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10/12 meter or 2m/440?

thercman

Member
Feb 9, 2012
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So i am trying to figure out where to start. I started looking at CB's and 10m then to 2m/440 and now I am back to 10/12m AM/FM/SSB... It seems as though having a radio that will be able to do CB as well as 10/12m will make them more versatile. What are the pros and cons between the two? :pop:
 

Well, with a Tech license your privilege will allow you great portions of 70cm, 2m, 6m, and a small portion of the 10m band. Unless you have a General license, you cannot use 12m.

What to get and use? Well, that is a question of how much money you have to play with. 2m is pretty much used with repeaters and local Hams. Not a DX band to speak of. A 10m radio and a decent antenna can do real DX when favorable ionospheric conditions occur. Think that is a fair way of looking at it all - IMO . . .

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Hambands_color.pdf
 
For most hams, it is a simple answer: BOTH!

As for which to get first, it depends on who you talk to. On the air, that is. If you are looking for a very versatle radio for mostly local communications and repeaters, then VHF/UHF works and is often less expensive. You can get a Wouxun 2m/440 HT with various toys and antennas for well under $200. Mag-mount "dual-band" mobile antennas start at around $15 and are adequate for local simplex and repeaters. If you use any of the internet-linked repeaters you can have pretty wide coverage with modest VHF/UHF gear.

10/12M tend to be a bit more expensive, not as often used for local communication, and only useful for DX under favorable band conditions. Antennas are also as expensive, or more expensive than VHF/UHF, and much larger to be as efficient. A 10/12M radio is very limited compared to a multi-band HF rig that may not cost much more.

Most hams start out with 2m/440, and then move on to HF as they get more interested and upgrade their license. You just seem to get more for your money.

My two-cents worth,
Dave_W6DPS
 
Thanks guys! This is becoming a little daunting I must say. Initially my whole idea was to have a good form of emergency communication while camping. I almost immediately ruled out CB due to its limited 4w of output power. Especially after reading an article talking about the myriad of devices that interfere with that band making it almost useless without an amp now anyway. That had me looking at 2m since I could get say a Yaesu 2900 with 75w of output power. Seems as though that would be useful in that scenario. However that left me limited if I wanted to tinker around a bit. That potential of wanting to tinker around is what has me undecided. I do like the the idea of a CB so I can talk to random people locally and for which I do not need a license. Also my wife can just pick it up and talk as well since she is not wanting a license. I also like the idea of being able to talk to people in other countries etc. That sounds like fun! Which is why I posted this thread. I started seriously looking at Yeticom's Optima. That thing is really cool. It works on everything from 24.500 - 29.999 Mhz. That makes it really appealing. The downside is the $375 price tag. Theoretically speaking, what kind of range could I get from a CB with a 100w linear amplifier? You guys don't have to go into a rant on the legality of that I already know. The FCC really does need to look at their antiquated regulations though. (30yrs old)
 
Robb,

You did a review on the Magnum 257HP.... Do you think that would be an affordable way to start? It is $175 less expensive than the Yeticom. I can use it as a CB and for HAM...
 
If you are thinking of basically a cb on steriods.
Having the extra channels and power..

I would say find the clear channel AR-3300 or AR-3500 (100 watt versions ).
Very hard radio to beat..Excellent audio and am/fm/ssb ..
(if you ant to stay in the 10-12 meter bands)

However...even if not persay interested in getting a ham licence ( even though it is crazy easy to obtain )..

I would get an HF radio with 2 meters and 70cm built in..
With am/fm/ssb as well as typically 100 watts
Such as the easily found 706 MKIIG
Will give you basically all of HF bands plus 2 meters & 70cm but also GMRS/FRS & MURS ( you did mention wanting it for emergency use if and when so needed...as such CB,FRS/GMRS & MURS is good given so many locals have access to those frequency's )

As far as what range you can expect with 100 watts..
depends not just on power..but antenna ( antenna type and hight )
to a lessor degree what type of mike you use.
Also depends on what frequency you are using the 100 watts on.
Also depends on the surrounding terrain you have where you are transmitting..

with an HT on UHF i hit repeaters 35-50 miles away at ground level
(much further when i hook it up to either my dual band or tri band vertical that is some 52 ft hight at its base)

With 100 watts on 2 meters & 70cm i basically can get out at least 200 miles in any direction (however i have both an excellent vertical as well as excellent beams to get the job done)

on HF ( say 11 meters simplex) with 100 watts and without skip again i get out easily 200 mikes (without skip) but find the most limiting factor is noise from all the other traffic in heavily traffic city area.
on 10 meters with repeater use the ability to get out gets better but for emergency use it may not be as good a choice as simplex (since a repeater may not always be monitored when you may need it for emergency use.

since you are considering as much as 100 watts...i take it you are looking for a mobile.
I would rather have an HF mobile with the 100 watts already built in..as opposed to taking a typical 10/12 meter rig and add an amp to it ( typically a radio with an amp ill not work as well as a radio built in..however i am also comparing a ham rig to what would be a export rig )
 
Disregard the Magnum 257HP... I just read through the long thread and it seems that so many have had issues with the current run that I am not going to bother. Maybe I will choke down $375 for the Yeticom...

Thanks King!
Yes I am going to get my license. No big deal... My wife on the other hand doesn't want anything to do with it. *Shrug*

I am looking for mobile. The iCom you mentioned is way beyond my budget even used. Still looking at radios, their reviews and then comparing.
 
if you want something brand new , IMO , the only four mobiles that seem to be stable on SSB and worth considering are the rci 2950 and 2970 along with the magnum 257 and 45HP . but the old revered classics are revered for a reason .
 
Robb,

You did a review on the Magnum 257HP.... Do you think that would be an affordable way to start? It is $175 less expensive than the Yeticom. I can use it as a CB and for HAM...

There is some question as to the quality control of this radio at this time. Some forum members have claimed unwarranted failures. I can't say that it is their fault for abusing/misusing it or not. Or if the factory themselves didn't take the proper care during assembly, alignment, or final testing before shipping these units for retail. The 257 radio I have is still working just fine.

There may well be lemons out there, or operators that lack the experience to operate them correctly - IMO. If you can get a used one that didn't have any problems - then yeah get one. If not; then either a RCI-2950/RCI-2970, or Magnum S-45/S-9 are all fair game too . . .
 
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Thanks.... and I am still looking. lol. I really like the RCI-2950/RCI-2970. Of these two I would get the 2970 just for the wattage alone. For the same price the Yeticom is still on the table. So far I have not been able to find any bad reports on it. I love the look and the size will fit nicely under my current aftermarket deck. Since the design is fairly new and I would need to send it overseas to get repaired I am a bit hesitant... Still debating..
 
If you like the RCI 2950..2970
look instead to the original version the AR-3300 or AR-3500
(they are better radios..be sure to get the 100 watt versions & ofcourse it has to be used since is no longer made )

Unless you want the newer 2970-N2 version
(although i hear both good and bad about this radio )


When i mentioned the IC 7000 ..it wasnt to suggest to get it (it is a bit pricy) rather just possibly consider a HF mobile that has 2 meter and 70cm bands as well (Icom,Kenwood,Yaesu,Alinco all have good offerings both new and used perhaps worthwhile to take a look at )
 
King,

Thanks I was looking at them. I am really looking for new only because 1. I have no idea what to look for if the radio has issues and 2.there is no place local to get them fixed, let alone buy one.

One thing I just got done doing was making paper templates for the models I am looking at. The only one that will fit nicely in my Honda is the Magnum 257 or the Yeticom. I don't even know where I would mount something larger honestly. Maybe on the passenger side vertically along the center console... *shrug*

With that said if I get a Magnum 257 older version not the HP I should be okay right? There are still a couple places that have them new for about $200

Thanks!
 
Sounds like you've done your research.

The old AR's "were" fine rigs, but are now old and tired. People want a fortune for them on Ebay and elsewhere, even junky ones.
 
You aren't kidding about research. I have spent probably 100hrs surfing the net, posting and reading posts on forums, watching reviews and personal videos and comparing prices. Whew! I am worn out. lol So I basically had it narrowed down to the RCI-2970N2 and the Yeticom. Both are more than I want to spend and each appeal to me for different reasons. The 2970N2 while much heavier and larger would make a great radio to take from the car into the house as a base, and with the 200watts I could do some great DXing. On the flip side the Yeticom looks great, and will fit into a radio din slot under my current radio. While not nearly as powerful as the 2970 the 50watts it puts out seems be enough to get me going. So right now I am coin tossing these two. Tomorrow I will take my templates outside to see what I can cut, mold, fabricate to make the 2970 look like it belongs. (no getto stuff here, it has to look like it belongs) If I just can't seem to make it work then I'll get the Yeticom....

Cheers,
Greg
 
The 2970n2 is a nice radio. (I have one) BUT, the difference between 100 watts and 200 watts is not noticeable on the receive end. Even at 50 watts on the Yetticom, there won't be a lot of noticeable difference. Invest in a good antenna and you will get much more for your money. Better Receive and Transmit. A good antenna, either home built, or commercially built, is a much better investment and will last a long time. You will find yourself changing radios as time goes by.
trucker
 
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