I passed my Tech test last week and am waiting for my FCC go-ahead. In the meantime I'm researching my first radio. I am not certain of the best radio for me at this early point in this hobby.
Here are my decision options along with my uneducated leanings and reasons for them. Your advice and suggestions are solicited:
Type: Handheld, mobile, or base station. I realize that either of these three could be a base station. But it appears that most handhelds and mobiles are VHF/UHF and most base stations are HF, with several high end units being all-band.
I'm leaning toward a handheld because I want to be able to easily use it for emergencies, and potentially getting involved in a local ARES group. However, 99% of the time it will be used at home, not as a mobile and not tied to my waist.
Power: I could get something now with more than 5 watts, or get a 5 watter and later get a power amp.
I'm leaning toward 5 watts now, playing with it for a year or so and then deciding whether to up the power with either an external power amp or a higher powered radio.
Frequencies: HF, VHF, or UHF, braod frequency receiver, All Band transmit and receive, etc.
I'm leaning toward 2m and 70cm because those are the local repeater bands and the bands that are recommended by the local club. What other bands, if any, are appropriate for newbies, and why? I suspect "all band" is beyond my means and beyond my needs and capabilities.
Features: These range from bare bones to loaded. Handhelds range from $60 to over $700 loaded. D-Star, APRS, GIS, Ample Memories, Direct access control (vs. commands buried 3 layers deep), great performance (selectivity and sensitivity and volume and clarity; transmit and receive), built in TNC, USB connection, longer battery life, etc. etc.
I initially considered a bare bones unit. But in reviewing ""what's out there" I am thinking that having some additional features to play with and grow into, especially involving computer connectivity and operation, would be nice. I'm leaning toward not only computer connected programming, but other computer display and processing options during operation. APRS is interesting and would be helpful in civil emergencies. Handheld in particular, with their less accessible external controls would benefit by the greater transparancy provided by computer connectivity and control.
New or Used: New is more $$$$; used is less. I am leaning toward new for two reasons: More current technology and greater reliablity. I know that heat is a component killer, especially in compact handhelds. And even if an 8 or 10 year old unit just mostly sat around, the capacitors tend to deteriorate. I don't have any desire or knowledge to service a transceiver.
Ease of Use: The more intuitive, the better. Wouxun handhelds have gotten a pretty good reputation, but I understand that the manuals pretty much suck in their completeness and translation. That is bad news for a newbie. The Yaesu and Kenwood manuals look pretty nice from what I can determine. I have little idea of the user-friendliness of the actual units.
Price: I was initially considering the low end: $100 to $175. But as I continue my research, well-featured handhelds that hold some interest run in the $450 to $500 range street price.
Some additional considerations: The repeater I would use is located within 2 miles of my house. I live in a deed restricted community, so I really don't plan on doing a stealth outdoor antennae at this time. I do have adequate attic space to install a 5' J-pole within 15' of the shack. And I am computer literate. I'm not a big talker. I don't plan on doing DX or "rag chewing" by radio. I do like to experiment and would like to learn a variety of means of communicating under emergency conditions.
So, there you have it. I'm now waiting for more suggstions and opinions than I could possibly digest in a month of Sundays.
Here are my decision options along with my uneducated leanings and reasons for them. Your advice and suggestions are solicited:
Type: Handheld, mobile, or base station. I realize that either of these three could be a base station. But it appears that most handhelds and mobiles are VHF/UHF and most base stations are HF, with several high end units being all-band.
I'm leaning toward a handheld because I want to be able to easily use it for emergencies, and potentially getting involved in a local ARES group. However, 99% of the time it will be used at home, not as a mobile and not tied to my waist.
Power: I could get something now with more than 5 watts, or get a 5 watter and later get a power amp.
I'm leaning toward 5 watts now, playing with it for a year or so and then deciding whether to up the power with either an external power amp or a higher powered radio.
Frequencies: HF, VHF, or UHF, braod frequency receiver, All Band transmit and receive, etc.
I'm leaning toward 2m and 70cm because those are the local repeater bands and the bands that are recommended by the local club. What other bands, if any, are appropriate for newbies, and why? I suspect "all band" is beyond my means and beyond my needs and capabilities.
Features: These range from bare bones to loaded. Handhelds range from $60 to over $700 loaded. D-Star, APRS, GIS, Ample Memories, Direct access control (vs. commands buried 3 layers deep), great performance (selectivity and sensitivity and volume and clarity; transmit and receive), built in TNC, USB connection, longer battery life, etc. etc.
I initially considered a bare bones unit. But in reviewing ""what's out there" I am thinking that having some additional features to play with and grow into, especially involving computer connectivity and operation, would be nice. I'm leaning toward not only computer connected programming, but other computer display and processing options during operation. APRS is interesting and would be helpful in civil emergencies. Handheld in particular, with their less accessible external controls would benefit by the greater transparancy provided by computer connectivity and control.
New or Used: New is more $$$$; used is less. I am leaning toward new for two reasons: More current technology and greater reliablity. I know that heat is a component killer, especially in compact handhelds. And even if an 8 or 10 year old unit just mostly sat around, the capacitors tend to deteriorate. I don't have any desire or knowledge to service a transceiver.
Ease of Use: The more intuitive, the better. Wouxun handhelds have gotten a pretty good reputation, but I understand that the manuals pretty much suck in their completeness and translation. That is bad news for a newbie. The Yaesu and Kenwood manuals look pretty nice from what I can determine. I have little idea of the user-friendliness of the actual units.
Price: I was initially considering the low end: $100 to $175. But as I continue my research, well-featured handhelds that hold some interest run in the $450 to $500 range street price.
Some additional considerations: The repeater I would use is located within 2 miles of my house. I live in a deed restricted community, so I really don't plan on doing a stealth outdoor antennae at this time. I do have adequate attic space to install a 5' J-pole within 15' of the shack. And I am computer literate. I'm not a big talker. I don't plan on doing DX or "rag chewing" by radio. I do like to experiment and would like to learn a variety of means of communicating under emergency conditions.
So, there you have it. I'm now waiting for more suggstions and opinions than I could possibly digest in a month of Sundays.
