Need Help with equipment

[realist]

Okay guys it is time I got off my ass and get some equipment. I went over to one of the guys in our local radio club who volunteered to help out and he gave me some suggestions. I have found radios are like guns there are lots of opinions and you need to know what you want them for. So here goes. I want at least one preferably two handheld radios and they have to be rugged. I want a mobile to run in my truck and also have one as a base station. I understand I need a power supply for the base. I am still up in the air about an antenna.

For the handheld I was looking at a Yaesu FT-60R
Mobile Kenwood D710G
Power supply Alinco DM-330MV

I want to put together a mobile which I can run off a battery. I understand I can run the Kenwood this way but I am looking at an additional mobile this way I can take it in my wife's car and leave the truck with one.

What do you think? I figure I have a bunch of guns of the same make and caliber why not the same goes for radios. I understand the cost and was budgeting $1,000 just to get started. Thanks for your impute. By the way if you think I am bat shit crazy I would like to hear that too.

[bacpacker]

You just described my basic station. I have a pair of FT60s. Milspec rigs so they can handle a little abuse. Just find some high gain antennas for them and spare battery packs.
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I have a couple of Kenwood D700s, which is the older model preceding the 710. Solid rigs and have never had a problem with them. I used the APRS function a lot with our EmComm group, but would turn it off yesterday in a SHTF scenario. The cross band repeat function is well worth learning to use. BWRR just had a post about that.
the Alinco power supply is the only one I like right now. Well built and has protection in the output to help protect your radio.
You got good taste in radios my friend.

[Vodin]

The only bit of information I can provide is, It is always best to have spares of the same model for parts. Other than that I am following what suggestions are.

[realist]

For my portables after talking to some people I may change.
I may pick up the Yaesu portables but I am also look at picking up some Kenwood HT or MT 1000s which I might have access to. I am not worried about programming them because I have a guy at my office who can do it and show me how. I may also look at the Motorolas too. The thing about the Kenwoods and Motorolas is they are really tough. I have used them in public service for years I just need some second opinions on them from a Ham standpoint first.

[Kesephist]

Going in for my General in a few hours.

Duplicate where possible. If you are enough of a solder jock, get the schematics and likely needed to be replaced parts.

I figured a couple of FT60s, spare battery sets, a spare RS HTX 10, 50' of -8X, half wave dipole, deepcycle battery, 750w inverter, and two Thunderbolt briefcase solar panels with controller, each item sealed in bubblewrap, will fill a galvanized trashcan with room to spare. XHD duty jumper cable clamp on the lid, other end to ground, and voila! For-cheap faraday cage.

[bacpacker]

Kenwood makes go9d gear. I have an HT and a couple of mobile rigs. Motorola has made commercial equipment t for years. Just not familiar with them for ham use.

[ak474u]

I know nothing. I went to a guy's house this week that had a 125' tower with I'm pretty sure EVERY doohickey available on it, and a radio shack at the base that looked like a radio store.

[ElevenBravo]

Ill vote for the FT-60 also, buy extra batteries and chargers to keep them topped off.. use CHRIP to program them, make sure they are MARS/CAP modded then you will have extra wiggle room for comms out of band in the event of an emergency.

[realist]

Regarding the Motorola I have a guy I work with who can make a few alterations an program in the Ham channels.

EB since I am new I haven't a clue what MAR/CAP is can you explain please? Thanks

[Kesephist]

MARS Military Amateur Radio Service

ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service

CAP Civil Air Patrol

RACES Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
NOTE: RACES is closer to FEMA and technically the only HAMS allowed to operate if the President opens up the War Powers Act.

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

OK, I got a break.....what a mess around here. Anyway, here's what I have been running and why.
FT-60 was my first, it broke my cherry. Still have it, great unit. I have it set up to work on one of my rigs with the flat panel antenna that I made.

FT-857d expensive....but it's the smallest HF/VHF/UHF and produces up to 100W! This was my first base/mobile unit, need an auto tuner if you really want to kick this thing but you can run it with out it. This one will do the work of a base station, hey I talked to Amsterdam Island..........whoa, that was scary. Really cool and PORTABLE!

http://www.gigaparts.com/Yaesu-FT-857D.html

Then I shifted to these:

Quansheng TG-UV2 I really like these because they are "unrestricted", meaning it covers the WHOLE band not just the amateur freqs. rugged, reliable, easy to program, cheaper than the name brands. Many items to list, look it up you might like it. You can order it through Amazon Prime for $79....... DO NOT ORDER IT FROM CHINA! if it takes a shit you're ass out for shipping and time, etc. Check link below.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B007H4VU1U/ref=sr_1_1_olp?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1465306872&sr=1-1&keywords=Quansheng+TG-UV2&condition=new

TYT-TH-9800 50W/40W Full Quad Band Mobile Radio, Cross Band Repeater mode, this has been working quite well the last few weeks. I've been using this radio every week for the last 9 months and have had no issues. easy to program. I haven't tested the HF bands yet.
10M ( 29Mhz ), 6M ( 52Mhz ), 2M ( 146Mhz ) & 70cm ( 440Mhz ) Bands, FM, 50W/40W
Receives: (AM mode selectable on VHF receive frequencies for Air Band reception)

Currently $206 on Amazon great deal! Great radio for the buck, AGAIN IT'S UNRESTRICTED you can program the marine band freqs. in there if you want on both of these radio for those of you who are near the surf.

http://www.amazon.com/TYT-TYT-TH-9800-Two-Way-Radio/dp/B00I53VUEY?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

Just my roll-a-quarters, but if your looking to "expand" your horizons and stay on the cheep. I have had some great success with those two units.......so far. OH and I use the the Quanshengs pretty much, everyday just listening to talk radio and the freak station up on the mountain.......sad huh?

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

On the programming thing, I have always steered away from programming radios through a computer if I can help it. Some radios you don't have a choice, like Motorola sabers.

*NOTE* The TYT needs to be "tweeked" by computer so you can talk using the mike while the cross band repeater is in use.

But when it comes to manually pushing those buttons, programing a repeater freq. the PL tone, offset, etc. All those things are essential for you to learn how to do with out your laptop. DO NOT RELY ON COMPUTERS TO DO YOUR WORK FOR YOU! You need to be able to do this shit in the field on the fly, know your gear, "Love your Gear, It'll Love you Back"

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

By the way here is the site with all the NAV freqs. For those that have the capability and are in range of the waterways give them a shot and please tell me your results. I'll put this in a separate thread. OUT!

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtVhf

[Brownwater Riverrat 13]

Crickets.................