[FARC] Guide to Choosing Your First Radio by N3PAQ

[Joseph M. Durnal]

I decided to write this wordy guide to first radio(s) for new hams
(I got tired of a lot of the one dimensional advice given on some
ham radio message boards).

Here it is:

You'll often hear that a handheld transceiver is not the best first
radio for a new ham, and for good reason, handheld transceivers are
among the most limited transceivers available but often overlooked
is the value of a handheld transceiver as a portable station that
can be used at home, in the car, and in the field.  Often the same
folks who say that handheld transceivers aren't good starter radios,
recommend alternatives such as HF/VHF/UHF all mode rigs. While multi
band all mode rigs offer a wide range of operating possibilities,
they are often out of the new ham's budget.

So, what makes a good first radio?  It depends greatly on two things,
what you will use the radio for, and your budget.  People get amateur
radio licenses for many reasons these days. Some are interested in
emergency communications; some, a technical hobby where building things
and/or using cutting edge digital modes are most appealing. Others just
like to talk, and still some are lured to the hobby by tales of DX or
from the short wave broadcast bands.  Keeping these things in mind,
different radio choices can be examined for their usefulness.

Handheld FM Transceivers

Handhelds tend to be fine transceivers for light emergency communica-
tions and public service events. The limited power of a handheld also
means limited range - OK for in town events, but problematic for more
widespread or regional events.  Handheld range can be extended with
aftermarket antennas and amplifiers, in fact a good aftermarket antenna
is recommended for emergency communications, even if you can access the
local repeater just fine on the stock antenna, a more efficient antenna
may allow you to use lower power, and give you a greater simplex range.

Handhelds don't offer much in the way of technical challenges. They are
mostly just a buy it, turn it on, and use it sort of thing.  I suppose
that one could build a few items such as an antenna, packet interface,
or maybe a solar charger for the battery, but there are only so many
technical projects you can squeeze out of a handheld.

One thing that handhelds are not good for is rag chewing.  The reasons
are obvious to the seasoned operator, short battery life, limited range,
and most modern handhelds get pretty hot, especially when running from
an external power source.

You wouldn’t think a handheld would have anything to do with DX, but my
very first DX (if you call Porto Rico DX) was with a dual band handheld
via satellite.  Operating satellites with a handheld typically means
standing outside in the elements, which may not be appealing to some.

There is also EchoLink. While calling EchoLink DX is up for debate, the
fact that one could walk down the sidewalk in the US and have a QSO with
a ham operating from Germany can't be denied.


Mobile FM Transceivers

Mobile FM transceivers don't necessarily have to be used in vehicles,
they can be used as fixed stations or even portables with the proper
batteries, still making a mobile a fine choice for emergency communica-
tions. Obviously not as portable and easy to deploy as handhelds, mobiles
deployed in vehicles and fixed stations often benefit from better antenna
installations and power availability, which also means added expenses of
installing antennas and feed lines, as well as purchasing power supplies.

While still limited in the technical aspect of amateur radio, mobile FM
transceivers are often the choice for full time packet nodes for the data
savvy.  Interestingly enough, Ten-Tec still sells a 2 meter mobile kit,
for those who would like to build their own gear. Although, for what you
get, it is rather expensive compared to what you can buy already made.

Most Mobiles are great for those who like to ragchew with other operators
in their local area. From fixed stations, or vehicles, they are much
better at this task than handhelds. Not only do they offer more power for
direct communications, but also mobiles are designed with large heat sinks
to dissipate the heat generated during those long winded conversations.

While I've enjoyed driving to a hill top and working stations around 100
miles away occasionally, mobile FM transceivers are not going to have
range considered DX without linked repeaters or EchoLink nodes.


Mono Band, Dual Band, More?

Many say this is up to one's personal choice and budget.  While dual and
triband radios are more expensive than mono band rigs, what a new ham
should invest in isn't always so clear.  For emergency communications, it
would be best to check with your local ARES or RACES members, find out what
repeaters and simplex frequencies are used, and avoided.  In most areas,
local communications are handled on 2 meters, but if the local emergency
services are using VHF high band, it may be difficult to operate in shared
locations or on shared towers, so the local amateur radio volunteers may h
ave decided that 70 centimeters is best.

Multiband radios do offer more room for experimenting with antennas.  I
did enjoy making a six meter antenna to use the 1 watt carrier AM mode on
the Yaesu VX-7R, and with the same radio, making a small 222 MHz yagi to
get the most out of its 300 mw maximum output on that band.

Often we don't want to tie up a widely used 2 meter repeater in our area
with a long conversation or big roundtable discussion.  Having another
band option may make it easier to move to a repeater in the same location
with similar coverage that doesn't see as much activity.  Many clubs put
repeaters on several bands at the same site, making the coverage fairly
predictable.

Multiband Radios with 6 meters and a good external antenna can sometimes
work DX via sporadic E propagation.  While this won't happen all the time,
especially for FM, it does happen, and you could find yourself talking to
stations several hundred miles away.


HF, VHF, & UHF in one all mode radio

You may only have a technician license, and think that you aren't yet
able to use the HF bands right away, recent rule changes have given
Technicians voice, data, & CW on 10 meters, and CW on some other HF bands
and the upgrade to General no longer requires a Morse code proficiency
exam, which makes the upgrade fairly easy.  HF has a unique place in
regards to emergency communications. Making contact beyond the range of
the local repeater, assuming it is still operating in a disaster, or
beyond line of site for simplex, is often accomplished by HF.

Many states and regions have daily nets on set HF frequencies for passing
routine traffic. These nets and frequencies become the backbone for
regional amateur radio communications during disasters that may damage
other communications infrastructure, including the amateur repeaters in
the area.  With VHF & UHF in that same radio, it makes a convenient
platform for just about any situation.

For the experimenter, it is hard to go wrong, there are thousands of
possibilities, from world wide digital HF communications with low power
and low bandwith PSK31, to high speed computer controlled CW for VHF
scatter of of meteor trails, air planes, the aurora, etc.  There are
many modes to experiment with, classic digital using RTTY, to SSTV & FAX.
With a radio like this, your antenna projects for HF, VHF, & UHF will
never end.

For those who want to ragchew beyond the range of the local repeater,
you'll need to run SSB on VHF or HF.  Tuning around the HF bands you'll
hear many discussions between regional hams, and occasionally some not
so regional, with the "DC to daylight" all mode rig, there is nothing
stopping you from joining the discussion on the local 2 meter repeater.

Here is where the DX will be found. Whether it's on 6 meters with sporadic
E, 2 meters via tropospheric ducting, or HF F layer propagation taking your
signal half way around the world, a good HF/VHF/UHF radio is definitely
the choice for the new ham who really wants to work the world.  This is
true even if you haven't upgraded yet, because you know you will, and until
you do, there is a lot to hear on the bands.  Who knows, you might even
decide you want to learn the code and work CW.


Summary

The sections above are essentially in the order of what what it will cost
you to get on the air. A single band handheld will be the least expensive
method to get on the air, but most limited, while a HF/VHF+ rig will
require a larger budget, but offers possibilities to operate many aspects
of amateur radio.  With all radios, there will be extra expenses beyond
costs of radios. With handhelds, you'll probably want extra batteries,
and charger, and probably an aftermarket antenna.  With everything else
you'll need to add an antenna(s) and feedline, and power supply for fixed
station use.  Every ham should have at least a basic SWR meter and a
multimeter to test their equipment. This is even more important when you
are building your own antennas!


Appendix

Here I'll share some other thoughts I've had on this subject.

Thought 1

In my area, almost all, if not all local ARES & RACES activity is on two
meters, making dual band rigs not very valuable for this purpose. Putting
together a new shack with a dual band radio with power supply, feedline,
amd antenna, will run from around $400 (Icom IC-208H as example) to $550
(Yaesu FT-8800R as example). The same can be done for a 2 meter rig (using
FT-1802M as example) for about $250, taking into consideration that it is
a lot easier to make a good performing 2 meter antenna than a dual band
antenna.  For another $150 you could put a 2 meter radio in your vehicle
with a simple 1/4 wave magnetic antenna, and for another $150 you could
add a 2 meter handheld with an extra battery.  I'm not anti-UHF, and this
scenario might not work for everyone, but it is intended to give you some
ideas on what you can do with your budget.



Thought 2

The most economical HF/VHF/UHF rigs are designed primarily for mobile
use. While these can certainly be used for fixed stations, they aren't
the best tool for the job, and many seasoned operators won't hesitate
to tell you so. Don't let that stop you from buying one if it is within
your budget.  If you were recently licensed or upgraded, you want to
get on the air, so any radio is better than no radio!  As time passes
you might find that the mobile rig is just fine for the way you operate
your fixed station, or you may decide that it is time to invest in a
full sized fixed station HF transceiver and move the mobile to the car
for just that, mobile.  You may even want to keep that rig in the shack
as a backup, or in a go kit with some battery power for emergencies. If
nothing else, they generally have decent resale value.


Thought 3

Used radios can be a great deal, or a nightmare.  I wouldn't recommend a
beginner to buy a radio that they haven't seen work first.  While online
classifieds and auctions might seem like good deals, you just can't be
sure. Hamfests and face to face meetings are the best way to buy.  Turn
it on, hit the local repeater, take a dummy load and watt meter to test
the output of that HF rig, whatever you do don't spend a couple hundred
dollars on something that is damaged beyond repair.  Even better, take
someone you trust with experience along, they may know via the grapevine
that some radio models tend to develop specific problems, and how to spot
those problems before you buy.

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