Passed the Tech

[elrod]

I took the Tech test on Tues. of last week and passed.
My license and call appeared in the FCC data base yesterday.:lol:
Having been into scanners for many years I don't know much about Ham radios.
Not wanting to make a big investment yet, the VEs said you can pick up a CCR for $40-$99
and maybe this would be a good way for me to get started.
I know everyone has their own opinions on CCRadios. Just looking for a little advice.

Chuck

 

[SteveSimpkin]

Congrats on passing the test and welcome to the hobby! For your price range you might also consider the Alinco DJ-500T 2 meter / 440 MHz dual band HT for $99. It is built to MIL-STD810G standards and has a much better receiver (more selective) than the typical CCRs. This may become an important issue if you decide to connect it to a mobile or base antenna. In areas with strong broadcast or paging transmitters nearby, the CCRs tend to get overloaded which can prevent them from receiving a desired signal.
https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/1656.html

 

[elrod]

S S Thanks for the info. I will definitely check this out.

Chuck

 

[spongella]

Congratulations on passing your ham exam and welcome to the greatest hobby in the world!

Pardon my ignorance but what is a CCR? That's a new one for me hi hi!

Have to echo the advice of SteveSimpkin though, Universal Radio is a great dealer, check out their catalog of ham equipment, they've been in business for many years and always a pleasure to deal with. Don't work for them, I am just a satisfied customer.

Have fun.

 

[bharvey2]

Congratulations on passing your ham exam and welcome to the greatest hobby in the world!

Pardon my ignorance but what is a CCR? That's a new one for me hi hi!

Have to echo the advice of SteveSimpkin though, Universal Radio is a great dealer, check out their catalog of ham equipment, they've been in business for many years and always a pleasure to deal with. Don't work for them, I am just a satisfied customer.

Have fun.

CCR = Cheap Chinese Radio

While some adhere to the moniker, I've had pretty good luck with the ones I do own. YMMV.

 

[Hans13]

Congratulations on passing! I second SteveSimpkin's suggestion of an Alinco DJ-500T. That's what I use and it serves me very well. I paid, I think, $79 on sale at GigaParts.

 

[Hans13]

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[K5MPH]

Congrats on passing your tech test,this hobby is a big hobby with a lot of little hobby,s inside it there so much to do and learn good luck and most of all have fun.......

 

[elrod]

Thanks to all that have replied.

Hans13, I see that programing software is available for this radio.
Can it also be programed by hand or only with software?
I am not even sure what you would program into a ham radio.

Chuck

 

[Hans13]

Hans13, I see that programing software is available for this radio.
Can it also be programed by hand or only with software?
I am not even sure what you would program into a ham radio.

It can be programmed either way and both ways. I find computer programming of radios more convenient most of the time for entering long frequency/channel lists and for changing some of the radio's settings. It's nice to have backup files to edit instead of manually using the keypad to make changes. I just wish it was supported by Chirp*. (*It might be by now but I haven't checked in a while.)

The DJ-500T is Part 15 (amateur only) and the DJ-500TB is Part 90 (commercial and amateur). The VFO on both can be opened up through the keypad and operate the same as each other afterwards.

 

[k6cpo]

Congrats on passing the test and welcome to the hobby! For your price range you might also consider the Alinco DJ-500T 2 meter / 440 MHz dual band HT for $99. It is built to MIL-STD810G standards and has a much better receiver (more selective) than the typical CCRs. This may become an important issue if you decide to connect it to a mobile or base antenna. In areas with strong broadcast or paging transmitters nearby, the CCRs tend to get overloaded which can prevent them from receiving a desired signal.
https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/1656.html

That's a good price for a decent HT. I have a couple of older Alinco HTs and while one has an audio issue (I got it that way) the other works like a dream.

Another good HT that is popular with new hams is the Yaesu FT-60R. These are priced higher than the Alinco mentioned above, but are also virtually bulletproof also, I had mine aboard an Amtrak train to use as a scanner a couple of years ago and accidentally bashed it against something. The windoe over the LCD is cracked, but the LCD wasn't effected and the radio still functions perfectly.

https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-007323

 

[elrod]

Thanks for the info gents.

Chuck

 

[737mech]

Suggest DMR radio

Take a look at the TYT MD-380. Yep a CCR but you'd have 440 and DMR!! They also have the MD2017 if you want VHF/UHF and DMR?