New to HAM and have a couple questions

[rparker762]

I will be taking my test tomorrow and am looking forward to it. I was given a Radio Shack HTX-202 for my first radio which I have read is a great no frills radio and seems to be a good 2m starting point for me. I wanted something that I can take hiking and though there are smaller and more current HT out there, if I screw this one up, I'm not out anything.

What would be a decent antenna that I can use in my truck? And what BNC antenna should I get to replace the factory one. I was told they are not the greatest. I don't want to spend an exuberant amount of money on this radio because I am saving up to get a better one but I also don't want junk.

 

[tanglefoot]

Welcome to radio! Yes...the HTX-202 is said to be a solid radio. They were quite popular when I was first licensed in '91.

For a truck antenna, I'd look for a simple 1/4 or 5/8-wave 2-meter magnetic mount antenna for around $20. I know they say that mag-mount antennas are more for temporary use but I've been using them for 17 years. Mine is a 1/4 wave...it's not too long but still offers good performance getting the antenna outside the vehicle. The 5/8-wave gives you more gain and performance but it is a longer antenna.

For an antenna on the radio, I like the little telescoping ones from MFJ. They work as a low-gain antenna when they're collapsed and then you can telescope them for extra gain. I use a dual-band one on my Yaesu FT-470 (similar vintage to your 202).

Good luck on the exam. Try a few practice tests first if you haven't already. They have them online. You'll do great!

Eric

 

[rparker762]

Thanks for the quick response and I have been doing practice tests all week.... :drool:would this be a good telescoping antenna?

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1712

or this one:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1714

I can't make heads or tails out of their mag mount antennas though.


Also, thoughts on this setup? would be interesting around camp:

http://www.hamradiofun.com/yoyodeluxe.html

 

[SunTzuNephew]

For a mag mount, I'd suggest getting a Larsen with an NMO mount, and a Larsen 1/4 wave antenna....

Larsen makes quite durable antennas, and having an NMO base means that if you move up to a permanently installed antenna at some point you can coil up the mag mount base and keep it as an emergency backup for your antennas.

 

[tanglefoot]

That first MFJ you linked to is the exact antenna I have! Who knew they still made it?! I've been happy with it. You do have to be a little careful storing it....it isn't flexible, so it's not as durable as a rubber duck antenna. The threads start to get stripped between the thicker, lower section and the narrower telescoping section if it's abused. When telescoped, it sure performs a lot better than a flexible duck though.

That second 2-meter antenna looks interesting...a 1/2-wave on 2-meters should give you really nice performance.

The yo-yo looks interesting. It would be great on the lower HF bands in the field. Most 2-meter work uses vertically-polarized signals, so you'd want to have your dipole vertically-oriented. I haven't seen anyone use a di-pole on 2-meters.

I like the smaller, cheaper 1/4-wave mag mounts like Pro-AM. You can usually land one for around $15 before shipping.

For portable 2-meter operation, it's pretty easy to build a J-pole antenna out of a piece of twin-lead TV wire and a piece of coax cable. You can also buy them. I used one on a bicycle for a while, taped to a fiberglass flag pole. They can also be suspended from a tree branch or ceiling. If you want more gain for portable or base-station work, 2-meter beam antennas are also easy to build. They can be made out of PVC pipe and fence wire. The kids I work with at the youth ham radio club here in Boulder have made quite a few 2-meter beam antennas for fox hunting. Some even use metal measuring tape material cut to length for the elements so you can fold them up easily for travel or storage. The possibilities are endless!

 

[rparker762]

Well I passed the test and am stoked. It wasn't near as hard as I thought it would be but I still need to work on my electrical formulas... Anyways, I would like to thank everyone who replied to this thread and would now like to ask if anyone who uses HTs in their rigs if they could post some pics of how they have them mounted.

 

[silentsamurai]

Congrats Parker! I've been reading my Gordon West book for about 6 months now, and i've yet taken a test. As of yesterday I sent them an email signing up for March 15th in mission Viejo, CA. Can't wait.

Enjoy your new hobby!

 

[rparker762]

OK, so I was going over the radio and I was looking at the "charger" the guy gave us. It is an after market
power supply so I don't know if it is an actual charger or if it is a 120v power supply... is there any way to tell?

 

[gary in ohio]

OK, so I was going over the radio and I was looking at the "charger" the guy gave us. It is an after market
power supply so I don't know if it is an actual charger or if it is a 120v power supply... is there any way to tell?

Where do you plug it in The charger port or the 12v port?

If you dont have a manual you can find one here http://www.repeater-builder.com/radio-shack/htx-202/htx-202-owners-manual.pdf

 

[rparker762]

There is a 12v DC power port on the top of the radio next to the antenna AND there is a charger port on the battery itself. My understanding it the charger is supposed to be 120vac in 12vdc 100mA out but this thing is 120vac in 12vdc 500mA out. The manual isn't much help. I dont wanna fry it but the batery is gonna need charged soon.

 

[arz]

the 500ma output is a max - if your radio only needs 100mA out you're good.

 

[rparker762]

Thanks, I got it to charge last night. Now I'm looking at a FT8800 for my truck.
Should have realized this was gonna be a spendy hobby.:wings:

 

[BigJimCruising]

Hi Parker and congrats on passing the test! I think you'll have lots of fun with it! I have a few observations on your antenna ideas. Except for the yo yo I've tried them all at one time or another. I make my own antenna for the yo yo thing,

About those MFJ antennas you listed above. Forget them! Get a rubber ducky type about 15 or so inches long. It will do well enough and will be safer for camp and hiking use. Those telescoping antennas just won't add enough real world antenna gain to make a difference. About the only telescoping antenna worth a darn was one that used to telescope out to about 3 feet with a center coil if I remember right. It did perform well but was almost certain to be destroyed in your first couple hiking trips! With a rubber ducky you can strap the radio at the top of your pack and with a remote mic you can track the local repeaters while you hike.

Unless you have some strange QRP festish for working 2 meter FM DX then pass on that yo yo antenna thing. It's focus is on HF DXing and not 2 meter FM. Could it work? Yeah it could but it's not really the optimal design for 2 meter FM.

As for your car. Get a regular full size mag mount hi gain type antenna and use an adapter to fit it to your radio. The Larsens are great if you do any trail runs at all. Avoid rigid type antennas for anything except street use.

The FT8800 is a very good radio but shop around a bit before you decide. There are several very good choices in mobile radios. Each is a bit different and can fit your vehicle in different ways. Look at lots of installations on other HAM's cars before you choose, you'll see radios installed in many different ways that you may have never thought about.

Good luck in you new hobby and happy DXing!! Jim.