Subj : HANDHELD TRANCEIVERS
To   : Andy Ball
From : David Pratt
Date : Mon Nov 27 2000 11:27 pm

 -=> Quoting Andy Ball to All <=-

 AB> I passed the technician exam yesterday, which sounds like a
 AB> convenient excuse to start a thread about handheld trancievers...

Congratulations, Andy;  now for the 5wpm Morse test?  As you may
already know, provided you are a US citizen, you can use a US License
to operate for temporary periods in the UK.  Your call sign would be
M/[US call]/P.

 AB> Radio Shack sell Alinco's baby HTs, and although they're cute little
 AB> blighters there's a few things that put me off. Firstly, the 2m one
 AB> seems to have a telescopic antenna and I would worry about it's
 AB> mechanical reliability.  Secondly I don't believe there's a BNC
 AB> connector for a replacement or outdoor antenna.  Finally although I
 AB> plan to run low power wherever possible (not least to extend battery
 AB> life), it's nice to have the option of more power should the need
 AB> arise. 
 AB> Do you use an HT?  What sort is it, and what are it's best (and
 AB> perhaps worst) points?  Personally I'll be looking for a single-band
 AB> radio (probably 2m), but dual/multi-banders might also serve as
 AB> conversation fodder. 
 AB> Thoughts, comments and observations are invited!

I have a couple, but they are both dual-banders.  The best one is the
Alinco DJ-G5. As I bought it when they first came out, it was quite
expensive, but the price has rocketed down since then.  You often find
them in the Readers' Ads in the mags.   My other one is an Icom IC-Q7E
which only runs 350 mW output, so it's main use is working through
repeaters.

My most recent rig is the Elecraft K2 transceiver, built from a kit
from the USA.  It covers top band to 10 metres, CW and SSB and I have
worked round the world on it with a 33 ft end fed wire.  It is really
worth considering if you like building things.  I have to say that I
get much more of a kick out of working stuff on the K2 than I do from
a Japanese "black box".

Have fun, whatever you do.

73

David G4DMP
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