Do you use a Radio Shack Ham radio?

[KC2GIU]

Tell me, how many on this forum actually use any of the Radio Shack Ham radios even today?

I have an HTX-242. It's a solid 2-meter radio, but it has the mic cord problem at the moment.

 

[K7MEM]

Radio Shack marketed some pretty good radios. Most of the time the radios were made by someone else, and only had their name on it. However, they weren't very good in the repair area. The radios usually worked well. I have a HTX-100 that still works fine. I've used it mobile and in my shack. I made a digital mode interface that goes in through the microphone connector so I could work PSK-31. In the 5 watt mode you can make lots of contacts.

Martin - K7MEM

 

[jaspence]

I have a 2 meter HTX-202 and a 440 HTX-404. They are the old style larger HTs, but they are good radios. They only do the ham bands they were designed for and therefore the intermod rejection is excellent. Replacing the memory battery is the only downside as it is a coin cell and doesn't recharge from the battery pack or charger. You can still get batteries for them.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

I have an HTX 242 which I use as a backup 2 meter rig, as well as an HTX 202 and 404! I also have an HTX-100, which is a really nice little 10 meter mobile rig. I have had loads of fun with it when 10 meters is open!

 

[kd5vjn1307]

I still use my dads htx 212. Works great!

 

[robertmac]

My HTX-404 stopped about 2 years after very little use.

 

[wb6uqa]

2 Meter Amplifier

I STILL USE A RADIO SHACK AMP. 4 WATTS IN AND 30 WATTS OUT. THE BEST BUILTIN RECEIVE PREAMP. i CAN PICK UP SIGNALS WITH IT THAT ARE NOT READABLE WITHOUT THE PREAMP.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

I've got a Radio Shack digital signal processor unit. It helped a great deal when I used my HTX-100 and HTX 202.

 

[kh6sz]

Got an HTX-202 that still works, but is showing signs of age. Just recently had to replace the memory battery.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

Got an HTX-202 that still works, but is showing signs of age. Just recently had to replace the memory battery.

Yeah, those memory batteries do go eventually, but these radios are built like bricks! I heard that they may have been built by Icom for Radio Shack.

 

[SCPD]

10 meters

I have a ten meter all mode mobile. Works great but don't know the model. The plastic label fell off and got lost years ago.

 

[cmjonesinc]

I've had a htx420 since 2004 and it still works great. Had it in my bag and broke the channel knob off a couple years after I bought it but machined a new one out and it works great. Other than that and a few antennas over the years I haven't had any issues.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

I have a ten meter all mode mobile. Works great but don't know the model. The plastic label fell off and got lost years ago.

We might be able to help identify it if you post a pic!

 

[stantech]

I have an old HTX-202 that I still use on occasion. The only downside was replacing the internal memory battery with my damaged fingers & poor eyesight. Great radio for 2 meters although I wish it had more expanded TX/RX as my Motorola's, Vertex, EF Johnsons, & Standards.

 

[AK9R]

I heard that they may have been built by Icom for Radio Shack.

That was a common perception at the time the HTX-202 was on the market, but I believe it was disproved. It's been reported elsewhere that the radio was built by Standard and that Standard copied the battery packs from Icom radios of the day.

 

[KC2GIU]

That was a common perception at the time the HTX-202 was on the market, but I believe it was disproved. It's been reported elsewhere that the radio was built by Standard and that Standard copied the battery packs from Icom radios of the day.

Maxon was also a strong possibility being the manufacture as some of the Tandy company hams that speced out the early radios worked with Maxon.

As for Standard, ...

History of STANDARD RADIO COOPERATION

In 1966 the Japanese Standard Radio Corp. and the US-american companies Marantz have started a feature.

In 1975 renaming from Standard Radio Corp to Marantz Japan Inc.

In the 1980es STANDARD / Marantz have manufactured the most legendary STANDARD RADIOS, like C-500, C-5200, C-55 and C-528.

Up from 1996 STANDARD RADIOs got more and more special featers and got more and more expensive while other manufactures started to build low-price-radios.

In 1998 STANDARD was bought by YAESU.

Later YAESU was bought by MOTOROLA and released again after some years. Today STANDARD is still active in manufacturing radios as "VERTEX STANDARD". But only for maritime and commercial. Some modern radios still wear a STANDARD label. But those "STANDARD"-radios are just YAESU-types with another label like the YAESU FTM-10 = STANDARD FTM-10.

https://www.elkoba.com/en/wireless-radio-devices/standard-radio.html?cat=196

 

[TheSpaceMann]

Maxon was also a strong possibility being the manufacture as some of the Tandy company hams that speced out the early radios worked with Maxon.

As for Standard, ...

History of STANDARD RADIO COOPERATION

In 1966 the Japanese Standard Radio Corp. and the US-american companies Marantz have started a feature.

In 1975 renaming from Standard Radio Corp to Marantz Japan Inc.

In the 1980es STANDARD / Marantz have manufactured the most legendary STANDARD RADIOS, like C-500, C-5200, C-55 and C-528.

Up from 1996 STANDARD RADIOs got more and more special featers and got more and more expensive while other manufactures started to build low-price-radios.

In 1998 STANDARD was bought by YAESU.

Later YAESU was bought by MOTOROLA and released again after some years. Today STANDARD is still active in manufacturing radios as "VERTEX STANDARD". But only for maritime and commercial. Some modern radios still wear a STANDARD label. But those "STANDARD"-radios are just YAESU-types with another label like the YAESU FTM-10 = STANDARD FTM-10.

https://www.elkoba.com/en/wireless-radio-devices/standard-radio.html?cat=196

If I remember correctly, Marantz produced high end Stereo equipment n the 1960s and '70s.

 

[Kb2Jpd]

Tell me, how many on this forum actually use any of the Radio Shack Ham radios even today?



I have an HTX-242. It's a solid 2-meter radio, but it has the mic cord problem at the moment.

Hello from Adam Vazquez Kb2Jpd

You might want to Google my callsign, see what I wrote as a mod file, and then ask me that question again.

 

[KC2GIU]

Hello from Adam Vazquez Kb2Jpd

You might want to Google my callsign, see what I wrote as a mod file, and then ask me that question again.

What? How to fix the mic on a HTX-242?