Posted: 11/5/2011 8:50:44 PM EDT
| So, we all know that radios can be expensive. While it's cool to see the latest and greatest HF rig with the newest doohicky thingamagijjer, I'd like to see the minimalist radios. Similar to a budget AR15 build, has anyone built a rig (preferably mobile since that's what I'm looking into making) for extremely cheap, that works perfectly fine? Pictures and stats are a must. |
|
The Tuna Tin 2 is about as budget as you get. But its a transmitter and CW only so...
Here are some nice DIY kits that are HF SSB, but only one band... Or you could buy used and get a multi band HF rig... I think if your are going HF mobile a 857d from Yeasu is the way to go. HF/VHF/UHF all in a nice small package with a remote face plate, perfect for mobile. You can find them for $600ish used if you do some looking... Shoot a budget AR is $700-$800 anymore... PSA: I just wanted to use "..." a lot... |
What is budget to you? (radio wise) I guess I need to do better AR parts finding 
My HT with a mag mount served me good for a few months. ––wouxon w/ a ton of extras $150 ––Mag mount $0 Somewhere on here someone posted a pre-amp kit. and after exploring the manufactures web site I came across some radio kits. The only problem is the price compared to what you can buy new. HRO has a 2900 yeasu 75w 2m rig for $149. thats pretty hard to beat. I think heath kit is starting back up but it may be a while for their stuff to hit the market. What do you NEED this radio to do? (I sell my wife on "needs" they sound better then wants) |
Not a build project, but if you want vhf or uhf on a budget these are really hard to beat. The local radio shop here sells these Motorola MaxTrac radios for $50 programmed with the local ham repeaters.
I assume these are being sold because they were traded in in preparation for the narrow band mandate that takes effect in 2013. |
|
Quoted: You mean like this? https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V0ewFZObAx4/TCkFcKo9fUI/AAAAAAAACuo/D0Wd3pyDA60/s800/IMG_0389.JPG I built one of those!! i like the pcb paddle btw
|
|
Quoted:
Not a build project, but if you want vhf or uhf on a budget these are really hard to beat. The local radio shop here sells these Motorola MaxTrac radios for $50 programmed with the local ham repeaters. http://www.harrystone.net/posted/maxtrac.jpg I assume these are being sold because they were traded in in preparation for the narrow band mandate that takes effect in 2013. I just got my license so I'm in the dark. What is this mandate you speak of? |
|
Quoted: Quoted: Not a build project, but if you want vhf or uhf on a budget these are really hard to beat. The local radio shop here sells these Motorola MaxTrac radios for $50 programmed with the local ham repeaters. http://www.harrystone.net/posted/maxtrac.jpg I assume these are being sold because they were traded in in preparation for the narrow band mandate that takes effect in 2013. I just got my license so I'm in the dark. What is this mandate you speak of? this doesn't affect you. it only has to do with commercial frequences as far as I know. This means there will be plenty cheap radios out there if you feel inclined to modify them. I guess this should be asked. Do you solder? What's your price range, and what frequencies do you want to operate?
|
|
Quoted: Wow, guess I should have just said "post your cheap builds". Personally, I'm looking at a mobile vhf (possibly UHF also) rig that can be done for as cheaply as possible. I already have a cheap HT. hmm. i guess cheap is relative. You could pick up a nice used yaesu or alinco within the 100.00 range on ebay or craiglist. You could cheapen it a little by building your own antenna. it's pretty easy to go cheaper then that with HF, but i'd rather pay the money and get a decent mobile rig. they're really not that expensive compared to what they used to be. My first mobile 2m was 400+ edit: for about the same price as a mobile rig, you could also buy an amp that will get your HT up to 50 watts
|
|
Quoted:
Not a build project, but if you want vhf or uhf on a budget these are really hard to beat. The local radio shop here sells these Motorola MaxTrac radios for $50 programmed with the local ham repeaters. http://www.harrystone.net/posted/maxtrac.jpg I assume these are being sold because they were traded in in preparation for the narrow band mandate that takes effect in 2013. Harryu are you in the STL Metro area? |
|
Quoted:
Harryu are you in the STL Metro area? Nope, about 1.5 hours south around Cape Girardeau. This is the shop if you're looking for one of those MaxTrac radios: JCS Wireless I bet they'd ship one if you're not close. |
|
Quoted:
Wow, guess I should have just said "post your cheap builds". Personally, I'm looking at a mobile vhf (possibly UHF also) rig that can be done for as cheaply as possible. I already have a cheap HT. UHF and VHF is usually more expensive to build and takes more of an understanding to build. The component layout, and even the length of board traces will make a difference at those frequency's. There are a lot of old timers that complain that no one builds rigs anymore, but with the lack of surplus parts, and the fact that you can buy one cheaper than build one explains the move away from a lot of home brewing. An HF rig is more forgiving to build, and will be much cheaper. I would never discourage anyone from trying though, some guys spend more money building one than buying one, just to do it. ETA: If you are looking for an inexpensive mobile rig, the Motorola radio's are the way to go. |
|
Quoted:
i've found some sweet deals on qth.com . $40 kenwood 2m mobile TM231 works like a champ, another for $60. hard to beat. I'll buy 'em like that everyday! Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Just got one on thursday for free! 
Backup battery was bad, I removed it and wired in a CR2032 holder from a bad mother board and was back in business. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
i've found some sweet deals on qth.com . $40 kenwood 2m mobile TM231 works like a champ, another for $60. hard to beat. I'll buy 'em like that everyday! Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Just got one on thursday for free!
Backup battery was bad, I removed it and wired in a CR2032 holder from a bad mother board and was back in business. let me know if you wanna move it to SC! |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
i've found some sweet deals on qth.com . $40 kenwood 2m mobile TM231 works like a champ, another for $60. hard to beat. I'll buy 'em like that everyday! Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Just got one on thursday for free!
Backup battery was bad, I removed it and wired in a CR2032 holder from a bad mother board and was back in business. let me know if you wanna move it to SC! I think I am going to mount it in the Green Box with the 706! One radio is cool, but there are times that you need to work HF and VHF for relaying info. Cant afford a dual band for the box, I have one for the mobile, so it will go good in the box. ETA: It is a cool little 2m rig, for being 20 years old. If you ever need to change the battery backups there is a nice way to make it much easier for the next time. |
|
Quoted:
Wow, guess I should have just said "post your cheap builds". Personally, I'm looking at a mobile vhf (possibly UHF also) rig that can be done for as cheaply as possible. I already have a cheap HT. My cheapest VHF rig used a Radio Shack weather radio (extra capacitance was added to the RF stage and local oscillator to bring the turning range down into the 2 meter band), along with a 2 watt VHF Engineering single-channel 2M FM transmitter kit - packaged with a T/R relay inside a stamped aluminum box. It transmitted on exactly one frequency (I couldn't afford more than one crystal for the transmitter!), but was capable of receiving anything on the entire 2M band (and quite a few out-of-band signals as well... ). It was my only VHF rig for several years, and yielded thousands of QSOs on the local repeater.
In retrospect, it probably cost more to build (in inflation-adjusted dollars) than some of the cheapest Chinese talkies now cost. |
|
I think I am going to mount it in the Green Box with the 706! One radio is cool, but there are times that you need to work HF and VHF for relaying info. Cant afford a dual band for the box, I have one for the mobile, so it will go good in the box. ETA: It is a cool little 2m rig, for being 20 years old. If you ever need to change the battery backups there is a nice way to make it much easier for the next time. Great idea-I'd be interested in knowing your battery secret! and did you do the outta band mod? I put the dual band in the truck, hope to find another for the EMCOMM box, then do the 231's in small ammo cans with batteries for little Green Emcomm Boxes 
|