New License? Now It Is Time
to Buy a VHF Radio ...
Inspired by the Elmer Night
Discussion 1/21/09 ... de W6WTI
Last
Wednesday evening at our Elmer Night, the question came up ‘What sort of radio
should I get?’. While it has been awhile since I
bought my first radio (OK, decades!), we discussed a number of considerations
that may be of help to new Hams and perhaps more experienced ones.
OK,
I have a Technician License, and I live on the coast ... what should I get?
Our two
local repeaters are on 2 meters. Our emergency net meets on 2 meters. We do
practice simplex operations (transmit and receive on the same frequency) on two
meters. It is pretty easy to conclude that a first radio should be one designed
for 2 meters. This provides an opportunity to get on the air, talk to folks,
and become familiar with the basic operation of a two meter, FM transceiver.
Which
is better for me, an HT (Handheld Transceiver/HandiTalky)
or a
Often new
hams are attracted to an HT ... smaller, cheaper, with seemingly oodles of
memories, bells and whistles. They are ‘self contained’ ... you can get on the
air almost right out of the box. But what are the differences? Let’s look at
them, but first a word of explanation ... ‘mobile’ radios are
larger, but they are NOT ONLY for mobile
use. Many, if not most, see service as part of a primary home station as well
as in the family vehicle.
HT
Power Output: 5 Watts (lower
power selectable) 50 to 70 watts
(lower power levels selectable.)
Option
for External
12
Volts DC? Many do -
make sure it allows full Not an issue, needs
12
Receive and
Transmit from external operate. AC to 12
12
for cigarette lighters in car. Home use, car battery for
mobile.
Built
in
Check changes
in output with (A 20
Amp supply or heavy deep
Different
battery packs. cycle/marine
battery and
charger needed)
Built
in
Check changes
in output with (A 20
Amp supply or heavy deep
charger needed).
Built
in Antenna? Yes, BUT
for coastal operations Needs external antenna for mobile
You’ll NEED an
external antenna. Use or fixed station.
Memories? Lots of
memories, even low end Lots of memories, even low end
Ones feature
40 plus memories. Ones
feature over 40 memories.
DTMF Pad? Yes (avoid
ones
that don’t) Yes
(usually on the microphone)
Needed
for auto-patch use.
FM
or Multimode Repeaters and Simplex use FM. Repeaters and Simplex use FM
Leave other
modes like SSB for Leave
other modes like SSB for
later.
later.
OK,
what sort of external antenna should I be considering?
Since the
‘rubber duck’ antenna isn’t very efficient, and our distances are greater and
the
topography is
challenging, many start with an ‘J-Pole’ antenna. KE6WC makes a good solid copper
pipe version for nominal cost. That and a suitable coaxial feedline
to the roof mounted antenna will get you on the air with a reasonable signal
from an HT or
Operating
mobile also places a demand on your antenna needs. A good quality 5/8 wave 2
meter magnetic mount antenna is important so that you can radiate an optimum
signal whether you are running 5 watts or 50. Using a 5 watt rubber duck in a
car is a recipe for failure ... much of your RF stays in the car. The mobile
antenna is essential if you wish to try using an HT in your car.
How
about other features I should look for?
All of the
common HT and
So,
where should I start ?
The three
major amateur radio equipment manufacturers all market a solid, basic, 2 Meter
HT and Mobile Radio: ICOM, Kenwood and Yaesu all make
good solid radios. You really can’t go wrong. They are price competitive and a
good value.
In
general, though, at our Elmer Night conversation it was strongly encouraged to
start with a mobile type radio ... that
can be used at home and in the car. With
suitable battery and/or power supply, you can also monitor without worrying
about the batteries running down at an inopportune time.
With more
power output and an external antenna, you’re more likely to enjoy sold copy
QSOs with your
friends and neighbors. It’s pretty frustrating to be told that
they can ‘tell
you’re in there,
but can’t hear what you’re saying’.
Examples
of good basic 2 meter FM Transceivers:
Mobile HT
Kenwood
TM-271a TH-K2AT
Yaesu FT-2800M VX-150
Will
one radio be enough?
I’d be
kidding if I thought you’d only ever have one radio. But, if I could only
afford one
2 meter
mobile radio, any one of these mobile radios would satisfy my needs. But,
eventually I might want to try a hand held radio. I might want one at home and
one in my car (or cars). I might upgrade to a general license and want to get
on HF radio.
Cost?
Basic HT’s are available from under $150. A Mobile Type Radio,
with a suitable power supply, and external antenna typically will run to about
$300. These are based on ‘new prices’
Buying Used?
Good
deals on used equipment show up from time to time. Comparison shopping can also
result in savings. A local previously owned radio may represent a good value.
If you like the challenge of finding one on-line, auction-site, or whatever,
you might want to consult with an experienced club member for assistance.
Manuals and Information?
Most
manufacturers support web sites which allow the downloading of brochures and
operating manuals for the current and past models of radio. Before you purchase
a new radio, it may be helpful to download the manual and review the basic
operations. While you may not have read many manuals, some differences in
organization and language may communicate better for you than others.
Why not a dual band radio ?
There
are a lot of dual-band, tri-band and even quad-band radios manufactured today.
The basic simplicity of a 2 meter radio makes it a good choice to start. There
isn’t too much 50 MHz, 220 MHz and 440 MHz activity on the Coast let alone the
higher bands. The multiple band capability is significantly more expensive than the
basic 2 meter transceiver. There are a couple of 440 repeaters in the area (one
in Timber Cove, another inland of Pt. Arena) but there is an ongoing
controversy about 440 that may make it a little risky at this point. PAVE PAWS
radar at Beale AFB over by Marysville is experiencing interference by amateur transmissions
which are a secondary use authorization. Military is the primary service in the
440 band. Waiting until the dust settles may be a prudent course.
Purchasing
440 equipment for use in
More and
more High Frequency (HF) transceivers are being made which also
cover 50, 144, 440 and even 1.2 Ghz bands. These a) aren’t cheap, b) are bigger and
bulkier, and c) don’t make a lot of sense until you have upgraded to a General
Class license and wish to exercise your HF privleges.
Even then, you will likely find a use for the dedicated 2 Meter
Why
do I need a radio with DTMF key pad ?
Telephone
interfaces with repeaters are called auto-patches. In order to utilize this
repeater
function, to call
for police, fire, vehicle assistance, or just to order a Pizza, your radio
needs to be
able to
generate the numbers to place a telephone call. DTMF tones are also used to
communicate with the
repeater’s controller in order to turn special functions on and off. You
may not
utilize these right away, but it is a good idea to have them, even on your
first VHF radio.
For more
information see the ARRL Handbook for Radio
Communications.