[HCARC] What Radio To Recommend to a Newbie - Be An Elmer

[Gary and Arlene Johnson]

I have been told over and over and over since taking Dale's course to just get a radio and get on the air.  I am going to try to THINK LIKE A REALLY NEW NEWBIE.

I have just completed Dales Course, and passed my Tech Exam and I am ready to go.  HMMMM, what kind of radio should I buy.  I can spend just a couple of dollars and get an inexpensive single band Handy Talky, but how does that help me with this other set of bands that ALL of the other members of HCARC are always discussing, and the only reason for upgrading my license at all.   I know, I'll buy a Yeasu 8900, it's a Quad Band Radio with 6 and 10 meters and I can get my HF feet wet that way.  NOPE, hopefully before I buy it I find out that while yes it does 6 and 10 meters, it only does them in FM and therefore I still can't join the Old Guys on HF and getting on HF seems the way everyone else has gone, and about all they talk about at HCARC meetings.   HMMMM, ok, I'll go out and get a used all band, all mode rig that will let me do both??  But what are the ones that are reasonable in cost, work well (everyone selling theirs says they work great don't they).  HERE IT IS UP TO YOU ELMERS - Give the New techs (and maybe some older Techs too) a list of radio's that will do all bands/all modes for a reasonable cost.  With the collective expertise available this list should be pretty easy to come up with.  Here is what Eham.net has to say on the subject after I got frustrated doing a goodle search for a list of possible radios:

"
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 situating. 

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 rag chew 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 is 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. "

Interesting - when I asked the question to google as to what all mode, all  band radios were out there available used it came up with the above - NO LIST.   Is anyone, regardless of Brand Preference able to come up with a list of all mode, all band radios that had good reviews (we don't need to stick a newbie with a pile of cow dung) with approx used dollar ranges.  If not, then the ADVICE, to "just get a good used radio and get on the air and learn" is pretty hollow.  It might have worked back in the days when Hams were happy calling the guy in the next county and when the state 2 states over was considered DX.  That probably isn't going to cut it today.  Most will want the radio to be able to relatively easily work RTTY and PSK31 as well as SSB and CW.  In todays world, with todays economy, the purchasers of radios have to be savvy enough to purchase a rig that will allow him/her to grow into the radio, because it might just be the only radio they can ever afford to purchase, or at least the only radio for numerous years to come.  Not all Hams are people who are retired, have good residual income from investments and who were able to trade up radios and now have their "dream radio".  For many, the make or break radio may just be the first and only radio they ever buy.  HELP the Newbies do it right.  It's a different world out there.

Gary J

N5"BAA"