I just bought an FT-991A on a black Friday special. I am still learning the features, but so far, I am quite happy with it. I have not had all mode coverage on 2 meters or 70 cm before, so I am.looking forward to exploring. 73 de W6DPS!
I started with a Kenwood ts520 for listening to the ham bands while studying for my general ticket. I then got a ft450 non 'd' model with the atu I got on ebay at a good price. Recently, i was fortunate enough to get a new ftdx10. I still have the ft450, its a good radio and use it in my work truck. The Kenwood will be donated to one of my friends when they get their ticket. The Kenwood is still functioning as intended, and I'll fire it up from time to time. Great video as always! N2SCD
Hi Peter, I owned a Yaseu FT 840 for about twenty years. It was one of the last production runs of the set. And a believe they started producing them in 1995. I added the wide am filter but didn't bother with the FM board for 10 meters. It was also a great radio for shortwave listening. No longer own it. A simple uncomplicated radio but performed very well. David M0DUU
Really enjoy your calm & considered commentary on the well made videos! Does cash back mean straight money off the rig or money off the accessories or next rig of the same brand?
It is like buying a new car because your old one is starting to show its age if you want or need the newer features and facilities of the newer equipment you have to pay for it. When you work it out a lot of the newer equipment is not that more expensive than some you may have bought 20 or 30 years ago.
I upgraded to general last year, and bought my first HF rig second hand from an estate sale that my local ham radio club was handling. I was able to get a 991, power supply, tuner, and SWR meter for a noticeably cheaper than a new 891 and I've been quite happy with it. I believe I actually talked to the late owner on my local VHF repeater on the way to work several years ago, and I've wondered if I was actually talking to him on this radio. Anyway, I was quite happy to get it and put it to good use.
Peter, I do not disagree with you :D Personally, I prefer used gear though. Great value if you are careful. I have 3 early 90s era hf rigs, all used, all work well, and I spent less than the price of a shiny new 7300 or 710 on the lot.
I would say to learn about all the things you *can* do. Then figure out what you *want* to do. Then make a list of the requirements your equipment needs to have in order to do those things. Then figure out your budget. And only after you've done all that, start looking at equipment and see whether it checks your boxes and fits your budget. As an egg sample: I am interested in EmComm for our small community on a little island, as right now no one else is really doing that. So I met with numerous people in the local EOC and in regional emergency management and had them answer a big list of questions - such as: Where might I be relocated to? (A: either the top of the closest peak 800m away from my house, or 5km away at the fire/police station, so I'd need to be reasonably portable and self-contained). Who would I be communicating with? (A: the regional EOC 30km away or, of that's not functional, the backup EOC 300km away, so I don't need DX, I need reliable regional communication - 10W should be fine with good antennas). What frequencies will be used? (A: 80m, 60m, 40m and VHF/UHF) Will I need digital modes? (A: Yes, D-Star and Winlink) And so on. This led me to settle on: - IC-705 (does everything, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth almost eliminate the wire mess, super low-draw on receive, D-Star) - AH-705 tuner to be used directly connected to a random wire (maximum versatility of deployment, least fuss, most frequency agility, the tuner connected directly to the antenna means no line losses) - MS Surface Pro 9 tablet computer with Bluetooth keyboard (for maps, winlink, etc.) - Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate (10W, big battery, dual channel, FM radio...) -Kenwood TH-D75 (saving my pennies - built-in TNC, D-Star, APRS, a cacophony of bells and whistles) -And for power - a 120W, folding, portable solar panel and an EasyLonger ES960 solar generator (300Wh, multiple outputs, ruggedized, saves having to build a whole power system from scratch with a half dozen individual components, no 120V inverter as I don't need that) - Everything will eventually be mounted in a pelican case so it's grab-n-go, open-and-use. Hopefully that illustrates my process. If I was DXing my choices would be entirely different. If I was doing SOTA I would definitely make some changes. If I needed C4FM I'd be looking at different units. If I didn't need to potentially monitor 3 - 4 frequncies I could just have the IC-705. If I didn't need Winlink I wouldn't need a tablet or a radio with all the digitalling built-in (TX-500 🤤 drool). So yeah. Start with figuring out what you want to do first. Or at least figure out what you want to do first, first. 😅
Great videos I pass my foundation licence in 2022 at the beginning of the year I'm a pensioner I wish I done it years ago I've always been a listener I bought my first set from you at your Hockley shop yasu ft 817 brilliant all the best Ray
I just bought an FT-991A on a black Friday special. I am still learning the features, but so far, I am quite happy with it. I have not had all mode coverage on 2 meters or 70 cm before, so I am.looking forward to exploring. 73 de W6DPS!
I started with a Kenwood ts520 for listening to the ham bands while studying for my general ticket. I then got a ft450 non 'd' model with the atu I got on ebay at a good price. Recently, i was fortunate enough to get a new ftdx10. I still have the ft450, its a good radio and use it in my work truck. The Kenwood will be donated to one of my friends when they get their ticket. The Kenwood is still functioning as intended, and I'll fire it up from time to time. Great video as always! N2SCD
Hi Peter,
I owned a Yaseu FT 840 for about twenty years. It was one of the last production runs of the set. And a believe they started producing them in 1995. I added the wide am filter but didn't bother with the FM board for 10 meters. It was also a great radio for shortwave listening. No longer own it. A simple uncomplicated radio but performed very well.
David M0DUU
Many thanks for sharing David.
Really enjoy your calm & considered commentary on the well made videos! Does cash back mean straight money off the rig or money off the accessories or next rig of the same brand?
You get a payment back from Yaesu once you have registered the purchase with their UK office.
Very thoughtful video. Well done!
It is like buying a new car because your old one is starting to show its age if you want or need the newer features and facilities of the newer equipment you have to pay for it. When you work it out a lot of the newer equipment is not that more expensive than some you may have bought 20 or 30 years ago.
I upgraded to general last year, and bought my first HF rig second hand from an estate sale that my local ham radio club was handling. I was able to get a 991, power supply, tuner, and SWR meter for a noticeably cheaper than a new 891 and I've been quite happy with it. I believe I actually talked to the late owner on my local VHF repeater on the way to work several years ago, and I've wondered if I was actually talking to him on this radio. Anyway, I was quite happy to get it and put it to good use.
Well done. You will have lots of fun with that radio.
I live in the USA and I really enjoy your videos. 73 , N1XXU
Very interesting as always....Love your channel and advice
My thanks
Some folks just want to hit “Transmit” and log the contact and that’s fine, I have a 7300, but I like twiddling knobs too 😊
Yep!
Like the plug for Yaesu products and discounts
Got rid of my yaesu products after multiple warranty repairs 😂
Good honest comments and advice.
Always enjoy your videos Peter, thanks for your time and effort.
Merry Christmas.
Many thanks for your support.
I love my FT-710. Would never give €400 for a 30 year old TRX.
The 710 has everything you need for shortwave. Is new, modern and affordable
Can’t say more than that!
No mention of Xiegu radios? The G90 is a very good starter radio.
Yes agreed. I covered this in the notes below the Video.
@@watersstantonSorry Peter I didn't spot this till now. :)
One that doesn't require a computer to operate.
a second hand 7300 ore the 710 new 50 euro diverens i got the ft-710. a no brainer with 2 year warranty
Enjoy. 73 Peter
Peter,
I do not disagree with you :D
Personally, I prefer used gear though. Great value if you are careful. I have 3 early 90s era hf rigs, all used, all work well, and I spent less than the price of a shiny new 7300 or 710 on the lot.
Sounds a smart investment.
Icom got it spot on with the 7300 nothing else required
I think many owners will agree.
Rotary encoders are a real problem to get direct replacements for with older radios that have them.
Yes, I think that is another problem.
I would say to learn about all the things you *can* do. Then figure out what you *want* to do. Then make a list of the requirements your equipment needs to have in order to do those things. Then figure out your budget. And only after you've done all that, start looking at equipment and see whether it checks your boxes and fits your budget.
As an egg sample: I am interested in EmComm for our small community on a little island, as right now no one else is really doing that. So I met with numerous people in the local EOC and in regional emergency management and had them answer a big list of questions - such as:
Where might I be relocated to? (A: either the top of the closest peak 800m away from my house, or 5km away at the fire/police station, so I'd need to be reasonably portable and self-contained).
Who would I be communicating with? (A: the regional EOC 30km away or, of that's not functional, the backup EOC 300km away, so I don't need DX, I need reliable regional communication - 10W should be fine with good antennas).
What frequencies will be used? (A: 80m, 60m, 40m and VHF/UHF)
Will I need digital modes? (A: Yes, D-Star and Winlink)
And so on. This led me to settle on:
- IC-705 (does everything, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth almost eliminate the wire mess, super low-draw on receive, D-Star)
- AH-705 tuner to be used directly connected to a random wire (maximum versatility of deployment, least fuss, most frequency agility, the tuner connected directly to the antenna means no line losses)
- MS Surface Pro 9 tablet computer with Bluetooth keyboard (for maps, winlink, etc.)
- Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate (10W, big battery, dual channel, FM radio...)
-Kenwood TH-D75 (saving my pennies - built-in TNC, D-Star, APRS, a cacophony of bells and whistles)
-And for power - a 120W, folding, portable solar panel and an EasyLonger ES960 solar generator (300Wh, multiple outputs, ruggedized, saves having to build a whole power system from scratch with a half dozen individual components, no 120V inverter as I don't need that)
- Everything will eventually be mounted in a pelican case so it's grab-n-go, open-and-use.
Hopefully that illustrates my process. If I was DXing my choices would be entirely different. If I was doing SOTA I would definitely make some changes. If I needed C4FM I'd be looking at different units. If I didn't need to potentially monitor 3 - 4 frequncies I could just have the IC-705. If I didn't need Winlink I wouldn't need a tablet or a radio with all the digitalling built-in (TX-500 🤤 drool). So yeah. Start with figuring out what you want to do first. Or at least figure out what you want to do first, first. 😅
Used OR New? I'd try for an IC-7300. Straight out used, next best? Yaesu 450-D, which is what I use. 73 DE W8LV BILL
Many thanks Bill
I always say you get what you pay for, so the choice is yours.
Yes indeed.
Great videos I pass my foundation licence in 2022 at the beginning of the year I'm a pensioner I wish I done it years ago I've always been a listener I bought my first set from you at your Hockley shop yasu ft 817 brilliant all the best Ray