PewPewChris
Noob
This one has caught my eye in my research...
1st "Real" Radio
- Thread starter PewPewChris
- Start date
Hi @PewPewChris,
Nice radio… but, make sure you have D-STAR repeater(s) in your area and/or that local hams you will be associating with use D-STAR versus some other digital mode.
73, Dave K4EET
Nice radio… but, make sure you have D-STAR repeater(s) in your area and/or that local hams you will be associating with use D-STAR versus some other digital mode.
73, Dave K4EET
Certain radios are worth it just for their analog capabilities.
My Retevis RT-73 is great for FM although it is a pain to set up for DMR.
PewPewChris
Noob
^the analog version I assume? Are there mobiles that do both analog and Dstar in the vhf/uhf world?
Every DStar radio I know of does FM analog.
PewPewChris
Noob
There are so many different radios that do different things, for a novice, it is sometimes hard to tell. I was assuming that the Icom 5100a was a vhf/uhf radio with dstar capability
The 2730A I believe is FM only.
@PewPewChris, the ICOM IC-5100AD is both FM analog (the A) and D-STAR digital (the D). The ICOM IC-2730A is FM analog (the A) only. All ICOM and Kenwood radios that have digital capability are D-STAR protocol. If you want another type of digital mode (DMR, YSF, etc.), you have to look at other brands. 73, Dave K4EET
I thought this...
... was a "REAL" radio.
... was a "REAL" radio.
That is a real radio of the “Cat Whisker” brand…I thought this...
... was a "REAL" radio.
PewPewChris
Noob
The other decision I see (on the radio anyway) is also whether to spend the extra coin to get a "shack in a box" now to have access to HF in teh future or do I test the waters with a mobile vhf/uhf radio for the house and once I get my general, then spend another $1,000+ on a radio solely intended for HF.
I realize there is no right/wrong answer.
I realize there is no right/wrong answer.
Well as far as amateur marketed radios go.
Icom and Kenwood make commercial and government radios that use P-25 or NXDN.
P-25 and NXDN are more niche use in amateur radio though.
Yup… I personally like separate HF and VHF/UHF rigs so all of my eggs are not in the same basket should one break.
Correct. Thanks for clarifying what I said.
I have a 2730A in one of my vehicles. I really wanted an FM + DMR radio from one of the Big 3, but the only offerings are FM + YSF or FM + DStar in the amateur market.
The 2730A has an excellent receiver and very large, bright, text on the display. The menu structure isn't institutive for me and I don't like all the little buttons on the mic (and the non-standard way it hangs). Icom was also a cheapskate by not providing a mobile mounting bracket. I use RT Systems software for programming and have generally been satisfied with the radio for six years.
The 2730A has an excellent receiver and very large, bright, text on the display. The menu structure isn't institutive for me and I don't like all the little buttons on the mic (and the non-standard way it hangs). Icom was also a cheapskate by not providing a mobile mounting bracket. I use RT Systems software for programming and have generally been satisfied with the radio for six years.
PewPewChris
Noob
Whether I get a mobile or base station radio, they are going to be in my basement where I'm going to setup my stuff. Probably going to build a little wood shelf to mount the mobile radio under if I go that route.
I was just out flying my drone in the backyard trying to start to wrap my head around the vhf/uhf antenna situation...my spark almost didn't make it past my two dogs lol
I was just out flying my drone in the backyard trying to start to wrap my head around the vhf/uhf antenna situation...my spark almost didn't make it past my two dogs lol
I use a diplexer/duplexer at the end of my coax and use two antennas.
One antenna which is half wave for 2m, the other antenna half wave for 70cm.
PewPewChris
Noob
I'm in an HOA and while their policy verbiage doesn't specifical say I can't have an antenna, I'm quite confident we have many people that would have an opinion on the matter, just because they have nothing better to do.
I'm either going to try and string something up in a tree or I'm starting to lean more towards a specific part of my roof, if I could get a vertical antenna mounted on one of my gutters or something, I would only need like 5' to clear my roofline.
I'm either going to try and string something up in a tree or I'm starting to lean more towards a specific part of my roof, if I could get a vertical antenna mounted on one of my gutters or something, I would only need like 5' to clear my roofline.
It is. That's what I'm running in my vehicle. I use CHIRP to program it.
PewPewChris
Noob
Some sort of vertical uhf/vhf antenna attached to the piping on the roof, the gutter or some other way? I would then have to run the coaxial cable from that point to run under my back porch and down into the basement. I'd guess it would be 50' from point to point
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