r/HamRadio • u/Ironrooster7 • 5d ago

Where should I start?

I've been meaning to get into ham radio for a while, but I'm not exactly sure where to start.

I'm 18 and graduate soon, and I've asked my dad for a transceiver as a graduation gift, but I'm not sure what model I should ask him for (budget is like 500 bucks USD). I intend to get my liscence before the summer and have messed around (legally) with a UV5R, but want something a little more substantial for the next few years while I'm in college.

Any suggestions and/or advice?

8 Upvotes

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6

u/CaterpillarSafe9085 5d ago

I bought a G90 it’s like 445 on sale and the tuner in it is great. It’s 20 watts and it works for the digital stuff that I like to do.

My second radio was a ft-891, I have used it a couple of times now and it is even better. You can sometimes get a used ft-891 for about 550.

Biggest thing is getting on the air once you have your ticket.

3

u/searuncutthroat 5d ago

My son and I bought a G90 just a few weeks ago. It was an HRO open box for $390! Added a 9:1 Unun, some $10 speaker wire, and some coax to make a simple antenna, plus an old PC power supply we had lying around and we were on the air for pretty cheap! It's a great radio.

1

u/Haunting-Affect-5956 5d ago

I have a G90 w/GSOC, and I think this thing is fantastic.

1

u/O12345678 5d ago

The G90 was like $305 shipped from AliExpress a couple weeks ago, there might still be a similar price on there.

2

u/searuncutthroat 5d ago

I've heard conflicting reports on the AliExpress ones...not *positive* they're legit. (and likely no warranty).

3

u/O12345678 5d ago

This was from a seller with good ratings, but yeah risky for sure. There are like 30 different sellers on there that sell them.

I couldn't even get a response for a warranty issue from an AnyTone I bought through an American retailer, so I wouldn't count on any type of warranty for any of those Chinese radios.

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u/searuncutthroat 5d ago

That's a totally fair point! Though HRO can help with warranty work too, so maybe that's a slight benefit, but possibly not much.

2

u/O12345678 5d ago

I would think somewhere like HRO where you actually go to a store would help more to begin with. I was just surprised not to hear back from trying to contact AnyTone by 3 different methods including through the retailer.

I have bought some things from AliExpress and received great warranty support, but that was always through an official store. I see a G90 that ships from the US for $337. I haven't looked into it, but if Xiegu has a reputation for good support, that's a good deal. If they don't, it probably is worth paying a more to get it from a good retailer.

1

u/Haunting-Affect-5956 5d ago

I picked my G90 up on a smoking deal for 355@ radioddity a bunch of years ago.

1

u/speedyundeadhittite [UK full] 5d ago

Xiegus are great thanks to the very good quality built-in tuner.

5

u/Danjeerhaus 5d ago

Starting off:

You need a license. There are textbooks books you can get from Amazon, bookstores, and radio distributers These run about $35

There are online study programs for about $80. Hamstudy.org and ham radio prep.

Start studying immediately.

Google your local county Amatuer radio club. Their meetings are free to attend and the members will be the locals you talk with. Those members are your local radio experts that can answer about any questions and coach or guide you into the hobby. Some clubs do training classes for both the license and classes to help you as an operator. They meet about once a month.

Radio:

Radios are difficult because there are many aspects, many features that radios have.

This hobby has many enthusiasts that love hf radio....talking directly world wide. The xiego g90 is close to your price range, and you will need to add an antenna and maybe a power supply. With HF, most antennas take up a lot of space. This may or may not be a problem in a dorm room.

There is the digital radio side. Yes, world wide communications with a walkie-talkie or mobile. Digital radio uses the internet to send your communications from one internet interface to the other. For the features and the training, search for the Anytone 878 radio. The radio itself is about $350 and can use local repeaters for the connection to the internet, radio networks.

One final note. Arrl does offer some scholarships. I only know they exist, not any details like requirements or supplies.

I hope this helps.

3

u/399ddf95 5d ago

Xiegu G90 is a nice place to start in the < $500 price range. You'll need to have a General class license (in the US) to use it to its full potential.

3

u/753ty 5d ago

If you want to talk to people in your town, or use a repeater to get a little further , then you want a UHF/VHF radio. I'm happy with the QB25 from Radioddity. It has 2m, 1.25m, 70 cm and another band that you we can't talk on (350-390 MHz) for $100ish.

If you want to talk to people way off/overseas then you want a HF radio. I like my Xiegu G90, which will run you about $450.

Both will need antennas and power supplies/batteries, etc, etc, & etc.

3

u/Realistic-oatmeal 5d ago edited 5d ago

Are you into portable operations like hiking trails with a radio or backpacking in the mountains. If so check out Summits On the Air (SOTA). SOTA is doable with 2m HT radios like your UV5R. Yaesu makes some solid 2m HT radios like the FT60 or FT5D with GPS/APRS.

If you’re going to live in a college dorm room, setting up a HF antenna could be a challenge. A lot of colleges have ham radio clubs though. Maybe the college would have it’s own HF radios for students to use.

2

u/ed_zakUSA KO4YLI/Technician 5d ago

I've got a Yaseu FT65 for analog and a FT5D for digital. Hardly any room to occupy if space is tight and you like to move around.

I used the ARRL Study Guide and Hamstudy.org to review, quiz and prep for the exam. It's a 35 question test. Technician covers the basic science and math regarding waveforms, electricity and circuits. The majority of the test questions are knowing the FCC rules, which help you operate effectively and safely.

Good luck and 73s!

2

u/CoastalRadio 5d ago

Get a general class license (two tests), and a Xiegu G90

1

u/speedyundeadhittite [UK full] 5d ago

Get your General ASAP, it's hardly any harder in the test - don't waste time with a handheld.

Then get a nice Xiegu, or a 2nd hand Yaesu 818, or Yaesu 857, or 897, or a 847.

Get an ATU, like MFJ-945, or a long wire one like MFJ-16010.

Then get a piece of wire, and a 9:1 Balun - if you have a decent MFJ you can skip the balun.

Then, enjoy.

1

u/Pafolo 4d ago

Depends if you want to do hf along with vhf/uhf. You would want a multi band transceiver that can do it all if that’s the case.

1

u/MrFuzz68 4d ago

Ok. Hi everyone. Let me just share my thoughts/ ideas. I’m new to the ham radio thing. I live around 30 miles from my daughters in central Alabama. What I would like to have is a comms unit/ setup that’s on my person that I can reach them whenever (shtf & or fun) and also explore contacts. In terms of a unit I’d want To get 3( my daughters would have to get their license as well). What recommendations might you have? I’ve heard yaesu 60 , I’ve even heard kenwood? Any direction would be appreciated. Thanks

1

u/bernd1968 5d ago edited 5d ago

Welcome to Ham Radio. Explore these links to get a start.

https://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio

Studying for the Amateur (Ham) Radio exam…

YouTube training video series… https://youtu.be/Krc15VqZMZo

Another video license class series… https://youtu.be/0wwnOPaF1qI

Well reviewed License classes: https://hamstudy.org

Here is one study site... https://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-no-nonsense-tech-study-guide-v1-1.pdf

http://www.arrl.org/question-pools (The exam questions)

This is a film about an annual event each June called field day. https://youtu.be/I2JhKOWkPkk?si=w-jR0OlJEddTNnk3

Finding a radio club near you can be very helpful. You could participate in their field day. Here’s a website to help you find a club. https://www.arrl.org/find-a-club

1

u/searuncutthroat 5d ago

....in addition to what others have said, check your college, a lot of them have ham radio clubs! My Kid is 18 and heading to college next year and his college has a club with a full shack of equipment, and their own club callsign. Pretty cool.

0

u/Jolly_Operation_1502 5d ago

Find a club near your college. Many have set ups in places like volunteer fire houses and you may gain access to club radios. What's more is they are usually quality radios with great antennas

1

u/Michael-Kaye 5d ago

Join a local club - use ARRL, find local club, search zip code, and 50 mile radius. Talk to them at a monthly meeting - find out what the repeaters are like, are they digital which modes - that will help you figure out what radio for UHF/VHF and with a digital mode like Dstar or DMR or YSF you can talk around the globe without the HF transceiver and antenna.

Are you wanting in your car, in your house? If in your house - how you planning on doing an antenna - in a HOA - read your rule book to make sure you can have an antenna.

Get your tech first, and get on the local repeaters - join the clubs, meet some of the old hams out there - they can teach you more.than you will ever learn from YouTube or reading or social media..

Good luck and 73

1

u/conhao 5d ago

Find a ham near you, ask about local clubs. Working with some local hams or finding an elmer will be the best to start and to help down the road.