Author |
Message |
Tinman
| Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 10:24 am: |
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Hey guys wish me luck, im going take my tech exam this weekend. What would be a good HT to start out with, I will be at the ham fest so I will be looking for one, Thanks Tinman, Good Luck! Lon Tech808 N9OSN
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bruce
| Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 2:58 pm: |
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Good luck WA4GCH Bruce |
Highlander
| Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 3:47 pm: |
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Good luck. I have seen the Yaesu Vx 150 2-meter HT for around 90 bucks a few places. That's alot of radio for the money. |
Daytonaman
| Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 4:54 pm: |
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Good luck....Don't stop there get into the code and get at least a General...You will never be sorry |
Moderator558
| Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 5:14 pm: |
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look for a dual band (2 meter and 70cm) its possible to do some satelite work with the ht on 2 meter/70cm let us know how you do. the kenwood is my choice The TH-D7AG can also be used for APRS(TM) messaging to send up to 45 character messages through APRS(TM) or APRS(TM) Internet gateways without the use of a PC. Additional features such as advanced functions and capabilities with the VC-H1 Visual Communicator and HF SkyCommand operation with the Kenwood TS-570 D/S or TS-870S series radios are possible. The new unique jog/cursor key makes navigation through the TH-D7AG features a breeze. The TH-D7AG now makes DATA communications simple and easy. 144/430 MHz operation 5.5 WATTS @ 13.6 Volts Built-in 1200/9600 baud TNC Built-in APRS(TM) operating software Dual RX on the same band for voice and data (VHF only) Large 12 digit x 3 line dot matrix display 200 memory channels w/ 8 character display PC Programmable for frequency and name (PG-4W required) 16 backlit keys (laser cut from inside) Built-in CTCSS encode and decode MIL-SPEC 810C/D/E water resistant 10 channel DTMF telephone auto-patch memory Monitor DX Clusters TM-V7A and TM-742AD DTMF Remote Control VC-H1 Visual Communicator advanced control operation
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Kb5lpa
| Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 6:02 pm: |
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If you really want the poop on handhelds, go to E-ham.net and look under reviews. You can find much information on the most popular brands. If I were getting my first handi,I would go for a dual band. That way, you can do a bit more than a single band radio. Do not neglect an external microphone as well as a plug for mobile operation. Good luck. Take a practice test or two on QRZ or E-Ham and when you are hitting the mark, go for it. 73 de KB5LPA Rusty |
Znut
| Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2003 - 6:06 pm: |
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Enjoy your ticket Tinman! You can get a Icom IC-V8 VHF HT for under $100 too. Don't forget 6 meters! http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?catalogSTORE:CKIE:prodR10-10122+ This rig has the modes and features you are already familiar with (without the echo, but it does have a roger beep.) |
Tinman
| Posted on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 5:47 am: |
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Thanks for all the input guys...i will let yall know how i do today. |
Sandbagger106
| Posted on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 11:13 am: |
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I've got confidence in you, I know you did well on your tech test Tinman, Way to go. sb106 |
Buck
| Posted on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 5:07 pm: |
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Took my tech test Thursday night and got 100%....Even surprised myself! |
Tinman
| Posted on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 3:57 pm: |
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Hey guys i passed my exam only missing one question...but there were no new radios at the hamfest, i thought maybe icom or somebody would have a booth there..but nothing...just a few old ones ...so im watching ebay..lol..anybody have some links to some radio suppliers out there..im looking for a 2m/440 at least...thanks guys.. |
Kiwikid
| Posted on Saturday, January 18, 2003 - 6:30 pm: |
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Best of luck Tinman,I do hope you have done well.Try around your local area radio clubs as there is got to be so many near new HTs sitting around gathering dust just waiting for you to come along. 73 Kiwi Kid : ZL1UST |
Kb5lpa
| Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 8:39 am: |
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Congratulations. Keep looking. Check out tailgate sales sponsored by a ham club. Check out the "for sale" sections on QRZ and E-Ham.Both of these sites have lots of stuff. 73 de KB5LPA |
Sandbagger106
| Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 11:48 am: |
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Hey Tinman, check out (on the web) AES and HRO. they will have good prices and will meet or beat and sometimes ship for free. They were selling VX-150 with battery and charger for $79.00 before christmas but now they are back to $159.00 or so. I think Icom ICT2H is on sale for $85.00 right now. It's a good radio. With the price of ham gear at an all time low, I would stay away from E-Bay and used equiptment and buy new. If you put it on a credit card that will double the original warranty you can get 2 years of protection instead of just one year. Go to E.ham.net and check out the user reviews for a radio before you buy and make sure it's not a dog, some are. Good luck and email me if you have any questions, I would be happy to help if I can. SB106 |
Alsworld
| Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 5:59 pm: |
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Tinman and Buck, congradulations on getting the ticket! Good to hear ya'll both passed with flying colors. Alsworld |
Znut
| Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 6:24 pm: |
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I'm with Sandbagger on that one. I wouldn't mind having 3 or 4 of those IC T2-H's. The 'sport' version is real inexpensive because it comes with a AA battery pack. Not bad if you have some rechargeables. Znut |
Moderator558
| Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 6:33 pm: |
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I have the T2H and I wont say its a "bad" radio butit can only be ran battery powered. no external power source available which means you cannot hook a cigarette lighter or a 12 volt power supply to it. Agreeing with ham gear being low i would go with the better equipment even though you may say "I WILL NEVER USE THAT" because you will ham radio is EXACTLY like CB in the aspect that you always want better,,,so do it now while prices are low |
Moderator558
| Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 6:41 pm: |
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ZNUT ill do this and keep the info "local" here is a link to the T2H but instead of that look at the bigger brother the T7H or similar http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/2mhand/ict2hmain.html http://www.icomamerica.com/amateur/dualhand/ict7hmain.html |
bruce
| Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 7:08 pm: |
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I have the IC-T2A it if a first class radio if you need 2 meters only i also have I also have the IC-T7H again a fine radio if you have NO 440 repeaters it will do you no good buy a 2 meter only one as for the sport one nothing wrong with it since there are many people who use the hand held only once and a while and dont mind buying a set of battreys now and then at work we have 800 F-4 icom radios and in 3 years we have scraped only a few VERY DEPENDABLE. AVOID older radios with out tone boards tone will be come standard in the near future. Bruce |
Tinman
| Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 9:28 pm: |
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Thanks for the info guys i was really looking at the ic-t7h, i really like that one im glad somebody mentioned it. Also my brother who is also a ham in mississippi has a th-g71a he said he would sell me so im waiting to hear back from him on it. Thanks for the congrats Alsworld, glad you made it home ok, i hope you had a nice trip. Tinman Cajun Country |
Znut
| Posted on Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 10:02 pm: |
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Roger 558, You are right on. However, I only used external power once or twice. After all, I wanted to get my feet wet and a handheld was the perfect means. Within a couple months I found a used mobile 2 meter for 75 bucks. 440 is neat, but I am not keen on buying low loss coax to feed my base antenna right now. I played on UHF and made some contacts, but never had much overall success. It boiled down to my coax. I was running 8X (mini 8) and was startled when I did the calculations. My 4 watts into the coax meant about .7 watts to the antenna. VHF on the other hand is better. Much bang for the buck. If I get a VHF/UHF rig that has all modes and a good computer interface, I'll buckle down and get the LMR400 or something and do it right. If I lived in a metropolitan area I would definitely have a 440 capable mobile, but I don't. On the other hand, 6 meters is the perfect compliment to my radio shack, though not as affordable as 2 meters, it is close nowadays and I can use the runs of coax I have available. Znut |
Tinman
| Posted on Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 8:56 pm: |
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Ok guys after alot of reviewing and studing..i ordered myself a new VX-5R..thanks for all the info and comments...i hope i picked a good one... Tinman |
bruce
| Posted on Thursday, January 23, 2003 - 9:32 pm: |
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GOOD RADIO! enjoy it! |