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11-16 of 16 messages
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RE: Pls help with some general beginner questions.
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by K1YRW on June 22, 2009
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Welcome to the great world of Amateur Radio! I would recommend a Yaesu FT-840. I have two of them and they are great radios. They went out of production a year or two ago but I'm sure you can find one on the used market. Yaesu made them for about ten years so all the bugs were definately worked out on the later models. Product reviews on eham.net are very favorable. If you like older rigs try something like a Kenwood TS-520 or TS-820. A used FT-840 will run about $400, a TS-520 about $250 and a TS-820 about $350. The only drawback on the 520 and 820 is no WARC bands. Good Luck!
73,
Rich K1YRW
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RE: Pls help with some general beginner questions.
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by K4SAV on June 22, 2009
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Be sure to attend your local field day event this weekend. Check out all the equipment there and observe all the activities. Check out the GOTA station. I'm sure they will encourage you to operate that one. It's a great learning experience.
Jerry, K4SAV
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RE: Pls help with some general beginner questions.
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by AD7WN on June 22, 2009
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<Take the tests, get your license, preferably your General (which requires only 5 wpm code testing, pretty easy stuff) and then worry about this.>
Last time I looked, there was no code test required for any license class whether it be Technician, General, or Extra Class.
73 de John/AD7WN
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RE: Pls help with some general beginner questions.
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by WG7X on June 22, 2009
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Last time I looked, the original message was almost 3.5 years old.
That is one of the problem that arise with the current E-ham software.
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RE: Pls help with some general beginner questions.
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by N3OX on June 22, 2009
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Mr. NORTHCOUNTRY here has an Extra class licence, a tribander, a folded dipole, has built a QRP transmitter and has over 10k lookups on QRZ.com, suggesting that he's rather active on the bands.
I think he's doin' alright.
73
Dan
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RE: Pls help with some general beginner questions.
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by N5LRZ on June 22, 2009
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After you pass the Tech Test start to look at radios...
But definately NOT hand held radios. Hand held radios are good for certain things but definately not for general day to day use.
All the Big Three radio makers have low end 2 meter mobile radios that are very inexpensive--under 250 bucks with some offering dual band for about 400 to 500 bucks depanding on the make and model of the radio.
IF you do not have a power supply, look into getting a regulated non switching commercial type power supply of at least 40 amps--50 or 60 would be better. NOT that your mobile will draw 40 amps but later on when you get your General License you will be looking at base radios that will be drawing considerably more amps than your little mobile. At least you will be ready for that power need.
DO NOT DO NOT use a battery. Spend the bucks and get a commercial grade non-switching power supply. This should run around hmmmmmm 300 extra but well worth the investment.
SO you are looking at approx 600 bucks for your first radio and power supply.
Antennas for 2 meters and UHF are very small and very easy to make yourself. Keep the coax as short as possible.
MOST IMPORTANTLY avoid the temptation to buy used equipment. Amateur Radio is not cheap. In fact its damn expensive if you want to do it right and proper to max your enjoyment. Buy NEW GEAR at all times. It may not be the top o the line NEW but at least make it NEW GEAR. The best new gear is a model that has been on the market for just over a year and stil has a good reputation.
When you get your General Class license start to look at an investment of at the very least 3500 to 4000 dollars in your station--NOT JOKEING. HF band use is significantly more expensive to operate in in the proper fashion. And the cost of this initial investment surpriseingly will probably not be on the radio alone (but it can). Good mics from Heil cost several hundred dollars. Half way decent watt meters cost almost 200 bucks. A half way decent computer system (required these days) running XP is going to run you at least 800 bucks. It all starts to add up.
Good luck and welcome to the world of amateur radio. Start slow, on a good quality new basic VHF/UHF setup and save your bucks religiously to purchase a good HF setup composed of NEW stuff (all of which having warranty coverage).
OHHH one other thing. Look into the ARRL Insurance Program and consider taking out a policy to cover damages to your radio equiplent.
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