Posted: 3/10/2008 1:20:39 PM EDT
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I'm looking at setting up a base station / portable and can't decide whether to just get another dual-bander or go full hog with the FT-857. I've already got a FT-7800 for the truck. I talk to a few friends locally mostly on 2m, and I don't have an interest in working DX, contesting, or anything of that nature. I don't want to spend a lot of time in ham as a hobby, having little enough time for my current hobbies. I'm considering joining ARES in my area and I think HF would be a good capability to have. I like the extended range of HF using an NVIS antenna, which means I don't have to rely on repeaters if SHTF. Money is not an issue. Having a large antenna farm is something I'd like to minimize. Any suggestions are appreciated. |
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Speaking as an ARES Assistant Emergency Coordinator I'd rather my members have dual-band, dual-receive radios like the FT-8800 or TM-D700/710 and most importantly to know how to use features like crossband repeat. I'd check with the local ARES group to see what they use. There is certainly a use for communication on the various HF nets but in all reality we use HF very seldom for ARES activities. If we're manning the hospitals or hurricane shelters it's all VHF. Having dual-receive in addition to dual-band (like the 7800) is that you can set one side to your current net and have the other either on another net (maybe an admin or a medical net) or have it scanning local frequencies. This also comes in handy for public service events. For example, this weekend we worked the largest 15K in the country. I was net control for the primary net but had the second side tuned to the medical net. If you're in an emergency situation where HF is used you will most likely be talking via VHF/UHF to the Emergency Operations Center (or similar) and they'll be communicating the information via HF. |
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Thanks for the input. That's exactly what I needed to hear regarding HF. I used to have an old Kenwood that would dual receive. Never used that ability much but I can see it being handy in an Event. I'll take a closer look at the FT-8800. Do you think it'd be a worthwhile $50 uplift to the 8900 to get the 6 and 10 meter bands? |
 You will see the resemblance* to JS's box when I finish it. ar-jedi's box is a bit too ambitious for me to tackle at this point. *by "resemblance" I, of course, mean flat-out ripped-off.  |