HF Transceiver

[Cain64]

Im looking at getting a HAM or HF transceiver any one know of some good ones for under 200$

[Red Warrior]

The only radio I can think of within that price range is the SoftRock developmental Software Defined Radio. The latest versions will cover the HF band with both transmit and receive. Search for softrock SDR on Google. The price for the kit is about $44 and if you need someone to assemble it (there are surface mount parts not for the unskilled) I can PM you with a name. The radio fully assembled is a tad over $100. You will need a laptop or desktop computer to run the radio with a compatible sound card to process the I&Q channels.

Performance is absolutely awesome with receive sensitivity of -124db or better. A typical analog receiver is -115db. Output power is 1 watt modulated so you will need an external amplifier to bring it up to legal limit.

[Circuit Breaker]

I tried making a post to this thread earlier but for some reason the site crashed...which it seems to do a lot when I'm trying to make a post.

Anyway, you might be able to find a Yaesu FT-101, Heathkit or Tempo 2020. They are good radios if properly maintained and set up. They are older radios so they won't have all the bells and whistles that even radios from 10 years ago will have. My first HF radio was a Tempo 2020 that I traded my Cobra 2000 for.

[Cain64]

ok i found something on craigs list some body near me for a icom mobile for 120$ and its pretty nice seems pretty new.

[Red Warrior]

ok i found something on craigs list some body near me for a icom mobile for 120$ and its pretty nice seems pretty new.

For $120 the ICom must be 2-meters only. If I had known you were looking for only 2-Meters rather than a "HF" radio I would have recommended the Kenwood TM-271AK from Texas Towers for $159. Kenwood is reknown for audio quality.

[Circuit Breaker]

ok i found something on craigs list some body near me for a icom mobile for 120$ and its pretty nice seems pretty new.

What model of Icom? If they only want $120 for it, I highly doubt that this radio is an HF radio...more than likely it is a 2 meter (VHF) radio. So, what are you looking for? An HF radio to cover the HF bands, or a radio to use on local repeaters?

[Cain64]

well i want a raddio that i can use on my local repeaters, but also that can be used on 440 and other 40 meters and 20 meters

[drdx]

The used market has a lot to offer for sure, just be careful if you're not overly experienced with older rigs. Some don't offer features that for a few more dollars can be had in a slightly newer unit, like general coverage receive and am/fm. Many older ones like the kenwoods are cw and ssb only, no general receive, and have solid state receive with tube transmit. That's fine if it serves your purpose but just FYI in case you plan on using it for both ham and cb.

The cheapest new hf rig is probably the icom 718 at $589, but great used examples of them can be had for 350 and up on average. I recently picked up a yaesu ft450 for $525 that was only 6 months old and looks like new, so the deals are out there. The 200 range slims down the search, but for not much more a semi modern rig like a Kenwood 430, 440, or maybe a yaesu 757,757gx, 840, or similar can be found for not much more than that. Those rigs are getting older(20 year range and more) and with the newer entry level rigs at cheap prices the price of the used ones are sure to go down. I had a Yaesu FT757gxII back when they were new and they are a great radio. The good part of a used hf rig is that they always have a decent resale value, both to the outlaw cb crowd as well as the ham community. For the money, it is a safer bet to have $500 invested in a full hf rig than a big fancy "cb".

-drdx

[Circuit Breaker]

well i want a raddio that i can use on my local repeaters, but also that can be used on 440 and other 40 meters and 20 meters

There are radios that can do all of that in one radio...the Icom 706 MKII, Icom 7000, Yaesu FT-100 or FT-857. However, you won't find any of those for $200 unless they're broken. All of these radios will probably go for $500 or more used...depending on the model. The Icom 7000 will go for more because it's a newer model. So, you'll need to spend more than $200 to get everything you want. For $200 you can get a used dual band radio (144/440) radio or you might be able to find a much older HF radio that will cover just HF. But it will have to be one or the other.

[lonesome 500]

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[bailenforcer]

I use a Alinco DX-70 and soon an Icom IC 735

[Foxhunter]

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I've got that one. Supposed to be a good quad-bander. Submersible too!

[Av8r1]

I would just save up more cash and buy some thing for about 500. A nice used HF Kenwood TS-520 or 530s

Lots of radios on ebay or go to a ham fest.


Hf is way more fun.

Bill
KC9KQR

['Doc]

If you're looking for a radio to cover HF through '440, I'm afraid your out of luck for $200 or less. Strictly HF or VHF/UHF is certainly possible, although I don't think I'd hold my breath real hard waiting for one (just depends on how 'short-winded' you are, right?).
This part is just opinion so take it for what it's worth.
The 'newer' you get the more 'bells-n-whistles', and general improvements. The 'older' you get (radios), the less abilities. Nothing wrong with older radios, but don't expect miracles. If they were so good to start with, why did the manufacturer change them?
- 'Doc

[Punkin Head]

I know the Icom IC-7000 does what you want but it is about 5x your price range. I got mine used and it was $1000 You can however get a older hf rig for the $200 range and a 2m/70cm dual bander for about $100-$200 used but unless you fall into some serious luck for that price range you will be hard pressed to get the full deal in one unit.

[WL74]

How low of a frequency do they make HF transceivers that are "small"? I just wonder how low you can get HF radios without needing a comm center and a 200+ft antenna

[Punkin Head]

How low of a frequency do they make HF transceivers that are "small"? I just wonder how low you can get HF radios without needing a comm center and a 200+ft antenna

my HF transceiver is about the size of a cobra 29 maybe just a tad bigger and covers 70cm, 2m, 6m, and 10m-160m. and my antenna is about 30ft tall. it is a ground mount verticle and is about 30 ft tall. It uses traps that you have to set for each band and it covers 10m-80m. now you can also string up 200 or 300 foot of wire thru the trees too and do good as I have that also but it all depends on your budget and what you have room for.

[WL74]

How low of a frequency do they make HF transceivers that are "small"? I just wonder how low you can get HF radios without needing a comm center and a 200+ft antenna

my HF transceiver is about the size of a cobra 29 maybe just a tad bigger and covers 70cm, 2m, 6m, and 10m-160m. and my antenna is about 30ft tall. it is a ground mount verticle and is about 30 ft tall. It uses traps that you have to set for each band and it covers 10m-80m. now you can also string up 200 or 300 foot of wire thru the trees too and do good as I have that also but it all depends on your budget and what you have room for.

Very nice!

[Circuit Breaker]

Yes, the Icom 7000 will transmit down on the 160M band (1.8 to 2.0 MHz) and it's a small radio. HOWEVER, to get a decent signal on 160M, you need a big antenna. There's really no way around that. There are antennas out there around 30ft that advertise coverage on 160M...but that's with a loading coil and the bandwidth is very limited...maybe 20KHz if you're lucky. Because of the small size, it won't work very well either.

[linx]

Yes, the Icom 7000 will transmit down on the 160M band (1.8 to 2.0 MHz) and it's a small radio. HOWEVER, to get a decent signal on 160M, you need a big antenna. There's really no way around that. There are antennas out there around 30ft that advertise coverage on 160M...but that's with a loading coil and the bandwidth is very limited...maybe 20KHz if you're lucky. Because of the small size, it won't work very well either.

Carolina Windom CW160 all the way!