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You can
write your own review of the Radio Shack HTX-242.
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KC9RXE
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 16, 2010 03:02
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Does what it does
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have been running this rig in my car and it has worked flawlessly. However an Icom this isn't. The audio is a little low, I have an external speaker and that makes up the differnce, and the mic feels cheap. I almost am afraid that I am going to crush the mic every time I key up.
Now for the good. You dont get much simpler to use while you are driving. Once you set your repeater pl tones in the memory you can do everything you need from the remote control mic. I have gotten great audio reports from the local repeater users.
I short if you can find one of these guys for a good price get one you'll be happy with this almost idiot proof radio.
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K1CJS
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Rating: 2/5
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Jun 18, 2010 18:12
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Marginal--had problems
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I picked mine up at clearance as well. I had it for three months when half the mike keypad buttons stopped working. I opened the mike up and resoldered connections (through the board) and got the buttons to work again.
About six months after that, every backlight save one blew out. I replaced the bulbs, just to have them all go out once again a few weeks later. Now I've got LEDs lighting the panel, and no more problems--until something else lets go.
This rig is a standby unit now, I'm running an Icom V8000 in my mobile and an Icom dual band in my shack.
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K8CPA
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Rating: 4/5
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May 23, 2009 16:12
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Nice Radio for what it is....
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought mine new, back when they came out.
Back lights in mine went out. But other than that. It works fine. Mic Cord is little brittle from age. But a little electrical tape fixed that.
It sits here on top of my tune and hooked to a little homebrew 2 meter antenna about 6 ft off the ground and it works fine.
Heck, I don't even use all of the 40 memory channels in the thing.
It's not a Yeasu, Icom or a Kenwood. But it works.
73 de K8CPA
-Chuck
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KP2Z
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 29, 2009 10:27
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Used as a backup rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had good service from this rig. The limited coverage makes for good intermod performance. Paid $99.00 years ago as a R.S. close out item.
The only problem I have is the mike cable is falling apart. If anyone has a broken HTX-242 and has a in good condition mike with cable that they now have no use for I'd like to purchase it from you.
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W4ARZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 29, 2009 09:37
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Works Just Fine
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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OK guys, don't be so picky. HTX-212 and 242 were a low to mid line product. Sure there are lots of other name brand rigs with more bells & whistles.
I have 5 of these. And I was smart enough from the get go to order a couple of spare mics, they were inexpensive anyway. Now over 10 years of use.. YEs 10 years, ALL of them work great...AND in ALL weather conditions. A couple need panel lamp replacements but come on.., how many light bulbs have you replaced at home over 10 yrs ? And the mics. I still have 2 new in box that I never had to use...yet. And yes they do work on Packet just fine if you know how to operate them . Many Hams expect 110% perfection for a WalMart price and it just doesnt happen as MAN cannot design a PERFECT beast. So lighten up guys. The HTX-212/242 is a basic mobile that can be used as a base with basic functions that DO work. If they are Soooooooooooo bad, then why the heck do they sell like hotcakes for OVER $100 on Ebay ? Hey, You want bells & whistles ? go spend $3-400 for an icom, yaesu or kenwood. You get what you pay for.
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KB1PYC
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Rating: 4/5
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Dec 15, 2008 22:26
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Good Mobile 2M
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I originally bought this radio 10 years ago before I went on my first deployment on the Navy. I hooked it up to a battery and listened to it for a few minutes and then boxed it up and sent it to my parent's house while I "studied" for my exam on the deployment. I never got my license and the radio stayed boxed up. I think I had paid about 400 dollars for it brand new with the extended warranty that I never used. This past February I finally got my license and installed this radio in my Jeep Liberty. I haven't had a problem with it yet, even after being boxed up all these years. I used it during this year's SET and I used it this past weekend during the ice storm. It doesn't have all the fancy features of some of the new radios and not as many channels as my VX-170 but it gets the job done.
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KC7ZRU
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Rating: 3/5
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Aug 26, 2007 10:05
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Inexpensive - reasonable - not great
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought 3 of these when they went on clearance at Shaque de Rathe. Gave $50 each. They'd all been returns and had something wrong with them. Manager was holding them back until clearance price was stupid low. Thankfully, a friend of mine was a manager at the store next town over, he pulled the inventory list and told me about them. Drove over, bought 'em knowing they didn't work. Never even left the store with 'em. Turned all 3 of 'em back in for warantee repair. Got 'em back aobut a month later in perfect condition.
All 3 have been in 24x7 use as APRS rigs. One mobile tracker, an I-gate and a digipeater. They've all been running about 7 years now. Just now have had one 'go wide' on me. Modulation was beyond allowable limits, even with lowered audio in from the KPC3+ - pulled that one out of service.
The I-gate radio just last night got VERY hot. HOt enough to give off that unmistakable burning PCB smell at 4:30 am. So, the I-gate is down.
3rd rig was pulled from the digipeater and replaced with a rock bound GE rig. It's now doing part time voice duty in the garage. Eh, it's OK.
All in all I'm happy. $50 was about right for these rigs in MNSHO. Shaque de Rathe is known for charging top dollar - their goal is to make money after all. Nothing they sell or have sold I've seen is worth full price. But, discounted, on clearance. Usable.
No, won't bother get'n these ol pigs fixed. There're enough other deals out there for affordable rigs.
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NY7Q
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 20, 2007 16:33
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An excellent rig
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have owned at least 8 of these little babies. Not one has given me a bit of trouble. I had one hit by lightening and radio shack restored it for about 10 bucks. Overal it was nicely produced in the time frame it was put out(90s)
Of course like anything else, there are some bad apples in the crate..
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KD7CJO
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Rating: 1/5
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Apr 20, 2007 15:18
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cheap rig-not worth the time
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hey All,I bought this thing new(it was a demo unit) and found these things wrong:
panel lights: went out after a year in 24/7 service
temp.: dosen`t like tobe used in below freezing temps.(I live in wyoming, dn51)
heat sink: runs hot(no matter the power level)
mic: cheap, no back light
Trans.: hangs up sometimes and have to pull mic to disarm. Also stops transmitting mid sent. and yet the display still shows trans. icon as active
rx audio: Too weak for driving. Can`t hear it over car and wind noise
Overall, I`d have to say a poorly des. radio.(don`t like spin-offs anyway) Could have been done MUCH better in a lot of ways. Made the mars/cap mod.(have never had to use it though so far) The panel lights are very small and in hard to get to places to replace with LEDS.(I replaced just the dispaly units) Easy rig to run though. I only use it now as a backup to my icom v-8000. I would not recomend this rig. Save your $$ and get the real thing! It was my first(and definatly NOT last) 2 meter rig. 73 and good dx to all, de kd7cjo
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KD6SAL
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 27, 2006 08:41
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Good Unit for Price
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My HTX-242 has always worked great, but, I lost interest in 2M ops because it seemed the only people on local 2M nets/repeaters were appliance operators who could not ham-speak. In general, once one gets past the novelty of 2M, there really isn't much to do except go back to the real action on HF. So, my 242 is up for grabs on eHam's classified page.
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