Posted: 7/15/2007 8:22:47 PM EDT
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I passed my tech yesterday, and will be getting a radio for the truck eventually, but wanted to get an HT first. I believe that most of my comms in a SHTF with family will work fine with an HT (17 miles, line of sight is great, I'm overlooking the valley they are in). I want an HT first, since I see a more likely SHTF use being trying to radio for help should I get injured in the backcountry. An EPRB is a bit out of my budget, but I do pickup 2 and 440m ham repeaters in a lot of the mountain areas I hit crossing the continental divide. A gal I know was injured last year and laid on ice for 2 days until her dog brought rescuers (she's in better shape than ANYONE I've ever seen, a professional mountaineer), I'd prefer to avoid the same situation. I've kinda narrowed it to these, but am open to suggestions. I wouldn't mind being able to receive other frequencies (fire,police, other ham bands) if a radio offers it. Kenwood TH-F6A Yaesu VX-7R Icom T90A Still new enough that I'm probably missing features on some of these radios and other radios I've looked at, hence the RFC (Request for Clue!).  TIF, h |
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If you plan on using the ht in the outdoors under rugged conditions the best from your list would be the VX-7R. It's a great ht that seemingly does everything an ht can do and to some degree it's also water resistant. For the outdoorsman I think the VX-6R and the VX-7R are the rigs to beat. |
fixed all that for ya.  --- VX-6R shown below, compared with VX-170. antenna on VX-6R is a Comet micro-duck (p/n MH-209SMA). ar-jedi      |
You're awesome!! How did I know you'd be in with a plug for the VX-6R.... 
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| Congrats on passing your Tech exam. One thing I wouldn't do regardless of the HT you choose is go into the woods with the 209. It's a decent antenna in and around town but it's far from what I'd trust my life to in the woods. I think I'd look at something more along the lines of the Diamond RH77CA, RH707, or SRH-519. |
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For HT's my wife and I each have a Yaesu VX-170. I've got a few friends that have VX-170's as well and they love them. A Yaesu VX-7R was my first radio and although it was great, I like the feel of the VX-170 better. Most communications in my area happen on the 2m band. For about $120 new in the box, shipped to your door, the VX-170 is hard to beat as a no frills, K.I.S.S. radio. I have a VX-150 that I picked up used for $75 and I keep it as a spare. I use it from time to time but not very often. It's a good radio too and I couldn't pass up the price. I also have a Yaesu FT-60R that I keep with me most of the time. I was planning on getting a VX-170 and a VX-177 (70cm version of the 170) but decided against it when I found the FT-60R on another board for sale for $120. I snatched it up. It's a great radio as well. One thing I can say that I really like (and it didn't happen by accident) is that the VX-150, 170, and FT-60R all use the exact same battery back. For me, and for others here on the SF, I would think that would be a big lpus. |
plus, the VX150, VX170, and FT60R accept a 6 x AA battery case as well -- great for SHTF. keep 6 lithium AA's with the radio and you'll never be without an emergency HT. below foreground: FNB-83 7.2V 1400mAh NiMH pack, as supplied with VX-170. below background: FNB-25A 6 x AA battery case, about $20 from your favorite internet ham store. ar-jedi   ps: the VX-6R and VX-7R can optionally be fitted with a 2 x AA battery case. this 2 x AA power source provides only emergency RX for a short duration, and very low power TX for an even shorter duration. i skipped getting the 2 x AA battery case for my VX-6R; it simply did not make practical sense to me. instead, i use an external 4 or 6Ah gel cell and a power cable. |
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I recently picked up a Yaesu VX-3R. The receiver seems more sensitive than my VX-5R or my Icom W32A. Plus its small. So very small. It fits in my pocket and I forget its there. It's just like a good pocket knife. Not big enough for all jobs but its there when you need it. Pro:
Con:
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