tri-band handheld - 6M/2M/440 or 2M/220/440?

[Roy Avery]

I'm 31, live in Southern California, and am interested in getting my Tech license. I would like to
get an HT for backpacking/outdoor activities, emergency preparedness, and to use as a mobile for
when I'm on extended drives. Which band configuration seems to the best for an HT? Thanks.

-Roy

--
Remove "nospam_" from my email address to email me.

[Lou W]

"Roy Avery" <roymtbkr@nospam_rocketmail.com> wrote in message
news:10u5ka6...@corp.supernews.com...

2m and 440 has the most activity in S cal.

KE6LZS
Lou

[Roy Avery]

Should I just stick with a dual band radio then? Dual band, tri-band, which is best? Which has
better channel separation? Does adding that third band pose any problems? I'm interested in having
a handheld that scans also. I know it wouldn't be a replacement for a true scanner, but I'm not
interested in having a separate scanner. I also want a radio that can be modded. Something that
would work on the FRS frequencies.

"Lou W" <Loui...@home.com> wrote in message news:4mAEd.79537$QR1.73393@fed1read04...

[geir knutsen]

Icom IC-E90 or Icom IC-T8A(or E).
I got an Icom IC-T8E (European), it is an 3bander (70cm, 2M 6M the A got
222Mhz) and it is possible to open it for more bands.
The only problem with this radio is the antenna that is not very efficient
( replaced mine with a hotline RH-536) and the battery lock is not to good.
There are places to get non original battery boxes and similar.

73
Geir

"Roy Avery" <roymtbkr@nospam_rocketmail.com> wrote in message
news:10u5ka6...@corp.supernews.com...

[Roy Avery]

I have been doing all kinds of reading today. I like the Kenwood TH-F6. It seems like a pretty
decent setup, and doing the MARS mod looks to be a snap.

I found that there is only one 6M repeater near me, but it's not near enough to use the 6M from my
house. I live about 11 miles north of Santiago Peak, so I should have plenty of 2M access.

I'm pretty excited about getting my license. I've been taking practice tests online, and depending
on the questions given, I am passing the test with zero studying. I think a little bit of reading,
and I should do just fine.

Roy

"Roy Avery" <roymtbkr@nospam_rocketmail.com> wrote in message

news:10u5le9...@corp.supernews.com...

[Matt]

Hi Rod, have no idea as to what is prevalent in the US (I am in VK, so will
leave that to your locals). Personal recommendation would be for something
similar to the Yaesu VX5R - nominally a tribander with a RX coverage of HF
(AM only IIRC) plus some pretty large slabs of the VHFand UHF spectrums as
well. Of note they have the capability to use 6m/2m/70cm, but you can use
only the one band at the one time for either RX or TX - i.e. you cannot be
listening to two freqs at the one time. Whilst they are easily able to be
modified to allow TX on FRS (and other freqs) - and btw, I believe that the
MARS mod will not extend TX sufficiently for FRS - bear in mind that it is
not legal to use amateur gear on FRS (if you want more info, try a US
amateur who is more up to speed on the specific regs that apply). Yes many
people do use amateur gear on FRS and while unless you are stupid in your
usage of it or incredibly unlucky you won't be busted, bear in mind that it
is not legal.
When operating from the car or home, you will probably find that a hand held
radio is pretty limiting and that a mobile radio with higher power output
(usually around 50 watts on 2m / 35 watts on 70cm) and better selectivity
(less susceptible to interference) when used in conjunction with a
base/mobile antenna, will probably be more desirable.

Matt

"Roy Avery" <roymtbkr@nospam_rocketmail.com> wrote in message

news:10u60vv...@corp.supernews.com...

[Tam/WB2TT]

"Roy Avery" <roymtbkr@nospam_rocketmail.com> wrote in message

news:10u60vv...@corp.supernews.com...

Roy,

Here in the NYC area, at least, there seems to be as much operation on 440
as there is on 2 m. I got the TH-F6 because it has 220 MHz instead of 6m,
which is kind of rare. I don't have experience with this, but a wavelength
on 6 meters is about 18 feet; so, I think a rubber duckey antenna would be
very inefficient there.

For mobile operation you would eventually want to get a brick that boosts
your power up to 35 - 100 W. This will also let you run the HT at other than
full output, which has a duty cycle limit.

I sugest you download the instruction manuals for the radios you are
interested from the Kenwood, Yaesu, etc web sites.

Tam/WB2TT

[Roy Avery]

Thanks for the opinion Tam. What do you mean by brick? Are you referring to a linear? I'm such a
newbie when it comes to amateur radio. I'm not sure if ham's even call them that. So, I can have a
linear mounted under the seat, and hook up a patch cable between it and the HT, and then go through
a mobile antenna. Sounds like an fine idea to me.

Thanks.

"Tam/WB2TT" <t-tammaru@c0mca$t.net> wrote in message news:-oKdnRgRG83...@comcast.com...

[Tam/WB2TT]

Hi Roy,

Actually, you don't need a linear for FM - just an amplifier; although, if
you go with Mirage, they are all claimed to be "linear". They are the shape
of a brick, hence the name. A friend of mine bought the small Mirage 2 m
amp. I think it puts out 35W with about 2 W input. They go all the way up to
160W output. Keep in mind these things need some ventillation.

Tam/WB2TT

"Roy Avery" <roymtbkr@nospam_rocketmail.com> wrote in message

news:10ub0lb...@corp.supernews.com...

[Roy Avery]

Thanks for the explanation. Linear must be an AM thing then. I had no idea that the two performed
differently. Anyway, it sounds like I need to find out the duty cycle of these little HT's on full
power. I know that I want the HT to do 2M and 440. From what I've been reading, the only time I
would be able to use 6M is with some more power behind the radio. Maybe I should stick with a 220
option instead.

Thanks again.

"Tam/WB2TT" <t-tammaru@c0mca$t.net> wrote in message news:f6SdnbwBNrH...@comcast.com...

[Tam/WB2TT]

Actually, the linear mode is used mostly with single sideband. A linear
amplifier will work fine with CW and FM also. Most 6 meter operation is
single sideband.

Tam/WB2TT

"Roy Avery" <roymtbkr@nospam_rocketmail.com> wrote in message

news:10ubcak...@corp.supernews.com...

[Steve Silverwood]

In article <10u5ka6...@corp.supernews.com>,
roymtbkr@nospam_rocketmail.com says...

> I'm 31, live in Southern California, and am
> interested in getting my Tech license. I would like to
> get an HT for backpacking/outdoor activities, emergency
> preparedness, and to use as a mobile for
> when I'm on extended drives. Which band configuration
> seems to the best for an HT? Thanks.

I would go with the 6/2/440 rig, if you MUST have three-band
capabilities. 6m can get interesting from time to time, and there are
several 6m repeaters in SoCal. Other than the Condor Connection,
there's not that much of a compelling reason that I can see to have 220
capability here. 2m and 440 are the main things to have. Personally I
wouldn't go with more than a dual-bander.

--

-- //Steve//

Steve Silverwood, KB6OJS
Fountain Valley, CA
Email: kb6...@arrl.net

[Buck]

On Sun, 6 Feb 2005 15:48:53 -0800, Steve Silverwood <kb6...@arrl.net>
wrote:

Around here, the 220 repeaters are very few and very far between.
However, you probably have quite a few in your area. If so, 220 might
be better than 6 meters.

Maybe before you decide, you might want to check the repeater guides
and see what is available for each of the two bands. Then you can
make a better informed decision.

I sorta agree with Steve. I like the dual bands better than triband
HTs but if the money is the same, you might not regret having the
bonus band.

Congratulations and may your decision be good.

73
N4PGW

Buck
--
For what it's worth.