God, I hate the term "hammy". I wince every time I see it used. Anyway, to answer some of the OP's questions...
echo4929 said:
Hi, I am in the process of getting my Tech HAM Radio License. I have just bought the book and plan to take the test as soon as I can. I am interested in purchasing a MOTOROLA HTS2000 so I can use it as a VHF scanner and a HAM radio.
Just a few questions:
I think you are infatuated with the idea of a motorola radio. They make poor scanners, even though they have superior performance. Wanna listen to just a few conventional channels? Sure, they work fine. But as a scanner, you would do better with a scanner. Really.
echo4929 said:
1. Is the motorola HTS2000 a good HAM radio?
As previously stated, there's no such thing. The MTS2000 is expensive, hard to program, and has features more oriented to public safety than amateur radio. But if you just talk on a few channels, don't mind the expense and can actually get it programmed, and change the programming as needed when you want to, sure... they're ok ham radios.[/quote]
echo4929 said:
2. Will the VHF Motorola HTS2000 let me use all the HAM channels I am allowed to?
Not by a long shot. As a technician, you'll have cw privileges on some HF bands, phone on 10 meters, and full privileges on 6 meters, 2 meters, 223, 70 cm, 900 MHz, 1200 MHz, 2.3 GHz, and a number of other microwave bands. The MTS2000 will do 2 meters OR 70 cm. Pick ONE.
There is no one radio that will allow you to use all your technician privileges. Radios that will allow you to use much of your technician privileges will cost you around $1500-2000 or more. If you really want it ALL, including the microwave bands, you're in the tens of thousands of dollars. One radio at a time... =)
echo4929 said:
3. With a TECH license...can I talk to people in my area? state? nation-wide?
Yes, yes, and yes. The further you talk, the more you'll need propagation enhancements and better equipment.
echo4929 said:
4. The radio I am interested in purchasing, has this "FLASHPORT" or something like that...what is that? Do I need it?
Flashport is a Motorola trade name for upgradable, programmable features. No, you don't NEED it. Some Motorola radios use it, some don't. You're better off with a radio that doesn't use it.
echo4929 said:
If the HTS2000 isnt a good HAM radio...can anyone reccomend a good VHF scanner that has HAM radio captabilities? Thanks!
You need to find a ham radio with scanning capabilities, not the other way around. Ham radios have marginal "scanning" capabilities, and even receiver performance is frequently "not guaranteed" outside of the ham bands. You're really better getting a ham radio AND a scanner.