The Best "Buy Once, Cry Once" Ham Radio
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- Опубліковано 27 вер 2024
- Which "Buy Once, Cry Once" radio is in the top ten list of questions I get from viewers. Today we tackle this somewhat difficult question. Are All-In-One radios the only radio you should consider as "Buy Once, Cry Once"?
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Hi Josh, you forgot to mention the only 100W "base station" All in One, the Yaesu 991A. I know dedicated HF and UHF/VHF radios will perform better than this All In One, but as a new ham I wasn't ready to drop three grand for a superb HF. I'm super happy with my 991A and will be upgrading to multiple radios in a few years as I refine my interests.
That's what I did in 2019. I had an old used Alinco HF mobile and a cheap AMAZON dual band mobile, but my first new serious purchase was the FT-991A. I have bought more models since then such as HF and VHF only radios, but I still have my home station centered around the all-in-one. No regrets here either. 73 K5MGK
Got one as well. Great radio. Bought the ftdx10 which is an upgrade and also a great radio except…. The 710 the radio between these has features that would be coveted. Example, the dx10 has an averaging power meter on SSB on CW, AM, full carrier it seems to show full power. 991a has a peak power meter regardless. 710 has a selectable peak or average. Now interestingly I have a MFJ 941 tuner which has a peak power meter. 991, 891, shows a swing up near 100w on SSB. The dx10 shows about 50w on my peak meter on the MFJ 🤷🏻. I have no other test equipment. Oh, also in the dx10 to get that 50w on the MFJ the swr MUST be below 1.5:1 if your any higher in show 20ish w on the MFJ and the MFJ always mirrors the radio’s power meter on any radio. The other radios don’t start to roll off power until you reach about 2.5:1 swr.
@@kengeraceI have both the 710 and the DX10. They are simply different animals, even considering the similarities between them. I have had them on the test gear and have not seen the difference you noted on power on SSB. It could be a difference audio processing settings between them, the microphone, etc.
@@kenchilton I'm curious about your thoughts on the performance differences between the 10 and 710?
@@radioactivefarmer983 Performance-wise they are virtually identical, but they are different.
The comparisons on UA-cam are all very good. They note all of the issues with button placements and menus and junk like that, so I won't repeat it all. I do like the second ring on the FTDX10. I don't mind the buttons on the left on the 10 because of my shack setup and since I log on paper with my right hand -- that is, there are buttons on the wrong side of the tuning knob on all rigs for me. I do like the bigger screen on the 10, because I am not using an external monitor on either one. I like the extra USB port on the 10 and the way the digital connectors are set up, but I made it all work with the FT-710 before I got the 10 anyway, so no biggie. I love the 710, and I love the 10. The 10 is at desk level and the 710 on a shelf above it.
As they came, right out-of-the-box, I think the FT-710 with AESS has better, easier to understand sound. That was not enough for me, so I modified the external speaker on the 710 to use a much higher quality speaker and put acoustical dampening in the enclosure to give it even more clarity on those higher audio frequencies. This really made the 710's audio so good that I don't even use headphones with it. The 10 was also pretty good audio from the speaker compared to other rigs, but just not as clear as the 710 with AESS and now my mods to the 710 external speaker makes the differences even more clear. In practical use, though, I use headphones with the 10, so even though the 710 audio is nicer, it really is not an important difference now. If I did not get the AESS version of the 710, I probably would not think there was much difference.
In terms of receive capability, the 10 is a bit hotter. On CW, the 10 also has just a tad better selectivity to make it easier to copy a station close to another one. These differences are really small and only appear when I have done the comparisons to look for the differences. I never find that the 10 can hear something that the 710 cannot - it is more like the 10 is just a little more pleasant to work from a receive standpoint. I don't have a lot of local QRM to overload the front of either rig, so just beware that if you do your results could be a lot different than mine. The 10 has the ability to copy CW, which cuts down on my asking for a dozen or so repeats because my ears are getting old, although both rigs can connect to a computer to do this instead. The DNR on the 10 also seems to work better on CW than the one on the 710, but again, both are great. The 710 DNR often seemed to be a bit better on SSB, but not always - if you flip through them sometime the 10 has a better one for that station. This is where the different animals start to show how they are unique. The 10 seems to be a tad better at pulling in that voice station and filtering out the unwanted stations, where the 710 seems to make up for it with DNR and the audio side of the house. On CW, the 10 edges out the 710 more consistently. So far, I have only used the 710 for digital modes. I repeat it again that the difference is not so great to discourage anyone from getting either one.
I tested both rigs on my bench before putting them in service. Again, not much difference between them, with a slight edge to the 10 if there is one. Transmit was virtual identical all the way from bottom to top, with one a tad stronger on one frequency then the other when moving up a band. Modulation was identical with the right settings. The factory-supplied mics are essentially large diameter element mobile mics, minus the tone pad. I made an interface for the 710 to use an XLR balanced input so I could connect my RE-20 to it, and modified my setup to use that one mic setup for either rig just by throwing a switch. I did find that the tx audio settings were a little different between the two rigs, but after that adjustment, the on-air performance is identical. Not that either rig was wrong, they were just slightly different - like RCA 12AX7 versus Tung Sol 12AX7 different. ;-)
So, performance-wise, about a wash, with a slight edge to the FTDX10. Is it a $1000 edge? No, honestly not. Why did I get the 10 after having the 710? Well, it was on sale! I am actually glad to have bought it, and the screen on the 10 is appreciated. (Yes, not just my ears are old.) Also, I wanted to dedicate my 710 to the ATAS antenna and have another rig to drive the kW amp (which I still have not hooked up) and it looked like the 10 would be easier to interface without giving up stuff. It is nicer to not have to go through the menus to turn on/off the ATAS on the 710 to switch to the dipoles or to fire up the computer just to use the CAT automation to do stuff - the whole ATAS to/from antenna tuner swap is not well done, considering antenna switches are just a button push these days. I was considering setting up a RaspPi to do the CAT control based on the antenna switch position before Yaesu made it possible to have both rigs. I would not have minded two 710s or two 10s, but this is nice, too.
Learned the hard way that a good antenna is #1...
A good antenna and getting that antenna up high is the real trick.
So many ham tubers just throw their wire up into the tree and talk nothing about how it was made or how to tune it.
Josh being the exception having some good videos on making and tuning antenna.
I am learning that very lesson at this time.
Gospel.
@@Hebdomad7 Especially ones made of Christmas lights!
Getting a bigger lot for more, bigger antenna setups has been a life goal for me. 🤭
The general rule of thumb for new people is everything sucks, nothing is what you want and everything is 4x what you want to spend
😂
😂 bro 🤣
Ain't that true for everyone though?
@@therealyogibear2k225and everything lol fuk
Hey Josh! Good video. One thing us at Black Swamp Amateur Radio Club has adopted is an alternate "buy once cry once" mentality amongst our members, we have done some hard work to figure out what gear just absolutely works, quick and easy and performance based. So that's the range that we recommend. Like if you're only wanting a bang for the buck hf rig and you want to run digital modes, 7300. If you want a quick and easy wire to hang up that just performs go with the par-end fedz. And from there you can branch out and try other stuff, but that initial item bought once (instead of trying 5 different items to try to make it work getting progressivley more costly in time and funds) can give you the performance you were looking for to keep you hooked in radio and want to explore more, and go further down the rabbit hole. We all want to expirement and play with what we can make work, but we also just want to be able to just throw something up and plug in to make sure if it's the bands, or just the gear that's hindering us. Keep up the good videos! K8CAG
That is a good approach! Thanks to the entire club for sending me the swag pack! I opened it on the podcast a few episodes back. Much love! 73!
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I must have missed that one, which one was it? I want to find it and share with the club!
In Australia in 2000, I gained the Novice licence which had no or very limited HF options, I only got a 2m/70cm radio and left it that. Years later the Novice licence became a Standard licence with HF priviledges with 100W.
I recently got the Icom 7300 and looking at building antennas.
I might be wrong, but I think the “all in one” boxes suffered trade-offs when trying to do everything and preferred to get more specific radios.
Years ago all mode radios tended to be QRP radios, output power might have been one of the trade-offs that might have been improved recently.
@@darylcheshire1618 Unless your a hardcore DXer or someone that has the have the very best money can buy, for the average user any of the all in one radios will do the job. You have to be into really weak signal work to notice enough of a difference to make a difference.
Extra points for the Alton Brown reference.
You missed one point,Josh: The All-in-ones will likely be able to do sideband on VHF/UHF. Good luck finding a inexpensive mobile doing ssb or cw...
I don’t think I missed it. I appreciate weak signal SSB. But that is a much smaller niche than those clamoring for an all in one radio.
857 will do ssb or cw on vhf and uhf. "All mode, all band".
I think thats just a nice consequence of owning an all in one, I've not really heard anyone complaining about the lack of it on a VHF/UHF only rig.
@@cappacullaI just complained about it in another comment.
Josh would it be possible for you to do a how to program a icom ic208h it's confusing me how to get it on the repeaters
I have two all in one radios. The FT-857D and the FT-991A (not sure why this radio was not mentioned on the video but all Icom options did get mentions.) I'm extremely happy with both and I have the flexibility to operate any two different bands at the same time with both radios. 73
My buy once/cry once was the IC706MKIIG over 20 years ago. It is still my go-to base, mobile and portable. 100w of all band all mode and I know it like the back of my hand. It is the "P" in my PACE. If your "P" is very reliable and dependable, as this has been/still is, the less likely you'll need to go to your A, C or E.
I kept looking for an IC706MKIIG when I first got licensed, but could never find one at a low enough price point. I did manage to get my FT-857D at my price point though. I keep thinking about selling it as I could apparently make money on that deal with how little I paid for it, but I like the radio.
I have one for over 25 years use tlit evey day in my moblie i wish IC woild bering that back on the market the ic-7000 had replaced the one i own one as well i do agree with johse when you what have only HF and work the other bands and VHF/UHF bands then you have both worlds i can see his point if you just buy shack in a box radio if it stop workig ted kd2ard...
I have two 7000's.same story
I have only ever owned one “all-in-one” and that is the IC-705. I have other radios at home, 705 is for portable opps. People do it but I do not recommend the 705 as a first radio for someone getting started.
Completely agree Josh.
I went 705 to start the hf journey. Should I just gotten a 891 maybe but it's been fun. And now I can be the annoying qrp guy in a pile up. I love the 705. But once the solar cycle drops might be looking into either an amp or 100w base radio.
@@nm645908 my 705 sits in d-star terminal mode when it is at my house. It’s a very expensive d-star device. But then I go have fun with it doing POTA to make up for it.
The most helpful video for beginners I've watched so far in your channel. I got into ham radio a couple of months ago acquiring my license with a bit of listening on the frequencies in advance. Once I got licensed, and with a Baofeng UV-5R in the backpack, I've started digging into the topic which radio and antenna should I get first. And that is when I got completely confused with the premium models. What I did and still doing is: first purchased ANTs: Sirio HP2070, Diamond SG-7900 and Signal Sticks for my HTs. Then I bought the Quansheng K6. Next I purchased Revetis RT95 to learn the mobile radio operations (cable management, connections, etc..) and switch between antennas for testing purposes. All the way up I am learning in order to get to the point when eventually I'd know for sure which premium radio I want to have in my 'shack'. Still can't decide between a combination of IC-705 and FT891 or 1x IC-7100 because I want to be portable/mobile 75% of the operating time and reason #2 to understand for myself what work I'm more into - repeaters of HF. Thank you once again for the video. 73.
Just started out got a 705 after years of deliberation. No regrets.
Excellent radio, enjoy it!
Congratulations! Icom and Yaesu are solid choices. I never regretted buying either one.
Great choice.
705 is the GOAT.
705 is the outperformer!
But I love to scroll through 16 menu functions pages on a Yaesu radio when it's 100 degrees outside and I'm pressed for time looking for a setting that doesn't have a well named label. It's fun.
Type 2 fun
Skill issue
Analog issues.
Get tht Nifty Manual to find what is what
If there's one thing I learned early on, is that having an all mode radio is not the best option and the only solution is to have two separate radios, each of which that offer full power and can be monitored at the same time. Great video that I think all new Hams should view.
Excellent as usual! I was thinking as watching, "Wow! Josh makes such well thought out videos!" Each video you make makes us better informed, and all around makes us better! Thank you so much!
Wow, thanks!
I SOOO BADLY wanted an 818 and a 991 when I got into the hoby. I resisted the urge thanks to you preaching the same message in 2020. (I have since bought an 818 but im so glad it wasnt my first)
Having a vhf radio to talk on the local ares net while listening to the national hurricane net when i was flooded out a few years back was fantastic!
As you said the all in ones are pretty cramped, which is great for a sota but the last thing you want as a noob or someone in a stressful situation is having to poke around that much.
Great video!
I bought an FT-818 before the buying frenzy after the announcement of it being discontinued.
I’m glad I did, it’s very quirky but I really like it.
Awesome video! I was getting into analysis paralysis about what to buy, and oddly enough I completely glossed over REDUNDANCY over "all in one". Your videos are awesome!
Thought about it and it absolutely made sense. Now I have HF and separate VHF/UHF mobile/portable radios. Thanks 73
This reminds me of when I started getting into electronic music. Early on, I went overboard and got an expensive and extremely complex synthesizer and sampler, and it ended up being overwhelming. I think it slowed my progress, because it was such a vertical learning curve. If I got the same setup now, I’d be able to use it properly, as I have since worked my way through learning the fundamentals with simpler gear.
I run one mobile with a Atas120a and its a great radio. If i can hear a signal, i can talk to it. Great radio. KS4QF
Echo Josh's 3rd bullet. Attaching radio to our existing outdoor activities is why I have time for it. Any radio exceeding a couple of lbs would have been a fail for me, no mater the quality.
In some cases (e.g. POTA), you're bringing a 10- or 15-lb LiFePO battery and other stuff anyway. Especially if your vehicle is parked nearby, as is the case 95% of the time (most POTA people). On the other hand, if you're doing SOTA and have to climb a mountain, yes - I agree. Tiny and light. But I see so many cases where POTA people are discussing small and light, while their truck is parked very nearby, visible in the background. They could bring a pool table for gosh sakes...
My first HF radio was the FT-891 and then I quickly realized that the 891 was not what I wanted in the shack so I got the 7300 and have loved it ever since! Made the FT-881 my mobile HF rig and paired it with the ATAS-120a (they make an excellent Mobile HF setup)! I have added more radios since then but before Icom announced the 705 I had stopped looking for a portable Emergency QRP rig as I figured that the way the SDR tech was coming along that someone would make a portable rig like the 705 and not too long after that the 705 was announced so of course the 705 is now in my Arsenal of HAM gear & Equipment 73 and thanks Josh
Lots of good points in this video. I ended up buying an FT-891 as a base HF radio because it had everything I wanted in a price point I could afford at the time. Great radio, sure the scope is lacking but a super rig for the money.
Same thing goes for Astrophotography, it's not a cheap hobby by any stretch of the imagination. We use this saying A LOT!! 😅
Most don’t realize how expensive Astrophotography is… personally I think ham radio is cheap by comparison, that is if you exclude towers etc.
Always been tempted to try astrophotography. Took the “cheap” way with a Pentax K-1 camera, which is my everyday work camera. Nice to be able to use my “astrophotography” camera as a business write-off! 😁
Now I just need a big thumping lens and lots of free time.
Treated myself to the Icom IC-7000 when I passed my General. Awesome all band all mode 100W radio and I found the menu system so much easier than Yaesu. Still have it but now I use my 705 and Elecraft KXPA100 when portable. I probably lean too much on that band scope. Like having the "near repeater" search when traveling and D-Star that the 7000 does not do.
The near repeater function is such a killer feature on portable radios.
Currently available mobile/portable all-in-1 100w radios is not just ic7100 - don't forget the Yaesu ft991a.
Bad part is, the only reason I kind of want to get a 991a is for the V/UHF all mode capability, as it is one of the only affordable options for such. Why do we have to buy a AIO Shack-in-a-Box just to affordable try V/UHF SSB or CW??? 🤬
If you're looking for a radio that works for a budget, a backup, a mobile you can afford to leave in a car, or for setting up someone you want to stay in touch with if things go down (again), the Retevis RT-95 ($120) is unlockable and will take the GMRS freqs if you need to for the non-ham or your own convenience. I grabbed the Comet FC5NMO that's billed as VHF (tuned for MURS) and UHF (tuned for GMRS). It does indeed have very low swr at 463, and acceptable at 468. Haven't run through much else yet as it's just to stay in touch with elderly relatives on GMRS, but dang, I'm only in it for about $200 and am impressed. It'll mount anywhere too. Dang, this reads like an ad. 😅
I completely agree with you as far as the all in one radio. I bought the 991a as a new general thinking that the shack in a box was the best option and soon realized that this was not the best option. The 891 is an awesome mobile radio. I have one in my work truck and find it really fun. Keep up the good work. Love your videos.
Thanks, that was definitely the message I was trying to get across.
I really appreciate your content. I've been trying to build a go box for years and am still working on that. One day a week is all I have to do everything at home and finding the right parts is still a challenge, due to constant change. I've got my two LifePo4 batteries, just need everything else. I'll keep watching your content to keep going down this rabbit hole. Thank you, KE8DZW.
Thanks for watching
Great video. Keep it up with these types of videos! Soooo informative. Can’t say enough how much I appreciate this page. Love seeing new content.
CANT decide what HF radio to buy. I have already realized I’m going to get bored quickly on UHF/VHF repeaters.
Wow, thank you for this video. It seems like society has fostered this expectation where new entrants into a hobby can fork over a significant chunk of $ and be set, and people get into amateur radio with the same expectations. Unfortunately, it's a scenario where newcomers "don't know what they don't know" and a bit of experimentation is in order and until this takes place it can be difficult to understand the breadth of the hobby and the inherent compromises that have to be dealt with. While it would theoretically be possible to get this exposure through a club and "Elmering", this is going to be a mixed bag and will likely take a lot longer than most people have the patience for. Newcomers should know that it's OK to experiment, your first radio probably won't be your last, and you don't need to spend every last dollar buying every radio ever made. Even if you are on a somewhat tight budget, there are good options out there to start with and there's no shame in buying/selling/trading your way to the gear that works for you.
I agree!
I got my hands on an FT-857d back in 2014 and still have it to this day. I've used it as both my base station radio (until I got my FTdx1200) and mostly as portable with a battery. I've yet to have the display issue that many have had (*knocks on wood*). I've never used it in my vehicle but I have been looking at the ATAS 120 and considering putting it in my Wrangler. No regrets. Fantastic little radio. ~Jeremy KF4CHW
As a long haul driver I had 5 radios. CB of course . A THD700 for aprs and 52 simplex. A IC 208H for analog repeaters. An ID 800 for D-Star and an FT 897 for HF. I didn't even have an Antenna hooked up to the 2M/70cm side. If all 3 of the other duel banders died I could just move an antenna over to the 897. I didn't think of it as a pace plane but I guess I had one.
Thank you for clarifying this. Opened my eyes on looking at radios being very new to amature radio. This is why I love HRCC so much knowledge here
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
My original 857 is a fantastic radio! Still working and no issues with it, knock on wood. Functions were no issues. Used as a mobile, fixed base and a travel radio to Europe. The only issue was for those who mounted the radio full time in a vehicle was the deterioration of the LCD display. There are alternatives for those whose display has failed and there are how to videos on making an "remote" display working off the data interface. In my go box today there is a dedicated V U radio, a Marine radio, the 857 but soon to come an aviation Comm radio ( have no use for the Nav feature so it’s not an issue). Also been pondering adding a chicken band radio to round out the package. Tying all these radios together is a NCC controller that will allow one to have a mini "Centracom" style system so I use a common Mike and select which audio source has priority with radio selected while the unselected audio is mixed between the unselected radios. With an add on expansion controller I can add up to four additional radios to the mix. The controller also allows me to cross connect radios for a cross band link if needed. Antenna switching is accomplished using multi pole antenna switches except for the Airband radio which has a dedicated antenna. HF and CB antenna is one and the output of the HF antenna switch is run to a SGC antenna coupler. Great little compact device, too bad SGC's new owner took the company to producing military antennas and coupling systems.
ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP RADIO! Murphy is NOT your friend. This also applies to your antenna setup as well.
Great video Josh, I always learn something watching your videos. Thank you for what you do!
I definitely recommend getting separate HF and VHF/UHF rigs starting out. Cost being the main reason. A Xiegu G90 is a great starter rig over a 30 year old base with failing solder joints and obsolete components.
Josh this is exactly what Callum M0MCX , Jonathan M0JSX, Mike M0MSN and I were talking about the other day. It is easy to answer the question "what's the best set up for X?". However, it is actually not what the questioner requires . The answer is to facilitate the context of the person asking.
I have the 857, got it in the late 90’s; it give me a mobile command post right from my truck; two antennas HF- and separate dual bander; FT710 is going in my shack; and a HF signals for portable HF with a group of HTs; so I agree with your methodology of having separate units and I did not spend a ton of $$$ to get to this point;
I use to have a FT-857 in the mobile. It was great and i loved it until it died. Now it's a IC-7000 for HF/VHF/UHF SSB and mono band VHF/UHF/SHF rigs for FM. All mounted in an over head console in the 4x4. 100% better than just FT-857. Add solar for portable and i'm happy with the setup. 👍
The all in one might be a good thing letting you have all the bands available with your first major radio. It offers SSB on VHF/UHF. A lot of band exposure with multimode.
No doubt over the years you will buy other toys. I like the all in one for mobile or portable. Over the years I have had a IC-706MK2G, and FT-857 in my cars. I had a 6/2/440 antenna along with the HF screwdriver antenna. It all worked great together and all with one radio. For FT8 the all and one makes it easy to do FT8 on all the bands HF up to 440 using the same add on hardware for FT-8. I have made plenty of FT8 contacts on 2m.
Lets face it, we are hams and soon or later we will have more radios collecting dust than we know what to do with.
Have an 857D in a go bag with a Digirig mobile, Mobilinkd TNC-4, and the Jankevolve.
Since we have a local net here in eastern TN, on 2 meter sideband, I had to get a radio that would enable me to do HF, 6 meters as well as all mode 2 meter. My choice was a Yaesu 991a. I got it and a new linear power supply (MFJ) and this will be the only radio I'll ever need or buy as I'm now 73. I use a 2 meter CushCraft Ringo Ranger II and a OCF half wave long wire for HF. Still need a 6 meter vertical antenna. I also use a 2 meter only FM Kenwood 281a. Cheers & 73 from K9POW in eastern TN
I had one of the first 857s that came out. It’s a great radio, but I had to send it back for modifications to the factory. Then I got a Kenwood 480 which I really loved, especially with an antenna that you could tune in your car. But then I got bored with amateur and just about giving it up.
Excellent advice for everyone Mr. "Elmer"! HT first is just a plain good idea.... then let your radio technology grow with your skill. THANK You, Josh!
Generally yes, and ht is a good first buy. Unless you live in a remote area, then a 50 watt mobile may be required.
Great video. My biggest issue with those deep dive menu systems (DDMS) radios is response time. I have owned and used the 857D as well as the 891 and when I have to notch out some guy tuning on my frequency or I need to shift my bandwidth up or down to get rid of someone who is extremely wide and too close to my frequency I can’t remember how to do that fast enough and I end up wasting time looking through the menus.
Got my tech, bought a ht ft5dr, got my general bought a ftdx101d, now im an extra wanting my ftx 1f. Buy once cry once is fine as long as you can afford it. Already knew i wanted to just make contacts and rag chew.
I am a tech and I love the 857 for doing Ft8 on 10. Win link on 2 meter. a lot of ares stuff. Don't have time for pota yet but I really enjoy the 857. But your right about wishing you could run 2 meter at same time but that's what I have a tidradio h3 for. great video 73s w5pyr
💜 RadioMail and B.B. Link adapter chilling at the beach cameo
That’s right!
That was an interesting video, I am glad that you made the point that all in ones are not necessarily the best option and that the antenna should actually be one , if not the 1st, of the major points to focus on.
Yes indeed! Antennas should be a major factor in your planning.
The Yaesu ft-991a is a great shack in the box with the internal antenna tuner. Great transceiver.
Editing was pretty crisp on this one. Nicely done.
I have been licensed for 42 years and I have owned 10 HF transceivers. I only had so many because I have often had two - one in the car. I have only had 6 main station transceivers. Currently running an FT450D until it dies.
Josh, your "Start Here" playlist has 134 videos at all levels of complexity and experience. Maybe it started out as a playlist for new hams, but now it is just information overload for a newbie. I do appreciate the concept because I'm still trying to understand the hobby and figure out what my interests are, which I hope will help me not waste money on gear. So, your videos like the one today are really appreciated. I was almost ready to purchase FT-991A and you made me rethink that. It would be really helpful if the "Start Here" playlist was either better organized or a bit more focused on helping newbies figure those things out.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “watch the videos in the list YOU think are interesting”. There is no way for me to know what all new hams find cool. And interest is what drives learning and progress.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse I get that. You are absolutely right; everyone has different goals and interests. And, I really appreciate your videos because it seems like you are truly trying to pass on knowledge and help other hams. That's why I'm subscribed. Eventually, I'm sure I'll watch all 134+ videos and I'm glad they exist. I'm just saying that a playlist intended to be a "start here" should be helping a newbie overcome information overload, not add to it. Maybe something to just help us get on the air, which highlights the difference between VHF/UHF and HF. After I got my tech license, I thought "now what?". I had a Yaesu ft-65R, but didn't know what it could or couldn't do. So, I just listened for 2-3 weeks, during which time I also got my general license. Eventually, I realized 2m was really only good for local repeaters. So, I've been trying to decide on an HF radio and, in the meantime, got my extra license. (Could I be the only Extra who has never made an HF contact?) I still don't have an HF radio because I don't know which to buy. Your video today has certainly moved the 891 to the top of my list. ... anyway, my point was that, as a newbie, I think a playlist for newbies who are clueless like me could focus on how to just get on the air -- either 2m local or HF. Then, after a newbie has a radio and is on the air, they can start exploring ways to use it with 100+ more of your videos. I'm a big fan and I think you do a better job of teaching than most of the other content-creators out there. I'll keep watching. I'm just suggesting that you pull out a few really basic videos and maybe create a "super-newbie, get on the air" playlist that has max 10 videos focused on first radio and first contact, which are the big hurdles for newbies. Thanks for all you do!!
I personally prefer the all-in-one as my base station. However, I still have my individual back-ups, which used to be my primaries. I still would like a IC705 for both portable and base station, but put an amp on it for the base station aspect.
i bought a Ftdx 10 before get my license, after 2 weeks i got my license and now im looking for VHF/HF radio lol, here is what i think , its so many info out there but not really a beginner friendly for folks who don't have license and its trying to get in the ham radio and when you start knowing a little bit you will realize how much you already spent $$$$$ and that make you frustrated and like want quit
now about the topic " Buy once, Cry Once" its more like you said, we will learn and getting better with experience, that will make us get better and buy others radio to challenge us and keep that felling of challenge / growing in the hobby, Im with you Josh to me 2 radios Minimum , 1 HF and 1 vhf/uhf, 73 !
I’m still rocking the 857 for portable. I sold my 891 to get it. I bought it so I could use it for POTA and 2m SSB when I was home.
To be fair I also have 4 other 2 meter rigs and an IC-7300.
I love my FT-857D, but the menu system can be torture. I have to have a operation guide with me. And FT8 took setting 8 menu changes turn the select knob, no the tuning knob. But when set to what I want to do it works great.
“Jack of all trades master of none” is the usual situation for all-in-ones.
I got my foundation license in the UK in 2018 and I'm still waiting to get an HF radio. I've been hoping to get a 705 since it came out because I want the advantage of the waterfall etc. and I do want a radio that does as much as possible for my money. The only thing that would prevent me from getting a 705 is if Icom replaced the 7100 with a 7110 with a colour screen 😁
With a good vhf/uhf antenna setup and some adapters, a simple 8watt handheld can work as a second radio to your all band all mode base station. And listening, a cheap sdr(still need good antenna setup). Plus it’s way cheaper than buying multiple radios.
This A92EE I like the FT991a for the all in one.
I also have the Yaesu FT-857 and a Kenwood TS-2000 plus 2 dual band HT's. Looking to acquire a dual band mobile rig soon
nice vid!! First radio was a icom 746 which I still have because of mulitple moves been hard to keep a shack setup going! looking at setting up an aprs/packet setup for an apartment balcony right now!!! Enjoyed your comments! 73"s
Ya but fm is frequently Mundane. There's so much more to vhf and uhf than fm . You can't run wspr ft8 js8 on FM . The manufactures don't make vhf uhf multi mode radios
I have a 991a, an 817nd, an FTM500 and a D878UV-II. I also have a Btech UV-5X3 and a Baofeng UV-5R for good measure. All of that with a plethora of antenna options. I'd like to get an affordable HF only mobile and a shortwave receiver though too. Can never have too many radios.
Sort of like TVs w/ built-in DVD players. If one part breaks, you do without both until it comes back from the shop.
If your radios PA dies, which happens more than not, you lose it all.
I've seen a few people that got into QRP radios without knowing the disadvantages. Good to see the PACE plan growing tho. Thanks, Josh. 🤙🏾
PACE plan is a fantastic approach to fleshing out your communications. Thanks for watching!
I found a cure for the menus system on the 857 (at least for me), it’s Ham Radio Deluxe.😊
My first radio was UV5R , Then Yaesu FTD5 , my wife just purchased a Yaesu FTM 6000r for my anniversary gift. Eventually once I get my general I'm going to get me a ICOM 705
Agree on all points. I want a radio in can grow into not out off
And a ham shack in one radio is not good. You can loose (break) something as simple as a mic and you're dead in the water, in this case air waves.
How can you buy once when the Ideal number of radios is X^2 ... Where X is the amount of radios you own.
I'm working on adopting ARDOP for doing Winlink from my FT-891. I've previously been successful exchanging messages via my 5w HT and a very fancy yagi antenna. I can see the point of backup gear but as someone who wants to be bike portable adding a second mobile radio to my kit for 30w VHF operation has a lot of drawbacks.
Great advice Josh. Thanks.
Josh, Jason, Eric, 3 of the best channels
Buy once😅😅. One radio is never enough.
Thanks for the vid.
Would love to add an 857 to my “fleet” 😂
I wish more manufacturers make more multiband radios like the 857 because like you said they have their niche and is frustrating that they are going away from it. For me, in my shack I agree with you 100%, separate HF and separate VHF/UHF BUT for mobile in the car or an emergency/preppers the multiband its waaaaay better. I just purchased an 857d and I'm making a man pack (Thanks Tech Prepper), MARS moddit last night and now I have a radio that if the sht hits the fan I can pretty much transmit almost everywhere. At home I keep enjoying the 7610 and 2730. I really which Icom listen and one day they make an IC-705HP with preferable 100 watts but 20 watts like the G90 and a simple tuner will be perfect too.
I love all in one radio's - I have the IC-706MK2G, IC-7000, IC-7100, IC-705 and TS-2000 among my all in ones. Here in Africa VHF/UHF is very dead, so I don't need to monitor both VHF/UHF and HF at the same time. It's nice to have the facility though for working satellites, ISS, monitoring air band and broadcast band when HF is not running...or if I get tired of HF. Now Icom needs to bring out an all in one 100 watt SDR mobile rig (IC-705 with 100 watts and maybe an ATU) and I will get it
That is a good example of a useful all in one. Just buy more of them. 👍
The IC-7100 has a face only a mother could love. I like the digital HF option. It does a lot also. Btw, how did you like the Ford Lightning pic N8YO sent you? That was our Field Day. The Lightning powered our FD great! The owner K8GRG said he powered his house for 4 days with it.
For me, I got an all-in-one as my first radio. I agree its a jack of all trades, etc... but at least this way I could experiment with all the bands and modes to see what I like.
Like 11 meter if your coax and antenna is not to par it doesn’t matter what you throw at it it’s not going to perform at its best.
I definitely agree. I have an IC-7100 and it's a terrific radio to have installed in my vehicle but I wouldn't want it to be my home base shack HF rig. It would be fine as a base shack dualbander (2m/70cm) but there are significantly less expensive and more capable options if you just want that.
I love the 7100 go box I have. I also think there is a minority of people that would like just the head unit of the 7100 sitting on a desk with no other visible radio gear. I think that is kind of a cool look.
I live in an RV and my 7100 is my shack radio that I can also run in the Jeep. I'd like to get other radios for the 2 is 1 scenario, but that'll have to wait until my financial situation improves.
I bought an 891 pretty much for my HF manpack rig
The best radio for a car installation is the Flex 6400 and an MSI gaming laptop. I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL.
Thanks so much for all of your teaching, sharing here!
You are so welcome!
There are very few if almost zero options for SSB VHF/UHF now. That is what was great about the all mode radios. There is no interest in me using my 706/817 or the like for repeater use. I can use an HT or mobile for "FM" operations.
Specific components for specific tasks are always better imho
“Buy once, cry once” is not the idea of only buying one for everything and all time. It is a concept of not wasting money on something that you need to replace and you cry many times with regret.
Redundant radios is nice, but it should be rare to have a radio break on you. I have had radios stolen more than broken. If you “buy once,” that radio is not going to die easily. If you buy cheap crap, then yes you probably need several - disposable products are not made to use more than once.
The “all-in-one” is a mistake. You are correct that getting a specific radio for each use case is optimal. Getting a radio for each use is buy-once, cry-once. The “buy once” part applies to the whole setup, not that you only buy one thing. Where the all-in-one is nice is where space is limited, such as a vacation rig, or as a backup/emergency rig as part of the go bag.
If you buy quality radios that work well and are fun and easy to use in the way you like to operate, then you will enjoy those rigs for many years. I loved my FT-767GX and it served me well for decades - I bought it the week it was introduced and just replaced it last year. Yes, the new radio is better than the 30+ year old one was, but if I did not have to get a new one, that 767 would still be my go-to in my shack. Before the 767 I went through many used rigs that all had problems, which made operating and even fixing them more of a task than fun.
I can say the same with HTs: I bought many cheap ones back in the old days and never learned my lesson. I had six HTs in my shack that I never used, and two Yaesu HTs that got used daily. The cost of those six were more than the two. Even today I have my “shelf of shame” with Baofeng, B-tech, Quansheng, Pofung, Ksun, TYT, and several more dutifully charging, waiting for that day they might be used. What do I carry daily? A Yaesu FT5D.
Also consider that a good rig is usually worth repairing if it does get damaged. The cost of repairing it should be in the same ballpark or less than buying junk. I had a Kenwood HT that I bought used and it did not transmit. I had it repaired by Kenwood for $100, which got me a “like new” great 70cm HT for about the cost of an Alinco (the cheap brand back then). Of course, it depends on the damage and other factors as to whether this is worth it, but for me I know I can personally fix any of my Yaesu rigs, but I spent hours trying to get a cheap HT to meet emission specs with no success. There is no fixing a bad design; there is no gold in the dung heap.
I learned the “buy once, cry once” when my car left me walking, again. For $400 per month (back then) I could buy a brand new car rather than spend $400 per month keeping my “like new” find on the road. I wish I learned it earlier in ham radio, too. Sure, there have been times I could not afford the good stuff, but many times after things got better I wondered why I just didn’t go without or wait or concentrate on saving up for it. Certainly being on-the-air is better than not, but don’t get trapped in the bargain bin cycle and getting junk to upgrade junk.
A long comment, but I think you’re missing the point. I get lots of comments asking “what is the Best Buy once cry once radio that does it all”. They aren’t asking what is the best “buy once, cry once” HF radio, or something along those lines.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse You are correct. I missed the point. I totally agree that the one-size-fits-all is the wrong answer. Thanks for clarifying that!
Thanks for commenting. I agree with your original point too. I just wanted to make sure we were on the same page.
I have no idea what is "cry once".
Having a *separate* HF radio from the VHF radio is a good idea since typically one radio stays on VHF listening to the repeater while you play on the HF. But a compact, portable HF-VHF-UHF radio is great for traveling. I use a tiny Icom IC-705 more than any of my other radios including the walkie-talkies.
I run a 7100 mobile it's the perfect radio for that application. A handful of Shark sticks and a dual band UHF/VHF antennas and your good to go.
I fell victim to the swiss army knife mentality and went directly from Baofeng to Yaesu 991A not long after getting my ticket. But 6 years later it's still my most-used radio despite its alleged shortcomings. If Yaesu ever came out with another all-in-one with extra bands (220, 900, 1.2, etc.) I'd probably trade up again. Maybe they'll get smart and add dual-receiver capabilities on the next round so we can hear HF and a choice of VHF/UHF/SHF. Just dreaming out loud...
Good info j
Jose there it sometimes falls into someones buget to buy a all in one shack in a box radio that dose all but i do argee to always have a back up plan for HF and VHF/UHF that will fit your buget not evry one starting out has the money those radios get pertty pricey for getting started like you said to be heard out there is having at least 100 watts and a good antenna setup most sometimes can get very costly for someone just starting out in the hobby just my voice insight for thoses just getting into the hobby thanks Jose for all you share keep the vedios coming Ted KD2ARD
I have a DMR next to a 857D next to a Yaesu 1200
At around the 6:40 mark you said that the only All In One radio from a major company that is still on the market is the ICOM-7100, and then later you added the ICOM 705. What about the Yaesu FT-991A, isn't that a good All In One transceiver that that is still on the market? Two pluses of the All In One radio that you did not really talk about are space and weight. Generally one radio takes up less space and weighs less than two and sometimes that is a big difference.
Thank you for answering a question I've been wondering about as a new geek 🤓
Any time!
991a is a great all in one for new hams very popular,I saw three at one field day
Yeah I thought I wanted a all in one after watching this I know I need more then one just in case like you said if it goes down the I’m down ! Haha thanks !!
Good info. I'm learning the craft. Thank you.
I really miss my 817 it was all in one and very small 😢
I hate it when they call a radio an "all band" radio when they usually don't have 220 band. Well, I guess they lied. I won't buy any all band radio if it's not really all of the bands, at least up to 450 mHz. I can overlook the 900 and 1200 mHz bands. I use 220 band all the time. Talked to someone on 223.500 simplex not long ago with the tiny 1.5 watt output of my Yaesu VX-6R at a distance of 8 miles. But I live high up on the side of a hill, so that's why.
Radio is important But I Have Learned The Hard Way That A 10,000$ Radio On a Crappy Antenna can be a Bad Experience & a 1000$ Radio on a Really Good Antenna With Really Good Coax Can Be A Ton of fun ! Spend The Money on a Good antenna a Coax & Hight Always = Might ! & Just a FYI LMR400 is not the Greatest for VHF/UHF & rg213U works Pretty well for HF IMHO ! I have ben into/on one radio or another for 35+ Years !