Simple radio
- Thread starter GlennA
- Start date
Tennmogger
Explorer
The Kenwood TM-281A is about as simple as modern radios get. You can dial the frequency in, or you can coarse dial the MHz digit then fine tune the kHz digits.
I do not know of any radio that lets you 'dial in' the tone frequency from the front panel. They all require a menu item selection first, then dial selected tone.
If you dial in and use the frequency on the dial in VFO mode, it's easy to put it into memory.
Another negative: setting squelch takes two button pushes.
We hams need a simple radio as you describe!! Using a menu while driving is impossible to do safely.
I do not know of any radio that lets you 'dial in' the tone frequency from the front panel. They all require a menu item selection first, then dial selected tone.
If you dial in and use the frequency on the dial in VFO mode, it's easy to put it into memory.
Another negative: setting squelch takes two button pushes.
We hams need a simple radio as you describe!! Using a menu while driving is impossible to do safely.
BigJimCruising
Adventurer
I used to check out pawn shops for older radios and had some great finds, plus back then most pawn shops didn't have any idea of the value of the radios so I often got pretty good deals. With the internet that might not be the case anymore but it's worth a few stops to find out. Flea markets were hit and miss. If you're in a larger city look for estate sales, I've found a few radios that way.
Bill Idaho
New member
Try thrift stores. I found a 10 meter mobile rig for $6.00! I usually go through the electronics section looking for nicer CB radios, and came across one with heat sinks sticking out of the back. I instantly figured it was not a CB, and did a quick search on my smart phone. Sure enough, a 10 meter rig. I gladly paid for it and within minutes of getting home, was listening to someone on the opposite side of the US! For just listening, I figure an 11 meter antenna (CB) was close enough to work on 10 meter. (I have since put up a proper 10 meter antenna, BTW.) Thrift stores -stay away from pawn shops-yard sales, etc. A friend of mine found a nice Kenwood dual-band at a junk yards parts counter tossed in with all the CB's taken out of wrecked/junk cars.
As far as the setting as your described.........any more they are all too complicated to do much more than change a channel while driving.
As far as the setting as your described.........any more they are all too complicated to do much more than change a channel while driving.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
I can't imagine a more simple radio than a FT-2900, TM-281 or IC-2300.
Finlay
Triarius
You can buy a bluetooth CAT interface controller that uses the Repeaterbook App on your phone to program the radio.
It only works with certain radios, but I have used it and it is slick as can be.
It only works with certain radios, but I have used it and it is slick as can be.
malibubts
Adventurer
Now that's the ticket, don't think the you could find a better solution. Wish that worked on the icom 2730.
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
The short answer is no, not really. One of my gripes with amateur radio, actually. 
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Anyway, I think the short answer to your issue, though, is to get a repeater or frequency guide and simply pre-program any frequencies or repeaters you're likely to use. Shouldn't be hard to do, the internet offers a huge number of sources for info. As long as you have a general idea of where you're going you should be able to find out all the info you need.
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IIRC most modern 2m or dual-band units allow a huge number of pre-sets - something like 1000, I think, more than most people can use. You can program each one with the offset, CTCSS codes, etc, and then save it as a pre-set.
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Trying to do it "on the fly" is dangerous - akin to texting while driving.
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HAM will never be as simple as CB where you can simply switch a channel while driving (and IMO that is why CB remains as prevalent as it is - for all it's downsides, it is easy to use and it works.)
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I know there has been talk here (and elsewhere) about GMRS eventually replacing CB and if that happens, I think it will be a good thing. GMRS offers the advantages of VHF/UHF FM clarity and CB-level simplicity. The only downside to GMRS now is that there just aren't that many people using it.
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Anyway, I think the short answer to your issue, though, is to get a repeater or frequency guide and simply pre-program any frequencies or repeaters you're likely to use. Shouldn't be hard to do, the internet offers a huge number of sources for info. As long as you have a general idea of where you're going you should be able to find out all the info you need.
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IIRC most modern 2m or dual-band units allow a huge number of pre-sets - something like 1000, I think, more than most people can use. You can program each one with the offset, CTCSS codes, etc, and then save it as a pre-set.
.
Trying to do it "on the fly" is dangerous - akin to texting while driving.
.
HAM will never be as simple as CB where you can simply switch a channel while driving (and IMO that is why CB remains as prevalent as it is - for all it's downsides, it is easy to use and it works.)
.
I know there has been talk here (and elsewhere) about GMRS eventually replacing CB and if that happens, I think it will be a good thing. GMRS offers the advantages of VHF/UHF FM clarity and CB-level simplicity. The only downside to GMRS now is that there just aren't that many people using it.
unusedusername
Observer
Another option would be to embrace the feature creap and get a radio with enough memories to cover the areas you travel to. Then you'll never need to reprogram regardless of travel.
My id-5100 can cover 80% of every repeater on California in a single memory set. That same number of repeaters covers every state in the gulf coast.
My id-5100 can cover 80% of every repeater on California in a single memory set. That same number of repeaters covers every state in the gulf coast.
Interesting
About the simplicity and CB issue-
@Martinjmpr and others mentioned programming the repeaters into the radio. Does any manufacturer do that already? From reading about the radio options it always comes up that we need to program the radios and that it is a simple process. Seems like a smart manufacturer would ship pre-programmed radios.
@Martinjmpr and others mentioned programming the repeaters into the radio. Does any manufacturer do that already? From reading about the radio options it always comes up that we need to program the radios and that it is a simple process. Seems like a smart manufacturer would ship pre-programmed radios.
There are thousands of 2M and 70cm repeaters throughout the US. If I wasn't traveling, I would just program in my locals and forget about it.
I guess I need to "upgrade". My current radio is a Motorola CDM 1250 that covers the 2M band. However, it only has 64 channel of memory.
DaveInDenver
Middle Income Semi-Redneck
There's 21,197 amateur repeaters in the U.S. across all the bands, at least in this database.
https://www.repeaterbook.com/repeaters/index.php?state_id=none
Of those 1,793 are 10m, 6m, 33cm and 23cm. So by elimination there's 19,404 2m and 70cm repeaters in the U.S. Which 1,000 should be pre-programmed do you suppose?
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