What radio to buy ?

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mep1811

mep1811

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I am looking at the Yaesu FT-7900R for my first ham radio.

Any comments on this radio? I am not looking for bells and whistles but just communication.
I also want to keep the price down.

I appreciate your advice.

Yaesu FT-7900R, Yaesu FT7900 Amateur Transceiver
 
Thanks. I really would like a dual band radio rather than upgrading later. Besides all the guys I know running Ham radios run the dual bands so I would like as much interoperability as possible.
 
I think everybody I know who bought the FT-7900 eventually replaced it with the FT-8800. IIRC the price difference is about $100 and it gives you two fully functioning radios. This allows you to monitor simplex and a repeater, or use the radio as a cross band repeater.

If you want simplicity I'd suggest something like the FT-2900 or FT-1900, these are great first radios. They are butt easy to use, they are cheap, and there is a great re-sale market when you want to up grade to a dual band. You may be able to find one used.
 
rusty_tlc said:
If you want simplicity I'd suggest something like the FT-2900 or FT-1900, these are great first radios. They are butt easy to use, they are cheap, and there is a great re-sale market when you want to up grade to a dual band. You may be able to find one used.
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+1. I have two FT-2800's (immediate predecessor to the 2900) and still use them, even though I have since upgraded to a Kenwood dual-band. You will always have a use for a sturdy 2M single-band radio, as a loaner, for a base station, for a second car/truck, for APRS, for a weather station, etc.

But if you have the budget then there is nothing wrong with a dual-band right out of the gate either.
 
mep1811 said:
Thanks. I really would like a dual band radio rather than upgrading later. Besides all the guys I know running Ham radios run the dual bands so I would like as much interoperability as possible.
Click to expand...

rusty_tlc said:
I think everybody I know who bought the FT-7900 eventually replaced it with the FT-8800. IIRC the price difference is about $100 and it gives you two fully functioning radios. This allows you to monitor simplex and a repeater, or use the radio as a cross band repeater.
Click to expand...

I agree with rusty. The dual band doesn't get much (any) use, but the ability of the 8800/8900 to monitor two frequencies at the same time is a huge differentiator. The other thing that both the 7900 and 8900 (over something like the 2900) have is the detachable faceplate, which makes for a cleaner install in most cases.. I have a 2800 in my 40, and the 7900 in my 80. I wish I had the 8900 so that I can monitor two stations, but it's not something I lose sleep over....
 
The FT-7900R has less bells and whistles .

I will not need to be monitoring two different bands. I'll be busy monitoring the one band, the XM radio, talking on the cell phone, and texting. And that will be when I'm driving.
 
mep1811 said:
The FT-7900R has less bells and whistles .

I will not need to be monitoring two different bands. I'll be busy monitoring the one band, the XM radio, talking on the cell phone, and texting. And that will be when I'm driving.
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I think I was behind you on the way to work this morning. Does this look familiar? :flipoff2:
 
OK I have decided on the radio. Found the vendor. Do I need the ?

Windows 2000/XP/Vista PC programming software CD with USB to 6 pin mini DIN cable. PROGRAM SOFTWARE & CABLE FT-7900 $49.95

I am going to go with a COMET dual band antenna NMO with magmount for the time being. Any favorite antennas?
 
mep1811 said:
OK I have decided on the radio. Found the vendor. Do I need the ?

Windows 2000/XP/Vista PC programming software CD with USB to 6 pin mini DIN cable. PROGRAM SOFTWARE & CABLE FT-7900 $49.95

I am going to go with a COMET dual band antenna NMO with magmount for the time being. Any favorite antennas?
Click to expand...

You may be able to find some free-ware on the web (yahoo users group maybe) and get the correct cable from Radio Hack for much less than 50 bucks.

I have a Diamond 770, foldable (1/2 wave on 2m, 2 5/8's on 440mHz). You can get by with an antenna *mount* with a crappy ground or no ground with this set-up on 2m. I ran it on my 4Runner (on a rack supported by the fiberglas rear shell) and got better tx/rx than mag-mounted to the metal roof!!


The Diamond stuff gets some crappy reviews on e-ham, but it works for me...
 
Kofoed said:
You may be able to find some free-ware on the web (yahoo users group maybe) and get the correct cable from Radio Hack for much less than 50 bucks.

I have a Diamond 770, foldable (1/2 wave on 2m, 2 5/8's on 440mHz). You can get by with an antenna *mount* with a crappy ground or no ground with this set-up on 2m. I ran it on my 4Runner (on a rack supported by the fiberglas rear shell) and got better tx/rx than mag-mounted to the metal roof!!


The Diamond stuff gets some crappy reviews on e-ham, but it works for me...
Click to expand...
You cannot get away with a crappy ground no matter what antenna you use.

You can get by without a ground plane when using a 1/2ʎ antenna.
 
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