One thing I-as a novice and frequent long-distance traveler-like about the ID-5100A is the radio’s repeater list function, which searches for and accesses nearby repeater sites (towers), even if you’re in a location for the first time. He said he often monitors a local repeater, as well as the 2M calling frequency, so he can listen and respond to repeated traffic within the immediate area, along with call outs, which is someone reaching out via radio on the 2M frequency. Roberts went on to compliment the radio’s dual band capability (2M/440), and the unit’s ‘Dual Watch’ feature, permitting users to be on two frequencies at the same time. “I’d put it somewhere in the middle of the User-Friendliness Scale. “It’s not a starter radio,” Roberts said of the ICOM ID-5100A. Price ($400/450) on the higher end for the quality.Abundance of features can prove challenging to navigate for new users.Remote head bracket makes for easy mounting in a vehicle.Pre-programmed ‘call out’ channels are convenient.Built-in GPS allows for APRS functionality.Dual watch capable so you can monitor two frequencies simultaneously.1,000 regular channels and four call channels.This allows the FT-60R to operate as a traditional scanner, for those wishing to monitor local emergency broadcasting networks. The FT-60R also offers wide band reception, which Roberts explains means that the user can listen to radio traffic in the 800 megahertz (MHz) public safety band, as well as the air (civil aviation/aircraft band) band. “This one’s still in production today because you just turn it on, type in a frequency (or hit a pre-programmed key earmarked with that particular frequency), and you’re off.” The good part about this means that things like batteries, accessories, and, most significantly, service and repairs can still be had almost universally. “Most electronic devices are in production for a couple years, and then the manufacturer moves onto the next model or version,” he explained. The FT-60R was introduced in 2004 at the Dayton Ham Radio Show (known in The Circle as ‘Hamvention’) and Roberts owns three of them. Two front panel programmable (customizable) keys.1,000 memory channels and 10 memory banks for dedicated channel allocation.The Best Ham Radios: Reviews & Recommendations Best Handheld: Yaesu FT-60R Can I upgrade this particular unit, or am I buying a new one?.Are the batteries rechargeable? Long-lived? Or does it require plug-in power?.What does it cost? Should I sell a kidney, or borrow one and sell that?.Can I talk to the people I want to talk to? Is it rangy enough?.Is it user-friendly? Do I need a degree in tele-comm to make it work?.The unit can be more than simple on/off and volume up/down buttons, but I tried to steer clear of those pieces involving multitudinous microphyte communities and a masters in Astrophysics, neither of which I understand. First and foremost, I’m looking for something that ranks relatively high on the UFR (User-Friendliness Rating) scale. I mention this because it’s a major player in how I arrived at the selections I did. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not a techno-wiz, especially not with what I’d deem highly advanced electronics. He operates daily on the 2M/440 frequency, and he knows his stuff. An EMT and volunteer firefighter with Wahkiakum County in Washington and Wahkiakum Fire District 4, Roberts has held his Technician’s Level FCC License for 12 years, served as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and sits on the county’s emergency radio board. So I found someone who truly knows their way around the airwaves: Justin Roberts. However, when it comes to ham radios, I’m just a bit out of my wheelhouse in terms of experience. Some can transmit but a short distance, while others are capable of bouncing a signal off the moon and sending it halfway around the planet! Below are some of the best ham radios on the market, with an emphasis on units for the beginner ‘ham.’Īuthor’s Note – Traditionally, I’ve handled the information for reviews myself. Ham radios can be large or small, portable or stationary, mobile, handheld, or any of several configurations. Today, there are some three million licensed ham radio operators worldwide, with about 700,000 here in the United States. Upon completion, operators are assigned a call sign-e.g. Ham radio operators are required to be licensed by the FCC, a process that involves testing, knowledge, and demonstration of abilities pertaining to such radio communications and the use of the corresponding equipment. What are ham radios? In short, ham radio operators are amateur radio enthusiasts who communicate with one another via radio frequencies assigned specifically to this community by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or the International Telecommunications Union. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
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