Choosing a Radio*

*I don’t have one yet

Where to Start? Primary use Location of shack Price range Technical savvy Long term goals

Primary Use Volunteer work1

Local Communication2

Emergency Communications3,4

Long Distant Contacts

Location of Shack House Apartment Car Off the grid

Other issues Cost Technical Savvy Long Term Goals

Rig Type Handy Talkie

Mobile Unit

Base Station

Companies Icom Yaesu Alinco Kenwood Elecraft Others …

Handy Talkies How many bands?

6 m, 2 m, 70 cm, and 220 MHz. Houston - 2 m and 70 cm repeaters 6 m has sporadic E layer progation Extra features

GPS APRS DTFM Memory Channels

Handy Talkies

Dual bander US companies very similar

Menu logic differences Receive capabilities vary

Wideband receiver? Cheaper Radios and their caveats

Mobile Stations

How many bands? Dual band, or more … Higher power Antenna

Tuner Accessories

Base Stations VHF/UHF? Placement of Antennas Power supplies Grounding

Beyond … Amplifiers Antenna Software Contests Clubs Specialties

References

1. Harris County ARES MS-150

2. Harris County Frequencies

3. Southeast Harris County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Emergency Communications Plan

4. ARES Go Kit

5. Silver, David. The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual. ARRL Newington, CT 2008

Example: Cheap HTJingtong JT-208 Asiaradiosales.com Tx: 136-172 MHz (not limited to 144-148 MHz)

No button labels, may have modify case. $53.90 + shipping Manual Eham review

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Example: Expensive HTYaesu VX-8R 4 band Tx - Wideband Rx All the bells and whistles

APRS Bluetooth capable Memory channels with names Monitor 2 Ham frequencies and one AM/FM station at one time Barometric sensor

Well written manual UniversalRadio.com $370 + shipping

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Example: Mobile HF/UHF/VHF

Yeasu FT-857 HF + 6m + 2m + 70cm All mode Computer controllable UniversalRadio.com $700 radio + $360 ATAS-120 + free

head separation kit

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QuickTime™ and a decompressor

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Example: Base Station HF/UHF/VHF

Kenwood TS-480 HF+6m+2m+70cm 100 Watts Remote Head UniversalRadio.com $1,000 radio + $120 power supply +

antenna