So getting ready to take first dive into ham waters....... looking for some input as to good initial base, preferably one could grow into and a more old school type of unit. Don't need bells and whistles.
Well, there's old school and really old school. In the later category, there's the Kenwood TS-520, 520s, 530s, 820, 820s, and 830. All solid-state except for the finals, which are tube. For someone just getting into the hobby, I'd only consider the ones with a built-in freq. display, like the 530/820/830.
Otherwise, for 1980s radios - Kenwood's TS-430S or TS-440s, perhaps the Yaesu FT-757GX II, or ICOM IC-735. It's not uncommon to find one that has been recently recapped and aligned. If you hang around (
i.e. "HAUNT") the QRZ and QTH 4sale forums, you run across several of 'em each month.
There are too many other radios between these and the latest transceivers to list, so I'll just mention a couple:
- Kenwood TS-50 (only pick ones that have been recently recapped)
- ICOM IC-706MIIG
- Kenwood TS-850
- ICOM IC-737, 738, 736
The middle two radios above will fetch over $500, and that's where saving up a few extra bux to spend more can get you something like used Yaesu FT-710 Field, which would serve serve you well for years to come. I've seen these in the $700 - $800 price range.
Yaesu's FT-891 is no slouch either. No waterfall, but fully equipped to run mobile or base: New, $630. Used, $450-$550
Last but not least - The Dayton hamfest is approaching quickly (May). If you can't make it to that one, most of the large dealers
(HRO, Gigaparts, DXengineering, etc.) will have several HF radios on sale via their website for that week or weekend that will most likely be the lowest price you'll see on a new radio this year.
I've forgotten plenty worth mentioning, but others will mention them. This was a quick
"My .02 cents" opinion.
jahnkeelectronics.com
