10 m

[braluca]

Which 10 meter transceiver do you suggest?
due to logistic reason (I can use only a vertical antenna with magnetic base on balcony) I am interested only in this band.
reduced budget
I am interested only on voice (no cw)
SSB (but also FM and AM if possible)

 

[alcahuete]

Hate to say, but you are going to be very disappointed in trying to do anything on 10m with a magnet mount antenna on your balcony. You would probably be better off hanging some wire, or a magnetic loop or such, which would cover more bands.

In any event, the majority of 10m radios you see (or 10m/12m usually) are really sold to be used as modified CBs, with extra power, frequencies, etc. The only one I would actually say is a ham radio is the Ranger. You have the RCI-2950 and RCI-2970. That covers every mode as well, though absolutely nobody uses 10m AM. It's all USB, CW, FM (for repeaters), and various digital modes.

 

[jwt873]

As alcahuete points out.. Pretty well all the 10M/12M transceivers on the market today target those who want radios that can be modified for illegal CB use. They will work OK on 10 and 12 meters, but there are some shortcomings.

One big one is the fact that many of them only tune in 5 kHz clicks and don't have the smooth VFO tuning that modern ham rigs have.

The 5 kHz tuning steps makes them compatible with the CB channel spacing, but not with the ham radio frequencies where there are no channels.. So, for instance, if someone were calling CQ on 28.352 mHz SSB, you wouldn't be able to tune them. The radio would go from 28.350 to 28.355 mHz.

There --might-- be 10M radios out there with continuous tuning. (But I've never seen one).. But, if so, when shopping, look for one that's able to tune continuously and not 'channelized'.

 

[AK9R]

There were some radios made for the amateur market that only covered the upper end of the HF spectrum. Icom IC-575 was both 10m and 6m. Yaesu FT-650 was 6 through 12m. Both are old radios these days.

 

[ka3jjz]

I know you said voice, but don't ignore digital. There's lots of digital stuff being done these days - even SSTV. I would be considering maybe some weak signal stuff like PSK31, FT8 or FT4. With a radio running without an amp and a simple antenna, it ought to be doable. There are even SSTV repeaters. When the band is open, you never know....and I understand Es has been happening in places on 10 meters...A loop on 10 meters isn't all that big and should fit on a balcony.

Mike

 

[braluca]

thanks to everybody
I want to operate as an OM on 10 m so if I have well understood better to select aHF transceiver also covering 10m

 

[jwt873]

There were some radios made for the amateur market that only covered the upper end of the HF spectrum. Icom IC-575 was both 10m and 6m. Yaesu FT-650 was 6 through 12m. Both are old radios these days.

Yes.. I just remembered the Radio Shack HTX-10 when I read your post... It was a dedicated 10M radio. Might be worth picking up a used one. They pop up on eBay now and then.

 

[AK9R]

I did not include the Radio Shack HTX-10 because, like the Rangers, it's basically a CB radio with a somewhat channelized VFO instead of a continuously variable one.

 

[alcahuete]

There --might-- be 10M radios out there with continuous tuning. (But I've never seen one)..

The Rangers have continuous tuning down to 100Hz.

I did not include the Radio Shack HTX-10 because, like the Rangers, it's basically a CB radio with a somewhat channelized VFO instead of a continuously variable one.

There's nothing channelized about the Ranger. Has a continuously variable VFO down to 100Hz.

 

[cmdrwill]

I can use only a vertical antenna with magnetic base on balcony

You ARE going to need a groundplane of at least 5 meters in diameter.

 

[ka3jjz]

A loop would be a whole lot better than a vertical in a restricted space - no ground plane needed and rather small too. Should easily fit on a balcony

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

MFJ has several such loops, and from our Loops wiki, here are a few more. Check the loops page in our wiki to see if there are reviews on them (a few of them do...). Somewhat expensive but likely to be more efficient than a whip that could stick out like a sore thumb...

PY1AHD ALEX - Alexandre Grimberg - py1ahd

PY1 AHD ALEX - Alexandre Grimberg - py1ahd

www.alexloop.com

Magnetic Loops – Alpha Antenna

alphaantenna.com

https://chameleonantenna.com/

MagLoop - Magnetic Loops, Small Transmitting Antennas

The MagLoop brand of Magnetic Loops was founded by Bob VE3UK in 2005. Since then he has been building custom magnetic loops for both amateur use as well as non amateur applications

www.magloop.com

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Missed one, darn it...

LOOP Antennas – LNR Precision Inc

www.lnrprecision.com

Mike