So many radio choices

 

Here are some hints

Our new class is well into the course now, and no doubt pondering your radio and antenna options. I thought I'd pass along some thoughts and suggestions.

Your initial foray into ham radio will almost certainly be VHF or UHF. If your goal is a radio for communications while hunting, off-roading etc then perhaps simplex (line of sight) contact with friends in the back country is what you're aiming for. A cheap Baofeng or even a Motorola GMRS may be all you need.

If your goal is something more ambitious like logging onto Nets or making contacts over 10, 20, 30 or more kms then you'll want a radio that can reach repeaters. The cheap Boafengs, like the GT-5R with a stock antenna probably won't do the trick. Baofeng GT-5R 5W Dual Band Radio [Upgraded Legal Version of UV-5R]– Radioddity claimed to be fully FCC certified without the previous UV-5 ‘issues’. YouTube review: https://youtu.be/1JyM8oNtoaE. Dave Casler checked out the GT-5R. It is restricted to the 2m/70cm band frequencies, and he found that it had significantly reduced spurious emissions. US$25.

Save yourself some grief. Spend a bit more and look at the tri-band Jianpai 8800 - review: https://youtu.be/TXICTC150GU.

You'll want to upgrade the antenna as well with a 1/4 wave whip, an RH770 telescopic, or a j-pole that you can make in John VE7TI's antenna workshop.

Here's some links to help you get started. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.☺

Here's an excellent comparison by Reg VA7ZEB: Radio Comparison.

A nice intro to buying your first radio by the ARRL: http://www.arrl.org/buying-your-first-radio.

Off-road and other outdoors use

Now if you are on off-roader your ham radio may not be enough. As soon as you mention communicating with logging or other commercial vehicles, such as Resource Road and LADD, you need an approved radio, not a ham radio. It is all explained in a video that John VE7TI has put together at:  https://youtu.be/SjwCSLSZtXk

 

A Vancouver area dealer for commercial transceivers (that will also take ham frequencies) is: RH Electronics in Richmond: rhe.pdf (rhecomm.com). 

And for back country use you will want to invest in a 5/8 wave antenna for a better signal.

73,

Larry Bloom VE7LXB

Surrey Amateur Radio Communications