Re: I want spend $200 or less on 50w. 2 Mtr. station + simple antenna. Good used rig will do. I already have a 13.8 vdc supply. Need recommendations or offers.
Gary, K5AMH Here are a few recommendations: www.qrz.com for used equipment *prices*- remember that shipping can cost beyond the listed price, and you need to take care that your seller is reputable. There are also some tech forums where your same question has been answered in other ways than what I say below: Consider your antenna feedline needs, and an SWR meter. Cables such as RG-58 ( various suffixes A/U/etc. can make a huge difference ), RG-8(x), LMR-400, etc. might later also be used for UHF- where length can be a factor with the 'cheaper' cabling. Do not forget to add both horizontal and vertical distances. Good SWR meters are usually about $80.00 to $500.00- You may want to ask an 'elmer' to help you with his or hers. Consider 2m features: Do you want subaudible encoding and decoding ( older rigs sometimes have optional modules ) for repeater access? Do you want data capabilities? The ARRL labs once compared a number of 'data ready' ( packet, AX.25 ) rigs. Do you also want to use it outdoors? Some displays work better if you take sunglasses off, due to polarization. Do you want numeric or alpha-numeric memory display? How many channels? ( most folks use 2 or 3 repeaters, yet some want them by name... ). Do you also want 2M sideband? At the $200.00 budget, you might expect only low-power SSB. Do you need it to be a small radio? Smaller radios usually have both cooling fins and fans. Some folks hate to maintain cooling fans, or listen to the slight noise. Do you need a name brand? Most amateurs would say that the 'big 3' are K, I, and Y, the first letters of these manufacturers always seem to have good resale later in the new/used/used/used passdown cycles. Motorola had purchased Vertex, associated with Yaesu. Yet they make commercial radios which typically require a special radio interface box and expensive software to program ( the Motorolas, that is ). Vertex is also commercial. Other popular amateur radios start with 'S' and 'A', yet seem to be less popular. Prices on the 'B' radios may be good ( because of where they are made, ahem ), yet reviews are mixed. Other makers abound... Antennas: If you spend less on the rig at first, you can get a better antenna ( and more range or reliability as a rule ). For an omni-directional, a used fiberglass base-station antenna should cost around $80.00 to $500.00. This would also require a static suppression device and ground rod, plus a means of entering the building. For a directional antenna, a small yagi could be placed in an attic- not as much exposure thus static suppression may be considered 'optional' depending on higher structures nearby. You would want to point this at your favorite repeater. Jon L. Livingston Electronics Technician 17722 Fieldglen Drive Houston, Texas 77084 [email protected] Cell: (832)-591-0082 General Radiotelephone license PGGB062294 CET Wireless Communications WCM-R185658 Amateur Radio license KB0MNM www.linkedin.com/in/jon-livingston 73 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary Sitton via BVARC" <[email protected]> To: "BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB" <[email protected]> Cc: "Gary Sitton" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 8:01:18 PM Subject: [BVARC] Need 2 Mtr. base station advice. I want spend $200 or less on 50w. 2 Mtr. station + simple antenna. Good used rig will do. I already have a 13.8 vdc supply. Need recommendations or offers. Gary, K5AMH Sent with AquaMail for Android http://www.aqua-mail.com _______________________________________________ BVARC mailing list [email protected] http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org Message delivered to [email protected]
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