Build me a Ham Shack

[Crawdad]

An Icom 718 would be a good radio to start out with

And stay with. Excellent rig for the $$

 

[H1driver]

RR what I was saying was you may not hear anything but static when you fire off your base station depending on the conditions. You can talk to locals on your base but you could be talking to the locals now on your HT but don’t want to program it. A base radio is not going to be any different, you are still going to have to learn to use it. Good luck on your antennas, I live in a HOA neighborhood and we cannot have flagpoles. All my antennas are in the attic. Dipoles for HF and a Ed Fong j-pole for 2 meter, 1.25 and 440.

 

[loosecannon]

here you go:

radio:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2846063678...d=link&campid=5336136228&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

antenna tuner:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1151503174...d=link&campid=5336136228&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

antenna:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1118021283...d=link&campid=5336136228&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

coax:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1738629195...d=link&campid=5336136228&toolid=20001&mkevt=1

i think this gets you in under 2 grand.
hope this helps.
LC

 

[RedRiverII]

I agree. A 2am blurry eyed ramble.

 

[RedRiverII]

I'll be back.

I have no idea what the heck I wrote. May I blame auto spell?

 

[RedRiverII]

Thank you for the details, @Crawdad, @loosecanon, @Shadetree Mechanic, @w9cll All good stuff. I'm on it. I will look at the radios and get back here for more.

 

[NightThumper]

Seriously why would you buy this drifting, splattering poorly designed radio for $839 plus tune/conversion when you could have a nice IC-718! Hmmm $839.95 versus $524.95…that’s a no brained. Oh must be the value Echo and Roger Beep add.

Versus

 

[RedRiverII]

ICOM 718 for $524.95??? Found a $549.95, lemme see if a $25 discount at giga.

 

[NightThumper]

ICOM 718 for $524.95???

Gigaparts is your friend

 

[RedRiverII]

Thank you

 

[RedRiverII]

Should I get the extended warranty?

 

[NightThumper]

Knock on wood I’ve never had to send a radio back for service…The times I have were well after the warranty expired…For me the answer is no but that’s like asking if I should get the extended warranty on car…which I did because of all the amenities.

Icom is a one year Warranty and the Platinum is 4 years.

 

[BJ radionut]

MFJ-1775, ROTATABLE DIPOLE, 6-BAND,(40,20,15,10,6,2M) | MFJ Enterprises Inc

Stationary Attic Mounted?

YAESU FTDX10 (rlham.com)

FT-991A YAESU FT991A HF/6m/2m/70cm (randl.com)

FT-2980R YAESU FT2980R 80 Watt 2m Mobile Transceiver (rlham.com)

Many choices: ANTENNA / ANTENNA / ANTENNA ..FIRST
Must decide on antenna install (?) Best radio in world = ZERO if transmitting and receiving on a coat hanger!
All the Best
Gary

 

[RedRiverII]

Cool, thank you. I usually don't get the extended warranty on products. But... maybe..., shoulda..., coulda..., nah not this time. This shack will be built one brick at a time. Thank you once more Night Thumper, and every other knowledgeable guy that has contributed here.

 

[BJ radionut]

Most Yaesu HF rigs have 3 year warranty...I have several...one is 15+ yrs old still 100%...never serviced!

Bottom shelve rigs still 100%...some others have been replaced!!!!
FT-950 (15 yrs old) FTdx3000D (7+yrs old)