Need help finding the right HT

[deadeye12]

Thanks to all the contributors on this site, you guys have really helped me wrap my head around all this modern day Ham equipment.

I take my Tech/General exam in a week and will hopefully pass

I know I SHOULD buy a nice Mobile or mid-range Desktop rig, but I travel too much an do to much SWL vs. transmitting to justify that. I also need a 70cm transceiver anyway for some telemetry projects I'm working on. I also do quite a bit of sailing which is driving some of the requirements as well.

1. This radio will be used as a SWL device 70% of the time. ~1MHz - ~1GHz Rx range THAT ACTUALLY WORKS AND SOUNDS DECENT. Several of my friends have HTs that have this type of Rx range, but the reception is a joke. I plan to build a small portable loop antenna to travel with to improve Rx. On that note, any Antenna suggestions for good wideband Rx on a HT?
2. Dual Band 2M/70cm Tx is mandatory, Tri/Quad band is a nice to have
3. Must support SSB (both LSB and USB) for Rx, SSB for Tx is a nice to have
4. Must have a normal stereo audio port (or via adapter) to attach to Laptop audio card.
5. Must support TRUE Duplex communication in addition to dual band receive.
6. Must be weather resistant, waterproof is a nice to have.
7. No need for GPS/APRS, but a nice to have.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[Hutch]

Well one of the big limiting factors on your list is SSB only one manufacture makes 1 handheld that has SSB, Kenwood TH-F6A.

For starters the wide band Rx on all handhelds is not that good, basically its useful for very strong signals.

There is no radio on the market that has all your specs.

A small Grundig/Eton portable shortwave receiver will out do any of the wideband HT's, then you can remove those requirements from your HT which then basically can be met by most of the top end dual band HTs.

 

[Robb]

http://www.worldwidedx.com/handitalkies/61919-wouxun-kg-uvd1p-review.html
If I was to buy a HT; that would be the one.
Then again; SSB isn't important to me on 2m/440...

 

[Beetle]

Good luck finding any HT that will meet all of your requirements.

 

[deadeye12]

I was afraid that would be the case, thank you guy for the input. Sounds like the best solution would be a dedicated Receiver + HT. Not integrated, but seems the best way to go for travel. Thanks again!