Buying your First Amateur Radio
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Alright, you just got your amateur radio license and you’re itching to get on the air. But first you need a radio. What type should you get? As a volunteer examiner, I’ve been asked this question scores of times. It’s a common question of the new ham, and one that doesn’t have an easy answer. But hopefully in this video will shed some light on what’s available and help you make a good purchase decision.
TelescopeMan discusses finding and buying your first amateur radio, starting with a hand held – handi-talkie. Several web sites are shown for used equipment and also a local retailer in Paris, Texas. Be sure to watch the end of the video as several other good web sites are listed.
We now have another retail store in Dallas, Ham Radio Outlet, a national chain which opened a new store in 2015.?
Thank you for your presentations TelescopeMan. You videos are very helpful.?
Thanks for your video, great information.. :-)?
Great advice Sir!?
"Chanting" HF HF HF HF. Lol. Looking forward to your next video.?
Hi Michael, Why on some yagi the folded dipole is at right angles to the boom and
other yagi the folded dipole is lying flat on the boom? For instance it
can be seen a lot on VHF TV antennae. Is this done for different types
of reflector element design? I always thought a folded dipole is a
squeezed down quad, so should not the radiated power or receiving be on
the face not the side? Thanks for making yourself available to pass on knowledge. Great Videos.?
The first question is… "Do you have any money to spare?"
That is why Amateur Radio is a hobby for wealthy people. Not the typical guy from the working class making $9.00 an hour!?
Anyone know how to make a. good for broadcast antenna jpole, or a ladder line?
a bf888s radio ken hit a repiter?
One of the fun things about amateur radio is collecting radios. It becomes addictive. I got my license in 1985, and now have about 20 radios. I've had several more that were sold or traded. None of them were really high dollar radios, but they weren't junk either. I have never owned a Chinese radio, and would be embarrassed to be seen with one. Most of my radios have been Yaesu, Icom, and Kenwood, with a few lesser known brands thrown in. Please don't buy a Chinese radio. I fear that the proliferation of cheap Chinese junk will someday be the demise of amateur radio. My current favorite radio is an HF rig, a Yaesu FT-DX 560 tube radio from the '70s. I spent almost a year rebuilding it. Remember, it is supposed to be AMATEUR radio. These days you just buy all the parts, connect them together, and get on the air. When I got my license, it was a lot harder than it is today. You had to put out a lot of effort. So much so that you were usually pretty sure ham radio was for you before you started down that long road to getting your license. You knew that you would be spending a great deal of your recreational money on it. I spent years listening to amateur radio on a scanner and a shortwave receiver before taking the plunge. Sorry for not including my call sign, but it contains to much personal information which I would prefer non amateurs didn't have.
You do not need to be wealthy to get started in amateur radio at the Technician level. The Yaesu FT60r is a very nice dual band handheld you can get new for under $150. The Yaesu FT2900 is a nice 75 watt mobile I only paid $120 for new, and Yaesu now has a Fusion (digital) 2 meter rig on sale at HRO for $119. You can make your own base station antennas.?