Posted: 2/14/2009 11:22:33 AM EDT
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I'm interested in getting a short-wave radio and considering future hurricanes it would be nice to have a hand held or backpack portable so I can toss it in a bag and go. I know next to nothing about Short-wave communications but after reading around a bit it looks like Yaesu has some of the best options.
At this point I'm looking at the following. FT-857D FT-897D FT-817ND VX-8R VX-7R I'm just wondering if anyone has any opinions on those units or others I should be considering along with insight regarding which one would be a better choice. Talk about separating the wheat from the chaff, your sure get a lot of bum results when searching for short-wave info. |
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If you want a transciever, that menas you want to transmit.
So first you need a ham license. Visit the ham radio forum here for some clear answers. Do your homework, get your general Class ham ticket, visit some local hamfests and check the radios out in person before you buy. |
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If you want a transciever, that menas you want to transmit. So first you need a ham license. Visit the ham radio forumfor some clear answers. Do your hoemwork, get your general Class ham ticket, visist some locla hamfests and check the radios out in person before you buy. +1 +1 +1 |
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If you want a transciever, that menas you want to transmit. So first you need a ham license. Visit the ham radio forumfor some clear answers. Do your hoemwork, get your general Class ham ticket, visist some locla hamfests and check the radios out in person before you buy. +1 +1 +1  Thanks for the heads up.
How could I be so naive to think our government hadn't concocted some manner to pilfer/extort money out of every possible form of distance communication, what was I thinking. 
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How could I be so naive to think our government hadn't concocted some manner to pilfer/extort money out of every possible form of distance communication, what was I thinking.
$14 is the cost of the highest license. 
It's an international government thing - the HF radios are heard around the world. |
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How could I be so naive to think our government hadn't concocted some manner to pilfer/extort money out of every possible form of distance communication, what was I thinking.
By 1914 or so, radio experimenters and the government had realized that if nothing was done to divide up the band and regulate use, radio would be completely useless for anything. (In reality, it was probably the fact that it would be useless for the military, since commercial radio was still an imaginary thing at that point.) When you can take a 9 volt battery and a handful of components that cost no more than $50 and create a transmitter that will reach from the United States to Australia, it is easy to see that unregulated radio in one country could ruin it for the whole world. |
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How could I be so naive to think our government hadn't concocted some manner to pilfer/extort money out of every possible form of distance communication, what was I thinking.
$14 is the cost of the highest license.
It's an international government thing - the HF radios are heard around the world. It's just the principle, these days there is a government functionary with their hand out standing in front of it nearly everything under the sun. 
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The cost of licensing is really minimal.
It's there to try to assure that people who have free access to a lot of radio frequencies and capabilities have at least a basic clue about what they are doing so as to not screw up things for other people all around the world. At a practical level communicating with an HF radio is not an "appliance operator" level task... you need information/knowledge and a little skill and experience to be able to make effective use of HF. |
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If you want a transciever, that menas you want to transmit. So first you need a ham license. Visit the ham radio forumfor some clear answers. Do your hoemwork, get your general Class ham ticket, visist some locla hamfests and check the radios out in person before you buy. +1 +1 +1 yep |
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How could I be so naive to think our government hadn't concocted some manner to pilfer/extort money out of every possible form of distance communication, what was I thinking.
$14 is the cost of the highest license.
It's an international government thing - the HF radios are heard around the world. It's just the principle, these days there is a government functionary with their hand out standing in front of it nearly everything under the sun.
If there was not a hazing and some sort of commitment HAM radio would be CB radio. The little bit of study and $14 is what separates civility. If the .gov wanted to make bid bucks they could sell our band width, it is worth fortunes. |
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How could I be so naive to think our government hadn't concocted some manner to pilfer/extort money out of every possible form of distance communication, what was I thinking.
$14 is the cost of the highest license.
It's an international government thing - the HF radios are heard around the world. It's just the principle, these days there is a government functionary with their hand out standing in front of it nearly everything under the sun.
good grief. it's $14 for a license that is good for 10 years, which comes to a whopping $1.40/yr. 
this amount isn't exactly extortion, and in my case at least is a tiny, tiny fraction of the annual income taxes i pay to our government. you must be *really* steamed about your income taxes if $1.40/yr is worthy of your comments above. ok, i'm over that. 
–– for more information on amateur (ham) radio, see http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=22&t=604477 that thread, and the links contained in the 1st and 2nd posts, has all of the info you need to get a basic understanding of ham radio, understand what equipment is typically used, and what is needed to get an entry level license (which permits transmitting). you may choose to purchase a radio prior to getting a license, for purposes of monitoring amateur, shortwave, public safety, and other frequencies. unless it is a matter of life and death, do not transmit on amateur radio frequencies without a corresponding amateur radio license. good luck and welcome to the hobby. ar-jedi |
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FT-857D versatile, small, menu-driven display, very popular HF/VHF/UHF radio. FT-897D exact same guts as FT857, larger chassis, integral battery optional FT-817ND 5W max output limits this radio to certain applications (see link) VX-8R state-of-the-art HT (handy-talkie), dual band (2m/70cm), bluetooth, etc. VX-7R useful, popular dual band radio. see also HF/VHF/UHF -> Icom 706MkIIG (see link) and Icom IC7000 HT -> Yaesu VX6R (2m/70cm) and VX170 (2m only) note that all of the HF/VHF/UHF radios you have noted, and those i have mentioned at the bottom, are "mobile sized" and in fixed station applications you will likely find it easier to use a proper base-style rig. with many mobile size radios, various functions are buried deep in "soft menus" rather than simply being accessible via front panel buttons and dials. ar-jedi |
If you just want to receive DC to daylight buy a used Icom R7000 or R7500 on Ebay from $500-$800. If you want to get real crazy buy a used R9000 or R9500 from Icom $1000-$13000.
Also without education of some kind on your part there will be no toss and go. Small SW hand helds suck ass without some wire connected. You have come to the right place to ask questions though. You will also find there is no perfect radio to suite you needs. |
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How could I be so naive to think our government hadn't concocted some manner to pilfer/extort money out of every possible form of distance communication, what was I thinking.
$14 is the cost of the highest license.
It's an international government thing - the HF radios are heard around the world. It's just the principle, these days there is a government functionary with their hand out standing in front of it nearly everything under the sun.
Actually, the testing is done by Volunteer Examiners. They get a portion of the $14 test fee (actually just raised to $15) to cover expenses. And if you can pass the Tech test, it costs no more to take the General at the same time. And if you pass the General, it costs no more to take the Extra at the same time. I did just that, took all three, paid only one $14 fee. |
| Thats $14 for a license that is good for the rest of your life if you keep doing the renewals. Those are free and can be done online in less than 3 minutes. The government gets none of the money from the license. The person that administrates the test and the coordinator split it to cover expenses. |
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Thats $14 for a license that is good for the rest of your life if you keep doing the renewals. Those are free and can be done online in less than 3 minutes. The government gets none of the money from the license. The person that administrates the test and the coordinator split it to cover expenses. I agree $14 is negligible and considering the explanation I see no problem with it but without that knowledge I'll admit I found the whole it's no big deal/frog in a pot aspect so prevalent in this thread somewhat disheartening.
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Thats $14 for a license that is good for the rest of your life if you keep doing the renewals. Those are free and can be done online in less than 3 minutes. The government gets none of the money from the license. The person that administrates the test and the coordinator split it to cover expenses. I agree $14 is negligible and considering the explanation I see no problem with it but without that knowledge I'll admit I found the whole it's no big deal/frog in a pot aspect so prevalent in this thread somewhat disheartening. English please. |
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Thats $14 for a license that is good for the rest of your life if you keep doing the renewals. Those are free and can be done online in less than 3 minutes. The government gets none of the money from the license. The person that administrates the test and the coordinator split it to cover expenses. I agree $14 is negligible and considering the explanation I see no problem with it but without that knowledge I'll admit I found the whole it's no big deal/frog in a pot aspect so prevalent in this thread somewhat disheartening. English please. i'll try... he didn't initially understand the $14/$15 fee, but now does. what he still doesn't understand is why "we" put up with being held down by the Man to the tune of $14/$15. he thinks "we" should not be passive (like a frog in a slowly warming pot), ergo we should take action to do something about the $14/$15. so, basically, he thinks this is GD –– thus in his mind this thread needs BOTD, a blue line, 87, blading at Walmart, a no-knock with dogs shot, a draw down against a raccoon, a goose being violated in a drawer, a stolen herby-curby, FU AROCK, a SIIHAAPP range report, furries, and IBTL –– all before understanding the issue at hand. alas, i don't see this happening. ar-jedi |
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OK I kinda thought that.
IT ALL COMES DOwn to this: Someone has to regulate it or it would be crazy ass CB radio. We actually, 95% regulate our self. Name one .GOV program that is less regulated on the users end? We are only given basic rules, frequencies and we do the rest. We give the tests. We manage the band plans ERGO what freq., when, what mode, they only tell us what class of license can talk where and we told them to make those rules. When I say we. We are the HAM radio organizations like ARRL. Also note what I said before. If there is no cost or cost of intellectual obligation it is like welfare. When something is free people do not appreciate it and F it up. CB/FRS radio: No license, no self regulation as HAM. Yell MF all day no one will care. Ham: You have to study a few hours to pass a $14 test for the tech license. That is all that separates us from them, that little 14 dollars a a few hours of study. If you have an IQ over 110 you will need less that 6 hours of study and $14. There are 3 levels of license. Good luck, Bob |
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Thats $14 for a license that is good for the rest of your life if you keep doing the renewals. Those are free and can be done online in less than 3 minutes. The government gets none of the money from the license. The person that administrates the test and the coordinator split it to cover expenses. I agree $14 is negligible and considering the explanation I see no problem with it but without that knowledge I'll admit I found the whole it's no big deal/frog in a pot aspect so prevalent in this thread somewhat disheartening. English please. i'll try... he didn't initially understand the $14/$15 fee, but now does. what he still doesn't understand is why "we" put up with being held down by the Man to the tune of $14/$15... snip   nevermind
Anyway in explanation I get a bit sensitive this time of year regarding my share of expenses (taxes and various license fees/standards body dues) required to support my fellow citizens/leeches/government employees. It is quite unusual to run into others who don't perceive the the ever increasing nickel by nickel handouts as problematical so I didn't see it as a good thing but considering the fees go directly towards offsetting the expenses of those providing certification testing rather than various already bloated government coffers I find them more than reasonable. Thanks for the replies Not sure why I missed it but when I posted this thread in GD I wasn't even aware arfcom had a ham radio forum much less one with most of the information I would need already posted so no need for more on my part all that remains is to read around here and other places as time permits and go from there.
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it's $14 for a license that is good for 10 years, which comes to a whopping $1.40/yr.
this amount isn't exactly extortion, and in my case at least is a tiny, tiny fraction of the annual income taxes i pay to our government. you must be *really* steamed about your income taxes if $1.40/yr is worthy of your comments above. ok, i'm over that.
never mind... didn't make my point very clear ..... at all.... |
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To clarify, the Volunteer Examiner's get 50% of the test fee (that is NOT a license fee... there is no license fee) for expenses (paper, pencils, printer ink, travel, postage, etc) and the VE's organization, which processes your paperwork with the FCC, gets 50%. The FCC gets nothing. Not a cent goes to the FCC or the government in any way.
I know people who will not be Contact VE's because the few dollars expenses is not worth the paperwork. Really, the VE's aren't doing all this for the money. They do it because they want you to be a ham. They are not trying to keep you out of ham radio. They want you to succeed. They do it because they want to see smiling faces walking out of the test room and be able to announce, "We have 5 new Techs, 3 new Generals, and a new Extra today." |
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Update:
Though the FCC recently raised the allowable license fee to $15, W5YI is holding the cost at $14, with $7 going to the VE's and $7 to the testing organization (in this case, W5YI). http://www.w5yi.org/page.php?id=24 The W5YI-VEC has announced that it will hold the line on $14 exam fees charged applicants to take amateur examinations and not increase license examination fees for 2009 . Larry Pollock, NB5X, President of the W5YI-VEC said "Every VEC across the country establishes it own fee schedule for providing examination services, and there are almost as many different rates now as there are VECs, ranging from $15 to one that charges nothing to administer an exam. Our goal is to keep our fees as reasonable and affordable as possible." And in other news, I am now a W5YI CVE.
That is, Contact Volunteer Examiner. That means I will head a team of VE's, take care of all the paperwork. Make some new hams. |
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Quoted: To get back to the topic at hand, I'm going to assume you're willing to pay the extortionate $14 for your ham license. I'm interested in getting a short-wave radio and considering future hurricanes it would be nice to have a hand held or backpack portable so I can toss it in a bag and go. I know next to nothing about Short-wave communications but after reading around a bit it looks like Yaesu has some of the best options. At this point I'm looking at the following. FT-857D FT-897D FT-817ND VX-8R VX-7R I'm just wondering if anyone has any opinions on those units or others I should be considering along with insight regarding which one would be a better choice. Talk about separating the wheat from the chaff, your sure get a lot of bum results when searching for short-wave info. I have the FT-857D, the FT-817ND, and a couple of VX-7Rs. You can see that I'm partial to Yaesu. In no particular order, here are a few thoughts. FT-817 Pros: Small, light, packable HF TX capability Cons: Still needs 12V power supply (batteries) Still needs an antenna Tiny little screen Output of 5W is marginal at best for SHTF purposes; more suited to DX than SHTF FT-857 Pros: Good power (50W VHF, 100W HF) Remote-mountable (head unit in cabin, radio in trunk) Great noise blanker that reduces ignition noise Extensive settings for customization Relatively tolerant of voltage variations If installed with the ATAS antenna, automatic antenna tuning on selected bands Nice bright display Can be used mobile or at home Dual VFO Cons: Heavier & more expensive than either 817 or VX-7 Memory functions not the most flexible (limited to 200, fixed at 10 groups of 20 each and no ability to assign specific frequencies to individual groups) Extensive settings for customization (note this is a pro & a con) VX-7 Pros: Great radio, rugged with good sound quality Memory management is very good (lots of memories, very flexible) Waterproof, with waterproof speaker mic available Tribander (2M, 70cm, 6M - which IMHO on a handie-talkie is useless) Available used on QTH.com with accessories for <$300 Dual VFO Cons 5W max power I'd recommend using a SMA to BNC adapter (this broadens the choice of available antennas significantly) Overall comments & other thoughts
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