QTH.COM Swap Chat

What is the best equipment to buy for the novice operator. I am taking my technican test next week. I would like a base station and the smallest antenna I can use. I would like to keep the cost down as much as possible.
Thank You
Jerry W Bennington

Jerry:

What's your budget in terms of money and space? Where's the local "action"? What frequencies and modes do you want to operate and a what power? Do you want to stay at low power after you upgrade? Can you use an external antenna? What about RF exposure? These are important and inter-related considerations.

The FT-817 and the IC-703 are good QRP HF/VHF rigs but need an external power supply for sustained operation if you don't want to blow $$$ on batteries.

THE MP-1 is a handy 7 MHZ - 50 MHz antenna rated at 100+ watts. MFJ also makes a similar product.

Above all, DON'T RUSH!!!

Believe me, I've been through it, too many times!!

N9LCD

LCD is correct all the way around...

and you will soon learn "there is no such word as BEST in amateur radio."

its waht qwill satisfy you in what you want to do. not someoneelses idea of best.
maybe 'best' could be defined as an ICOM 7800.. other than that
its all guess work..

I am a bit suprised you dont know the answers to these questions already.
I read up on radios and antennas and frequencys and propagation for years before i was ready for a license.
So don't take someone elses idea of good better best (that word again)
its what you want that makes it satisfactory.
And if your opinion doesn't change in a year or so, you are not trying hard enough. Is like buying a car, you love the one youhave untill you see a 'better' one and "i wish I had bought one of them...."

While not a BASE, you can start with a HT (2m) and mag. mount moble antenna. These you can get for about. $125. My first radio was a IC V8, (still have) and I could hit repeaters out to about 40 miles. You can start here, and like most of the HAMS out here look for something newer/better, or, defferent.
Good luck on the test.
Coco KD5UJJ