another noob wondering what to buy

[markhwebster]

Howdy, first time on the board. Studying for my technician test and drooling over new toys...what to buy for my first radio? Sorry if this is a bit long...

A little background:

I got interested in ham for a few reasons:

1. I'd really like to stop paying for cell phone bills. I love my Droid, but over the last 19 years I've spent $12,000 with Verizon ($50 a month, do the math). The cell industry has me sold on the idea that I have to have constant communication. But before 1992, I did just fine without a cell phone.
   
2. I'm a climber, mountains, glaciers, cliffs, backcountry skiing, and some hiking. Never any cell coverage out there. Communication between climbing parties, and the outside world, can be critical. Why don't cell phones do walkie talkie?
   
3. The ham radio technology is fascinating, I always wondered how electricity works, I love learning new things.
   

I really don't have much interest in rag chewing as a hobby. I've got lots of friends and family in town, and as a teacher of high tech, I talk all day long. And there is always facebook.

I was initially interested in the small portable HT (Handi Talkie) ham radios like the Yaesu VX-8R, and the Icom 92AD. They would allow me to call my wife to arrange car pooling in town (Tacoma, Wa.), and communicate with her in the mountains via Simplex mode where there is no cell towers, or even repeaters. I frequent the mountains around Mt. Rainier and Leavenworth, Wa, Joshua Tree, CA, and Yosemite, Ca.

But she would have to take the test too, and that is unlikely at this point. She sees this as just another hair brain hobby, like my macro photography.

Photography, Webster Web Design

So I would have one HT, and no one to talk to other than folks on repeaters, and I've heard that can be pretty empty. Yes, I could do a patch to call the wife, but from what I've read in the license manual, you aren't supposed to compete with "normal" communication modes: ie:cell.

And there isn't much learning to do with an ht, after the first couple months.

So, maybe an HT isn't a good first ham radio. I started looking at mobile rigs that can double as a base station in the house, will entertain me in the car on the commute, and are light enough to maybe carry up a mountain for some SOTA fun.

Summits On The Air - Welcome to SOTA!

Now that looks fun! Exercise, beautiful views, and new high tech toys.

I kept coming back to the Yaesu 857d because it is durable, not too large, and seems to have room to grow when I get my general license. But then I realized it is a 6 year old radio...I don't really want to buy something outdated.

So I started reading about the Icom IC-7000. That looks nice!

I get the whole argument about how D-STAR and talking through repeaters is not really pure ham radio. Reaching out long distances on your own equipment and know how...that would seem to me to be a worthy quest.
Not sure I would actually get into it, but it seems to have grabbed many of you, and I suspect it would me also.

So here is my question, finally Is the IC-7000 a dumb radio for a noob who is not even sure he will like this new hobby? My wife will kill me if I spend $1400 on that thing, plus assorted accessories I don't even know I need yet. The nearest ham store is 4 hours away in Portland, Oregon.

I did go to a meeting of my local club, and that looks hopeful, but jeez, those guys are so old I was wishing there was a geriatric nurse on standby. It's true what they say about hams being mostly old guys. Not that there is anything wrong with old guys...lot of knowledge there...I respect that. But we are worlds apart in lifestyle.

I hang out with kids in their twenties (climbers) and they think hams are dinosaurs. They can't understand why I am getting interested.

To me Ham radio looks like a way to cut the cord with Verizon, and still retain some limited communication abilities, and learn some cool new stuff about a 100 year old hobby.

If you got this far, thank you for your patience, and I look forward to any feedback you can offer. I'm open to any and all suggestions.

 

[g4ilo]

An HT such as the VX-8GR or TH-D72 apart from the normal simplex and repeater chatting would enable you to do APRS. With your interest in hiking etc. that could be useful. It can beacon your position which is picked up and gated to an internet network so anyone can see your position on a map using APRS software or a website like aprs.fi. APRS also supports text messaging with other APRS users. It seems to me you might find this appealing.

Of course APRS coverage, like cellular coverage, varies from place to place. But that's part of what makes it an involving branch of the hobby - you end up having to improve the local infrastructure as well.

 

[Chop]

more than likely if he is hiking, there will be no cell or internet service so aprs would be useless. i do recommend a HT as a first time ham. welcome to the forum.

 

[W5LZ]

Mark,
I think I would do some more thinging about ham radio before jumping in too deep. It can certainly solve some communications problems, but won't be a 'cure' for everything. I think your particular situation would be sort of "iffy". 2 meters and 70 cm isn't quite as 'line of sight' as cell phones, but they are still 'line of sight', may not reach who you are looking for simplex or through repeaters.
I'm not sure I would consider a hand-held radio is very beginning user friendly as other types of radios. They are small, fairly 'button-pushing' intensive, and of very limited range, normally. Depends a lot on the individual.
This doesn't have to be a really expensive hobby, but it takes some 'shopping around' to keep it 'cheap'. There's a large 'used' selection of equipment, with the usual "but's" with anything 'used'.
I started when a teenager, and have enjoyed it for a long time (old fart now). If there isn't some aspect of the hobby that doesn't catch your interest, you just ain't looked hard enough! Lots of schools on the air too.
Give it a shot!
- 'Doc

 

[ONAWHIM]

Hi Mark,

I am sorta in the same boat as you with respect to being new and what will I buy.

My personal plan is to first build a knowledge base, the technician level.
At the same I am finding the local clubs within a reasonable distance and getting out to introduce myself, and gather "local knowledge"

My experience tells me that what I know and like and drool over will change tomorrow.

What repeaters and services are in your area? What is available where you will travel to? Can you operate a base station from where you live or do you need to go mobile?

The answers to many questions will come from discovery.
Get out and talk to folks.

There are many out there that get great satisfaction from helping/mentoring others.

Don't be in a rush, take your time, spend wisely.

Good luck with your endeavors,

William

 

[N0NB]

Let's be honest, can you realistically replace your cell phone with an amateur radio band HT? Honest answer, no, you cannot for a variety of reasons some of which you have lucidly detailed. Can amateur radio be an adjunct to other communication services? Certainly, so long as one keeps in that amateur radio has several built-in regulations based limitations.

I can't provide an easy answer. For a small party that doesn't get too far apart a set of FRS or MRS radios may be a solution. These are range limited HTs on commercial frequencies that can be used for personal use (FRS) or commercial (MRS). Licensing is implicit upon operation as with CB. Otherwise, there may be some other means but will likely be added expense.

Amateur radio is a fun hobby for one interested in RF communications. If that interests you, by all means jump in, but I caution that it is not a one-stop replacement for cellular service.

 

[N3VQ]

Let's be honest, can you realistically replace your cell phone with an amateur radio band HT? Honest answer, no, you cannot for a variety of reasons some of which you have lucidly detailed. Can amateur radio be an adjunct to other communication services? Certainly, so long as one keeps in that amateur radio has several built-in regulations based limitations.

I can't provide an easy answer. For a small party that doesn't get too far apart a set of FRS or MRS radios may be a solution. These are range limited HTs on commercial frequencies that can be used for personal use (FRS) or commercial (MRS). Licensing is implicit upon operation as with CB. Otherwise, there may be some other means but will likely be added expense.

Amateur radio is a fun hobby for one interested in RF communications. If that interests you, by all means jump in, but I caution that it is not a one-stop replacement for cellular service.

I agree, if you are aiming to replace the cell phone you will be disappointed and find yourself still a slave to it in the long run.

I wish you only the best.

 

[KJ6HYC]

We have a home in So.Calif. mountains (Idyllwild @ 6000ft), here we can hit many repeaters with our low cost Wouxun HT with the stock rubber duck antenna. Your area is mountainous, I would suggest checking on repeaters location and coverage, plus there are linked repeaters such as the Win or Condor system. Most HTs and radios can scan, if your wife's radio scans the repeaters in your operating area, should/could work. Keep in mind that the repeaters are not private lines, so there may be a lot of other hams using them, and it may take some listening.