Initial Ham Setup

[BJ radionut]

https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/chartsguides/y/ysu-ft-991a.pdf

http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/bro/yaesu/ftdx1200.pdf

http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/bro/yaesu/ftdx3000d.pdf

https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/chartsguides/i/ico-ic-7300.pdf

https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/chartsguides/i/ico-ic-7200_it.pdf

Look to your Hearts content....So many radios...so little time
All the Best
Gary

 

[Riverman]

Look to your Hearts content....So many radios...so little time
All the Best
Gary

Thanks, BJ. Looking at radios, studying manuals and reading people's suggestions are great fun. 543's comment about buyers remorse helped a lot. I am quite familiar with it, and can see it rearing its ugly head if I try to be too thrifty. Going to hitch up my britches and look hard at the 1200 and 7300 again. And what the heck, might as well throw the 991A and 3000 into the loop. First, gotta go refill my coffee mug.

Happy Fathers Day everyone!

 

[jon666]

the 718 don't have fm mode.

 

[Riverman]

Going with the Icom 7300. Best price I can find is $1349 with a rebate for a free Polo. Don't need another shirt so think I'll wait for a slightly better deal.

Need to get back to studying so I can do more than just listen.

 

[jon666]

same price as gigaparts

 

[undertaker]

Was using my 450 Saturday on 38 lsb. Nothing but great reports..

 

[2RT307]

Lots of things to like about the FTdx-3000... as I mentioned before, I really like mine a lot. The 3000 has IF and RX out ports built in, and you can hook up an SDR to it, then connect to a computer and have a big, nice panadapter on display. You can use Omni-Rig to sync the rig to the SDR software (I use SDR-Console). Both programs are free, btw. Point and click on a signal on the display, and it takes the rig there. Same thing with the logging program I use, which is Log4OM. Click on a call from the spot, and it takes you there instantly. Still pricey at $1899, but they do have a 300 dollar rebate out now. And you get a free jacket at Gigaparts.



73,
Brett

 

[Riverman]

Lots of things to like about the FTdx-3000... as I mentioned before, I really like mine a lot. The 3000 has IF and RX out ports built in, and you can hook up an SDR to it, then connect to a computer and have a big, nice panadapter on display. You can use Omni-Rig to sync the rig to the SDR software (I use SDR-Console). Both programs are free, btw. Point and click on a signal on the display, and it takes the rig there. Same thing with the logging program I use, which is Log4OM. Click on a call from the spot, and it takes you there instantly. Still pricey at $1899, but they do have a 300 dollar rebate out now. And you get a free jacket at Gigaparts.



73,
Brett

Looked hard at it. Love it. But decided it's more than I want to spend. Am sure I'll be happy with the 7300, and the $500 difference will go a long way toward a power supply, swr meter, and a new putter.

 

[n8fgb]

Since it is touch screen, get a protector, like you would for your cell phone.
Rich

 

[2RT307]

Looked hard at it. Love it. But decided it's more than I want to spend. Am sure I'll be happy with the 7300, and the $500 difference will go a long way toward a power supply, swr meter, and a new putter.

Don't get me wrong... the 7300 is really nice, and I have heard several on the air that sound great with a stock mic setup. Neat features, and a heck of a lot of radio for the money. I know Ratso loves his, and he has a FTdx1200, too. And yeah, it will allow you to buy all the other needed stuff, including the putter, which you can use as a dual band 2m/440 antenna.

73,
Brett

 

[2RT307]

Since it is touch screen, get a protector, like you would for your cell phone.
Rich

It would be cool if someone made the new thin glass ones for it. Those things are awesome on my phones!

73,
Brett

 

[Riverman]

That Riverman71 is a nut!
Changed his mind again!
Ordered the Yaesu 1200.

Don't know why anyone would waste his/her time reading this thread. It's a waste of good space. If he isn't embarrased he should be. Talked a little skip once on his Cobra 85 Dynascan and homemade Firestik dipole and decided to become a "ham". I know this: The amateur radio community should seriously consider more stringent entrance requirements.

 

[2RT307]

That Riverman71 is a nut!
Changed his mind again!
Ordered the Yaesu 1200.

Don't know why anyone would waste his/her time reading this thread. It's a waste of good space. If he isn't embarrased he should be. Talked a little skip once on his Cobra 85 Dynascan and homemade Firestik dipole and decided to become a "ham". I know this: The amateur radio community should seriously consider more stringent entrance requirements.

You really wanted the poli shirt! Lol

73,
Brett

 

[Riverman]

You really wanted the poli shirt! Lol

73,
Brett

That's why I changed, LOL. At GigaParts the 7300 does come with a Polo shirt.
But the 1200 comes with a free jacket! Woohoo!

Ultimately, it came down to the 1200 being a better fit for my budget.
Have a nice day, everybody!

 

[RatsoW8]

Don't get me wrong... the 7300 is really nice, and I have heard several on the air that sound great with a stock mic setup. Neat features, and a heck of a lot of radio for the money. I know Ratso loves his, and he has a FTdx1200, too. And yeah, it will allow you to buy all the other needed stuff, including the putter, which you can use as a dual band 2m/440 antenna.

73,
Brett

I do like both but the 7300 is in a class and price range all by itself right now. Since he already decided on the 7300 I won't go over the differences I find using one vs the other.

Let's just say the 7300 would have been a good choice But, you're going to like the 1200. Make sure the radio they ship you has the latest firmware update. Yaesu didn't make it easy for users to update the firmware. Also remember that add-ons for the 1200 like the FFT-1 board and SCU-17 interface are expensive and make the 1200 more expensive than the 7300.