Hello from Alabama

[jmaack]

Shelby County Area. Been listening to scanner for years down here. Saw that ham fest was last week online and got me interested in getting my amateur. No radio yet but have my old radio shack scanner from around 2004 2005 radio shack pro 94. Not sure what kind of radio i would get.

 

[K4EET]

Shelby County Area. Been listening to scanner for years down here. Saw that ham fest was last week online and got me interested in getting my amateur. No radio yet but have my old radio shack scanner from around 2004 2005 radio shack pro 94. Not sure what kind of radio i would get.

Hello @jmaack and Welcome to Radio Reference! You will find a lot of scanner enthusiasts and Amateur Radio operators (hams) around here willing to answer any questions that you may have. With respect to your first question, "Not sure what kind of radio i would get", are you referring to updating your Radio Shack Pro94 scanner or are you referring to a possible first ham radio?

If you are looking for a newer scanner, we would need to know what you are interested in scanning. For a ham transceiver, well that gets a little more complicated. Your first license will be a Technician Class license and that gives you HF, VHF and UHF privileges. Most new "techs" start out with a VHF/UHF handi-talkie (HT) of which I would recommend staying away from cheap Chinese radios and going with entry level HTs from Alinco, Icom, Kenwood or Yaesu. For example, Yaesu has an HT for about $70.

But before we get into specific models of equipment, please tell us a little more about yourself and what your interests are in both scanning and ham radio. That will help us to better help you.

73 (best wishes in ham lingo), Dave K4EET

 

[WB9YBM]

Shelby County Area. Been listening to scanner for years down here. Saw that ham fest was last week online and got me interested in getting my amateur. No radio yet but have my old radio shack scanner from around 2004 2005 radio shack pro 94. Not sure what kind of radio i would get.

I've had bad luck with non-name brand radios in the past, so the best advice I can offer is to stick with the major brands. As for something more specific, it's hard for us to know what you're expecting from the radio, which is probably the most important question. Also don't let some commission-hungry salesman bamboozle you into buying more than you need. You can always upgrade later; the extra money you save is best put into a better antenna set-up (the most important part of any radio set-up! Without a good antenna system, even the best radio will give disappointing performance).

 

[jmaack]

Hello @jmaack and Welcome to Radio Reference! You will find a lot of scanner enthusiasts and Amateur Radio operators (hams) around here willing to answer any questions that you may have. With respect to your first question, "Not sure what kind of radio i would get", are you referring to updating your Radio Shack Pro94 scanner or are you referring to a possible first ham radio?

If you are looking for a newer scanner, we would need to know what you are interested in scanning. For a ham transceiver, well that gets a little more complicated. Your first license will be a Technician Class license and that gives you HF, VHF and UHF privileges. Most new "techs" start out with a VHF/UHF handi-talkie (HT) of which I would recommend staying away from cheap Chinese radios and going with entry level HTs from Alinco, Icom, Kenwood or Yaesu. For example, Yaesu has an HT for about $70.

But before we get into specific models of equipment, please tell us a little more about yourself and what your interests are in both scanning and ham radio. That will help us to better help you.

73 (best wishes in ham lingo), Dave K4EET

Not looking for a new scanner I was looking at the yaesu handhelds. I also was cvhecking out the 2 meter kenwoods. I have been listening to gmrs 2 meter local fire ems etc. And anything else i can pick up.

 

[jmaack]

I've had bad luck with non-name brand radios in the past, so the best advice I can offer is to stick with the major brands. As for something more specific, it's hard for us to know what you're expecting from the radio, which is probably the most important question. Also don't let some commission-hungry salesman bamboozle you into buying more than you need. You can always upgrade later; the extra money you save is best put into a better antenna set-up (the most important part of any radio set-up! Without a good antenna system, even the best radio will give disappointing performance).

Thanks for the advise. I figured I would read on here before making any kind of purchase. Thanks for the reply.

 

[jmaack]

Really torn between mobile and hand held at the moment. Was contemplating a handheld with a second mobile antenna. Again still up in the air on it.

 

[KC5AKB]

Shoot me a email if you would like to talk on the phone .
kc5akb@arrl.net
Both types of radios have pros . If you have a place for a mobile I would say go for a mobile it make talking a lot more fun not worrying if you are in range of the local repeater.

 

[WB9YBM]

Really torn between mobile and hand held at the moment. Was contemplating a handheld with a second mobile antenna. Again still up in the air on it.

Where will you operate more often: mobile/base (with a power supply, a mobile can easily be used as a base) or portable/mobile? (with an external amp and possibly a battery eliminator a portable can easily be operated out of a mobile with decent results).

 

[K9DWB]

Congrats on the license. Take your time to decide on the first radio. Decide with info what is best by your personal use and needs, along with what your area has the most of in regards to the various bands, repeaters, and the like. I too would say it's probably better for you to stick with the better brands, but it is your choice what to buy. I would consider sticking with Yaesu, Kenwood, ICOM. But that's my opinion. Get more informed, ask lots of questions, and read threads and reviews to see what's best for you. I'll be glad to pass on what I've learned.

 

[chief21]

Really torn between mobile and hand held at the moment. Was contemplating a handheld with a second mobile antenna. Again still up in the air on it.

A handheld is often the first purchase for lots of new hams, but unless you're close to at least one popular repeater, it soon becomes apparent that a handheld radio can be very limiting. Handheld radios also do not work well in a vehicle. Sure, you can hook one to a mobile antenna, but this can be awkward in actual practice, and you'll still be limited to relatively low TX levels. A mobile radio, on the other hand, with its more powerful transmitter (and often better receiver), could be used as a mobile or base station. If you're able to get an outside antenna at a decent height, your range would be greatly increased over a handheld radio.
Your choice should be heavily weighted toward how (and where) you expect to be using the radio the most.
Once you decide on the basics, you'll then need to consider which type of rig you might want (single-band, dual-band, multi-band?) Radios that also have digital capabilities are becoming more popular, but there are different types of digital (and they are not compatible). Your choice could also come down to certain features or capabilities that might be important to you.
You've gotten some good advice in the preceding posts. Take some time to consider all of your options. Welcome to the best hobby ever!

 

[K9DWB]

@chief21 is right. I got an HT right after I had gotten my Tech license this past July and I just so happen to be about 5 miles too far away from the nearby repeaters. While the HT, a Yaesu FT3D is great, it still has its natural limits. Consider carefully before you buy.

I can carry on conversations only if I connect to my outdoor 9' tripod with an 8' Tram 1480 Dual Band while at the house. Had I gone for a mobile, I can have even better communications at all times, not just when the outdoor antenna is connected. So, when I get another radio that is not HT then I'd get to communicate more frequently.

 

[jmaack]

A handheld is often the first purchase for lots of new hams, but unless you're close to at least one popular repeater, it soon becomes apparent that a handheld radio can be very limiting. Handheld radios also do not work well in a vehicle. Sure, you can hook one to a mobile antenna, but this can be awkward in actual practice, and you'll still be limited to relatively low TX levels. A mobile radio, on the other hand, with its more powerful transmitter (and often better receiver), could be used as a mobile or base station. If you're able to get an outside antenna at a decent height, your range would be greatly increased over a handheld radio.
Your choice should be heavily weighted toward how (and where) you expect to be using the radio the most.
Once you decide on the basics, you'll then need to consider which type of rig you might want (single-band, dual-band, multi-band?) Radios that also have digital capabilities are becoming more popular, but there are different types of digital (and they are not compatible). Your choice could also come down to certain features or capabilities that might be important to you.
You've gotten some good advice in the preceding posts. Take some time to consider all of your options. Welcome to the best hobby ever!

That is what concerns me. I dont know if there are any repeaters even near me so beaing able to reach one would possibly be an issue.

 

[K9DWB]

RepeaterBook.com is what I use mostly for looking up ones that are nearby and other areas if I happen to go out of town. You can search via a radius distance away from a zip such as home QTH. It may be worth searching to see if you've any repeater nearby. Just note I've found a few repeaters that went silent but mostly it's reasonably accurate.

 

[WB9YBM]

That is what concerns me. I dont know if there are any repeaters even near me so beaing able to reach one would possibly be an issue.

If you already have a scanner, I guess you could program it to scan the ham bands (2M or 440MHz) to check for activity and take it from there (it's also a good way to see if repeaters listed in your area are actually on air / in use or just "paper repeaters").

 

[jmaack]

If you already have a scanner, I guess you could program it to scan the ham bands (2M or 440MHz) to check for activity and take it from there (it's also a good way to see if repeaters listed in your area are actually on air / in use or just "paper repeaters").

That is what i have been doing. I used to hear a spoekn voice from a repeater but i dont anymore. So it might not be active anymore. I work 2nd shift so it has been hard for me to listen and have time to write down what i find.

 

[WB9YBM]

That is what i have been doing. I used to hear a spoekn voice from a repeater but i dont anymore. So it might not be active anymore. I work 2nd shift so it has been hard for me to listen and have time to write down what i find.

Being on 2nd shift puts you out of sync when others might be using some repeaters (you've probably already thought about that); maybe you could set up an automatic recorder while your scanner is sampling some frequency, then check the recorder when you're home (or awake) so you can at least see if anyone's out there...

 

[jmaack]

Being on 2nd shift puts you out of sync when others might be using some repeaters (you've probably already thought about that); maybe you could set up an automatic recorder while your scanner is sampling some frequency, then check the recorder when you're home (or awake) so you can at least see if anyone's out there...

That is the truth. On thanksgiving i was up near birmingham and was getting K4VHF. Never heard it before. Might have just been out of range.

 

[jmaack]

k4vhf picked up very well near the interstate on Deerfoot parkway in Trussville. I heard it clearly to maybe halfway to i20 on 459. I have never hear it and I am from the area. so idk.

 

[medic9351301]

http://www.centralalabamaham.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/AL-Repeaters-PDF-From-Grady.pdf.pdf

 

[farmerjack_09]

k4vhf picked up very well near the interstate on Deerfoot parkway in Trussville. I heard it clearly to maybe halfway to i20 on 459. I have never hear it and I am from the area. so idk.

K4VHF has been in the area for years. I don't know how it would be overlooked with the wide-area it covers.