suggestions for a starter handheld

[beerftw]

I already have my gmrs license and have ordered the ham prep guide paperback study book for the technician test. I have decided I plan to get the ham license, and study for the test and either take the test at some point at the local clubs or at the hamfest in april in belton tx.

 

  So I am looking for suggestions for a cheapish fcc compliant handheld, was looking at the uv5r fcc compliant version not the fully unlocked version, and though about the ar-152 but from what I researched it is the uv-5r with a much bigger battery and a milspec case but otherwise basically the same radio.

 

  Either way I plan to practice and try until I get a ham technician license, but I do not want to go all in on a radio since ham is a very big world of possibilities that I want to dip my toes in before deciding how far and which direction to take it. So a capable handheld fcc compliant and sub 100 dollars are my goal.

[TNFrank]

HamStudy.org is a good place to study. As for a radio the Baofeng/BTech BF-F8HP Pro is a really good radio that has a lot of features you'd normally find on a higher priced radio.

[RoadApple]

I'll second the suggestion made by @TNFrank.  I found hamstudy.org very helpful and easy to use.

[beerftw]

1 hour ago, TNFrank said:

HamStudy.org is a good place to study. As for a radio the Baofeng/BTech BF-F8HP Pro is a really good radio that has a lot of features you'd normally find on a higher priced radio.

I am already using hamstudy .org as a type this, and the ham study prep guide I believe was hamstudy.org paperback book. the site seems good for understanding test questions but I learn better through a paperback book. Also when I need to study or concentrate, the rattling from subwoofers drives me crazy where I live and will drive my car or motorcycle to remote spots at the lake with little or no internet just to get silence, hence wanting a paperback.

[Northcutt114]

Three things:

1) Best of luck to you! HamStudy is a fantastic tool.

2) If you just want an HT starter for ham radio, it really is hard to go wrong with a Baofeng UV5R. They are very inexpensive and they work. So if you want to get your feet wet and not spend any money, go for it. But, you can also get a DM32 for less than $100 and it will do DMR. But if you're just starting out, it may be a little more than you want.

3) My suggestion would be to buy a Quansheng UV-K6 and then flash it with egzumer's latest firmware. With some tinkering and menu adjusting you can listen in on HF, transmit on CB on FM, and then aviation bands, and then TX on UHF and VHF. It's one of the most versatile HT's I own. The firmware also comes with a frequency analyzer which is helpful. If all that sounds a bit much, I'd be happy to walk you through it. Oh, you would need a Kenwood 2 pin programming cable to do all that. I don't think you get one with the Quansheng. $40 ish from amazon. They come in different colors as well as translucent, too. I have three or four HT's, all from China. This one always gets the best signal reports.

 

[gortex2]

I purchased my wife a ICOM 2M portable when she got her license. She used it for a month then decided on her commercial gear for ham. We still have it but it sits in a go box if needed. 

A quality built 2M handheld from Icom, Yaseu or Kenwood is not much more than the CCR market. Get whats in use in your area. 

[TNFrank]

The BTech BF-F8HP Pro will do 2M, 1.25M and 70cm so you get 3 Bands and it puts out a decent amount of power. If you want to spend less skip the UV5r, get the AR-5RM. It's not that much more and is a lot better radio. The Radtel RT-900 is also a really good radio too. As a correction to my video it'll RX 900MHz but doesn't TX 900MHz.

 

[Bogieboy01]

1 hour ago, TNFrank said:

The BTech BF-F8HP Pro will do 2M, 1.25M and 70cm so you get 3 Bands and it puts out a decent amount of power. If you want to spend less skip the UV5r, get the AR-5RM. It's not that much more and is a lot better radio. The Radtel RT-900 is also a really good radio too. As a correction to my video it'll RX 900MHz but doesn't TX 900MHz.

 

I can second the AR-5RM, have 2 of them myself, and can be gotten for about $20 a piece if you are patient and wait for stuff to go on sale at the "river site"

[TNFrank]

2 hours ago, Bogieboy01 said:

I can second the AR-5RM, have 2 of them myself, and can be gotten for about $20 a piece if you are patient and wait for stuff to go on sale at the "river site"

I have 5 of them, I like them that much. Remember, 1 is none, 2 is 1 and 3(or more) is better. LOL

[Bogieboy01]

33 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

I have 5 of them, I like them that much. Remember, 1 is none, 2 is 1 and 3(or more) is better. LOL

I have the 2 ars, then i have a pair of ham locked uv-17r, and i have a Btonera bt8000, which is my daily on (sitting on the top of my tool box) at work radio, because, while its physically smaller than the ar5rm, and the uv17, it has a 6500mah battery... which means it can be listening to local repeaters for 3 days straight and still have 2 bars of battery... i also prefer the visual interface on the btonera due to the ability to put both the frequency AND the channel name for both channels. It cost about the same as a tid h3 btw.

 

 

 

[beerftw]

Still on the lookout for a decent handheld, but stumbled upon a fully fcc compliant uv-5r for 19 bucks on amazon, and decided heck with it that would make atleast a good beater radio. 

 

  The hard part I am finding is the same thing I found with gmrs, for every one fcc legal version, there are 100 on the market unlocked and illegal, and most of the illegal ones with the same model and brand as fcc legal ones. The vast majority I looked up go outside 2m and 70 cm bands and go into bussiness, military, or other frequencies not legal for ham use, and these sellers often brag about their radios being able to transmit outside legal frequencies.

 

  Some of the suggestions here look good, I just need to filter down my search to fcc legal versions thereof, also for some reason it seems unlocked versions are far cheaper than fcc compliant ones.

[OffRoaderX]

24 minutes ago, beerftw said:

for every one fcc legal version, there are 100 on the market unlocked and illegal, and most of the illegal ones with the same model and brand as fcc legal ones

Just to be clear, because If i have learned anything at this forum it is that every tiny little pedantic detail, no matter how insignificant, is of extreme importance to "some people" ...  

There is nothing "illegal" about those radios.. A radio that does meet FCC certification(s) is not "illegal".. Purchasing a radio that does not meet FCC certification(s) is not "illegal". Using a radio that does not meet FCC certifications, or the act of transmitting on (otherwise legal) frequencies not certified for use on that radio is not "illegal" - none of these things break any laws.

 

[Northcutt114]

6 minutes ago, beerftw said:

The hard part I am finding is the same thing I found with gmrs, for every one fcc legal version, there are 100 on the market unlocked and illegal, and most of the illegal ones with the same model and brand as fcc legal ones. The vast majority I looked up go outside 2m and 70 cm bands and go into bussiness, military, or other frequencies not legal for ham use, and these sellers often brag about their radios being able to transmit outside legal frequencies.

I really wouldn't spend too much time worrying about that. You're not doing anything "illegal" unless you are creating harmful interference. And that's really hard to do with a 5w Baofeng.

 

[beerftw]

5 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

Just to be clear, because If i have learned anything at this forum it is that every tiny little pedantic detail, no matter how insignificant, is of extreme importance to "some people" ...  

There is nothing "illegal" about those radios.. A radio that does meet FCC certification(s) is not "illegal".. Purcashign a radio that does not meet FCC certification(s) is not "illegal". Using a radio that does not meet FCC certifications, or the act of transmitting on (otherwise legal) frequencies not certified for use on that radio is not "illegal" - none of these things break any laws.

 

Ham is not required to have an fcc certification, but other personal radio services are. But having a radio fcc certified to transmit within the certified bands is a big cover your backside type thing. Further if the ham device operates in other services which require devices with fcc approval, it does become an fcc violation. Technically you have have access to to those frequencies but the fcc has some fairly strict rules on transmissions, bands used and equipment type/certification. Not something I would risk messing with considering the practice and time it will take me to get a ham license and the lack of desire to use or transmit into not ham legal frequencies, which the vast majority of handhelds only do 2m and 70cm for legal bands, with some even capable of 125cm or even 10m.

[beerftw]

8 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

I really wouldn't spend too much time worrying about that. You're not doing anything "illegal" unless you are creating harmful interference. And that's really hard to do with a 5w Baofeng.

 

I agree with harmful interference however again some of those channels they brag about are for no go frequencies that can get someone in big trouble messing around. starting with ham I would prefer to keep it simple and not add bandwidths over the legal range for ham, I would rather not leave the room for error when starting out and most likely to make errors.

[OffRoaderX]

21 minutes ago, beerftw said:

...having a radio fcc certified to transmit within the certified bands is a big cover your backside type thing ... Not something I would risk messing with..

You LITERALLY have a grater chance of being hit by lighting than you do of getting into any trouble with the FCC [in the context of this discussion].  Statistically speaking, there is nothing to cover your backside from.  

I know that "some people" will call me a liar and whine and make loud screeching noises when I say these things, but these are the facts - you can look it all up yourself in the FCC Enforcement database on their website.  anyone is welcome to try and prove me wrong - but be warned: Many have tried, and 100% of them made themselves look like morons.

[beerftw]

2 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

You LITERALLY have a grater chance of being hit by lighting than you do of getting into any trouble with the FCC.  Statistically speaking, there is nothing to cover your backside from.  

I know that "some people" will call me a liar and whine and cry when I say these things, but these are the facts - you can look it all up yourself in the FCC Enforcement database on their website.  anyone is welcome to try and prove me wrong - but be warned: Many have tried, and 100% of them made themselves look like morons.

Reguardless if lazy enforcement, for one it is better to be in the right than the wrong, secondly unlocked equipment is still against the rules as they can operate out of approved frequencies. I am not willing to test my luck on a license I have yet to get just because some 11meter freebanders get away with it running 1500 watt cb stations.

[OffRoaderX]

1 minute ago, beerftw said:

unlocked equipment is still against the rules

Right.. "against the rules"... Not "illegal" as you incorrectly stated earlier.

I'm glad I could help.

[beerftw]

11 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

Right.. "against the rules"... Not "illegal" as you incorrectly stated earlier.

I'm glad I could help.

Rules that can result if revocation of license or heavy fines, or jail time if those frequencies out of band happen to cross into areas like aviation, federal govt, military etc and cause obstruction to official bussiness of those channels.

 

  Either way I was given the same logic with motorcycles when I got my license for that, had to do a u-turn in the space of 2 parking spaces, when everyone just said cops do not care anyways and rarely pull anyone over for not having the endorsement. To this day I can ride my motorcycle without having to look over my shoulder hoping I do not get the one jerk cop who will pull me over, I want ham radio to be the same way.

[OffRoaderX]

4 hours ago, beerftw said:

Rules that can result if revocation of license or heavy fines, or jail time if those frequencies out of band happen to cross into areas like aviation, federal govt, military etc and cause obstruction to official bussiness of those channels.

You were very clear, and made use of the word "illegal" several times. You were wrong. You should stop trying to backpedal because it might make you look bad.

[Bogieboy01]

14 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

You were very clear, and made use of the word "illegal" several times. You were wrong. You should stop trying to backpedal because it might make you look bad.

Did socalgmrs get a new username again? This conversation feels familiar.....

[Northcutt114]

23 hours ago, beerftw said:

I agree with harmful interference however again some of those channels they brag about are for no go frequencies that can get someone in big trouble messing around. starting with ham I would prefer to keep it simple and not add bandwidths over the legal range for ham, I would rather not leave the room for error when starting out and most likely to make errors.

I completely understand where you're coming from but please understand that there is nothing "legal" going on...or "illegal" for that matter. You can listen to any frequency or channel you want to. Regardless of where it resides within the bands. You only get in trouble when you begin transmitting...and even then, "trouble" is a bit of a big word. If the FCC isn't worried about the Kilowatt Cowboys that are DXing from coast to coast on CB, I hardly think that you or I have anything to worry about it if we accidentally TX where we shouldn't.

By all means, follow your conscience and do what you feel is right. I'm simply letting you know that buying a radio that listens where you can't transmit isn't a big deal at all.

 

[RoadApple]

25 minutes ago, Northcutt114 said:

I completely understand where you're coming from but please understand that there is nothing "legal" going on...or "illegal" for that fact. You can listen to any frequency or channel you want to. Regardless of where it resides with the bands. You only get in trouble when you begin transmitting...and even then, "trouble" is a bit of a big word. If the FCC isn't worried about the Kilowatt Cowboys that DXing from coast to coast on CB, I hardly think that you or I has anything to worry about it if we accidentally TX where we shouldn't.

By all means, follow your conscience and do what you feel is right. I'm simply letting you know that buying a radio that listens where you can't transmit isn't a big deal at all.

 

DITTO!

[amaff]

1 hour ago, Northcutt114 said:

By all means, follow your conscience and do what you feel is right. I'm simply letting you know that buying a radio that listens where you can't transmit isn't a big deal at all.

Or one that can transmit where you can't. My car can do felony speeds, but I have control over the throttle pedal. Which is to say: basically all of my radios are capable of transmitting where I'm not allowed to. But they are set up to not transmit in those spaces.

[808Beachbum]

18 hours ago, beerftw said:

Ham is not required to have an fcc certification, but other personal radio services are. But having a radio fcc certified to transmit within the certified bands is a big cover your backside type thing. Further if the ham device operates in other services which require devices with fcc approval, it does become an fcc violation. Technically you have have access to to those frequencies but the fcc has some fairly strict rules on transmissions, bands used and equipment type/certification. Not something I would risk messing with considering the practice and time it will take me to get a ham license and the lack of desire to use or transmit into not ham legal frequencies, which the vast majority of handhelds only do 2m and 70cm for legal bands, with some even capable of 125cm or even 10m.

Since you ARE concerned with proper compliance (refreshing!), be sure you closely review the "Band Plan" for the ham bands you ultimately get licensed for. This chart covers all the ham bands, so you'll need to scroll down some for the details covering "technician" licenses. And, just FYI, here's another nice chart that shows the allocation of ALL US freqs, if you are curious.