|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
| Reviews Summary for Radio Shack HTX-200 |
|
Reviews: 55
|
Average rating: 3.9/5
|
MSRP: $49.95
|
|
Description: This transceiver brings you big features and simple operation in a convenient, take-anywhere size. Delivers 200mW output with 2 "AA" batteries or a full 2 watts (2 meters) with external 9VDC. You can store a calling channel and up to 30 frequencies in memory for quick access. Touch a button to scan the memorized channels or every channel in the band. Has built-in 47-tone CTCSS encode and decode, programmable repeater offsets plus an LCD display with LED backlight, 10-step signal strength meter and low-battery indication. An SMA-type jack lets you connect an external antenna. Size: 3"3/8 x 2"5/16 x 1"1/16 ", less antenna. Requires 2 "AA" batteries or DC adapter #273-1815/H.
|
|
More info: http://www.radioshack.com
|
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this review.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
|
You can
write your own review of the Radio Shack HTX-200.
|
N4LI
|
Rating: 3/5
|
May 18, 2009 12:43
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Limited, but acceptable
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
I picked up an HTX-200 recently for $50 on eBay. I suppose it was worth what I paid, but I must say I am not overly-impressed.
First, the radio is a bit cumbersome to program. The menuing system is not at all intuitive, especially is you’re used to HTs of a more recent vintage. But, with a little effort, one figures it out.
The HTX-200 makes 200 mW on the internal batteries. I have used less before to work into repeaters (and, yes, I have worked thousands of miles on HF at just 100 mW), but on this radio, 200 mW seems puny. It may be the stubby antenna provided is a bit too lossy, which can’t help with less than ¼ of a watt. But, close in to a repeater, the radio will get the job done.
If you can get an HTX-200 cheaply, and you understand the radio’s rather substantial limitations, it might be useful. But, if your favorite repeater is more than – say – 5 miles away, you will be disappointed.
Peter, N4LI
|
|
N0HJ
|
Rating: 4/5
|
Sep 20, 2007 15:12
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
nice little radio for backpacking
|
Time owned: 3 to 6 months
|
This is a terrific simplex rig for a group of hams out in the field for local chit chat. I own a pair of htx-200s and a pair of htx-400s as well.
I do have one question though - I am curious if anyone has been able to obtain any tech data on these, as I have one unit that reports low battery regardless of true battery condition - other than this one issue, it works great. I suspect there is an issue with the internal D/A converter or the chain that reports the battery voltage. Any help would be appreciated.
|
|
WA7ZBO
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 17, 2007 18:50
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
|
I rate this radio high not for the reason most might but because I use them in transmitter (fox) hunts. I have three and are looking for more. They are easy to set frequincies without all the menu driven stuff of other rigs and will run 200Mw for 8 hours on two lithium AA internals batteries. Hook up two "D" cells and it will transmit for 4 days. Don't like yours? Sell it to me, I need more.
|
|
KD7CJO
|
Rating: 3/5
|
Apr 23, 2007 13:43
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
not worth the time
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Hey All, I`ve had a 200 now for several years and have a few observations about it.
Bad things:
display: small and hard to read
scan timer: timers need to be set up differently as sead in another post.
power/ant.: Can`t hit repeaters 10 miles away even close to line of sight unless I use the 9 volt batt. option. Needs a better ant.
band plan: can`t really be modded.(I like to tinker with radios and see what I can make them do, or not do)
rx audio: poor with very small speaker and low power audio amp.
pager tones: Do we really need to be able to send these?(this rig WILL send audable page tones!)
good things:
size: small and easy to carry and store
batt. life: will run a LONG time on 9 volt or nimh batts.(I use both)
seperite speaker and mike option:(I have and use) It is a well made and designed set up.
Price: if you paid full price(as I did) don`t bother. But if found VERY cheap, go for it. 73 and good dx from dn 51
|
|
KB3LYB
|
Rating: 5/5
|
Jan 27, 2006 11:58
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great if you understand the limitations
|
Time owned: 6 to 12 months
|
This is a really cool little radio. I got mine from a non-active ham for free (who I believe paid somewhere in the $30 range for it). In Pittsburgh (or probably any big city) I can hit a few repeaters with it and everyone has reported that it sounds fine. Most certainly not for back country use though, as 200mw is not going to cut it there.
With only 8 buttons it is not the most intuitive HT to program and use, but the manual makes it pretty clear.
My only other HT experience is with a VX-150 (which keeps blowing its finals) so this radio gets some credit for being stable and troublefree in my book.
|
|
KC9DTO
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 15, 2003 11:35
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
great buy
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
got for less then $20.00 then i used it for a few days heard about the 9 volt battery so i hook one up to it put out between 1-2 watts of power works fine on simx. and hits the local repeater what more can you ask for for $20.00
|
|
K8LEA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 11, 2003 22:01
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Forgot....
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
Couple more thoughts....
The timer that's used to delay scan re-starts (when a channel is in use, the radio stays on-channel for a bit, and then continues on even if the carrier isn't dropped) is the same one that's used to hold on-channel when the radio notices a signal.
SO, if you're listening to the local PD report a hairy incident, and the radio moves off to check, for example, the local repeater, if _anything_ triggers the squelch, it'll sit there for the duration of the same timer. By the time it gets back to the PD, everybody's on the way home.... The scan hold and restart timers should be separate....
I just checked RS' web site - nothing but the HTX-242 and a little speaker. I have one of the latter. It's bracket is a little flimsy, but the audio is decent if you don't overdrive it. I have an FT-1500M in the car, and the top-mounted speaker was a little much (sounded _great_) for the rest of the family, so I stuck one of those 19-318 speakers up beside the driver's visor. I can listen without the family hearing much. Sounds like my VX-150....
Stu.
|
|
K8LEA
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 11, 2003 21:35
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
Great, but I paid too much....
|
Time owned: more than 12 months
|
I've had an HTX-200 since forever, it seems. At least since it sold for well over $100.... I managed to end up in a hospital and was feeling well enough to "listen" when I realized that the only HT that I had at the time was configured in a way that my wife could never get the thing to me without destroying something. (As in "where did you _really_ plug in that charger?".)
When I got out, I bought the HTX-200.... I figured that I could use a new toy, and wanted something that I could take to the hospital if I ended up back there (looked quite possible at the time) _and_ would be small enough and cheap enough to not worry too much about. Perfect choice....
(At $20 I think I may grab another one....)
Two complaints - if you tell the radio to lock out a channel temporarily (very easy - one button while the channel is in use), you have to power the radio off and then back on again to release the lock. Not a big deal unless you have two others you want to keep locked out....
And, there's no way to take it further out of band.... (I know, I know....) These are re-packaged FRS or GMRS (can't think which) with, AFAIK, all the frequency control in ROM or somewhere that can't be changed. I _think_ RS wanted it that way, probably to keep their dealers from selling the "wrong" radio.
There was (is?) a case at RS at the time - not a very good one, and it required that you remove the belt clip (no great loss; the case was sold for "Family" radio and such), but it was good enough for the few months I carried the thing until I realized that the output really wasn't enough for most of my needs and I switched back to my old FT-23R. (Sanity went out the window and I bought a VX-150 a while later. I also stayed out of the hospital, which helped pay for that.)
Overall, a decent choice for very close in use - repeater down the block, or at a hamfest, where you _must_ carry an HT.
Stu.
|
|
KC9DTO
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 11, 2003 21:05
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
good buy
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
well iam in the city and hit some of the systems fine. everyone tell me that the radio has a good audio. so maybay thinking of hooking up a highgain and see whats happens. i like the radio very much and not a bad deal for $20.00 now iam looking for the htx-400 73 kc9dto
|
|
DJ8GO
|
Rating: 5/5
|
May 2, 2003 14:21
|
Send this review to a friend
|
|
What a bargain - I may even try 2m now
|
Time owned: 0 to 3 months
|
|
I got started in Ham radio the old fashioned way, with CW and home made equipment (that's a while ago as you can imagine ...), and I've never tried anything above 30 MHz so far. But when I saw these little guys for $24.95 I couldn't resist and bought the two remaining ones. I am fascinated that I can key up three local repeaters with something running on two AA cells, and who knows I may even try to attempt a QSO once I get the hang of how it's done up there on VHF. This thing has 30 memories (can't imagine needing more), and all the configuration options that one needs. I would probably have paid the price just for having a new reasonably complex toy so I can read the manual and fiddle around with it - but this thing looks good and complete enough to actually use it (too bad it can't do CW, but I probably wouldn't find any partner if it did)
|
|
If you have any questions, problems, or suggestions about Reviews,
please email your Reviews Manager.
|
|
|
|
|
