Going to take my test Saturday for my tec. Ticket. What would be a good starter base for 2 meter already have a 94hp for 10 meter
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Just getting started
- Thread starter Wolfman419
- Start date
Starter base?
How are you planning on using it?
Repeaters only? SSB?
2 meter only or dual band?
You looking at analog only or want digital as well? Lots of folks use mobile radios for a base, if all they want is vhf/uhf...
I use an icom 910H for my base.
How are you planning on using it?
Repeaters only? SSB?
2 meter only or dual band?
You looking at analog only or want digital as well? Lots of folks use mobile radios for a base, if all they want is vhf/uhf...
I use an icom 910H for my base.
How big a 12v supply do you have for the 94hp?
Not a ham so no specific radio recommendations but if you're just starting to build a shack getting a large 12v supply that can run a whole station right now is something to consider, it would open up a lot of options when shopping for equipment down the road.
I know this doesn't really answer your question, just something to think about.
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Whatever you do don't start out with an HT, buy yourself a good dual band mobile. Put up a decent dual band antenna (not Tram/Browning crap). Look at Comet or Diamond stuff. Another good option is Arrow Antennas dual band model. If you are in a larger area with lots of repeaters then a Discone will work good, you will get lots of band coverage with 0 gain.
There are too many options to fully outline here so ask more questions.
There are too many options to fully outline here so ask more questions.
I'd like ssb 2 meter and cw preferably preferably analog this is a picture of my grandfather mentoring students for their ham license
2 meter ssb is dead unless there is a contest as is CW on 2 meters. You could run CW on 10.
2 meter SSB / CW can be fun if there is activity in your area. Unless you are near a metro you may not find a lot of activity unless as w9cll mentions there is a contest. To really give 2m SSB a try you will want a yagi like a Cushcraft 13b2 or an M2 2m12 up at a decent height with a rotor. Also using good coax can help.
On the radio side to buy a new 2m all mode you will be looking at some sort of HF / VHF combo. That makes for a larger initial investment. But if you upgrade to general you can have a lot of fun with the HF part. A popular used radio of this type would be an Icom 746 pro or Kenwood TS2000.
At a lot of hamfests you can find older 2m all mode rigs ranging from the really old for $125-150 with more recent for $400 to 500.
Strangebrew hit on something that is important. It is worth having a nice heavy duty 12 volt power supply. I have an Astron 35 amp that I use for HF and VHF radios.
On the radio side to buy a new 2m all mode you will be looking at some sort of HF / VHF combo. That makes for a larger initial investment. But if you upgrade to general you can have a lot of fun with the HF part. A popular used radio of this type would be an Icom 746 pro or Kenwood TS2000.
At a lot of hamfests you can find older 2m all mode rigs ranging from the really old for $125-150 with more recent for $400 to 500.
Strangebrew hit on something that is important. It is worth having a nice heavy duty 12 volt power supply. I have an Astron 35 amp that I use for HF and VHF radios.
So what bands are really active.
I'm sort of going at this by myself, the clubs where I live at I don't want to say or bad but when I went to ask questions I want to say it basically got shund because I wasn't a name in the community I've been getting a lot more help from you gentlemen in this form and clubs down in the southern part of our state.
I'm sort of going at this by myself, the clubs where I live at I don't want to say or bad but when I went to ask questions I want to say it basically got shund because I wasn't a name in the community I've been getting a lot more help from you gentlemen in this form and clubs down in the southern part of our state.
take a look at www.gigaparts.com
see if there is a rig you like.
and no i am not affiliated with gigaparts at all.