First Mobile Radio

[Nashua Area Radio Society]

Hello everyone,

I recently got my Technician license and I have made myself a rig out of the BaoFeng BF-F8HP, Diamond Antenna SRJ77CA (for on-the-go), and a Diamond antenna MR75SJ (for at home and in the car). I have made many contacts already, however I am getting sick of only using repeaters to get my signal out there and using simplex for short distances. I decided I will be making a setup using the Diamond Antenna X-30A, a mobile transceiver, and a power supply for it. So now I am looking at mobile transceivers and I need a suggestion for a good (dual-band at least) mobile transceiver so I can make QSOs longer distances. If anyone has had a good experience with a mobile transceiver of theirs (preferably under $400), please tell me your experience with it so I know what it’s like. Also I know nothing about what the right power supply to get is so I would love to hear suggestions on that too!

[Burns FISHER]

What characteristics are you looking for in your new radio?  Ability to mount semi-permanently in a car?  More power?

One radio to look at is the Yaesu FT-817.  It has many bands (probably out of the technician range, so be careful) and many modes, although it is only 5W.  It’s a nice light small unit that runs on 12V, and is pretty flexible (I have one in my shack for working on satellites on the bench).

Of course 2m and 70cm are not generally going to be long distance anyway, but likely a good antenna is the first step in going further.   And while I hate to sound like a broken record, satellites are also available on those bands.

73,

Burns WB1FJ

[Fred Kemmerer]

Hi Chris,

Burns is asking some good questions here. Can you say a little more about what you want to do better/more of with your next radio? Depending upon what you want to do, there might be a good path via some used gear.

 

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