[FARC] 160-2m 1st rig recommendations?

Mon Dec 12 11:34:57 EST 2011

Brian, 

First off--congratulations on passing your exam! 

I think
you're going to have a slight challenge buying a new system within your
budget. I'd like to suggest you take a look at the Icom 746 Pro which
was only discontinued a year or two ago, so it's a very recent rig that
covers 160 - 2 M, as you've outlined, and works very well on digital
modes. I've seen a number of them for sale for under $1000 on qth.com
(http://swap.qth.com/advsearch.php). Remember that you'll need to get a
radio, a power supply and an antenna tuner. 

If you'd like to play with
a 746 Pro, please feel free to come over to my place and take it for a
spin. 

73, 

--David, K3PO 

On Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:54:23 -0500, Brian
McEntire wrote: 

> I want to thank N3HTA for forwarding the e-mail
below to the FARC list
> a while back. I signed up and took Robert
Long's (KD3JK) General
> License class this weekend. It was very helpful
and I met some great
> hams. I passed the General test :) and recommend
the class highly to
> anyone thinking of upgrading if Bob offers the
class again next year.
> 
> Now I have a good "problem", I need a rig. I
am doing a lot of
> Googling, but I'd appreciate any opinions. I know
there are often
> conflicting views so I won't ask "what's best." But,
suggestions for
> good brands too look at or if anyone knows of one that
might fit my
> goals please let me know.
> 
> I'd like to buy new. I'd
like to spend under $1000. I might stretch
> that to get into a
Flex-3000 SDR or something with similar
> capabilities and performance
in that price range.
> 
> Looking for something for my home. I'm really
interested in the
> digital modes and plan to hook the radio up to my
laptop (a new Dell
> with plenty of horsepower.)
> 
> 100 W would be
nice but I'd probably trade power for more bands if
> that trade-off
exists in my budget.
> 
> The radios that look close to fitting the bill
are the Yaesu FT-950,
> Flex-3000 SDR, and Kenwood TS-2000. They are all
above $1000 though
> and only the Kenwood does 2m.
> 
> Suggestions for
other radios to look at? Does anyone know of an SDR
> that does HF and
2m?
> 
> Thanks!!
> Brian / KB3TCC
> 
> On Thu, Sep 22, 2011 at 10:52
AM, wrote:
> 
>> All: I just opened this email and wanted to spread the
word as much as possible. Do you want to upgrade to General or do you
know of a Tech that wants to upgrade? Great opportunity! My thanks to
the Antietam Radio Association and to Roy (N2CSQ) for putting this on
the MADXRA reflector. Jim N3HTA ____________________________________
From: n2csq at hotmail.com [1] To: madxra at madxra.org [2] Sent: 9/21/2011
12:29:58 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time Subj: ARA GenlClass Tng Forwarded
for WA3EOP - Antietam Radio Association
============================================================================
============== Did you hear the good news? It on happens at best, once
every 3 years or so, and if eligible you might want to give this serious
consideration- ARA under the guidance of Robert Long, KD3JK, will offer
a General Class!!!! At the ARA Meeting last night, the membership
approved that Bob could organize and present the class in a Weekend
Wonder Format using Gorden West instructional materials. The dates
reserved for this I'm told are Friday- Sunday, _December 9, 10, and 11,
2011._ Bob has reserved a room at the Washington County Sherrif's
Office, (Off the Western MD Parkway) and Friday Evening + Saturday +
Sunday morning will be used for support classes and after class Sunday,
sometime in the afternoon, the ARA VE Team will conduct a limited
testing session of Element 3 just for those in the class. Bob is asking
first that hams interested in assisting him with the presentation of
this class contact him and volunteer. He already has 2 volunteers but
could use perhaps 7 or 8 more with each volunteer in charge of an agreed
upon class presentation element. Typically, the volunteers get support
materials to help them prepare for their time in class. Second, Bob is
collecting VE Examiners to help administer the Sunday Afternoon exam to
the class. I think he needs perhaps 2 or 3 more Extra Class Hams to
complete the team. I volunteered to help assuming my work schedule stays
the same. He wants a team Secretary to help with the paperwork.
Lastly.... The call is out for class students! Prerequisite- you must
hold a Technician License by the time of the class. Guys and Dolls- I
can't empathise enough that this is a golden opportunity to have help
upgrading to the General Class Word if you aren't there yet. Yes it
comes at a cost but a modest one. Materials, basic which includes
textbook and computer aids for pre-study at home will cost $40 ordered
through Bob who gets a quantity discount. Those who want the added
advantage of audio instruction too may buy that for an additional $26
too. That is just an option but some folks learn better that way. Of
course this opportunity is not limited to ARA members so pass the work
to your Tech License Friends. Typically the weekend wonder courses are
highly successful for those who read the books in advance of class. The
class is designed to remove the cobwebs and keep what you studied fresh
in your mind for the Sunday exam. It's good to register with Bob early
so you get your study materials with plenty of time to leisurely study
and not do a last minute rush before the class. For further information
if needed- call Bob Long at 301-824-5132 or email him at
rjlong61 at myactv.net [3]. Thanks Page WA3EOP =
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