Posted: 11/17/2016 11:54:34 AM EDT
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After losing all my man toys to pay bills during my divorce, I'm looking to get back into mobile HF.
Radio choices are FT-857, FT-897, and IC-706. Your opinions pls? Also, what would be my choices to drive out to a remote are and put up a vertical? Bear in mind I need to fit it all in a Sonata. No more Explorer. LOL. Looking for any advice, I was new to this before and never got the fundamentals down, reading some books but I thought I'd ask the forum. |
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Yaesu has a new HF only Mobile 100w, the FT-891
I'd also consider the Kenwood TS-480 If I needed all bands and all modes I'd buy the IC7100 for portable 100+w antennas I'd snag the Packtenna I podcast about HR and we just did our annual Shopping Show- We talk some newer rigs this time welcome back 
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I had an FT-897 and loved it, but it's huge for a mobile installation. My Jeep currently wears an FT-857. It has performed well, and I find it easy to operate "by braille" while driving.
But given the antenna limitations of a mobile station and the difficulties of being heard, were I starting over, I would definitely go with the TS-480 HX. Jim... |
I'm an Icom guy so I'll say 706, but it has to be the MK2G model with VHF/UHF all mode capability.
I have an Icom AH-4 auto tuner and a 20ft fiberglass telescoping pole for a portable vertical. The pole goes into a tripod which the tuner is mounted to. A wire supported by the pole for the radiator, some ground radials and two cables from the rig to the tuner and I'm set. The pole collapses to 48 inches so it fits in my Jeep just fine. 
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