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Date: Fri, 26 Apr 91 17:30:52 CDT
From: Matthew Weisberg <moodyblu@buhub.bradley.edu>
Message-Id: <9104262230.AA13993@buhub.bradley.edu>
To: bowen@cs.Buffalo.EDU
Cc:
Subject: HT Info
Status: RO
It was suggested that I send the following digest of HT info to you.
Let me know if there are any problems with it, etc.
Matt Weisberg
Since several people have asked me to forward them replies to my recent
questions about HT's, I decided to post a summary of responses:
In ham radio, you absolutely get what you pay for. I suggest looking
for a used Icom 32-AT if you want a dual bander.--
Welcome aboard Matt! --
For what its worth, I'd suggest you avoid used Santec and
used Azden H/Ts. It's tough finding parts and accessories
for them, not to mention service.
However, there are good used H/Ts available that can usually
be had reasonably ($100-$175 depending on age/condition/accessories
etc). Icom 2ATs (thumb-wheel freq selection, no scan) are widely
available, rugged, and battery packs, speaker/mics, etc are easy to
come by (some guys just refuse to sell when it comes down to the wire,
they like this little radio so much!). Kenwood 7300's are a little
more sophisticated, but some would say not as rugged as the Icom 2AT.
Older Yaesus are around as well. As I said before, just avoid the
off-brands, and you'll likely be ok.
For new rigs, if you are so inclined, don't overlook Alinco. I'm
very happy with my DJ-160 2-mtr, and lot's of folks have commented
favorably on the Alinco dual-bander. Right now, the previous models
of Kenwood and Icom dual banders are widely available at "sale"
prices as they clear stock to make way for the newer, smaller, more
bells-and-whistles models.
Lot's to choose from, so enjoy the quest! 73 -- Have fun Hamming!
Congratulations on your license!
I have a Yaesu FT-23R (2-meter), which set me back $270. I was looking for
something used, but used HTs are rare, at least around here. The FT-23 lacks
some features which would occasionally be nice (i.e., sub-audibles and DTMF),
but which I don't miss. You can add these features later, but it's cheaper
to the next model up, which has them built in.
My favorite thing about the Yaesu is it's small enough to carry with me almost
everywhere. When I'm rich & famous, and can afford to get another HT, I'll
keep this one as a backup, and for those times when I want the small package.
For now, this is my only 2-meter rig--base, mobile, and hand-held all in one.
Whatever you get, get a decent antenna. I only use the rubber duck when the
telescoping would be too much in the way. I've got a 3/8-wave whip, and it
makes a BIG difference in reception and ability to hit the repeater. 1/2 wave
would have been better, but I'm not sure the difference between the 3/8 and
1/2 would be as dramatic as between the 3/8 and the duck. Probably the best
$10 I spent on gear.
Hope this helps.
--Mike
If I were money-constrained right now, but wanted a good dual-band HT,
I'd buy a used IC24AT. There will be a number on the market at good
prices, since the IC W2 is now out, and is even neater.
The '24 is a very nice rig.
73, doug
I just purchased an Icom IC-24AT. Below is the chart I put together
while looking for a HT. Icom has just announced a new model (the IC-W2
or something) and the prices on the 24 have dropped. Hope this
helps.
Phil
Comparison chart of 2m/70cm dual-band HTs -- 26 Mar 1991
[ Please Note: I added the info on the Alinco DJ-560T - Matt Weisb e
Radios included:
Alinco DJ-560T, DJ-500T
Kenwood TH-77A
Icom IC-24AT,IC-32AT
Yaesu FT-470, Reviewed in Sept 90 QST
Radio DJ-560T DJ-500T TH-77A IC24-AT IC-32AT FT-470
RxCov 130-174 136-165 138-174 138-174 130-180
400-520 438-450 440-450 440-450 430-450
RxSens 0.18 0.25 0.158
TxCov 144-148 140-150 140-150 144-148
440-450 440-450 440-450 430-450
FDX Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
X-Band Yes Yes Mod
DualDsp Yes Yes Yes No Yes
CTCSS Yes Yes Opt Yes Yes
ToneSq Yes Yes Opt Opt
MemCh 20x2+2 20 42 40x2+2 20x2+2 19x2+2
DTMFmem 10x15 4x15 None 10x15
FacPwr 2.0 2.5 2.5 5W 2.3W
PwrSet 2 4 2 2
Scan BM BSML BML BML
Clock Yes No
Saver Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
APO Yes Yes Yes No Yes
MSR 629 629 576
RCUSA 380 464
HRO 400 519 474
AES 400 520 480 549
EEB 560 580 399
Acc Charg Charg Charg Charg Case
BeltClp BeltClp BeltClp BeltClp Charger
KbCov BeltClp
Features:
- Scan: B - band
S - skip during band scan
M - scan memory channels
L - Lock out memory channels during scan
- APO: Automatic power off
- Saver: Battery saving monitor mode
- Tone Sq: DTMF operated tone squelch
- Mem Chan: channels x freq/channel + calling channels
- FDX: Cross-band full duplex
- X-Band: cross-band repeat
- DualDisp: Dual frequency Display
- FacPwr - Transmit ppower from factory, all of these units are 5W with
13.6V
- PwrSet - Number of transmit power settings
- MSR - Manufacturer's Suggested Retail
- RCUSA - Radio Cebter USA
- HRO - Ham Radio Outlet
- AES - Amateur Electronics Supply
- EEB - Electronic Equipment Bank
Other features:
The following information is based on things I have seen on the net
and may not necessarily work. I have also put comments that don't
fit in the chart in this section.
- Kenwood TH-77A
2m section is modifiable for MARS/CAP
can be modified for 118-165MHz Rx
dual UHF receive
- Icom IC-24AT
A diode will extend UHF transmit range to 410-485
A diode will extend VHF transmit range to 138-168
Keyboard entry can enable 100-1000MHz Receive (diode has to
be removed on older models).
A diode can be removed to allow cross-band repeat
Icom IC-32AT
Simple mods for RX on 138-168 and 418-458. Tx on those ranges with
a bit more work.
- Yaesu 470
There is a mod for transmit on 140-174
Several people have mentioned that the backlit keyboard in a nice
feature.
Phil Benchoff
benchoff@groupw.cns.vt.edu
In rec.radio.amateur.misc you write:
>Being a new Ham (still waiting for license!), I was looking around at
>getting an HT. There seems to be a lot of them out there and many
I like my Alinco DJ-560 dual bander. Alinco is very competitive on price
and has good quality stuff.
Well I do like the DJ-560T very much. Can't think of any problems other
than those I inflicted on it myself by dropping it ...
It does not suffer much from overload which has been a major
criticism of the FT-470... I waited a long while for this one
I read the Japanese ham mag CQ Ham Radio and waited several months
for it to be marketed in the USA.
Very wide out of band coverage on both VHF - UHF something like
130 -170 and 410 - 510 .. don't remember exactly.
The major strike against against Alinco is poor documentation or
translation of documentation. But if you don't use too much fancy
stuffDDD
Hello again Matt,
First, thanks for your reply. I cannot speak exhaustively concerning
the background of Alinco as a company, although my meager understanding
is that they have been active in Japan for quite a while successfully
before moving into the American market. I have been on the newsfeed for
about a year, and all Alinco products have been basically positive. Two
issues do come up: Manuals written in Japiglish and Accessory availability.
I personally found their manual translations to be better than a lot of
equipment I've purchased, although (and here's the real rub as far as
Ham's go) the technical explanations of non-obvious features _are_ not
very clear. The dialer instructions in my version of the 160 manual were
particularly crazy in my view. (Worse, I couldn't discover any way to
slow down the autodial pulses, which are too fast for the local repeater
controller to handle! - Not that punching a telephone number in is very
difficult a chore :-) (P.S. Even Kenwood gets knocked on about manuals!)
As far as accessories go, when I first bought my 160 the local Candy Store
didn't have any shell packs (to allow me to use alcalines or my own nicads
to power the H/T) and they didn't have any headset mikes either. I bought
a spare regular rechargable pack at that time, and put my name on the list
to eventually buy the shell pack, which did come in later. Headset/mikes
are now in stock. In general, I believe the supply is finally reaching the
demand.
I'll admit (unlike some pundits :-) that I bought basically on the price
point. If it had looked like a piece of junk when I examined it in the
store, I was prepared to buy around it (even though it was vacation money
I was spending HI). It turned out to look and feel as well built as any
of the other H/Ts, was smaller than all but the expensive "micro" radios,
and had a TWO year warrenty (next closest just one year, another brand only
had a 6 month H/T warrenty!). I've operated that DJ-160 for almost a year
now, including (for all practical purposes) daily use. It is on my belt
or in my briefcase all the time. Yesterday I worked my seventh (?more?)
major public service event with it (MS-150 Bicycle tour). I've dropped it
(bought the case after the first drop reminded me it can happen to ME, and
keep it in the soft case always, which doesn't interfere with operations).
I often power it via the external DC-in, with no headaches. I weekly check
in to net operations using the 160 while I walk our two dogs. I use it!
Lot's of other Ham's do the same things using the major brands - but I
think that's my point. I use it in the same rugged fashion other H/Ts are
used with no problems. I don't believe you could ask for more from your
radio regardless of price! You should shop around. You should handle the
radios you can lay hands on. But don't dismiss Alinco from your list till
YOU decide so (some folks are highly biased toward a particular brand, and
all others are trash to them, particularly newcomers like Alinco). My wife
has a Yaesu 2-mtr dual-bander (almost never uses the 440!). We have both
Icom and Kenwood mobile 2-mtr rigs. My Alinco DJ-160 holds its own and
then some! Good luck with whichever way you chose to go!
Hope that was of some help. I am seriously considering an Alinco DJ-560T,
so if anyone has any caveats, please let me know. Thanks again for
everyone that replied.
Matt Weisberg (7 weeks and counting!...ugh!)
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