I remember Alinco as the Baofeng of the day in the 90s. It was the first dual band HT that I could afford. They are innovative and I hate that the 135, 225 and 435 radios are no longer made. I do have a 435 that is running my Shari node for allstar and it works VERY well for that.
You're not kidding. Everyone was using a Kenwood, Icom, or Yaesu. Alinco screamed 'I'm a low budget ham' 🤣 I didn't have the money for an icom back in the 90's and wanted to get on the air, therefore Alinco it is.
I had an Alinco DX-ST8T HF radio. It was very basic, but provided 100 watts for about $450 new. . . . I also have a DJ-G7 tri-bander, two meters, 70 centimeters and 23 centimeters along with air band receive and both the AM & FM broadcast bands. It’s my EDC radio.
Because of their size (especially thinness) the Alinco DJ-C series radios were very popular in pro cycling races for communications b/w the riders and the team cars. Last time I used one was in 05/06 in the Tour of the South China Sea. Simpler times!
I've had a C5 since I was gifted when it was new, and it works great to this day. I too had to finally update the battery fifteen years ago, which was no problem, and I have no bend in the antenna, the speaker mic and the plastic cover all pristine. I often use it in conjunction with cross band repeat from the 400XDR in my truck- so carrying this tiny radio is totally viable today.
All it needs is one of those beeper buttons and the morse code key printed on the front like those old 9v battery walkie talkies we had as kids in the 70's ;o)
I have a C-5, bought it at least 15yrs ago still going strong. Great little, fun HT. I always liked Alinco radios, at one time they seemed a step ahead of the Big 3.
I had a DJ-C1, kept it on my electronic test bench at work! Was great for keeping an eye on the local repeater/talking to a friend when it was lunch time.
I remember when those credit card radios came out as they were pretty revolutionary for the time. My buddy had one and was sure to make a big deal about how he could put it in his shirt pocket whenever he was at a ham event while the rest of us plebs had to carry our HTs on our belts. Thanks for showing off these radios!
Robert KD4YDC here. My first ht was a DJ-580. Used it for decades. Great ht that would even crossband repeat. We use the DR-235 (220mhz) radios for linking our local repeaters together. Rock solid radios that take a lot of abuse on our Skywarn nets.
If you're looking for tiny and unique radios, check out Yeasu VX-1R which came out in 1997. Dual-band 2M and 70CM TX (1 Watt) but also a very wide band receive from 76-999 Mhz which also made it a decent scanner. FM broadcast band RX, Air band RX, GMRS/FRS TX. Amazing micro radio.
I like the way that Alinco has always followed their own path -- sometimes quirky, and other times just plain practical. The most recent examples of the latter are my two most recent radio purchases. A couple of weeks ago I bought the DJ-MD5XLT HT (I'm still engaged in the learning curve). Looking around the web for Alinco information I noticed mention of an Alinco GMRS HT; the DJ-G46T. I found it at several online dealers, with HRO selling it for $100. What was interesting is that almost all of the accessories for the DJ-MD5* also work for the DJ-G46T -- batteries, chargers, car adapter, speaker mics/earphones, etc. The one difference I noticed was that DJ-MD5 is "reverse" SMA, while the DJ-G46T is "normal" SMA -- but that might be just to keep your rubber duckies sorted. (There are several other Alinco models that also use the same batteries.)
I was first licensed in '97 when those credit card radios came out. They were all the rage. I remember it feeling like the calculator wrist watches from the 80's. The goal seemed to be small for small's sake. Cool as heck tho! I remember wanting one (the C1) very badly, but not having it in the budget. Time to take my grown up money to e-bay to see what I can find...
I purchased an Alinco DJ-C5 sometime around 2010 after seeing it in Milwaukee. I used it for a few months and then re-boxed it and stored it with my collection of radio gear. About two years ago I gave it to one of my fellow vets and he has used it ever since. Amazingly enough, it still had power remaining also! I actually had gone to Milwaukee to buy a Kenwood TM-V7A. While the Alinco DJ-C5 still works perfectly, the display on the Kenwood is totally messed up. I missed the memo from Kenwood where the were sending out replacement (improved?) displays, so although the rest of the radio is fully functional, I have no idea what frequency or memory is currently active... 💩
Wish I had never sold off my DJ-580. First real dual bander I ever owned back in around 1993. It was half the size of the brick sized Icom IC-32AT and could listen on one band and talk on the other. I share your enthusiasm for Alinco Josh!
Love this video as I've also have a love for the weird quirky radios. I have Yaesu's Vx 1,2, and 3. I saw a guy with the VX 1 at our local ham fest a couple years ago and fell in love with it. Then I recently found a alinco Dj C1 in great shape and had to have it. I love your little Pico radio.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse oh yeah, my Vx 3 just arrived but WOW is it full of features. It's by far the best of the 3 radios. I was shocked to see it has a morse code training feature. Anyway love the videos, 73. K0MYK
I had several variations of the credit card sized Alinco radios, they were great when hamfests were still drawing huge crowds. Another cool one was the Standard C508, I bought one at Dayton in ‘96. It would be cool to have a tiny rig for a hotspot.
My fist rig when I got my Tech in 1993 was a Alinco DJ-180, still have it, solid radio still..don't use it much now due to small to see display though.. also have two Alinco DR-635 mobiles both have been good rigs..cheap Ham gear was still expensive back in the day, we are spoiled these days.. ;)
I am an Alinco fan as well. I have the DJ-S11, DJ-S41, DJ-G5, DR-570 which I like because it has a switch on the top for crossband repeat. I also have the DR-599 which has some cool features as well. Great video!
I have that dr135. It has a TNC bought in 2000 and still in use as I write this. 2meters with air band receive. This is a great radio for linking radio to irlp. Further the dj-g5 twin band or d.b. now with air band. From 2000 still in use. Let's not forget a dm-330mv from 2000 still in use never any issues. That's some of my vintage stuff. :)
I'm not going to lie I'd never heard of Alinco and now have spent all day looking at different models on ebay. Most of their stuff fits perfectly with all my "I know it's outdated but look how cool it is" 80's tech stuff, they're definitely going to the top of the list for future purchases lol.
Had C1 C4 C5 DR-1200 all new when they came out Fun toys those HTs I would buy the DR-1200 again today though. Guess the 135 is going to be the close cousin.
So, I watched this video last night, and was amused by the tiny little radios. Today, I was at my mom's house (dad passed last year, and was a life-long Ham) going through some of his stuff, and found a DJ-C4 and charger sitting on the fireplace mantle in the basement. I'm testing for tech this month (let my last tech expire in 04) and I'm looking forward to playing with it.
Alinco makes awesome radios, the biggest problem is trying to get hold of them... especially here. The random bands make it even better. In fact the 10M DR-03T and 6M DR-06 are super cool, although I wish the 10M DR-03 was 50W and not 10W. I didn't see Alinco at Dayton, are they still producing new radios?
I still have my 20+ year old DJ-195 HT. I would have liked one of those in dual-band, or I would have liked those tiny hinge-antenna models. It was the cell phone that stopped me from going further, not enough friends were into it to make using ham radio as a primary means of communications though.
I really wish there would be so cool radios like the DJ-C5 on ther marked today. I'm traveling a lot and like to have a radio with me, but there are not much smal an versatile ht's (also like the vx1) new available.
@@jacobew2000 Look at the stock battery, find a similar battery on Amazon that has the voltage and capacity and will fit the space. Then trim the old battery leads off and solder it onto the new battery. That's all you do.
Alinco is like keltec in a way of weird ideas that actually go to production.
That’s the most perfectly satisfying comparison I’ve ever heard.
I have a DJ-S11 (2M credit card HT) with the swivel up antenna. I had it 15 years before I realized it was telescoping. Great little radio.
I remember Alinco as the Baofeng of the day in the 90s. It was the first dual band HT that I could afford. They are innovative and I hate that the 135, 225 and 435 radios are no longer made. I do have a 435 that is running my Shari node for allstar and it works VERY well for that.
So much this. Those single band radios were perfect.
You're not kidding. Everyone was using a Kenwood, Icom, or Yaesu. Alinco screamed 'I'm a low budget ham' 🤣 I didn't have the money for an icom back in the 90's and wanted to get on the air, therefore Alinco it is.
Alinco is like Keltec is to the firearms world. :D I have forgotten about that little Alinco. Very cool and unexpected when it came out.
PERFECT analogy!
@@HamRadioCrashCourse lol Ask me about my KSG ;)
So true, DJ-C1 = P32?
Your excitement is contagious!
I had an Alinco DX-ST8T HF radio. It was very basic, but provided 100 watts for about $450 new. . . . I also have a DJ-G7 tri-bander, two meters, 70 centimeters and 23 centimeters along with air band receive and both the AM & FM broadcast bands. It’s my EDC radio.
Because of their size (especially thinness) the Alinco DJ-C series radios were very popular in pro cycling races for communications b/w the riders and the team cars. Last time I used one was in 05/06 in the Tour of the South China Sea. Simpler times!
I've had a C5 since I was gifted when it was new, and it works great to this day. I too had to finally update the battery fifteen years ago, which was no problem, and I have no bend in the antenna, the speaker mic and the plastic cover all pristine. I often use it in conjunction with cross band repeat from the 400XDR in my truck- so carrying this tiny radio is totally viable today.
All it needs is one of those beeper buttons and the morse code key printed on the front like those old 9v battery walkie talkies we had as kids in the 70's ;o)
I started out with Alinco radios when I got licensed in 92. First HF radio was the Alinco DX70TH. Nice little radios.
I have a dx70 I picked up to use for a portable station. I've used it in the shack, looking forward to using it in the field.
I have a C-5, bought it at least 15yrs ago still going strong. Great little, fun HT. I always liked Alinco radios, at one time they seemed a step ahead of the Big 3.
I had a DJ-C1, kept it on my electronic test bench at work! Was great for keeping an eye on the local repeater/talking to a friend when it was lunch time.
Yes! I still have a pair of DJ-C5s that work. Fun little shirt pocket radios!
When I tested for tech, one of the members of the club I'm now active in had one of these little radios and I will always and forever want one.
I remember when those credit card radios came out as they were pretty revolutionary for the time. My buddy had one and was sure to make a big deal about how he could put it in his shirt pocket whenever he was at a ham event while the rest of us plebs had to carry our HTs on our belts. Thanks for showing off these radios!
Robert KD4YDC here. My first ht was a DJ-580. Used it for decades. Great ht that would even crossband repeat. We use the DR-235 (220mhz) radios for linking our local repeaters together. Rock solid radios that take a lot of abuse on our Skywarn nets.
If you're looking for tiny and unique radios, check out Yeasu VX-1R which came out in 1997. Dual-band 2M and 70CM TX (1 Watt) but also a very wide band receive from 76-999 Mhz which also made it a decent scanner. FM broadcast band RX, Air band RX, GMRS/FRS TX. Amazing micro radio.
I'm actually in work to get one of those :D It's on my short list of quirky HT radios.
My VX-1 had a tendency to cycle on/off. The battery compartment door was the culprit. I had to keep the battery contacts tuned up 😊
Definitely a cool little radio that screams of Miami vice and the like!
This is pretty cool. The more I study for my Tech test, the more I know that I'll love ham. I can almost hear Randy calling us "radio dorks". 😆😆😆
Randy’s shtick is aged and unfunny. He’s not wrong about the sad hams, but how long can you troll a dead horse?
My very first Ham Radio was the Alinco DJ-120T, a monoband 2m HT. A good, basic HT that worked very well.
I like the way that Alinco has always followed their own path -- sometimes quirky, and other times just plain practical. The most recent examples of the latter are my two most recent radio purchases. A couple of weeks ago I bought the DJ-MD5XLT HT (I'm still engaged in the learning curve). Looking around the web for Alinco information I noticed mention of an Alinco GMRS HT; the DJ-G46T. I found it at several online dealers, with HRO selling it for $100. What was interesting is that almost all of the accessories for the DJ-MD5* also work for the DJ-G46T -- batteries, chargers, car adapter, speaker mics/earphones, etc. The one difference I noticed was that DJ-MD5 is "reverse" SMA, while the DJ-G46T is "normal" SMA -- but that might be just to keep your rubber duckies sorted. (There are several other Alinco models that also use the same batteries.)
I have always liked Alinco. I hope they continue their amateur radio product line.
congrats on making it in the ARRL On The Air Magazine!
I did?!
I was first licensed in '97 when those credit card radios came out. They were all the rage. I remember it feeling like the calculator wrist watches from the 80's. The goal seemed to be small for small's sake. Cool as heck tho! I remember wanting one (the C1) very badly, but not having it in the budget. Time to take my grown up money to e-bay to see what I can find...
I purchased an Alinco DJ-C5 sometime around 2010 after seeing it in Milwaukee. I used it for a few months and then re-boxed it and stored it with my collection of radio gear. About two years ago I gave it to one of my fellow vets and he has used it ever since. Amazingly enough, it still had power remaining also! I actually had gone to Milwaukee to buy a Kenwood TM-V7A. While the Alinco DJ-C5 still works perfectly, the display on the Kenwood is totally messed up. I missed the memo from Kenwood where the were sending out replacement (improved?) displays, so although the rest of the radio is fully functional, I have no idea what frequency or memory is currently active... 💩
I was licensed in the 90s. I missed these. Thanks for sharing.
Wish I had never sold off my DJ-580.
First real dual bander I ever owned back in around 1993.
It was half the size of the brick sized Icom IC-32AT and could listen on one band and talk on the other.
I share your enthusiasm for Alinco Josh!
Those remind me of the am fm radios and swl radios from the 70s and 80s. Thanks Josh.
I had an Alinco DJ-180T as my first HT in the 90s. Loved it. Couldn’t kill it. Basic and easy to use. I miss simple radios like that.
I'm hoping Alinco sees this, and I'm hoping they STAY WEIRD/UNIQUE!!! (and also very kewl)
Love this video as I've also have a love for the weird quirky radios. I have Yaesu's Vx 1,2, and 3. I saw a guy with the VX 1 at our local ham fest a couple years ago and fell in love with it. Then I recently found a alinco Dj C1 in great shape and had to have it. I love your little Pico radio.
I’ve got vx2 & vx3 now. The vx3 is still a completely effective radio. I really like it still.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse oh yeah, my Vx 3 just arrived but WOW is it full of features. It's by far the best of the 3 radios. I was shocked to see it has a morse code training feature. Anyway love the videos, 73. K0MYK
If they made one of those today, I would buy it. Especially if they worked to make the antenna a little more sturdy.
I had several variations of the credit card sized Alinco radios, they were great when hamfests were still drawing huge crowds. Another cool one was the Standard C508, I bought one at Dayton in ‘96. It would be cool to have a tiny rig for a hotspot.
My fist rig when I got my Tech in 1993 was a Alinco DJ-180, still have it, solid radio still..don't use it much now due to small to see display though.. also have two Alinco DR-635 mobiles both have been good rigs..cheap Ham gear was still expensive back in the day, we are spoiled these days.. ;)
Definitely a quirky radio. Thanks for showing it of Josh. I think ill stick with my vx3
I am an Alinco fan as well. I have the DJ-S11, DJ-S41, DJ-G5, DR-570 which I like because it has a switch on the top for crossband repeat. I also have the DR-599 which has some cool features as well. Great video!
I’ve got a 735 mobile in the shack and it is awesome. Easy to operate once you find a couple of the odd combo buttons.
I have that dr135. It has a TNC bought in 2000 and still in use as I write this. 2meters with air band receive. This is a great radio for linking radio to irlp. Further the dj-g5 twin band or d.b. now with air band. From 2000 still in use. Let's not forget a dm-330mv from 2000 still in use never any issues. That's some of my vintage stuff. :)
Love Alinco radios!
I'm not going to lie I'd never heard of Alinco and now have spent all day looking at different models on ebay. Most of their stuff fits perfectly with all my "I know it's outdated but look how cool it is" 80's tech stuff, they're definitely going to the top of the list for future purchases lol.
100%
Theyre awesome! Cool designs, now I want some. 😊
So cool! Tnx for sharing👍
Had C1 C4 C5 DR-1200 all new when they came out Fun toys those HTs I would buy the DR-1200 again today though. Guess the 135 is going to be the close cousin.
I use an Alinco DR135DX for 11M use.
So, I watched this video last night, and was amused by the tiny little radios. Today, I was at my mom's house (dad passed last year, and was a life-long Ham) going through some of his stuff, and found a DJ-C4 and charger sitting on the fireplace mantle in the basement. I'm testing for tech this month (let my last tech expire in 04) and I'm looking forward to playing with it.
That is awesome!
The dj-c1 was my first radio after I was licensed in 1998
Alinco makes awesome radios, the biggest problem is trying to get hold of them... especially here.
The random bands make it even better. In fact the 10M DR-03T and 6M DR-06 are super cool, although I wish the 10M DR-03 was 50W and not 10W.
I didn't see Alinco at Dayton, are they still producing new radios?
My first contact was on an Alinco DJ-57.
I still have my 20+ year old DJ-195 HT. I would have liked one of those in dual-band, or I would have liked those tiny hinge-antenna models.
It was the cell phone that stopped me from going further, not enough friends were into it to make using ham radio as a primary means of communications though.
I really wish there would be so cool radios like the DJ-C5 on ther marked today. I'm traveling a lot and like to have a radio with me, but there are not much smal an versatile ht's (also like the vx1) new available.
The PicoAPRS says hello!
Got 2 almost new in box, can confirm that the batteries last for decades and decades with a very very slow self-discharge rate.
Alinco has always made really cool stuff. I always wanted the DJ-C5 back when it came out. I hope they make a radio like that again someday soon.
Cool little radio!!!
I had the DJ-C1 as my first radios along with my Icom W32A. Great little radio. Still have it but the ear/mic jack broke and it needs replacing.
This inspired me to look up credit card sized radios. There are some old Sony and Casio models out there. Would make a great video!
Ah, the Kel Tec of radios
There was another vhf- uhf in the same series , it was the dj -c7 . Grey and bit more oval the c1-c5.
I was given the UHF model many years ago, it's some where in shack! I'll have to try and find it...
I love Alinco stuff.
When i was a new ham i had looked at this alinco for a while. I ended up getting a vx2 or vx3 instead.
I think the small audio port might be the 2.5 mm size, also called 3/32 inch.
Neat stuff
I still kinda want to get my hands on a DX-SR9T from Alinco.
Sure wish they would bring back the DJ-G7. I would give anything for a 2 meter/1296 ht
i have the alinco dj-580 great little HT i only have the problem the charger is broke
Uv3r much smaller. Used flip phone battery. Dual band 1w
No, it's not. The UV3R is the same size as the Yaesu VX3 which I showed on video.
Alinco... let your freak flag fly!
Maybe the M17 guys should be talking to Alinco ???
sooooo coool! 😍👍
Thanks! 😄
My at 201 still works
Where do I get that background radio bands placemat???
Quirky QRP!! www.etsy.com/shop/QuirkyQRPHamRadios
Why would you only want a mono bander when you can get a Tri Bander or a quad bander?
Because back when that radio was made, they didn’t make dual, tri or quad band radios at that size.
I have 2 of these.. no way to replace the battery DJ-C5
I mean... I did replace it, so yeah, you can totally do it. Just find a similar battery on Amazon and swap the leads.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I'd love to see how you did that.
@@jacobew2000 Look at the stock battery, find a similar battery on Amazon that has the voltage and capacity and will fit the space. Then trim the old battery leads off and solder it onto the new battery. That's all you do.
It's easy.
Has anybody put the slogan on a t-shirt stating keep a lnco weird?
Love r desk pad where may buy one
Quirky QRP! www.etsy.com/shop/QuirkyQRPHamRadios
Standard used to be the same.
Hmmmm 🤔
They discontinue everything.
I know. Feels bad man.
I remember so years ago on a cruise,
meeting another amateur who had
this credit card HT. 73 de W2CH Ray
New Hampshire. 😊