Ham Radio Advice Needed

[Andrew Revering]

I am upgrading my ham from a 2 meter to ... ?

I'm looking for your advice/suggestions in the form of brand names and model numbers. I'm not a big ham radio user, so I don't need the uber-ham radio. But I would like the following features if possible:

- Dual Band (not necessarily 2 bands at the same time, but possibly)
- Detachable face plate so I can just put the face in the front with me, radio in the back hidden
- Weather radio alarm on it... preferably one that is known to monitor all wx frequencies and pick up an alert tone on any of those channels.

One thing I'm concerned with is if the radio has the wx alarm on it, that it does not interrupt communication by flipping over every few seconds to check frequencies causing a dead second or two while it checks in the middle of my conversation/monitoring other frequencies.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Andy

 

[Brandon Sullivan]

Hey Man.. Well my suggestions right off hand would be the

Kenwood TMD710A

Yaesu FT 7800 R

both are UHF/VHF with wx alert.

However, I am unsure on how they scan for weather alert. I know what you mean though, my FT-2800 is the same way, every 5 seconds it switches over. Im always afraid I will miss something.. Hope these help. There are many others, these were just my top choices..

 

[David Drummond]

If you can find one (even used) the Icom 2720h is SWEET for the price. The have replaced that model with a newer, much more expensive model, but even a new one of 2720h should be around $350. We have picked these up on ebay used (and in practicaly new condition I might add) for as little as $250.

It's dual band. Easily modded if you want the TX/RX opened up, and comes with the faceplace relocation kit so you don't have to buy that separate.

Also has the NOAA WX radio frequencies built in to their own wx channels. It has the alarm, but you can disable it.

 

[JR Hehnly]

I've had the Kenwood TM-G707A for about 4 years, I think. It does not have the WX alerting. I didn't buy the detachable face kit, I just soldered my own wires directly to the circuit boards and mounted the main unit under the seat. No permanent damage if I ever decide to make it original again. This one is easy to mod for extended TX/RX coverage, just make sure you don't accidentally broadcast over the WX radio frequencies.
http://www.rffun.com/catalog/fm_txvrs/1621.html

Here is the face mounted above my shift lever

 

[Jeff Smith]

I use an Icom IC-207H. It is a dual bander but has no alarm. That's ok, I use my handheld or my scanner for wx frequencies and leave the IC-207H for HAM Tx & Rx.
These radios are out of production but their new model is an IC-208H.
Eham.net is a great HAM site to fish around on......

 

[Chris Nuttall]

The Yaesu FT-8800 is probably the best dual-band unit I've seen. If you want to dabble in a bit of HF, it's cousin the 8900 is a quad-band. Neither have the Wx Alert feature, but have everything else you wanted.

I didn't buy the remote kit for the 8800, but it's easy to do it yourself. The faceplate attaches and basically connects to the main unit with a telephone cable. All I did was buy a 20' cable at Ace Hardware for <$10, compare the color connectors between the two, and make the appropriate wires changes on the new cable. Basically, just switch the order of the colors to match the Yaesu cable. IIRC, you only have to do it to one end because the Yaesu cable twists.

But I digress...highly recommend the Yaesu FT-8800. It has all the features you want except for the Wx Alert. Transmits and receives great, great sound quality. Nice rig.

 

[Jim Hunt]

Andrew,

I will start off and mention I have the FT-8900 that Chris mentions. It is quad band with dual receive capabilities. I picked it up last year about this time at a hamfest. I went to buy the FT-8800 but nobody had one and I went for the next model up.

Honestly it was not worth the extra expense. I have never heard anyone on 10 meters and only once on 6 meters but was never able to make contact. The rig only does FM and 10M and 6M are usually SSB bands. (Also the technician license does not include all of 10 meters and the portions set aside in the band plan for FM and that the FT-8900 covers are out of the technician’s area.)

It also requires an expensive ($100) quad band antenna which is ok but not great in 2 meters and 70 centimeters. Other problems are the antenna is tall and doesn’t flex so parking in the garage means getting in and out to fold it over or back up. Of course I could spend more money and get an electric fold over kit but…

On the plus side the FT-8900 is an excellent rig and I am sure the FT-8800 would be a perfect radio. The capability to monitor two frequencies at once is great. For example, in my area we many times chat on one repeater when in the field spotting while another repeater is used as official net control. This keeps the net control very professional but newbies can get guidance on the talk around from others.

There are regular scans for all channels programmed or priority scans or both. For example I keep my radio on my VHF work frequency while priority scanning the ½ dozen local repeaters when I am driving around town during work hours. (I have not opened it up to extend the transmit range.) Other times I scan all simplex and several counties of repeaters on one side and the local repeaters on the other. (Ham radios in general never scan very fast.)

I also enjoy having an Icom single band radio at home for 2 meters. It is the IC-2200H and has plenty of power includes a WX scan. However it does break over ever few seconds to check causing a drop out of the other monitored frequency. Of course no SAME code capabilities should you want them.

Having both major brands of radios in mobile and also in HTs, I can say one thing for sure. Icom is expensive for programming software and cables while Yeasu is just the opposite. I really like being able to program my radios (including scanners) with a computer and the cost is more than double for Icom equipment.

If you can get to a hamfest, I suggest it. If a couple of new dealers are there, they usually can be pretty competitive with pricing and you can save a lot. I save 25 - 30% on my new radios last fall at the hamfest in Ft Wayne, IN.

Don’t forget the antenna. It can make or break it on reception. A good one is worth its weight in gold.

 

[Jim Hunt]

I will follow up and say the FT-7800 is dual band but not dual receive and is much less expensive. It does have one advantage over the 8800/8900 models, lighted buttons. I have more than once bumped the wrong button in the dark.

 

[Caleb Lawrence]

I've had no problems with the Yaesu FT-8900R. Had one since 2004. The Comet UHV-4 antenna has taken a fair share of abuse, as well.

 

[Tony Laubach]

I'll throw a plug in for the FT-8800 as well as I've used one for a couple of years and think its great. Faceplate is detachable and I actually got the separation kit free with the purchase.

http://www.hamradio.com/

Check with the website listed above; they have the radio listed for $374.95 w/ the free kit. That's a good hundred and change cheaper than what I paid a couple years ago. Just punch in FT-8800 in the model search and it should come right up.

Ham Radio is a good source for purchasing these radios, and there are obviously many recommendations of this series, so with the price and free kit, I would imagine it hard to find a better deal.

Good luck!

 

[Eric Friedebach]

I’ve been considering upgrading from a FT-2800 to a FT-7800. Both have a WX alert feature, but I’ve never found it of much use for the reasons Brandon noted. A FT-8800 may be my final choice as well.

Andy, one thing you may want to consider is staying with the same brand of radio that you’ve been using. I’ve stuck with Yaesu since the menu setup is very similar among the different models. I’m a very infrequent ham radio user, so moving over to a different manufacturer would put me at the bottom of the learning curve all over again.

 

[Joe Dorn]

I am responsible for a thirteen hospital network, soon to be sixteen. I also make reccommendations for several local emergency response agencies. The initial radio of choice was the ICOM 2720 now out of production. We purchased an additional ten of them before the new ones dissappeared.

We are now changing over to the Yaesu 8800 for new installs. I have not yet had hands on with one but the specs are very close to the 2720.

The replacement for rhe ICOM 2720 is the ICOM 2820. It is altogether too expensive for what it brings to the table.

The beauty of these two radios (2720 and 8800) is that they are true dual banders in that you can monitor two frequencies at the same time or monitor one station and scan on the other. during nets I have our local wide area repeater on one side and scan the other repeaters and public service (FAA, Police and Fire) on the other.

BTW, the FAA Control stations are great for getting pilot visual reports from 30,000 feet. They can see about a hundred miles on a good day.

 

[david diehl]

The beauty of these two radios (2720 and 8800) is that they are true dual banders in that you can monitor two frequencies at the same time or monitor one station and scan on the other. during nets I have our local wide area repeater on one side and scan the other repeaters and public service (FAA, Police and Fire) on the other.

BTW, the FAA Control stations are great for getting pilot visual reports from 30,000 feet. They can see about a hundred miles on a good day.

I have to correct you on a true dual bander,
A True duel bander has seperate finals for the VHF and UHF bands, the 2720 does not have this.
I lost my finals eairler this year in my 2720, and The replacement was $65.00


On the other hand, Talking about the 2820
It is doubl what the price of the 2720 was, however you ahve to remember, it is already set up for digital operations,, plus other options, when I upgrade my 2720, I am going to be getting the 2820

 

[Joe Dorn]

We will just have to agree to disgree on what 'true' dual bander means. I run both VHF and UHF on one side and monitor my repeater on the other. If it stops on a UHF station I can talk to the station it and if it stops on a VHF station, I can talk to it... Both VHF and UHF are running on the 'B" side at the same time... You can mix and match to your hearts content.

My second most common configuration is to have packet on the 'B' side and scanning or monitoring on the 'A' side. The 'B' side is acting as a digi. I have a rather long document covering the choice considerations I had when the decision was initally made several years ago. If you would like a copy send me a private request... [email protected]...

As far as the 2820h is concerned, It is ready to have DSTAR capabilities added to it but by the time you are through you will have about a thousand dollars tied up in it and currently very few DSTAR capable repeaters in the countryside outside of the metropolitan areas.

Current HRO prices: 2820h ($650) + UT-123 ($300) total = $950. If you order both at the same time you get a $50 dollar discount.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

Sorry for digging up a dieing thread, but figured it would be better than starting yet another whole thread on Ham Radios. I'm about to buy a ham radio (why? I don't know, with cell phones they seem almost useless but I have this Christmas money I have to spend and I suppose it will be handy while convoying) I think I'm just going to go with the el cheapo Icom 2200H; my question is what antenna do I buy. My knowledge of hams is Zippo, I know about enough to set it to a frequency push the button and talk, so when looking at antennas I'm pretty clueless as to what I need, will someone please point me to a Mag Mount antenna (preferably short) that will work well with the non Dual Band IC 2200H? Thanks.