HAM Radios

[Mike-H]

Glad this topic came up also. I've been looking at moving over to a ham setup for out off road trips also. I've been studying for the test in and off, I just need to commit and finish. I'm looking at a few radios and wanted some options. I'd like multiple bands since I want to get one radio and not have to upgrade down the road when I get more experienced. I'm currently looking at the Yaesu FTM-100DR, FT-7900R and the FT-8900R. What's the pros and cons of each? Besides the 8900 being the only one with true dual band capability. I'm not knowledgeable enough to see the minor differences in them.

[Rodeoflyer]

Awesome thread. I still think I'm going the HT route because i like to remove it when I'm just in town on cell service. I'm leaning Baofeng 5x3 with external magnetic antenna, hand mic, and the batter cigarette plug adapter. Then an 3800mah battery and an upgraded antenna for walking with it.

There aren't many upgraded antenna's unless you want to look like you're in combat. The new(er) style whip included with the Baofeng's performs well and about the best you can get w/o going to a multiple or external.

I have a Nagoya 771 and there is literally no difference other than a foot less antenna to deal with.

[TankerZak]

Awesome thread. I still think I'm going the HT route because i like to remove it when I'm just in town on cell service. I'm leaning Baofeng 5x3 with external magnetic antenna, hand mic, and the batter cigarette plug adapter. Then an 3800mah battery and an upgraded antenna for walking with it.

There aren't many upgraded antenna's unless you want to look like you're in combat. The new(er) style whip included with the Baofeng's performs well and about the best you can get w/o going to a multiple or external.

I have a Nagoya 771 and there is literally no difference other than a foot less antenna to deal with.

I was looking at the Nagoya NA-320A for the HT and the TB-320A with an RB-50 mount for external.

[Rodeoflyer]

Ah yes that's the really flexible whip version of the 771 but otherwise same antenna. Don't lose the little black washer in the package. You'll need it. It's a little longer than the 771 and a tri band I see. It's worth a try, can't hurt reception but I didn't see much of a difference with the 771 so I went back to the little high gain short included whip. I like to pocket the radio when I'm moving about.

[DamageWagon]

Just don't turn into one of "those" guys that carries the radio everywhere and is having serious conversations in public that don't actually matter


Sent from my safe space

[Rodeoflyer]

I'm old school now buddy. I've given that hipster smartphone to my little 6 year old niece.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[nts007]

What are the thoughts on this radio. It keeps popping up on Amazon. It's quadband transmit and dual receive. 50w and 40w
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00I53VUEY/ref ... UTF8&psc=1

[Rodeoflyer]

I'd like to hear some insights on the TYT and ICOM brands as well...

[aearles]

Icom, Yaesu, and Kenwood are safe bets. TYT, Baofeng, and the other cheap Chinese radios may work just fine, but many are prone to spurious emissions, or susceptible to intermod due to poor filtering and selectivity, QA issues and shitty software. For the price of a Baofeng handheld or even the little 25W mobiles, I'd say they're worth experimenting with as long as your expectations are realistic. At $200+ for that TYT, I would pass in favor of a quality/reputable brand with less features or bands. Just my opinion. FWIW, I have two kenwood mobiles and a Baofeng handheld.

[CombatWombat]

I use a Yaesu ft857 in my PW.
Great Radio. CB and all Ham Bands.

You can go fast.
I can go anywhere.
Dodge Powerwagon

[TankerZak]

I use a Yaesu ft857 in my PW.
Great Radio. CB and all Ham Bands.

You can go fast.
I can go anywhere.
Dodge Powerwagon

I didn't even know you could get a combo radio like that...

[CombatWombat]

I think the 857 is one of the best Radios on the Market.
You can connect 2 Antennas. Ir you can connect a self adjusting antenna with both antenna ports on the Radio. So you have most of the bands with one radio and one antenna.
I use 2 Antennas.
1 for 10m and 11m and one for 2m/70cm.

But my Ram makes problems on 11m. Got a lot of Ignition Noise and cant find a Solution.

You can go fast.
I can go anywhere.
Dodge Powerwagon

[aearles]

I didn't even know you could get a combo radio like that...

You really can't. The 857d is an all-band/all-mode ham radio that supports the 10m amateur band. It can be modified to transmit outside of the amateur bands, including 11m/CB frequencies. It is not type accepted and doesn't meet the technical requirements for CB (not that anyone follows those anyhow). It's really no different from using a Baofeng on FRS/GMRS.

[CombatWombat]

But you can adjust everything and copy the requirements so no one notices that you are using HAM Radio for 11m/CB.
If you use it responsible and dont go FUBAR on the Adjustments its a very good Radio for CB use. I use Memory Mode for all CB Channels and my Yaesu cuts it self down to CB requirements when i use them.
I think thats better than any CB Radio with some random FUBAR Adjustmens from some Idiot thinking 100Watts is useful on CB.

You can go fast.
I can go anywhere.
Dodge Powerwagon

[aearles]

No argument here, I just meant that it's not intended to be a "combo radio".

I also don't see anything wrong with using a Baofeng or other ham radio on FRS/GMRS, like you said, as long as it's done responsibly.

[Mule]

What are the thoughts on this radio. It keeps popping up on Amazon. It's quadband transmit and dual receive. 50w and 40w
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00I53VUEY/ref ... UTF8&psc=1

For that price, why not shop around for a used FT8900? That's the original Tytera ripped off...
http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-000125
hell, even new isn't that much more for a much better quality radio.

I've got an 8800 in my truck that's starting to die. Since I rarely use VHF anymore, i'll probably replace it with a motorola...

[DamageWagon]

I'll take your 8800 if you're just going to trash it


Sent from my safe space

[Mule]

What I'll probably do is mount the 5550e guts next to the 8800 guts, then put an antenna-switch in.
Keep the 8800 installed, just stash the mic in with the rest of my recovery gear and switch the antenna over if I need VHF.
It still works, it's just starting to go a little wonky. Might just need a reset/reseat/reprogram.

Looking at the XPR5550e with HCH. 5550e adds wifi, which means I can program the radio from the house with the radio in the truck parked in the driveway... (I think the 7550e with wifi is kind of ridiculous, since it's a portable and already has bluetooth. Not sure what the logic is there.)

[CombatWombat]

In my Semi im using a Maas AMT 9000 VHF.
In your Coutry it is called TYT th9000.
This Radio is available in VHF and UHF.
Very good Radio. Easy to programm and operate. Very strong.
And very very good build.

You can go fast.
I can go anywhere.
Dodge Powerwagon

[nts007]

So the tyt 9000 is this one
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00IYAX9R4/ref ... c08cf68_CT

For $230. Seems cheap? Thoughts?

The yaseu ft 2900
https://www.amazon.ca/Yaesu-FT-2900R-Mo ... =Yaesu+75w

Is $520

The yaesu ft 7900 is $560

https://www.amazon.ca/Yaesu-FT-7900R-Du ... ords=Yaesu

Which would seem like a better deal than the 2900 with a little less power but a good antenna will make up some of the difference.

There is some kenwood options too. Just trying to get a ballpark cost on a system. Thanks for the input guys

[DamageWagon]

That blows my mind. I know the Canadian dollar is lower now but I just got my Yaesu ft-2900r for $180 or so in the us.


Sent from my safe space

[CombatWombat]

In germany the tyt th9000 kosts 125Euro. Thats 135 US Dollar....

You can go fast.
I can go anywhere.
Dodge Powerwagon

[nts007]

That blows my mind. I know the Canadian dollar is lower now but I just got my Yaesu ft-2900r for $180 or so in the us.


Sent from my safe space

We don't really make any more income on a dollar per hour basis. But everything costs more. It's pretty sad to be honest. When the dollar was on par or close to few years ago it made things more attainable. For example if I make $25 per hour in the same industry as say someone in the states making $22, then buy the same leaf springs that are listed for $1100 with free shipping in the U.S. But it actually costs me $1400 cad plus $300 shipping and appx $250 in duties and taxes.... So about $2000. It costs me double for the same product. So $1100 /$22per hour is 50hrs or about a week. $2000/$25per hr is 80 hrs. So everything costs us on a 1-1 dollar ratio about 38% more. Now I'm depressed. Maybe I'll just get the $230 radio and be happy.

Remember the long arms I got were $1300-1400 but it actually ended up being $2400 cad.

Will the tyt be a good radio. I don't want to buy twice

[DamageWagon]

Well Canada sounds pretty sucky all of a sudden. Damn that sucks dude.


Sent from my safe space

[nts007]

Well Canada sounds pretty sucky all of a sudden. Damn that sucks dude.


Sent from my safe space

Oh there is lots of awesome things about Canada. Just not the exchange rate lol