Noob Question About HAM Equipment

[MikeThompson]

Apologies for the silly question, but it's one I have to ask.

I've always believed that you get what you pay for, but also there are deals out there if you look.

While browsing the local classifieds for HAM stuff just to play around with, there seems to be a vast price and equipment range. I'm sort of half looking for some used equipment just to fiddle around with.

Seems like you could pay around $900 for this:

Kenwood TS-690S Ham Radio 100 / 50 Watt Transceiver | General Electronics | Mississauga / Peel Region | Kijiji

Kenwood TS-690S Ham Radio 100 / 50 Watt Transceiver with original box and includes Kenwood MC-60 Microphone Type: Amateur HF / VHF Transceiver Frequency Range: TX: 10-160 Meters + WARC Bands 17 and 12 Meters + 6 Meters RX: 0.5-30 MHz / 50-54 MHz Modes: AM / FM / SSB / CW Tuning steps: 1 / 10 /...

www.kijiji.ca

$400 for this

Hammarlund HX-50 Transmitter - Ham Radio | General Electronics | City of Toronto | Kijiji

Hammarlund HX-50 Transmitter. One owner bought in 1963 complete with original manual and other papers. Lovingly maintained by my father, it's been in my home for over 10 years and needs to be used by someone who will use it and enjoy it. Still works to the best of my knowledge. Local buyer only...

www.kijiji.ca

Or $150 for this

Icom Dual Band Handheld FM Ham Radio Transceiver IC-T7A | General Electronics | Mississauga / Peel Region | Kijiji

Icom Dual Band 2 Meter / 70 CM Handheld FM Ham Radio Transceiver IC-T7A with Icom BC-110A AC Adapter and Icom FA-1443B VHF/UHF Antenna. Original Box / Wrist Strap / Belt Clip / Manual. Tested and Working when using the AC Adapter $100. The battery needs to be replaced. They are available at...

www.kijiji.ca

Wouldn't they all functionally be the same? Is just the range different?

 

[AK9R]

Apples and oranges and kumquats.

The Kenwood TS-690S is a from the 1990s. It is a TS-450S with the 6 meter band added. I would be reluctant to spend $900 for a 30-year-old HF radio. You can buy a brand new Icom IC-7300 for $1100 from a reputable dealer and it will have a manufacturer's warranty.

The Hammarlund HX-50 is transmitter only from the 1960s. It uses vacuum tubes in the final amplifier. Since it's a transmitter only, you'd also need a receiver.

The Icom IC-T7A is a handheld VHF/UHF transceiver that covers the 2m and 70cm bands. Not in the same class as an HF transceiver or transmitter.

 

[AK4PY]

Apologies for the silly question, but it's one I have to ask.

I've always believed that you get what you pay for, but also there are deals out there if you look.

While browsing the local classifieds for HAM stuff just to play around with, there seems to be a vast price and equipment range. I'm sort of half looking for some used equipment just to fiddle around with.

Seems like you could pay around $900 for this:

Kenwood TS-690S Ham Radio 100 / 50 Watt Transceiver | General Electronics | Mississauga / Peel Region | Kijiji

Kenwood TS-690S Ham Radio 100 / 50 Watt Transceiver with original box and includes Kenwood MC-60 Microphone Type: Amateur HF / VHF Transceiver Frequency Range: TX: 10-160 Meters + WARC Bands 17 and 12 Meters + 6 Meters RX: 0.5-30 MHz / 50-54 MHz Modes: AM / FM / SSB / CW Tuning steps: 1 / 10 /...

www.kijiji.ca

$400 for this

Hammarlund HX-50 Transmitter - Ham Radio | General Electronics | City of Toronto | Kijiji

Hammarlund HX-50 Transmitter. One owner bought in 1963 complete with original manual and other papers. Lovingly maintained by my father, it's been in my home for over 10 years and needs to be used by someone who will use it and enjoy it. Still works to the best of my knowledge. Local buyer only...

www.kijiji.ca

Or $150 for this

Icom Dual Band Handheld FM Ham Radio Transceiver IC-T7A | General Electronics | Mississauga / Peel Region | Kijiji

Icom Dual Band 2 Meter / 70 CM Handheld FM Ham Radio Transceiver IC-T7A with Icom BC-110A AC Adapter and Icom FA-1443B VHF/UHF Antenna. Original Box / Wrist Strap / Belt Clip / Manual. Tested and Working when using the AC Adapter $100. The battery needs to be replaced. They are available at...

www.kijiji.ca

Wouldn't they all functionally be the same? Is just the range different?

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING until you understand what it is that you are buying. There are many different ham bands, and that is the difference here. Each radio does something different. If you want to jump into the deep end and listen (listening is how you learn), then pick up an SDR on the cheap (I like the SDRplay RSP1A). This will grant you access to hear anything all of the radios you posted can do and more. Then, as you do more research about ham radio, you can figure out what it is you personally want to get out of ham radio and then buy a radio based on your needs. Spending money blindly upfront is NOT going to result in you getting a radio that does the actual things that you will end up wanting to do. Good luck and welcome to ham radio!

 

[jwt873]

If you look at the pictures of the rigs you're posting links to, you'll see that one is a little thing that you can hold in your hand, the other is meant to fit on a desktop.

Unlike CB/GMRS/FRS etc, ham radio covers a huge range of frequencies from 135 kHz all the way up into the microwave bands at 250 GHz.. Power levels, (in Canada) can go as high as 2250 Watts PEP.

Here's pretty well all you need to know about ham radio in Canada. RBR-4 — Standards for the Operation of Radio Stations in the Amateur Radio Service

Just a note, if you're going to fiddle with ham equipment you can receive all you want, but you'll have to obtain an amateur radio operator's license to transmit.

 

[MikeThompson]

Thanks for the replies guys, I figured they did different things and for different purposes.