Input on base purchase

EricR · #1 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 10:27 PM

I have not been into ham for long but did get my Tech last year and plan to test for more later as time permits. I currently have a Icom 208H and a Yaesu FT-60R. I put up a 40 foot 25g tower last fall so a antenna will not be an issue.

Since I do not have a base in the house, I was entertaining the thought of buying a new unit that I can grow into. I am not looking at a top of the line unit but not bottom dollar either.

What is the most popular pick?

scottaschultz · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 11:29 PM

How much are you able to spend? $1000? $2000? $3000?

Personally I have been using an Icom HF rig of one flavor or another for about the last 10 years and I swear by it more than at it. Of course you will get just as many people who swear by Kenwood, Yaesu, Ten Tec, etc.

Scott

EricR · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 01:05 AM

I had not wanted to set a price nor did I want to get into any brand battles. Consider me a noob and help guide me to a good base radio.

If you were in the market for a new base with a budget of $1500 or less. What would you buy?

gewecke · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 01:07 AM

An FT 847 of course!
N9ZAS

scottaschultz · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 02:11 AM

Right now AES has the Icom IC746Pro for $1320 and a PS125 power supply is included for that price! Of course that assumes you have antennas on that tower. If not, you might want to consider something along the lines of am IC7200 for $1050, but with no power supply included. You can get an Astron 35A for $159 and that will leave you money left over for antennas.

My opinion is worth exactly what it cost you!

N6RDC · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 11:41 PM

I agree that the 746 pro deal is tough to beat...there are good used rigs available on eham for less
but the 746 with VHF as well is a good performer. I got a Kenwood TS 940 SAT on ebay that was an
estate sale for about $500 but it's older technology and new is a good safe way to go.

eorange · #7 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 08:15 AM

For brand new rigs, the 746 Pro is a solid rig. The Kenwood TS-2000 is also a good performer. The Icom 718 is also a great rig at the lower end of the price scale.

I use an Icom 706-MKIIg mobile as a base, along with an older Yaesu FT-1000D.

You'll have a tough time deciding on older rigs that aren't made anymore, simply because there are so many great ones and everyone has their own opinion. Check out the above 3 for starters.

EricR · #8 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 01:56 PM

Thanks guys! I will look into those.

megabikemike · #9 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 09:09 AM

The best all around rig is a Kenwood TS-2000. It blows the doors off of the Yaesu 847.
It will cost around $1100 - $1200 used.
For around $500 the Kenwood TS-450sat is probably the best radio out there.
The Yaesu FT-890AT is also a nice rig.

Unless you have resonant antennas I would get a rig with the built in auto tuner.
Entry level solid state rigs start at around $300
Hybrid rigs can be had for $200 or so. Tuning can be difficult for a newbie.

eorange · #10 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megabikemike

The best all around rig is a Kenwood TS-2000. It blows the doors off of the Yaesu 847.

In what ways? I've played with both at AES, but never actually used them.

kc2rgw · #11 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eorange

In what ways? I've played with both at AES, but never actually used them.

I agree with TS-2000 for the following reasons

It has two receivers for VHF/UHF so you can be on HF/6m/VHF/UHF on the main VFO but still monitor and then switch over to the sub VFO to use VHF/UHF FM for repeaters while you are doing something else on the main band. The Yaesu 857/897 cannot do this at all.

There is crossband repeat, so you can use an HT coming in on 440 on the sub VFO and TX out on any other band aside from 440 on the main VFO....so you can come in on FM on 440 with an HT and out on SSB on HF.

There is a built-in TNC, a packet modem.

There is 50W output on 440 all modes, higher than the Yaesus.

The DSP is IF DSP, the Yaesu is AF, major effective difference....this is your filtering of received signals.

The audio is incredibly flexible from narrow to wide with EQ too, much more so than the Yaesus

The interface is a lot more clean as far as menu and controls than the Yaesus.

I own an FT857D and also a TS-2000 among others I own or have owned.

The 857 is a great low buck intro radio, but if you can swing it the TS-2000 is a lot more rig for the buck.

Of all the rigs I've owned and own, the TS-2000 is the one that won't leave unless Kenwood comes out with a new tech revised model with all the same features.

The Icom IC-9100 is coming out at some point, but it's missing a lot of the TS-2000's features and price isn't released yet....likely quite a bit more if I had to guess.

blinddog50 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 01:14 PM

The main new drawing point for the IC-9100 is D-Star capability.

kb0nly · #13 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gewecke

An FT 847 of course!
N9ZAS

I second that... A good radio that does what it needs to do. I added filters to mine for better SSB performance, other than that it's pretty much stock.

You can still find them used for $900-$1000, maybe a bit more if they have all the options installed, etc..