Suggesting, not convincing....you know you have a tech/cool gadget itch. I don't need to convince.
Last edited:
Dual Band Ham Radio
- Thread starter Azrocks
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Suggesting, not convincing....you know you have a tech/cool gadget itch. I don't need to convince.
I just ordered a Yaesu VX-6R from hamcity.com. I was looking for a better radio for my BOB and to just mess around with.
144MHz, 222MHz, 430MHz, AM, SW, FM, Air, and TV all in one. Anyone have any suggestions on a good aftermarket antenna? I've got the Diamond mentioned earlier. Heard good things about Comets. What say you?
I'll let everyone know how the Yeasu VX-6R works when it gets here.
144MHz, 222MHz, 430MHz, AM, SW, FM, Air, and TV all in one. Anyone have any suggestions on a good aftermarket antenna? I've got the Diamond mentioned earlier. Heard good things about Comets. What say you?I'll let everyone know how the Yeasu VX-6R works when it gets here.
I hope I am not a party pooper but I hope everyone has a valid ham license. Its all good. I'll help anyone and answer any questions. A ten year old can pass the test. But take the test, get your ticket.
Its all good.
Jim N6KML
Its all good.
Jim N6KML
Last edited:
Like Jim L6KML has said..
Get your ham licence...
LoveTractor you know you will need one antenna that covers all the bands that the radio can transmit on or one for each don't you?
The radio is a good preformer for a hand held with little power. But to truely reap the rewards a ham radio can offer on the trail use a mobile radio..as stated they have a greater range and power.
Good luck
VE3UOD
Get your ham licence...
LoveTractor you know you will need one antenna that covers all the bands that the radio can transmit on or one for each don't you?
The radio is a good preformer for a hand held with little power. But to truely reap the rewards a ham radio can offer on the trail use a mobile radio..as stated they have a greater range and power.
Good luck
VE3UOD
Oh yeah, I know. The Icom takes BNC and is dual-band and the Yaesu is SMA and tri-band. I'm lookin' at the Diamond SRH320A, but might wait to see how the factory duck works.
BTW,
Yeasu makes a nice one. If you want dual kenwood makes a nice dual band also.
Does anyone by chance know of a rugged water proof mobile hamradio thats made? What are the waterpoof hand helds aviable? I was thinking of perm mounting my mobile and hand held in my vehicle and lock them out of site and out of place so not to be stolen. Ideas? I have thought of a amo can with slidding rails rivited to it and the other rails riveted to the bottom of the seat rails. Slide the amo can with radio locked inside and locked to rails under seat. Out of mind out of site.
Yeasu makes a nice one. If you want dual kenwood makes a nice dual band also.
Does anyone by chance know of a rugged water proof mobile hamradio thats made? What are the waterpoof hand helds aviable? I was thinking of perm mounting my mobile and hand held in my vehicle and lock them out of site and out of place so not to be stolen. Ideas? I have thought of a amo can with slidding rails rivited to it and the other rails riveted to the bottom of the seat rails. Slide the amo can with radio locked inside and locked to rails under seat. Out of mind out of site.
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2003
- Threads
- 72
- Messages
- 2,944
- Location
- Broomfield, Colorado
- Website
- www.gamiviti.com
Guys, keep the recommendations coming! A few of us here just passed our license tests, are actively researching what to put in the 80's.. there's even talk of a base station at CM07... 
Hope to have a call sign later in the week... anyone familiar with the Yaesu FT-7800R? I seem to keep flipping back to that one..
Hope to have a call sign later in the week... anyone familiar with the Yaesu FT-7800R? I seem to keep flipping back to that one..
Kofoed
SILVER Star
Guys, keep the recommendations coming! A few of us here just passed our license tests, are actively researching what to put in the 80's.. there's even talk of a base station at CM07...
Hope to have a call sign later in the week... anyone familiar with the Yaesu FT-7800R? I seem to keep flipping back to that one..
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3685
I don't have the radio. But if reviewers on eham give a 4.7 out of 5, it probably is a good unit. I am biased toward Yaesu stuff. It seems the menus are so intuitive, that I can not use the radio for a year, then surf through the menu with ease. Not so with my f#$%^ Icom.
Nak -
Congrats on passing the exam !
One of the finer points that is often missed in the discussion of dual banders is the distinction we often refer to as "two-band" radios, vs "true dual-banders."
In this context, the FT-7800R would be a so-called "two-band" radio: You can use it on 2m, or 70cm. By comparison, the FT-8800R is a true dual-bander, in that it has two receivers and can listen to both bands simultaneously (or two frequencies on either band simultaneously).
This is an important distinction in terms of utility. You are on the trail working simplex with the local group, and on the other side of the radio you are listening to a distant repeater waiting to hear from a late-comer, or others meeting up with the group. OR switching back and forth relaying information to some one out of simplex range. OR working simplex, and listening to the Highway Patrol on the other side
, or whatever.
And... the FT-8800R has cross-band repeat, which the 7800 does not. And there are other features...
It would be worth the time to read the specs carefully before plunking down the $$$. Yes, it does cost more. But ask the guys who started off with the simpler radios, and what they are shopping for now. There may be wisdom in starting off with a higher class radio: You will grow into it very quickly.
Cheers, R -
Congrats on passing the exam !
One of the finer points that is often missed in the discussion of dual banders is the distinction we often refer to as "two-band" radios, vs "true dual-banders."
In this context, the FT-7800R would be a so-called "two-band" radio: You can use it on 2m, or 70cm. By comparison, the FT-8800R is a true dual-bander, in that it has two receivers and can listen to both bands simultaneously (or two frequencies on either band simultaneously).
This is an important distinction in terms of utility. You are on the trail working simplex with the local group, and on the other side of the radio you are listening to a distant repeater waiting to hear from a late-comer, or others meeting up with the group. OR switching back and forth relaying information to some one out of simplex range. OR working simplex, and listening to the Highway Patrol on the other side
, or whatever.And... the FT-8800R has cross-band repeat, which the 7800 does not. And there are other features...
It would be worth the time to read the specs carefully before plunking down the $$$. Yes, it does cost more. But ask the guys who started off with the simpler radios, and what they are shopping for now. There may be wisdom in starting off with a higher class radio: You will grow into it very quickly.
Cheers, R -
Last edited:
one of the guys I talked to at the club this weekend was making the point that in a mobile unit, having a dual band implies adverse engineering compromises made, as in having to cram more stuff in, using cheaper components etc, and generally not being able to achieve as good results in either band as you can in a single band unit...
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2003
- Threads
- 72
- Messages
- 2,944
- Location
- Broomfield, Colorado
- Website
- www.gamiviti.com
thanks, guys... still no call sign. 
but no radio either, so it's ok. Paradise your logic on the dual-bands makes a lot of sense. Been leaning towards the FT-8900R now as well, if I don't get a sweet radio in the 80 right off the bat I'm sure I'll regret it.. maybe do a cheapo 2m in the 40 though.
but no radio either, so it's ok. Paradise your logic on the dual-bands makes a lot of sense. Been leaning towards the FT-8900R now as well, if I don't get a sweet radio in the 80 right off the bat I'm sure I'll regret it.. maybe do a cheapo 2m in the 40 though.
Last edited:
Sounds like good justification for cross band repeat in the mobile unit and a dual band HT.
alia176
SILVER Star
guys, pardon my DUMB question here.....
Tell me again why it's cool to have a dual bander? You have the ability to transmit on 2m and on 70cm on the dual banders I take it? Ok, so how does that help you? For example, are you trying to talk to your trail group AND to someone many miles away at the SAME time? Don't you have to switch from freq to freq when you want to do this? I can only assume that your presets can accomodate the various wavelengths.
Edumacate me....!
Ali
Tell me again why it's cool to have a dual bander? You have the ability to transmit on 2m and on 70cm on the dual banders I take it? Ok, so how does that help you? For example, are you trying to talk to your trail group AND to someone many miles away at the SAME time? Don't you have to switch from freq to freq when you want to do this? I can only assume that your presets can accomodate the various wavelengths.
Edumacate me....!
Ali
A couple of things:
- As Paradise noted, many radios are really 'two band' radios that have the ability to receive and transmit on the different frequencies (eg 2M and 70cm) but only one freq at a time.
- A radio with two VFOs allows you to monitor dual bands * at the same time*. So, you could monitor the 2M calling freq on one VFO, while working a 70cm repeater on the second. This is very helpful and is one of the best features of my Kenwood HT and a feature that is not perfect on my Kenwood (ie I can't scan on one VFO and monitor 2M calling on the other). It's not that you transmit on both at the same time, it's more the monitoring and then the ability to quickly transmit on the other frequency.
- Dual band repeat is the radio's ability to receive on one band and then transmit on a second. For example, you would use one band on a HT to contact your mobile in the truck which would then act a 'local repeater' to rebroadcast the signal to a repeater (similar process to what police, EMS, etc use)
Bottom line, if you can afford a true dual band/dual VFO radio, but it, you will love the feature.
Cheers, Hugh
- As Paradise noted, many radios are really 'two band' radios that have the ability to receive and transmit on the different frequencies (eg 2M and 70cm) but only one freq at a time.
- A radio with two VFOs allows you to monitor dual bands * at the same time*. So, you could monitor the 2M calling freq on one VFO, while working a 70cm repeater on the second. This is very helpful and is one of the best features of my Kenwood HT and a feature that is not perfect on my Kenwood (ie I can't scan on one VFO and monitor 2M calling on the other). It's not that you transmit on both at the same time, it's more the monitoring and then the ability to quickly transmit on the other frequency.
- Dual band repeat is the radio's ability to receive on one band and then transmit on a second. For example, you would use one band on a HT to contact your mobile in the truck which would then act a 'local repeater' to rebroadcast the signal to a repeater (similar process to what police, EMS, etc use)
Bottom line, if you can afford a true dual band/dual VFO radio, but it, you will love the feature.
Cheers, Hugh
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Ali-I though you bought a radio? If you are upgrading already, your wife must really think you are OK.
alia176
SILVER Star
I have a radio and not planning on upgrading soon. I'm simply trying to get an understanding of this dual band thing and why it's so cool!
Wife thinks I'm a big geek with this radio thing and just LAUGHS at me!
Ali
Wife thinks I'm a big geek with this radio thing and just LAUGHS at me!
Ali
That’s funny,
My girl laughs at me to. She says I am going to end up an overweight invalid (one who is sickly or disabled) old hermit in my radio shack never seeing the light of day listening to static and rag chewing with total strangers. Even though I do not chew the rag with anybody.
-m
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Actually I do have a follow up question. I plan to get an FT8800-R fairly soon. It's a true dual band with dual vfo and the like. As an example, lets say you are using the radio to talk to your buds on 2m while monitoring a UHF repeater. Do you push a button or filp a switch to talk on one band versus another? I assume if the radio receives a signal on UHF it will come through the speaker so you know it's active, but what do you do to switch over the mic, and can you do it easily while driving? Sorry about the dumb one, just curious what the proceedure will be and how convienient it will be.
I'm not sure on that radio, but on my Kenwood, I just press one button to switch to the other VFO, and then you are good to go. Mine also has a balance feature like a fader - ie you can monitor 75% level on your primary VFO and 25% on the other just to get a sense of what's going on in he background - very useful.
Cheers, Hugh
Cheers, Hugh
