Posted: 2/21/2010 12:43:16 PM EDT
Yesterday, I passed tech and general. Only got 27 wrong on Extra; sooo close  . Anyway, next mission is to put together a portable shack. Looking for something like ar-jedi's. I may get involved in EmComm but for now I want to take it when I go camping (trailer not backpacking). So my 1st big question is does it make more sense to buy separate HF and VHF/UHF rigs or get an all in 1? The 897 and IC-706MKIIG look like good radios but do manufacture's have to compromise when they cram everything in together? If I go the 2 radio route, the FT-8800 looks like a good dual band. I'm looking for opinions on this or others and what would be good for an HF only rig? Digital looks important and I want the option for cw. As long as I'm spending my kids inheritance, I may as well pick up an HT.
Thanks all Craig |
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Congrats Craig...I am just starting to feel out some HF hear and antenna builds for the home.
As far as an HT, I've been using a Yaesu VX-6R and have been very happy with it. I was in the same boat as you, trying to figure out what to invest in. After a few months I've decided to go with an ICOM 718 dedicated for use at home. For the moment I use my HT with a mobile antenna in the truck. It gets the job done. Long term Im thinking of a 2m mobile unit that I will set up on a basic quick-disconnect harness and then have a power supply and a vertical antenna in the home-based shack, and also a space in the truck where I can quickly fasten the reciever unit, connect up the harness, and be wired into power + antenna. Not sure I am going to go with an HF setup for the truck right now. If anything, I might find a portable unit at some point and build it into a standard 19" rack with cover panels and handles. That would give me a "mobile" HF unit that would be used off of my tailgate in a fixed location.....probably keep a few sets of basic dipole antennas in the kit. For camping, a day at the park, etc this would be a good setup. Really, its a matter of how much you want to spend. I tried to keep things cheap when I first got my tech license. In less than a year I've become more into building stuff. Now with the general (and studying for my extra) I am starting to think about some digital and video modes....maybe play with that at some point. Hit your local repeaters and ask around with the locals....I've gotten some great info by just chatting it up on the 2m band |
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If you are making an EMCOMM box, then 2 rigs would be benificial. Two people (or one) could relay info from the VHF/UHF over to HF or monitor both simultaneously. Even then, a pair of rigs like a 706 and a ft8800 would be great and afford some backup on VHF/UHF.
It used to be that there was a pretty big compromise when talking multi-band rigs eg: Yaesu 767 with it's modules and all. But since the advent of direct digital synthesis, miniaturization and wideband amplifiers, those days are all but over. You will see better specs on dedicated mono-band rigs, but unless you do weak signal work or contesting on VHF/UHF, you won't notice a difference. Congrats on General! You picked the right time to become a Ham. The sun is about to unleash it's fury on us and the higher HF bands will be rolling again. 
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