. I use an old Kenwood TS-700A 2 meter all-mode (AM, FM, USB, LSB and CW) at home, and an old Radio Shack HTX-202 handheld for my APRS station. In the car I have a new HTX-252 2 meter mobile, mainly because I found a new one for only $70. I used to use a different HTX-202 in the car as a mobile rig, but the finals blew after about ten years of daily use. I have the Kenwood TS-520 for HF work, along with a Heathkit HW-99 novice rig that covers the CW portions of 80, 40, 15, and 10 meters. I also have a RS HTX-420 dual band handheld, again mainly because it was so damned cheap on closeout. -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Real men use flintlocks... In the rain. -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
"Tater Schuld" wrote in message om... going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Get the TenTec Triton 4 (also known as the Ten Tec Model 540 and the Model 544 with digital readout) I have owned/used a Ten-Tec 540 since 1978 and the only maintenance it's ever needed was a new dial lamp(s). Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 Of these radios the Drake TR-4 is the better choice. STAY AWAY from the other sets as they all use two or more radio tubes, which are not bad in of themselves, however they will cost you much $$$ if you need a replacement tube sometime down the road, assuming you can find one someplace. The ONLY exception to the rule is if along with the radio the seller will also provide you with a complet set of spare tubes. Then and only then would I consider a "tube/transistor" hybrid set. Carl |
"Tater Schuld" wrote in message om... going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Get the TenTec Triton 4 (also known as the Ten Tec Model 540 and the Model 544 with digital readout) I have owned/used a Ten-Tec 540 since 1978 and the only maintenance it's ever needed was a new dial lamp(s). Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 Of these radios the Drake TR-4 is the better choice. STAY AWAY from the other sets as they all use two or more radio tubes, which are not bad in of themselves, however they will cost you much $$$ if you need a replacement tube sometime down the road, assuming you can find one someplace. The ONLY exception to the rule is if along with the radio the seller will also provide you with a complet set of spare tubes. Then and only then would I consider a "tube/transistor" hybrid set. Carl |
I also have a
RS HTX-420 dual band handheld, again mainly because it was so damned cheap on closeout. How do you like your 420? Major intermod? Stock antenna suck? -------------------------------------------------------------------- Real men use flintlocks... In the rain. -------------------------------------------------------------------- With bulky gloves on... While reloading. |
I also have a
RS HTX-420 dual band handheld, again mainly because it was so damned cheap on closeout. How do you like your 420? Major intermod? Stock antenna suck? -------------------------------------------------------------------- Real men use flintlocks... In the rain. -------------------------------------------------------------------- With bulky gloves on... While reloading. |
My first was an OLD Icom 2AT with the thumbwheels to change the frew. I had
to add a tone board to it to use the repeaters.. Now I've got HTX-202's from Radio Shack and even picked up the Dual Band they put out but took back real quick because of the cell phone problem.. I've got a few 2 meter mobiles from Radio Shack as well.. A lot of people slam on Radio Shack stuff but, it's easy to use and if you get the 3 year warranty and something happens, just take it back and get it replaced... FREE.. Here in AK there aren't any ham radio stores so if you have something like a Yaesu or ICOM rig, you have to send it out and that takes a while.. I've carried my 202 with a j-pole wire antenna on my snow machine as a soul source of survival communications and I think they're a great radio for the price.. "Tater Schuld" wrote in message om... going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 |
My first was an OLD Icom 2AT with the thumbwheels to change the frew. I had
to add a tone board to it to use the repeaters.. Now I've got HTX-202's from Radio Shack and even picked up the Dual Band they put out but took back real quick because of the cell phone problem.. I've got a few 2 meter mobiles from Radio Shack as well.. A lot of people slam on Radio Shack stuff but, it's easy to use and if you get the 3 year warranty and something happens, just take it back and get it replaced... FREE.. Here in AK there aren't any ham radio stores so if you have something like a Yaesu or ICOM rig, you have to send it out and that takes a while.. I've carried my 202 with a j-pole wire antenna on my snow machine as a soul source of survival communications and I think they're a great radio for the price.. "Tater Schuld" wrote in message om... going to get my tech liscence and want to know what a good cheap radio would be to get. any suggestions? TenTec Triton 4 Kenwood TS520 Heath SB100 Heath SB101 Drake TR-3 Drake TR-4 |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:32 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
RadioBanter.com