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Author Topic: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?  (Read 291 times)

KA9GVL

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A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« on: March 06, 2023, 05:19:47 PM »

I want to buy a new radio.  Does anyone make a good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?  It seems like every radio I read a review about, the radio seems to have some flaw(s).  Is there a good dual-band mobile/base digital radio out there?
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W0CKI

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2023, 06:00:26 PM »

Go online. Search Icom,Kenwood and Yaesu. All have excellent dual band digital radios. Yaesu offers 3 year warranty.
Don’t let the reviews completely confuse you. Remember, nothing’s perfect.
Buy one.
Gary W0CKI
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WB6BYU

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2023, 07:30:42 PM »

And note that some of the digital systems are not compatible
with those of other vendors.

If you have a local digital repeater, you probably need to
find out what type it uses, and ensure you get a radio
of the proper type.

G4AON

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2023, 03:18:48 AM »

Unfortunately digital radios aren’t multi-mode, just FM and Fusion, DMR or D-Star…

As per the other reply, if you want to work via local repeaters you need to pick a compatible radio. For Fusion, there is only Yaesu, D-Star it’s Icom. For DMR there is some choice, but probably the best bang for the Buck is the AnyTone 578.

You might prefer to set up an access node, or hotspot, and use a handheld around the house. Whatever your nearby repeater is set to, can also be accessed via a hand held and hotspot via the internet.

A $20~$30 Chinese MMDVM board sitting on a Raspberry Pi with free Pi-Star software is what most “off the shelf” commercial hotspots use.
https://www.pistar.uk/

73 Dave
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KD2HCU

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2023, 05:59:19 AM »

There are so many dual banders that can be used base or mobile.  I have a Yaesu ft7250 which I'm very happy with, it was only made for a short time but was their cheapest model at the time.  I used it as a base station with a 12v power supply.  I also have a B-Tech 25x4 (aka Baofeng modified in USA) four bander which only has 3 useable bands, it is good for what it cost and it is my mobile.  Best radios are probably the big three Japanese Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu.
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W1VT

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2023, 06:09:41 AM »

Go to a local club and find out if there is make and model that someone is willing to program.
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N6MST

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2023, 08:06:23 AM »

I want to buy a new radio.  Does anyone make a good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?  It seems like every radio I read a review about, the radio seems to have some flaw(s).  Is there a good dual-band mobile/base digital radio out there?

Just get an Icom ID-5100 or IC-2730. They are both current production and as a bonus they both have full duplex capabilities so they make good satellite radios for the LEO FM birds. You may not be a satellite guy but with one of these radios you at least have the ability to try it out and get hooked like everyone who works satellites ends up :)
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K6CPO

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2023, 09:56:05 AM »

Go online. Search Icom,Kenwood and Yaesu. All have excellent dual band digital radios. Yaesu offers 3 year warranty.
Don’t let the reviews completely confuse you. Remember, nothing’s perfect.
Buy one.
Gary W0CKI

And most times it's only the negative reviews that get posted. Those who don't have any issues with the radio are too busy using it to write a review.
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K6CPO

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2023, 09:58:59 AM »

Go to a local club and find out if there is make and model that someone is willing to program.

This needs to be rephrased to "Go to a local club and find if there is make and model that someone is willing to teach you how to program."  You're never going to learn anything if you have others do it for you.
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G4AON

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2023, 11:24:30 AM »

This needs to be rephrased to "Go to a local club and find if there is make and model that someone is willing to teach you how to program."  You're never going to learn anything if you have others do it for you.
Icom and AnyTone include free software for the products I have (IC-9700, ID-5100 and ID-51 from Icom, AnyTone 878 DMR hand held). Not sure about Yaesu.

The Icom programming lead is a straightforward RS232 9 pin plug to 2.5mm stereo jack plug, the wiring diagram is in the Icom manuals.

Some users prefer to buy RT Systems programming software, but it is straightforward to use the free software that the manufacturer provides.

73 Dave
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K6CPO

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Re: A good dual-band mobile/base digital radio?
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2023, 10:55:47 AM »

This needs to be rephrased to "Go to a local club and find if there is make and model that someone is willing to teach you how to program."  You're never going to learn anything if you have others do it for you.
Icom and AnyTone include free software for the products I have (IC-9700, ID-5100 and ID-51 from Icom, AnyTone 878 DMR hand held). Not sure about Yaesu.

The Icom programming lead is a straightforward RS232 9 pin plug to 2.5mm stereo jack plug, the wiring diagram is in the Icom manuals.

Some users prefer to buy RT Systems programming software, but it is straightforward to use the free software that the manufacturer provides.

73 Dave


Yaesu also provides free software these days. The first time I tried to use their software to program one of their Fusion HTs, the software turned out to be a pile of crap. I dumped it, bought the RT Systems software and never looked back. I still see lots of forum posts about the difficulties with using Yaesu software, but never see anyone complaining about RT.
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