2m/70cm HT suggestions please

[KD5VHF]

I know this sounds like a answer from "the standard answer list" but my advice would be to check out a local club, talk to folks there and see what they use. They can also give you an idea of what bands are popular in the area and which ones arent to help you narrow down the decision of what will work best for you. You might get by with just a 2 meter HT if there is not much activity on other bands. I never thought my little Yaesu VX-2 with the big 1 watt of power on high setting would be worth a hoot until I heard a couple of them used around here. They sound great, work great and I usually just keep the power setting on low (1/10th of a watt) and it works just fine. Your location, the repeater(s) location, antenna height etc. will determine what will work for you and what wont. A few guys have the TH-G71's and they like them alot. I do like the size and feel of them and if/when I get ready to get another "big" HT I will probably go that route. My suggestion would be to stay away from the little HT's like the VX2 unless you know for sure they will work good in your area. Check prices for extra/spare batteries, and any accessories you might like to add. This may "make or break" the radio you are looking at. Also Just because a HT is advertised as a 5 or 6 watt radio does not mean they will do that when you get it. Sometimes the advertised output is with a 12 volt optional battery and NOT with the supplied lower voltage battery which may only give you a watt or two. They convienently forget to mention that fact.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=""> Almost all of them will do you a good job and have plenty of memories for your popular freq.s. You just need to figure out the features you want like dual receive or not, weather channels, public service scanning etc. Good luck !


<hr />73, Mike </p>

 

[Tumbleweed]

Tim, I really like my Icom T90A. It's a tribander, plus I can listen to many things, even TV stations during the storms we have. Downside I guess, it's small, but the buttons aren't too bad to use.


Jerry

CDX-350

2AK3350

RL39</p>

 

[AudioShockwav]

I like my little VX-5R, also a tribander, wide band RX(SW/AMFM/TV etc), it is tiny, you can slip it in your pocket. And the new batt`s far out-last the Ni-Cads of old.

The nice thing is that the price of Dual/Tri band HT`s has come down a LOT since I got into this hobbie, you can get 2 handhelds + extra goodies now for what I paid for my first dual bander. Its fun picking out new toys <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=""> !





73

Jeff


CDX 339

RadioActive

</p>

 

[Moleculo]

I had an Icom T90A. In the city, the RX was too "hot" and I got intermod from everything. 2m was completely useless on it. I sold it.



I also had an Yaesu VX-5r (until someone lifted it...) That was a pretty good little radio.



I now use a Kenwood TH-F6A. It's a tribander. I love it. The user interface is good, the radio is just solid. HRO salesman told me its the single best selling HT on the market right now.



Moleculo


</p>

 

[KD5VHF]

I've had good luck with HRO. I usually order on a Wednesday and recieve the order by the next monday if not sooner. One accessory you -might- want to consider is a quick charger. I use the Maha MH-C888 ALOT. It comes with a blank holder you drill to locate the charging post for the battery you want to charge and you can order other custom holders if you want to go that route. I still only have the supplied blank one and it now looks like peg board it has so many holes drilled in it. I charge everything in it including the batteries for the digital camera etc.


<hr />73, Mike </p>

 

[Moleculo]

I picked up a Comet triband antenna for the F6A...It's much better than the stock one. But the stock one is really rugged, so I use it when I'm going to be banging the radio around a lot and don't need the TX range. The battery does last a long time, which is nice. One thing I found useful is Kenwood's VOX headset / mic. I can be fooling around the house, hands free and yack on the radio while doing just about anything else.



Moleculo


</p>

 

[The Sandman 454]

I'm not sure if this falls better here or under the Ham section, but I'm putting it here since the topic at hand is a UHF/VHF transceiver.



I am currently in the market for a dual band (maybe triband if it can be had for not too much more than the dual and/or has more desirable features, better design, better battery or whatever) 2m/70cm handitalkie. I'm new to everything and don't know exactly what features I'll probably want and what I could probably live without and/or not take advantage of.



I've been looking through some reviews on e-ham.net, but that's still not helping my decision much. A couple radios that I'm currently interested in (based on eham.net reviews) are the Kenwood TH-G71A, and TH-F6A. I am very open to any other suggestions as well. A list of brand/description of whatever accessories you might happen to recommend is appreciated as well.



I do not yet have my ticket, but have been interested in it for a long while. I have so far been too lazy to go take the test (which I know I'll be able to pass). I figure if I have a radio sitting around and a pile of accessories that I cannot use until I take the test, it'll help motivate me to take the test. Plus if I have the equipment sitting around, I can at least listen in to the local radio traffic and get a better feel for it.


Tim "Sandman"

Primary off road vehicle: 2003 Polaris SP700
</p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p067.ezboard.com/bworldwidecbradioclub.showUserPublicProfile?gid=thesandman454>The Sandman 454</A> 

at: 6/18/04 7:39 pm