[Elecraft] Best HT

[David Y.]

  Hi Gang,

I'll also endorse the Kenwood THF6-A.  I also have a Yaesu VX-5 (which has 
been superceded by the newer VX-6 and VX-7 models) which I bought before 
getting the Kenwood.  The VX-5 works very well too, but only has HF receive 
capability up to 15 mhz and no SSB.  The Kenwood has SSB/CW, which means it 
can double as a portable SW receiver, and it covers just about all the HF 
and VHF/UHF frequencies.  The Kenwood has 220 mhz RX/TX as well (instead of 
6 meters), so that makes it a  better supplement to many of the HF rigs 
available these days which cover up through 6 meters.  I'm not sure what RX 
capability changes may have been made in the VX-6 or VX-7, but I don't think 
they added SSB/CW.  But I will add that HF receive on just about any of 
these HT's is only fair unless you connect it to a decent antenna.  If you 
do that they perform pretty well.

For a shirt pocket sized HT the VX-2 is hard to beat, but it has no 
touch-tone pad.  It does have good wide-band RX though, although no SSB/CW.

Dave W7AQK