SunTzuNephew
Explorer
The Yaesu FT-857 is comparable to the Icom 706, a bit more feature-rich and about 15% less expensive.
What radio
- Thread starter Tacovendor
- Start date
gary in ohio
Explorer
For those looking for a 706 be aware there are 3 models. The Icom 706, the original, HF,6m,2m. Icom 706MKII, Same as 706 but has DSP and more power on 2m and the last in the line is a 706MKIIG, this one has HF,6m,2m and 70cm (440).
If your buying used know what model 706 your getting.
cletaco
Observer
To add to that there is the 703, which looks just like the 706 but is a QRP (low power) rig, so careful what you buy.
All of the techs out there should recall that your ticket allows you to operate in any mode, including SSB, making a 706-type radio a great choice. I enjoy 2-meter SSB and 6-meter SSB--in fact I typically never use repeaters, and pretty much the only time I use FM is on 146.52 while on the road. I'll never forget my very first contact after I got my license: Cleveland to Texas on 6-meter SSB using my Icom IC-746 with just an HO loop during a band opening. Very fun with just a tech license.
Tacovendor
Explorer
Wow! thanks for all the response, looking into my license and also radios. Is there a specific type that most people use? I need a radio that is repeater capable and has a remote head due to mounting restraints. i'm new to the tech level and what it actually lets me do and not do. Thanks again for your help.
xtatik
Explorer
Along with the benefits mentioned here with multi-band/multi-mode radios. They all will do both the VHF/UHF functions (FM repeaters) and will have HF SSB available to use when repeaters are out of reach, or simply don't exist.
All makers now have make models with detachable faces, and they are closing in on being as small as the little FM radios. The most compact of them (currently) is the FT-857d which is a superb radio. The Icom 7000 is probably the most advanced (for the moment) and is the most expensive in class. But, the 7000 is an "odd bird", and its advanced features are better suited to a base station radio and these would probably be wasted in the mobile environment while in motion. But having said that, I wouldn't have it for a base station radio either as it lacks an adequate roofing filter.
IMHO, the 857d is a more "common sense" radio for a mobile application as it wouldn't be common to be chasing DX or pulling in weak signals in a noisy vehicle....It can be done...but, it's just not a good environment for that activity.
cnynrat
Expedition Leader
Most off road hams are using a 2m FM radio. Frankly, such a basic radio will probably meet most of your trail comms requirements. You'll be able to talk with your trail partners using simplex (no repeater), and also reach out to repeaters nearby. To give you some idea, I can easily reach repeaters that are 50 or more miles away when the geography is favorable.
A step up from a basic 2m radio is a dual band radio that can also talk on the 70cm band. I have a dual band radio and have never had a need to use 70cm. Then you get into radios with dual receivers. These let you monitor two frequencies, but talk on one at a time. There are some interesting things you can do with these, such as monitor a local repeater while talking with your group on a simplex frequency, but you need to decide if that capability is useful for your needs.
The 706 and 857 that folks are suggesting here add HF band capability, which is great for long distance comms. They are both very nice rigs, but are quite a bit more costly, so IMHO, I'd be thinking pretty carefully about my future needs before I made that investment.
Tacovendor
Explorer
All of these still require a "tech" license, correct?
SunTzuNephew
Explorer
As long as you only transmit on 50Mhz or above freqs. The lower freqs require a General.
xtatik
Explorer
Tacovendor,
I'm thinking you might want to qualify your needs for us to give you a focused answer. For simple squawking up and down a column of vehicles, a CB or FRS radio serves just fine. For getting signals out of suburban-adjacent offroad areas an FM radio (2m or 70cm) will work in most instances. For truly remote area communication an HF capable multiband radio or SatPhone would be needed.
Here in So Cal we have an insanely repeater-rich environment surrounding our metro areas. Not only are they many, but they are well maintained due to easy access and abundant volunteers. Most offroaders here don't venture must past this umbilical and don't require much beyond "line-of-sight" FM communications. With suburban adjacent "offroad parks" like Big Bear and Anza Borrego being so close to the cities these repeaters are intended to serve, many offroaders here are lulled into thinking it's much the same elsewhere. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
It might help if you tell us where you like to travel. If like many here, you like to head out into the hinterlands, you'll find an FM rig is a very terrain and repeater dependent communication means. If you live here in the western states and travel off the grid, an FM radio will be an in and out of coverage affair. If you're in the midwest or eastern states an FM radio would be fine in most situations. In any case where you'll be relying on an FM only radio, make sure you program redundant repeaters for all areas you expect to travel. The popular "repeater guides" and internet repeater listings don't provide up-to-the-minute information on a repeaters functional status. Many of the more remote mountain-top repeater placements are not as well maintained. They take a beating in the winter months and in many cases they never do go back on line.
If you plan to travel south into Mexico, except for few places an FM radio won't cut it. Many parts of Canada and Alaska are also not served by repeaters and the terrain in many areas will determine (limit or expand) their effective coverage.
I'm thinking you might want to qualify your needs for us to give you a focused answer. For simple squawking up and down a column of vehicles, a CB or FRS radio serves just fine. For getting signals out of suburban-adjacent offroad areas an FM radio (2m or 70cm) will work in most instances. For truly remote area communication an HF capable multiband radio or SatPhone would be needed.
Here in So Cal we have an insanely repeater-rich environment surrounding our metro areas. Not only are they many, but they are well maintained due to easy access and abundant volunteers. Most offroaders here don't venture must past this umbilical and don't require much beyond "line-of-sight" FM communications. With suburban adjacent "offroad parks" like Big Bear and Anza Borrego being so close to the cities these repeaters are intended to serve, many offroaders here are lulled into thinking it's much the same elsewhere. Unfortunately, that's not the case.
It might help if you tell us where you like to travel. If like many here, you like to head out into the hinterlands, you'll find an FM rig is a very terrain and repeater dependent communication means. If you live here in the western states and travel off the grid, an FM radio will be an in and out of coverage affair. If you're in the midwest or eastern states an FM radio would be fine in most situations. In any case where you'll be relying on an FM only radio, make sure you program redundant repeaters for all areas you expect to travel. The popular "repeater guides" and internet repeater listings don't provide up-to-the-minute information on a repeaters functional status. Many of the more remote mountain-top repeater placements are not as well maintained. They take a beating in the winter months and in many cases they never do go back on line.
If you plan to travel south into Mexico, except for few places an FM radio won't cut it. Many parts of Canada and Alaska are also not served by repeaters and the terrain in many areas will determine (limit or expand) their effective coverage.
Tacovendor
Explorer
I just want to have enough radio to communicate w/ other vehicles and also one that I can talk over some distance.
SunTzuNephew
Explorer
A 2 meter or dual 2 meter / 440 should do.
I am partial to Icom and Yaesu brands. Both have detachable faceplate models. So do Kenwood, and others.
I am partial to Icom and Yaesu brands. Both have detachable faceplate models. So do Kenwood, and others.
cnynrat
Expedition Leader
Looking at minimum requirements of a 2m radio with detachable faceplate, and just looking at one potential source (Universal Radio):
Yaesu FT-7900R: $290
Icom IC-208H: $350
Kenwood TM-V71A: $370
All three of these radios are actually dual band 2m/70cm, but I think you won't find a single band radio with a detachable faceplate. The Kenwood model is a dual receive radio, so it's actually got a fair amount more capability than the others. Once you get into that level you might also consider the Yaesu FT-8800R ($400), which has similar capabilities to the V71A (but I like the Kenwood better
).Although I've generally found Universal Radio to be reasonably price competitive, I did not do an exhaustive price search. You may be able to find lower prices if you shop around a bit.
dzzz
™
Another option is a little fixed faceplate 2m transceiver at $130-$140. Make the radio removable instead of the face plate. That's more than enough radio for trail communication and the ability to reach out in an emergency.
In the future if the radio is used more than occasionally and interest in ham grows replace it. The little unit becomes backup or whatever.
Especially on Expedition forum we have what might be called potential "non-hobbyist hams" that shouldn't be put off by $500-$1000 transceivers. I'm sure there are perfectly good used 2m mobile transceiver on ebay for <$100. A $200 total price self install is perfectly doable.
Another way to go would be a handheld with a roof antenna.
In the future if the radio is used more than occasionally and interest in ham grows replace it. The little unit becomes backup or whatever.
Especially on Expedition forum we have what might be called potential "non-hobbyist hams" that shouldn't be put off by $500-$1000 transceivers. I'm sure there are perfectly good used 2m mobile transceiver on ebay for <$100. A $200 total price self install is perfectly doable.
Another way to go would be a handheld with a roof antenna.
cnynrat
Expedition Leader
Absolutely correct that there are some cheaper options if your vehicle has a spot for a radio without a removable faceplate. Yaesu has a couple basic 2m fixed faceplate models you can pick up for $140-$155 (FT-1900R & FT-2900R). Both are nice little rugged radios.
In the end you have to consider the installation constraints in your vehicle. In the "old days" you could hang a radio under the dash right in the center over the transmission hump in just about any passenger vehicle on the road. With almost all vehicles coming with a fully populated center stack it's often not so easy anymore, but sometimes you can find a place to tuck a small radio.