Recommended 6m and 10m radio
- Thread starter bkspear
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N0ZPK
Member
Motorola Syntor X9000 T71KJAXXXX has a wide bandwidth 29-54 with slight to no tuning required .
What modes? SSB? FM? Both? Mobile or base only?
NZ4ZN
Member
That, and:
How much power?
How much do you want to spend?
I have a Kenwood TS-590s that I really like and use for both SSB and FM on 6m and for SSB on 6, 10 and the HF bands. It will save repeater offsets and tones in the memory as well.
10 and 6 meter only rigs are far and few between. I didn't even know about the Motorola rig N0ZPK suggested.
I'd go for a full featured HF rig. Something like NZ4ZN's TS-590. Most HF rigs these days cover 6 meters and you'll have AM/FM/CW and SSB on 10 and 6. Plus, when you eventually upgrade your license, you won't need to buy another radio in order to get on the lower bands.
I'd go for a full featured HF rig. Something like NZ4ZN's TS-590. Most HF rigs these days cover 6 meters and you'll have AM/FM/CW and SSB on 10 and 6. Plus, when you eventually upgrade your license, you won't need to buy another radio in order to get on the lower bands.
A few esoteric, out-of-production, and hard-to-find options:
Icom IC-575H -- 10m/6m, AM/FM/SSB/CW, 100 watts
Kenwood TS-660 -- 15m/12m/10m/6m, AM/FM/SSB/CW, 10 watts
Yaesu FT-650 -- 12m/10m/6m, AM/FM/SSB/CW, 100 watts
Icom IC-575H -- 10m/6m, AM/FM/SSB/CW, 100 watts
Kenwood TS-660 -- 15m/12m/10m/6m, AM/FM/SSB/CW, 10 watts
Yaesu FT-650 -- 12m/10m/6m, AM/FM/SSB/CW, 100 watts
There is one Kenwood TS-660 on eBay for $299.95 + $19.99 shipping.
0 bids currently with 1 day 21 hours. $225 is starting bid.
Vintage Kenwood TS 660 All Band Quad Bander SSB Transceiver Radio as Is | eBay
0 bids currently with 1 day 21 hours. $225 is starting bid.
Vintage Kenwood TS 660 All Band Quad Bander SSB Transceiver Radio as Is | eBay
Fun to watch all these recommendations and suggestions flying in.... Without the OP ever clarifying what he wants. I guess that's the way RR forums work: FIRE!.... Ready... Aim.....
Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
FM
Motorola Syntor X9000 as stated above. Continuous lock from around 26 MHz to around 55 MHz and will put 100 MHz out for most of it (note an antenna was never made to match the full bandwidth of the radio). Comes in a trunk mount only option, programs in dos (the tray weighs about 30 lb and the only guy currently selling them you'll have to source a control cable).
Kenwood TK-6110-K2. This radio is only supposed to be a 40-50 MHz radio but can easily be realigned to 50-55 MHz. Someone discovered these 70W K2s could be modded to put out 55W on 10m as well. They program in windows and there is a fairly good step by step for these online.
6110s are a little more available and come in a tradition mobile dash mount option…x9000s are some of the best synthesized radios Motorola ever made…but rumor has it only 1200 low band models were ever made.
Can't recommend a SSB radio as I'm just not into that.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Motorola Syntor X9000 as stated above. Continuous lock from around 26 MHz to around 55 MHz and will put 100 MHz out for most of it (note an antenna was never made to match the full bandwidth of the radio). Comes in a trunk mount only option, programs in dos (the tray weighs about 30 lb and the only guy currently selling them you'll have to source a control cable).
Kenwood TK-6110-K2. This radio is only supposed to be a 40-50 MHz radio but can easily be realigned to 50-55 MHz. Someone discovered these 70W K2s could be modded to put out 55W on 10m as well. They program in windows and there is a fairly good step by step for these online.
6110s are a little more available and come in a tradition mobile dash mount option…x9000s are some of the best synthesized radios Motorola ever made…but rumor has it only 1200 low band models were ever made.
Can't recommend a SSB radio as I'm just not into that.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Agree. Haven't read Stickies but there should be a sticky on every post requesting poster to give as much INFORMATION as possible. I'm beginning to think that most of these OP are just trying to egg on people. Time to change people. While I don't have a specific 6/10m radio to recommend, like some have suggested, a multi frequency, multi mode radio will satisfy most for 6/10m and others as one upgrades. With more bands, modes it will open up a whole new world. In my retirement years, I might have time to listen to 6/10 along with the other bands. I also think what is as important as the radio, is the type of antenna, such as a beam being more effective for these bands than a vertical.
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If the op is still lurking.... and mode depending there's always the quad banders like a yaesu 8900 or it's very similar off brand cousin the tyt 9800. Can't speak for the quality on either as I don't own them but yaesu has always been good to me and I own one tyt and have no complaints. All of that pending on what mode you want. I don't think there's a lot of 6 & 10 meter fm action out there, but each their own.
Yes, I am just now getting back to all your awesome (well most of them) replies. I did not post much details because I am new and dont know what I dont know. I can add that I dont really have a use for AM, but would like SSB and FM, I'm not looking to put this radio in my vehicle, and I have no idea what kind of power I want the radio to output. I would like , however , to be able to make contacts further than a couple counties away, like multiple states or even a country or two. Thanks again.
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If you're wanting to get some distance on 6 meters I'd say ssb.Fm will get out but ssb will cover more ground typically. You shouldn't need a terribly high power radio. Usually around 50 watts will do just fine. Just remember the antenna and feed line are half the game. Be sure to budget them.
N1GJB
Member
I snagged one of those low band Syntor radios from eBay. I think they are priced a bit high buy it now (especially considering the lack of cables), but I made a lower offer which was accepted. Luckily I have a VHF-high Syntor in my basement that's not working at the moment and I can steal the cables from that. I also have the programming setup minus the cable, but I think I'll end up building my own cable vs spending more than the radio cost me for a genuine Motorola one. I'm a tech so 6 meters and 10 meters FM is perfectly fine with me... especially mobile. When I upgrade to general sometime later this year I'll get a proper quad band (10, 6, 2m, 440) mobile or HF rig for home use.
I think you have to have a General Class ticket or above to talk 10 meters FM. Tech 28.300-28-500 SSB
wb6uqa
Member
10m 6m 2m and 440.
I have a Icom 706 M2G. It does 160 meters through UHF. All modes including FM and SSB.
I have a Icom 706 M2G. It does 160 meters through UHF. All modes including FM and SSB.
Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
There's always that one guy who brings up the MkIIG. All in one multi-mode, multi-band rigs are okay options for some but they don't fill everyone's needs. Have to be careful with the 706 though as they weren't all HF-70 cm.
N8IAA
Member
On 6m, you can talk on any mode with your license. On 10m, you are limited to SSB in a very narrow portion of the 10m band.
Larry
N1GJB
Member
Yes that's right. There's a good chance I'll have my general before I even get the radio installed and programmed, so its not an issue. I have no desire to talk outside my privileges.
N8IAA
Member
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