Is there a Ham Radio ping list? If so, please add me. If I’m already on it, thank you, and I’ll have to find my memory pills. I’m sitting for the Technician exam in two weeks. Could really use some advice on a 2 meter starter radio. Would really like to build it myself, but am willing to buy ready to go.
I have a ping list focused on ham radio. I can add you to mine.
Before I had my technician’s license I bought a Baofeng UV-5R on Amazon Prime Day for like $25 and learned what a repeater was and how to program it into the radio.
Then when I passed my Technician’s exam I upgraded to a Yaesu FT-2DR which also did digital.
A few months ago I bought 4 new Baofengs on Amazon for cheap backups and got all of them programmed the same.
I don’t use 2 meter so much anymore, but keep it simple. I have been using my Yaesu FT-2900 for a long time and it goes up to 75 watts. Nothing fancy, it weighs a ton and very heavy duty. 2 meter only though. The new one is a 2980, basically the same but up to 80w.
If you’re using it mobile, having a separated face plate is wonderful. But for your first radio, get something easy to operate. The 2980r is only around $150. You can get something fancier later and use the 2980 as a back up or at home, what have you. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu all make fine products, can’t go wrong.
Good luck on your test and your amateur radio journey!
73,
Howard, W1HBO
Ditto. I would like to be on that list as well.
I’ve been considering the need to add a ham or shortwave radio to our prep supplies and would be interested in learning more, which means anything as I have ZERO experience with that kind of stuff.