New Ham looking for first non HT radio

[KI6QPI]

New Ham here, well ok I have had my ticket for almost a year but have only played around with my HT on the local repeater.

I was at the San Jose Electronics Swap Meet and then HRO with a friend, and had not intention of getting anything. You know how it goes, your there with all these great new radios sitting around to play with, and you get that itch. So my friend is a bit gonzo, he has a few HTs a Kenwood TS-2000 an two Icoms (7600 and a 7800) Needless to say the making of a rather expensive shack. (Funny thing he has had the radios for almost a year and has not installed a transmit antenna yet.)

Well to my issue, we were at HRO and every time I look at the HR rigs, I think, that might be a lot more fun then 2 meter, I just don’t really know how often I might be on the air, do I want to be mobile, when I spend two to three weeks a year visiting family on the other side of the country would it be fun to take a radio with me, Etc. Basically, I have no idea what my mission might be.

Looking around the store this little radio caught my eye, as it was in the case with the HTs a Yaesu FT-817ND. This got me thinking, small, no need to get a power supply, offers a great deal of flexibility. My friend suggested, nice rig, but your paying a big price for that portability. (Low power only 5 watts, small buttons and everything is in a menu rather that having its own control on the face, and couple that with the fact that set up to comparable features (Amp, temperature controller chip, and one filter) as something like the ICOM 7000 your at just about the same amount of $, have two boxes on your desk and don’t have the nice screen. His suggestion just jump in with the Icom 7000.

I figured that is only one opinion and while he has very nice stuff, I can’t afford and don’t have room for that level of shack. (720 Sq Ft Condo)

I figured maybe some of the Elmers here might have some good thoughts on if my original idea of giving up power for flexibility in a first rig to be my only rig for a year or two was good, of if my friends idea of getting 100W, all the filters and nice screen, might be the way to go. One other question I had was connecting the FT-817 to my PC might solve the small screen, menu issues. I really would love to have a nice spectrum scope display etc, rather then what I get on my little HT.

Please note I am open to other radios, but do want to get a new unit.

Thank you and 73s,

KI6QPI

[W3UC]

I myself have a ic-740 and plan on replacing it with a radio I use on 2 field days , the ft-857 (I think thats the correct model#)It does 100 watts , as I recall all HF bands, 6, 440 and 2 meter , is portable with optional internal batteries and the price isnt too bad ether.

[KL7AJ]

New Ham here, well ok I have had my ticket for almost a year but have only played around with my HT on the local repeater.

I was at the San Jose Electronics Swap Meet and then HRO with a friend, and had not intention of getting anything. You know how it goes, your there with all these great new radios sitting around to play with, and you get that itch. So my friend is a bit gonzo, he has a few HTs a Kenwood TS-2000 an two Icoms (7600 and a 7800) Needless to say the making of a rather expensive shack. (Funny thing he has had the radios for almost a year and has not installed a transmit antenna yet.)

Well to my issue, we were at HRO and every time I look at the HR rigs, I think, that might be a lot more fun then 2 meter, I just don’t really know how often I might be on the air, do I want to be mobile, when I spend two to three weeks a year visiting family on the other side of the country would it be fun to take a radio with me, Etc. Basically, I have no idea what my mission might be.

Looking around the store this little radio caught my eye, as it was in the case with the HTs a Yaesu FT-817ND. This got me thinking, small, no need to get a power supply, offers a great deal of flexibility. My friend suggested, nice rig, but your paying a big price for that portability. (Low power only 5 watts, small buttons and everything is in a menu rather that having its own control on the face, and couple that with the fact that set up to comparable features (Amp, temperature controller chip, and one filter) as something like the ICOM 7000 your at just about the same amount of $, have two boxes on your desk and don’t have the nice screen. His suggestion just jump in with the Icom 7000.

I figured that is only one opinion and while he has very nice stuff, I can’t afford and don’t have room for that level of shack. (720 Sq Ft Condo)

I figured maybe some of the Elmers here might have some good thoughts on if my original idea of giving up power for flexibility in a first rig to be my only rig for a year or two was good, of if my friends idea of getting 100W, all the filters and nice screen, might be the way to go. One other question I had was connecting the FT-817 to my PC might solve the small screen, menu issues. I really would love to have a nice spectrum scope display etc, rather then what I get on my little HT.

Please note I am open to other radios, but do want to get a new unit.

Thank you and 73s,

KI6QPI

Many congratulations on making the big jump into the mainstream of ham radio! You'll wonder why you ever limited yourself to two meters all this time.

(I keyed up a two meter repeater with a friend's radio in 1974, said, "That's nice", and handed the guy back his rig. That was my last 2 meter contact, other than some packet in the early 90s.)

Your best move is to visit an actual operating H.F. station. Do not...I repeat, DO NOT look at any catalogs. Find out what you want and what you don't want BEFORE you go shopping.

Trust me on this one.

Eric

[K0RGR]

I'm on my second FT-817, because I liked the first one so much I wanted a brand new one after a few years.

Generally, I don't recommend a QRP rig to a newbie. QRP on HF with anything other than great antennas can be highly frustrating to even an experienced ham. But there are ways to overcome that problem.

The 817 actually does make a decent mobile radio. It has a large speaker and plenty of audio to be heard in a noisy car, and it has a hand mike.

90% of the time, my 817 is used like an HT. It works much better on VHF and UHF than my other HT's. We don't have any local 6 meter repeaters, but it would work well there with the included antenna, too. The reason for the performance boost is simply that the body of the 817 provides a much bigger counterpoise for the long antenna, which is basically a full 1/4 wave on 2 meters - it runs circles around a stock HT antenna.

You can buy whip antennas for the upper HF bands that work decently well if you add a counterpoise wire.

I've used it mobile on 20 meters and higher, and it's amazing how well you can do with 5 watts there. (Again, I'm an experienced QRP operator, not a newbie.) 40 meters and lower is a different situation - I did use it to make 30 meter contacts all over Eurasia from a hotel room in England a few years ago! I've had great luck using it to do digital modes - PSK31 in particular. Since most PSK'ers dont run much more that 30-50 watts, the 5 watts is not a great disadvantage.

Now, there are some ways to boost the output. For around $100, you can get an amp that will boost the 2 meter signal to 35 watts. For around $200 you can buy a kit that will get you 45 watts on HF.

Of course, if you buy those two amps, you still won't have what you get for about the same money in an FT-857. But, the 857 lacks portability commpared to the 817. It does, however, make a great mobile rig.

If you're going to go the mobile route, instead, please check out some of the other rigs in that class. The 857 is nice, but I like the IC-7000 better.
The TS-480 has an excellent reputation, but lacks the VHF and UHF capability of the other radios mentioned.

[K0CMH]

The 857D is a ton of radio for the money. It covers almost all the bands, and does cover the most popular and used bands, as stated before.

It is very small for all the things it does. If you want to run it qrp, just power it down. If you needs some go go, run it at 100 watts HF. And it is very portable.

That rig coupled with the small MFJ 25 amp powersupply would fit in any carry on luggage. It also takes up a small footprint in a vehicle and would run off a lighter plug for vhf/uhf work.

I know a number of people that use their FT857D as a base unit and also run them mobile.

I don't see you would go wrong with that.

The IC 706 is a similar radio, but a little higher priced.

I believe you will really like the world of HF. It is a blast and lots of modes to run.

[K4UUG]

New Ham here, well ok I have had my ticket for almost a year but have only played around with my HT on the local repeater.

I was at the San Jose Electronics Swap Meet and then HRO with a friend, and had not intention of getting anything. You know how it goes, your there with all these great new radios sitting around to play with, and you get that itch. So my friend is a bit gonzo, he has a few HTs a Kenwood TS-2000 an two Icoms (7600 and a 7800) Needless to say the making of a rather expensive shack. (Funny thing he has had the radios for almost a year and has not installed a transmit antenna yet.)

Well to my issue, we were at HRO and every time I look at the HR rigs, I think, that might be a lot more fun then 2 meter, I just don’t really know how often I might be on the air, do I want to be mobile, when I spend two to three weeks a year visiting family on the other side of the country would it be fun to take a radio with me, Etc. Basically, I have no idea what my mission might be.

Looking around the store this little radio caught my eye, as it was in the case with the HTs a Yaesu FT-817ND. This got me thinking, small, no need to get a power supply, offers a great deal of flexibility. My friend suggested, nice rig, but your paying a big price for that portability. (Low power only 5 watts, small buttons and everything is in a menu rather that having its own control on the face, and couple that with the fact that set up to comparable features (Amp, temperature controller chip, and one filter) as something like the ICOM 7000 your at just about the same amount of $, have two boxes on your desk and don’t have the nice screen. His suggestion just jump in with the Icom 7000.

I figured that is only one opinion and while he has very nice stuff, I can’t afford and don’t have room for that level of shack. (720 Sq Ft Condo)

I figured maybe some of the Elmers here might have some good thoughts on if my original idea of giving up power for flexibility in a first rig to be my only rig for a year or two was good, of if my friends idea of getting 100W, all the filters and nice screen, might be the way to go. One other question I had was connecting the FT-817 to my PC might solve the small screen, menu issues. I really would love to have a nice spectrum scope display etc, rather then what I get on my little HT.

Please note I am open to other radios, but do want to get a new unit.

Thank you and 73s,

KI6QPI

KENWOOD TS 2000 IS THE WAY TO GO IT HAS IT ALL AND THEN SOME

[KB3LAZ]

I have the IC-7000 and I really like it. As for the 817, it is a nice rig and has its advantages but I would not jump straight into QRP. I like to run QRP but it can be frustrating, which is why I have radios capable of more power and an amp on top of that.

As was also suggested, you have the TS-2000 which is a nice radio as well. If you wanna go with a decent radio with a lower price tag then you could go with the 857.

In reality you are going to have to balance your priorities. What can you afford, what are your limitations, and what features are you most likely to use. In the end it is all going to boil down to personal preference and that is how it should be. Whatever you do, base you decision solely on your own opinion. Do not let others convince you that you do or do not want something just because the do or dont like it. Remember you are the one that has to be happy with your decision.

[KI6QPI]

Thank you all for the advice. I decided to go with the IC-7000 as it is probably going to be my only non-HT radio for a while. I also ordered a MFJ G5RV, and LDG IT100 and an Astron 20A Power Supply. It should all be here on Friday so I am hopeful to get it all set up and running over the weekend.

I may also run down to the local HRO this Saturday to see about getting a UHF/VHF antenna, maybe a smaller HF antenna, (as I do live in a condo) and the cable to run the 7000 from my PC.

I hope to be able to settle in on a location for the antenna, do my RF study and at least listen in on the HF bands, pending my test to upgrade to General.

I am open to any thoughts on things I might be missing.

[KB3SFX]

Thank you all for the advice. I decided to go with the IC-7000 as it is probably going to be my only non-HT radio for a while. I also ordered a MFJ G5RV, and LDG IT100 and an Astron 20A Power Supply. It should all be here on Friday so I am hopeful to get it all set up and running over the weekend.

I may also run down to the local HRO this Saturday to see about getting a UHF/VHF antenna, maybe a smaller HF antenna, (as I do live in a condo) and the cable to run the 7000 from my PC.

I hope to be able to settle in on a location for the antenna, do my RF study and at least listen in on the HF bands, pending my test to upgrade to General.

I am open to any thoughts on things I might be missing.

I don't know so I'm posting this as a question. Is the Astron 20A enough for a 100watt rig?

Lee

[KB3LAZ]

I don't know so I'm posting this as a question. Is the Astron 20A enough for a 100watt rig?

Lee

That depends on the specs of the radio.

As for the 7000:

"Current drain: Transmit max. power 22 A; Receive standby 1.3 A, max. audio 1.6 A"

In essence, no. If a I am correct it is a 16a continuous, 20a peak PS. (assuming he meant the RS-20A)

Personally I dont own a 20a PS and I never will. Then again I have multiple radios and acc's all turned on at any given time. My RS-50 is my smallest PS.