So, if your GF had $200 to buy you a 2m radio...?

[Skillet]

My GF keeps bugging me about what to buy me for Xmas.

Well, I have most of the stuff I need in life, except more money.

I am thinking it may be a good time to take the 2M test and get a radio.

Which radio would be best for mostly off road type use and what level of license should I get to cover myself for years to come?

Antenna suggestion would be great too.

Thanks!

[Beowulf]

Originally Posted by Skillet

... and what level of license should I get to cover myself for years to come?

I'll take the easy question. As of now, everyone has to start out with the Technician license. You can study and take the test fairly quickly (several recent posts describing the process.)

After you have the Technician license you can "upgrade" to the General class license by passing another test, then to the Extra class license.

-B-

[Cruiserdrew]

I hate to tell you to search, but.....

We have covered this a bit. For $200 you can get a very nice single band radio, and most of an antenna. A bunch of us are running the Yaesu FT2800. The radio works great , isn't too hard to program, and has plenty of power. It should cost somewhere arond $175. The Wilson magmount antenna for 2m is excellent and cheap-$30-$40. If you want a better antenna mount, the mount plus antenna will cost about $100.

There are lots of good options. Kenwood, Yaesu, and Icom all make pretty equivalent radios. Alinco also makes radios, but does not have the reputation of the "big 3".

Post up your call sign after you take the test.

KI6CXS

[Skillet]

Been around the board a little and I know about the search thing. (not said with a smartass attitude)
I searched, and saw lots of info just that some of it is a little dated, some not, and I was kind of looking for an easy answer, and I guess there is none.
Also, if there was any new, wacky radio noone had mentioned yet.
Sorry, my GF is bugging me and, though I know it is not easy, just wanted a quick fix, I know that is not always possible but your information is most appreciated.
I read all of this 1 band, 2 band and 3 band stuff and there is not a lot of finite info, at least to me, since I am cluless about the whole thing.
The holidays don't allow me my typical 6 hours per day of surfing MUD for proper reasearch.

[ParadiseCruiser]

Jeb -

Best advice is to not make a rash decision. If your GF is a reasonable gal, convince her that you will collectively shop intelligently after the holidays and get some value for her generous contribution

Fact is, if you buy blind you will get the wrong radio. This is far more complex than CB; too many variables (1-band, 2-band, among many others...) to simply recommend a brand and model. And, you cannot even consider an antenna until you make a decision on the radio.

Good luck with your upcoming exam... you will soon see the wisdom in taking some time with this and doing it wisely.

Cheers, R -

[Tigerstripe40]

You can get ALOT of mileage out of a good handheld unit.
Kenwood, Icom, and Yaesu are really the only brands to consider.

I have a 5 watt kenwood handheld, and an external antenna for both my Cruiser and my 4Runner.

I just attatch the external antenna and the hand mic and I have a pretty good mobile rig.

Plus, when you are out of the truck, spotting or something like that, you just throw the whip antenna on and off you go.

[e9999]

Originally Posted by Tigerstripe40

You can get ALOT of mileage out of a good handheld unit.
Kenwood, Icom, and Yaesu are really the only brands to consider.

I have a 5 watt kenwood handheld, and an external antenna for both my Cruiser and my 4Runner.

I just attatch the external antenna and the hand mic and I have a pretty good mobile rig.

Plus, when you are out of the truck, spotting or something like that, you just throw the whip antenna on and off you go.

my main reason to get one is for emergencies in the boonies. For that I'd want as much power as reasonably had, so I'd rather go with a mobile, 50W or more...

[n0up]

In your price range, Kenwood TM-271A HRO $149.95, Icom IC-V8000 HRO $199.95, Yaesu FT-2800M HRO $159.95. There are plenty of vendors out there to shop from. Personaly I prefer Kenwood, but I have used equipment from most major vendors and it is all very similar.

As far as the test goes, with the ARRL VEC you can take the Tech, General and Extra exam on one testing fee in one sitting if you pass the Tech first then the General and so on. When my wife took her Tech, she passed first try then took the General, missed it by 4. It never hurts to try.

I recomend to the new hams to get a simple mobile radio to begin with. The more it does, the longer it will take to figure out the basics.

Do a Google or other search for radio vendors and stick with the big 3 and you will be fine.

[e9999]

cheapest / best online vendors?

[FJ40_owner]

Originally Posted by e9999

cheapest / best online vendors?

AES Las Vega, HRO Bay Area

[mk1pickle]

I have a VX-6R (tri band, wide recieve 5w) and a tm 2750 wich is a 60 watt 2M transciever.. with no tone board. if youre into offroading and you go into deep mud and water.. a small waterproof handheld like the VX6 is (in my experience) a better buy than a clunker 2M rig for a first buy. sure you get 60 watts.. but with the portable you can climb to high spots and operate on three different bands with full tone capabilities, somthing a lot of repeaters need to operate, and... did i say waterproof? takes alot off of your mind.

in my BJ70 i operated the VX6 on a dual band 2M / 70cm external mag mount antenna without problems. remember, a well matched 5/8 whip is a gain antenna, having said that .. you will be suprised what you can do with your 5 watts once you understand more about Rf theory and the whole idea that 10watts really is like half of 100watts in RF.

i say save a little tiny bit more .. and go shopping together with your honey and pick out a full featured radio that you really want.

then get a 60 watt clunker later.

HT are way better for first radios, you really have to learn how to use the 5 watts, something that comes in handy when you move up to HF later on!

well thats my .02c .. ohh .. and if you do get the vx6 make sure you get them to throw in a commercial duty beltclip!

[Skillet]

Thank you for all of the great information.

Just for the sake of argument, if I was going with the Icom IC-V8000 and I wanted to match a solid, hard mounted antenna with it, what would I be looking for?

Or I should say, what are my best options?

Thanks again.

[Cruiserdrew]

I did a search and am quoting myself:

A lip mount on the rear hatch:http://www.rfparts.com/diamond/k400c.html

This set up works very well. I only have a single band radio so I can use an antenna optimized for 2 meter: http://www.cometantenna.com/products...ID=4&childID=3

Look at the SBB-25



I also have an SBB-1 for use on the trail. It's only about 12 inches long and very flexible.