Radios Back When...

[wd9ewk]

Looks basically identical to the HTX-202. Were they made by Kenwood? I don't even remember this Kenwood radio TBH.

IIRC the HTX-202 and HTX-404 were made by Maxon, compatible with accesories used on the Icom IC-2AT and IC-02AT (and other similar Icom HTs for 222 MHz & 70cm). AFAIK Kenwood wasn't involved with the RadioShack HTs.

I think the TH-x15 line came out in 1987 or 1988, and there was a TH-205 that came before the TH-215 I have. I think the TH-205 had been discontinued before 1989. The Kenwood HTs like my TH-215 were still made by Kenwood in Japan at that time. My original TH-D72, purchased at the end of 2010, was made in Singapore. Another TH-D72 I bought a few years later, along with the TH-D74, were made in Malaysia.

 

[Lauri-CoyoteFrostbite]

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Fun topic !




Hey, I am a Dinosaur ! *


Actually, I grew up in a ham-intensive family, so I never really need'd my own for a long time.
My first radio was an Icom 2A hand held that I still have. Its perfect for Summiting-on-the Air--- rugid and fool proof.



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(*least anyone take me too seriously but are still curious about this spark transmitter, here is a link...

http://www.tuberadio.com/robinson/museum/Sterling_Spark/ )



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[MTS2000des]

IIRC the HTX-202 and HTX-404 were made by Maxon, compatible with accesories used on the Icom IC-2AT and IC-02AT (and other similar Icom HTs for 222 MHz & 70cm). AFAIK Kenwood wasn't involved with the RadioShack HTs.

Correct, and the first lot of the HTX -202/404 radios were made in Japan by Icom, 1992 to early 1993, the latter ones were Maxon made in Korea until 1997 when the line was discontinued.
I bought three HTX-404s on clearance in 1998 for $29.97 each.

 

[Cognomen]

First radio was a used IC-2AT. I bought it because that's what the hams I knew at the time were using. Sold it and upgraded to a used 02AT. Last year, somebody gave me a 2AT and a 3AT, which I kept for nostalgia.

First VHF mobile was a new IC-28H. Sold it eventually and replaced it with a used Motorola MCX-1000. Was given another 28H last year; gave it to a new ham.

First UHF mobile was a new Western Radio (WR) commercial radio; can't remember the model#. One of the technicians programmed a bunch of them with all of the local UHF repeaters and made them available to the ham club at a good price. No idea where that one went; it might be in a box the garage.

First HF radio was a new Yaesu FT-707. Traded it in on a new 757GX-II when they came out.

 

[K5TXC]

First Amateur HT, Icom 02AT. New in 1984, I think it was $425. Eventually owned a 03AT and a 04AT. Mobile stack included Icom 27H, Icom 37A, and Icom 47A, Kenwood TR 9130 2M SSB, and Yaseu 757 GX.

 

[bumby]

Wilson Mark II VHF hand held radio crystal controlled, 6 channels.

 

[prcguy]

Wilson Mark II VHF hand held radio crystal controlled, 6 channels.

I bought my first new amateur radio in 1974, A Wilson 1402 (before I was licensed) and just found an ad for it. About a year later I got a job at a company that sold the same radio for commercial use under their brand name and I got to upgrade it and install a bunch more crystals for free. Thanks Pathcom!

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

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Fun topic !

View attachment 137650


Hey, I am a Dinosaur ! *


Actually, I grew up in a ham-intensive family, so I never really need'd my own for a long time.
My first radio was an Icom 2A hand held that I still have. Its perfect for Summiting-on-the Air--- rugid and fool proof.



____________________________________________________________________________________________


(*least anyone take me too seriously but are still curious about this spark transmitter, here is a link...

http://www.tuberadio.com/robinson/museum/Sterling_Spark/ )



.



.

There you go EMP proof, creates its own EMP. I bet it still works!

 

[drdispatch]

IIRC the HTX-202 and HTX-404 were made by Maxon, compatible with accesories used on the Icom IC-2AT and IC-02AT (and other similar Icom HTs for 222 MHz & 70cm). AFAIK Kenwood wasn't involved with the RadioShack HTs.

I think the TH-x15 line came out in 1987 or 1988, and there was a TH-205 that came before the TH-215 I have. I think the TH-205 had been discontinued before 1989. The Kenwood HTs like my TH-215 were still made by Kenwood in Japan at that time. My original TH-D72, purchased at the end of 2010, was made in Singapore. Another TH-D72 I bought a few years later, along with the TH-D74, were made in Malaysia.

HTX-202. There's another one that I hadn't heard in a long time. I replaced my IC-2AT with a 202. Added the high-capacity battery and kept the smaller battery as backup. Took it on many an adventure. Loved that radio!

RigPix Database - RadioShack/Realistic - HTX-202

 

[ladn]

First ham radio was Henry HF radio given to be by a friend. Helped me learn the Code and made my first ham QSO on 10M.

First purchased ham radio was an Icom IC-32 AT. Wasn't cheap and I had to buy the "optional" PL decode module. Whopping 16 channels (which was quite good for the time). Through an Icom promotion, I got a free hand mic and Icom jacket. Great, reliable radio. Unfortunately, it was stolen out of my (locked) vehicle about 8 years ago.

 

[n2pqq]

Icom IC-2SRA

RigPix Database - Icom - IC-2SRA

 

[k6cpo]

I've got several old "handhelds" that still work but there is no programming software available for them. It's really kinda fun sorting out the programming from the information in the manuals.

 

[Golay]

First ham radio was a Heathkit two meter mobile that I built myself. I googled a bit, looks like it might of been a HW-2036A.
Traded that for a handheld Heathkit two meter radio. Also googled, I think it may of been the HW2.

 

[Token]

My first radio was a home brew, 3 band, 3 tube, Novice transmitter, I think built out of the 1963 ARRL Handbook, working with a Hallicrafters SX-99 receiver. The transmitter is long gone (scrapped for parts for my next transmitter, a 5 bander), but I still have the receiver.

T!

 

[KE6JB]

Back in the 1990s and below, Buying a two-way radio whether it was hand-held or Base, a mobile unit would cost a pretty penny. My first two-way radio crystal-controlled, two-channel HT cost me about $400.00. Nowadays I can get a cheap 127-channel radio for $30 bucks. Yes, the cheap radio build is not rugged like the Motorola radio but it does the job. My second radio was the Radio shack Transceiver HTX 202 HTX-202. What was your first Radio?

I got my first radio in 1969. It was a HeathKit "Lunchbox." It had tubes and a crystal to transmit and receive on one channel, 145.5 (A.M.). I got it used for $50.
KE6JB

Two-Way Radio Guide

A guide to two-way radios: ham, CB, FRS, and GMRS. Keep in touch with your group or family, or contact new friends in your neighborhood or around the world.

2wayradioguide.com

 

[weathermedic]

I had a BK EPH (metal case) portable UHF 210 channel alpha numeric display. Paid over $1000 for it brand new. Weighed a ton but was a great radio. Still have it stashed away in the closet.

 

[jaspence]

Knight kit C-100 in 1963. My best friend and I lived about a mile apart and leaned out our second floor windows to talk. I modified mine with an external crystal socket to use channel 9. Knight Citizens Band Receiver C-100 Citizen Allied Radio Corp. | Radiomuseum I now have a collection of over 50 HTs back to a Motorola HT600.

 

[jwt873]

I started with an old HeathKit HW-100. I bought it used and it was assembled by someone else. (I was a starving college student at the time).

My first VHF rig was a Kenwood-Trio TR-7200 2 meter radio. 10W - 23 crystal controlled channels.

My first handheld was a Standard C-528A 2m/70cm dual bander.. It could be opened up just by entering a sequence of keys. When open, it would receive the 800/900 cellular bands (which were analog back then).. Lots of fun listening.

 

[Token]

I got my first radio in 1969. It was a HeathKit "Lunchbox." It had tubes and a crystal to transmit and receive on one channel, 145.5 (A.M.). I got it used for $50.
KE6JB

Two-Way Radio Guide

A guide to two-way radios: ham, CB, FRS, and GMRS. Keep in touch with your group or family, or contact new friends in your neighborhood or around the world.

2wayradioguide.com

There was the "Twoer" (HW-30, 2 meter), "Sixer" (HW-29, 6 meter), and "Tener" (HW-19, 10 meter). At one time or another I have owned them all, and I currently own a Twoer and a Sixer in working condition, as well as a second one of each of those in unbuilt condition, the kits are still complete and other than having been opened to check them out they are basically untouched.

I last used them on air a few years back. Other 2 and 6 meter, AM only, radios I use more frequently are things like the Hallicrafters SR42 and SR-46.

T!

 

[MILCOMM]

My first transmitter was several parted-out tv sets because I could not afford to buy a a Drake or Collins.
So the first transmitter I built was CW only at 50 watts. I used a Lafayette HA225 receiver.
While the new radios are nice, I prefer and use the Drake, Collins, Hammarlund, Hallicrafters etc.
Only real radios glow in the dark!