Ham radio suggestions

[ollanik]

I need to buy a communications radio for the 40...I am looking for suggestions on what to buy. What are best options relative to vehicle mount vs. handheld and the necessary power/range of the units 5W-50W+

Looking forward to hearing the comments.

 

[D_Web]

Have you got a budget in mind? Handhelds offer flexibility but are limited power wise and may not have the audio output in an exposed environment like yours.

Most amateur stuff off road occurs on 2m. The Kenwood TM-281A or Yaesu FTM-3100R/FTM-3200DR would likely do you well. Rugged (basically commercial) & simple radios with front firing speakers and lots of power. Then grab something like a Baofeng UV-5R to chuck in the glove box (does a 40 have one?) and you're covered.

 

[Dimples]

I am an icom fan boy. The IC-2300h is a hard core radio with 65 Watts, downside is it is 2 meter only, down firing speaker, and spendy. I had to buy an external speaker for mine.

 

[Saddletramp]

The Kenwood TM 281A is a very good 2meter radio, front facing speaker. When on sale at Ham Radio Outlet the total foe a mag mount antenna, cable and radio can be had for $180.

 

[msahr]

Yaesu devotee here. But I know there's some nice stuff by Icom and Kenwood too. I have a remote head dual-band Yaesu FT-7900R in my Tacoma and a older FT2800M for the 4Runner (I actually have 2 of these, one just for a spare). Both need remote speakers especially in a FJ40. The 2800M is no longer made, but can be had on eBay. The newer version of this radio is this one:

Yaesu FT2980R 80 watts power (selectable) and ruggedized.

I looked to see if there's a store that sells Ham gear in Tucson couldn't find one. The local Ham Radio Outlet has knowledgeable people but they're in west Phoenix...

You might want to contact a local Amateur Radio club they might be able to help, too.

 

[msahr]

The Kenwood TM 281A is a very good 2meter radio, front facing speaker. When on sale at Ham Radio Outlet the total foe a mag mount antenna, cable and radio can be had for $180.

That looks like a nice radio, too.

 

[LongDuck]

Nice enough that I bought 2 of them! The Kenwood TM281A is built like a tank and gets out pretty well with a simple antenna and not a lot of fanfare. I would recommend going the computer programming route for it, however - as any kind of hand-programming of these radios takes a lot of time and effort compared to typing the frequencies you want on your keyboard and then plugging a USB cable (with adaptor) into your radio to program everything you need all at once.

I built one of the TM281A's into a mobile ham in a box and use it in around the house. Works great and always gets good signal reports from the repeaters I use.

 

[Otter]

I had the TM281A in my 80. Great no nonsense radio with the front speaker.

 

[ollanik]

Nice enough that I bought 2 of them! The Kenwood TM281A is built like a tank and gets out pretty well with a simple antenna and not a lot of fanfare. I would recommend going the computer programming route for it, however - as any kind of hand-programming of these radios takes a lot of time and effort compared to typing the frequencies you want on your keyboard and then plugging a USB cable (with adaptor) into your radio to program everything you need all at once.

I built one of the TM281A's into a mobile ham in a box and use it in around the house. Works great and always gets good signal reports from the repeaters I use.

Do you need a separate antenna? Most people on the last run used handhelds...seems like a cheaper solution but the kenwood at $150 sure seems cheap for the power it provides over then handheld

 

[Otter]

Do you need a separate antenna? Most people on the last run used handhelds...seems like a cheaper solution but the kenwood at $150 sure seems cheap for the power it provides over then handheld

You do need a separate antenna. You can go with a mag mount quarter wave and throw it on your roof. It will be a lot better than a handheld.

 

[Saddletramp]

You do need a separate antenna. You can go with a mag mount quarter wave and throw it on your roof. It will be a lot better than a handheld.

100 times better. Having used and lived with the handhelds, the switch is huge.