Equipment questions

[W3MPS]

As a soon to be new ham (next test session is Feb 10th)
I have been researching like a mad man.

Here's what I've halfway settled on:

For the Jeep/at the house, a Yaesu FT7800R

Camping, a Yaesu VX6R

As a technician, I feel that this will be enough to keep me busy.
After I upgrade my license, I'll get an HF rig.

With the local HRO store just down the street, sort of, from where I'm
taking my test, it simply cannot be more convenient.

Now I shall yield and open the floor to debate upon the following queries:

A. Any suggestions for a starting rig?

B. Any opinions on the two radios I am looking at?

C. Any hints or words of wisdom in general?

My mentor always said, "Old age and treachery shall always
beat youthful enthusiasm any day of the week."

So, those of you with more wisdom (and maybe less hair) I await
your advise.

[KC8TCQ]

I own a VX6R, nice HT. I also have a FT 2800M 2m mobile rig, another decent rig. For HF I have a Icom 706 original model that I aquired off of Ebay.

It all depends on what you want, how much you want to spend. For HF Kenwoon makes a decent rig, so does Icom, Yaesu, then there is Ten-Tec. You want to buy new or used? Want one with built in tuner, or you plan to use an external tuner?

[N8YX]

It's darn hard to beat a 706MIIG for HF/VHF/UHF mobiling.

And the VX6R/VX7R is our choice for an HT, especially if you'll use it outdoors. I also have a DJ580T dual-bander...it's a nice radio but the little Yaesus do SO much more in a smaller, watertight package.

[M0GLO]

I'm a vintage guy myself, I find it immensely cheaper to be able to actually fix my own gear.

But I do have a Yeasu VX-5R that I really dig, small and indestructable.

[N8YX]

I'm a vintage guy myself, I find it immensely cheaper to be able to actually fix my own gear.

Without the aid of an SMT rework station, yes?

A whole other dimension out there is the fact that there are programs such as MULTIPSK that has CW on it. It will send CW and receive CW. It works pretty well at the higher speeds. Tech's have CW privileges on 80M, 40M, 15M, and 10M.

I own an FT-840 which is a fairly good performance radio for the price and interfaces are easy to find. I don't really know where you want to camp or what your radio preferences are, but this is another option you can try to work with that does not limit you to 50MHz and up.

Good luck.

[W3MPS]

Well, I screwed up :D

I made the mistake of looking at craig's list the other day.

I ended up with a VX-6R and an FT-857D from an estate sale.
Both radios were a bit over a year old, in very like new condition,
and the price was nice.

I've been having a blast listening to some of the local repeaters on
the hand held.

The test session seems like it's taking forever to get here.

Oh well, guess I'll start work on building my antennas for the 857.

One last question. How long does it take these days for your license to be posted after you pass the test?

[M0GLO]

I'm a vintage guy myself, I find it immensely cheaper to be able to actually fix my own gear.

Without the aid of an SMT rework station, yes?

Most definitely.

A flashlight is the fanciest I have to get with my station.
Like I said, vintage. :mrgreen:

[N2NH]

One last question. How long does it take these days for your license to be posted after you pass the test?

Depends on how many applications are being processed. Sometimes its as short as 3 or 4 days, sometimes it's a week or more. Good luck. Hope you go for the General too so you can get on HF.

A really nice thing about the FT-857 is that it has more memories than the IC-706/703. The Icom has 100 memories while the Yaesu has 200. The 857 is also a bit more stable than the Icom.

Back in my day, to get my initial novice license, it was over 2 months. And we liked it!

(No. We really didn't) But really, it should be less than 3 weeks.

[kf0rt]

Back in my day, to get my initial novice license, it was over 2 months. And we liked it!

(No. We really didn't) But really, it should be less than 3 weeks.

Did you first learn of your callsign from the Little Print Shop? :geek

I'm not familiar with the VX series so I really can't comment on it but I have heard all good things.

For Christmas I bought my son a Kenwood TH-F6A which covers 144/222/440 MHz bands. I had the chance to play around with it a bit and I'm considering one for myself. Currently I have a Yaesu FT-50 for 144 & 440 MHz and an Alinco DJ-296 for 222 MHz.

[KC8TCQ]

I'm not familiar with the VX series so I really can't comment on it but I have heard all good things.

For Christmas I bought my son a Kenwood TH-F6A which covers 144/222/440 MHz bands. I had the chance to play around with it a bit and I'm considering one for myself. Currently I have a Yaesu FT-50 for 144 & 440 MHz and an Alinco DJ-296 for 222 MHz.

The VX-6R does 2m/222/440

[N9FE]

The best thing i can say to anyone new is, Listen Listen and Listen some more, check in to your local two meter nets, Meet the locals, If your invited go see there station, And alway's remember you learn something new everyday, Try to stay that way.... N9FE

Back in my day, to get my initial novice license, it was over 2 months. And we liked it!

(No. We really didn't) But really, it should be less than 3 weeks.

Did you first learn of your callsign from the Little Print Shop? :geek

No. Actually, the license came in the mail before the Little Print Shop sent out their advertisements to me. But I did buy Little Print Shop QSLs for my WN0RXE callsign.

[N2RJ]

Back in my day, to get my initial novice license, it was over 2 months. And we liked it!

(No. We really didn't) But really, it should be less than 3 weeks.

Wow, that quickly?

In Trinidad I wrote the exam in May '97 and got the certificate in September.

Then to get the actual license I had to go to an actual Government office, pay money and take a morse code test then get the license.

But that's T 'n T.
It's Dynomite.
T 'n T. It's your fave oh rite
T 'n T. It's a digital mode
T 'n T. License so slowwww.

[ka4dpo]

Do the same research you did before and determine what features you wan't and how much you can afford. Don't listen to people who tell you one brand is better than another, they are all good. It really depends on you and your personal needs and preferences.