New to Ham Radio

[peacefrog922]

I am in the process of studying to get my Technician license and was wondering what would be a good first radio?

 

[wtp]

since most ham stuff can be heard on any old scanner, use or get an old scanner.
then ..
listen, listen, listen.
you them might find one band is busier than the others and also get to hear what they talk about.
even today some guy on GMRS just talked about reception, antennas, towers, amount of static it sounded like a ham chat.

 

[peacefrog922]

Thanks for the information.......most appreciated.

 

[radioman2008]

well,

most newbies today would go with a super cheap radio like a Baofeng, but I would encourage you to do more research.
today there's Yaesu's that use System Fusion Digital and analog such as the FT2D, older Icoms that do Dstar Digital IC-92AD (but Dstar is on the way out in my opinion)

when I got into ham radio 30 years ago, my first radio was a Kenwood TH77A, saved many hours of 4.25$ an hour minimum wage to buy it.
that comes out to be I worked 100 hours to get it.
it had a lot of bells and whistles, cross band repeat, vhf, uhf.


shortly after I got the 77A, I started being interested in Motorola commercial gear, MUCH BETTER Quality, more sensitive Receivers', much better rejection of Intermod, Louder, Clearer audio than many "ham radios", also different features such as MDC police type unit id. more modern Motorola's do P25 digital, and DMR
after 30 years, I still prefer the better quality of Motorola gear, and enjoy using the programming software for most radios.

my favorite radios i still use today
Ham branded
Yaesu FT2D (analog and System fusion) dual band
Kenwood 77A dual band

Commercial gear
Icom 4261DS UHF Portable (analog and NXDN Digital)
Icom F6061D UHF Mobile (analog and NXDN digital)
Kenwood NX5300 Portable (analog, NXDN and DMR)
Motorola XTS3000 Portable (analog and P25) i have one in VHF and one in UHF
Motorola XTL5000 mobile UHF (analog and P25 digital)
Motorola Astro Spectra VHF W4, W5 W9 (analog and P25 digital) (with VRS750 crossband repeater)

 

[GlobalNorth]

I second the recommend on the used commercial/public safety gear - Motorola, GE, Kenwood, etc. FPP [Front Panel Programmable] is ideal, but not necessary unless you travel a lot or live in a large metro area with lots of repeaters. The pro gear is often far more robust and less likely to be damaged due to drops or rough handling.

 

[KC3ECJ]

A BTECH(basically Baofeng) UV-5X3 is an ok first handheld radio.

You'll find the UV-5R advertised more, but that one doesn't have a good receiver to keep noise down for VHF.

The UV-5X3 has a decent or good receiver and transceives on 3 amateur bands. 2m, 1.25m, and 70cm.
The modulation it uses is FM and FMN(FM Narrow). Doesn't do digital modes(there's several kinds), but many people are into digital modes, many aren't. Though there are different trends.

As far as mobiles go, I like the Retevis RT73.
Does 2m and 70cm.
Does FM, FMN, and DMR(a type of digital mode). Lower to moderate priced radio too.
You have to do somel programming of the RT73 from software which isn't the most intuitive software. But after that, front panel controlling of the radio is easy for analog. DMR may require more configuring.

As you go up in price, there are QRP(low transmitt wattage) radios for HF, for example the Yaesu FT-817/818.

Look at specs, look at reviews on Amazon and eham. Look at a bunch of radios to find what you want.

 

[trentbob]

Personally, I would stay away from any CCR. We all know you're using one by the way it sounds but denial is a serious flaw LOL. Calm down everybody... just having fun.

Yaesu FT-65 for I'm guessing about a buck and a quarter is a superior radio built to the specifications of Yaesu.

It's so cheap but easy to keyboard program and you will be on the air with your local 2 m and 70 cm repeaters within an hour of opening the box and it will sound like you are on an expensive base rig. Just get an adapter to accommodate a pl259 for a rooftop.

From there you can spend some real money and buy whatever you want. I go with the commercial radio suggestions.

Slap the rubber duck back on the ft-65 and use it for things like field day, any other club events where it's nice and convenient to have a rock solid radio smaller than a pack of cigarettes.

Just my

 

[sonm10]

A lot of 2M 70cm is going digital. There are three - DMR, Icom's DStar, and Yaesu's System Fusion. I would lookup your local ham club and check what they use.

For DMR, get an Anyone or BTech?
For DStar, get an Icom or Kenwood
For System Fusion, get Yaesu

 

[belvdr]

I would never advise a new ham to get an HT. Get a mobile rig that you can use in a vehicle or at home. It will make your first radio much more enjoyable.

 

[sonm10]

I would never advise a new ham to get an HT. Get a mobile rig that you can use in a vehicle or at home. It will make your first radio much more enjoyable.

With a 12v power supply for at home

 

[nd5y]

A lot of 2M 70cm is going digital.

That depends on your location.

 

[belvdr]

With a 12v power supply for at home

Of course along with other requirements such as an antenna.

 

[jwt873]

Don't overlook getting a radio capable of 10 and 6 meters. Both those bands are available to the tech.

They've been making 'shack in a box' radios for some time now. They cover the HF bands as well as 6, 2 and 70cm. The Yeasu FT-991 and Icom IC-7100 are good examples. Although.. the price may be high for a beginner radio if you just want to try things out to see if the hobby is something to continue with.

If that's the case, you can save by buying used. Radios like the Icom IC-7000, IC-706, Kenwood TS-2000 or Yaesu FT-897 can be found locally at hamfests, or online.

So, not only will you have 2 meters and 70 cm, but you can string up a dipole and get on 10 meters.. We're on the upside of a sunspot cycle and conditions should improve in the coming years. When 10 is really open, you can work the world.

You can do long haul on 6 meter SSB as well.. But not nearly as much as on 10 meters. It isn't open as frequently. But, if you have any local 6 meter FM repeaters, you'll have access to them.

Plus, you can listen to the ham activity on the HF bands (as well as commercial short wave broadcasts). That should encourage you to upgrade to General.. And if you do, you won't have to go shopping for an HF rig.

 

[AK9R]

ARRL Labs recently reviewed the Baofeng GT-5R as provided by Radioddity. They found that it worked fairly well for a 25 dollar radio, would only transmit in the amateur radio bands, and did not produce the spurious emissions that other Baofengs are well-known for.

 

[scanmanmi]

I love my Yaesu but don't have a lot of experience with other brands. I would recommend taking the General exam while you're at it.

 

[vagrant]

@peacefrog922 The radio AK9R posted about is a very inexpensive way to get into the hobby. You can always get a better radio later. As to a digital mode radios, concern yourself with that later as well, as you may not have any digital repeaters in your area anyways. Also, most amateur repeaters and radios in use are analog which is what the GT-5R offers. Also, the GT-5R will work well enough whether through a repeater or simplex (radio-to-radio). If anything, you could improve the antenna on the GT-5R by replacing it with the Diamond SRJ77CA. You could also use that GT-5R in your vehicle by using an external antenna like a dual band magnet mount, or better.

Much depends on where/how you plan to use your radio. The suggestion of a mobile radio is a good one if you plan on typically using the radio in your vehicle, or at home with an external antenna. Still, at around $25 the GT-5R is a good start for a handheld and if you lose or break it, it was only $25. If you want to improve how it handles in inclement weather, put it into a zip lock bag.

 

[TexTAC]

My first radio was a new Yaesu FT-60. They have 15 year-old technology, but you can still buy them new. They are basic radios, built like a tank, easy to program, and have good, loud audio quality. Downside is they don’t have digital capabilities. I still use mine everyday for UHF/VHF repeaters and for scanning the Dallas police and fire departments as well as airports, GMR, and other conventional frequencies within it’s range. It outperforms my SDS100 scanner on certain conventional frequencies. I take it everywhere - home, car, backyard, garage, work, etc.

Like everyone else, after a while you’ll want more power, more bands, and more features. I decided I didn’t want a mobile radio because most of my HF use is at home. A base station was a better option for me. I ended up buying an FT-991A a few months later but never regretted the FT-60 and still use it every day. The only thing annoying to me is that a lot of the repeaters near me have Yaesu Fusion repeaters and the FT-60 can’t decode the digital signals -only the analog signals. Most of the people I know say it is still a very good first radio and recommend them often.

 

[Hamradiostuffing]

I would consider borrowing a radio and try it before you decide on what you are going to purchase. You are going get a lot people telling what they like but it may not be your thing. It will also depend on your area. Some modes are more popular in one area compared to another.

 

[chief21]

I would never advise a new ham to get an HT. Get a mobile rig that you can use in a vehicle or at home. It will make your first radio much more enjoyable.

I agree.

Many new hams purchase an expensive handheld radio, only to find that they are unable to reach most (or all) of their local repeaters with a handheld radio. Handhelds can be useful as a first radio for listening and learning, but most inexpensive handhelds can accomplish this... no need for expensive bells and whistles. Better, in my opinion, to get a mobile-style radio that will have a better chance of reaching those local repeaters and can be used either in your shack or in your car. And, as a reminder, don't throw the box away, just in case you might want to sell your starter radio and move up to something better as the hobby progresses.

 

[k6cpo]

Don't overlook getting a radio capable of 10 and 6 meters. Both those bands are available to the tech.

They've been making 'shack in a box' radios for some time now. They cover the HF bands as well as 6, 2 and 70cm. The Yeasu FT-991 and Icom IC-7100 are good examples. Although.. the price may be high for a beginner radio if you just want to try things out to see if the hobby is something to continue with.

If that's the case, you can save by buying used. Radios like the Icom IC-7000, IC-706, Kenwood TS-2000 or Yaesu FT-897 can be found locally at hamfests, or online.

So, not only will you have 2 meters and 70 cm, but you can string up a dipole and get on 10 meters.. We're on the upside of a sunspot cycle and conditions should improve in the coming years. When 10 is really open, you can work the world.

You can do long haul on 6 meter SSB as well.. But not nearly as much as on 10 meters. It isn't open as frequently. But, if you have any local 6 meter FM repeaters, you'll have access to them.

Plus, you can listen to the ham activity on the HF bands (as well as commercial short wave broadcasts). That should encourage you to upgrade to General.. And if you do, you won't have to go shopping for an HF rig.

Yes, but... Getting a radio that covers 6m and 10m is an excellent recommendation and there are some excellent suggestions for radios here. If you're interested in 6 and 10, just don't fall into the trap of purchasing a multi-band mobile that covers those frequencies, such as the Yaesu FT-8900R or (more likely) the TYT 9800. Both of those radios do cover 6 meters and 10 meters, but they are both FM ONLY. This esentially locks the Technician licensee out of 10m on these two radios because the Technician is allowed SSB only on 10m.