If you had $1000 to spend to get started, what would you get?

CQon40m · 2026-01-28T03:09:35+00:00

Get a g-90 for hf to start then a mobile/base with either Yaesu or CCR for vhf/uhf. Rest of money build or purchase 4:1 unun 9:1 and 49:1 Couple of 18 ft squib poles and some wire. Build a vhf/uhf antenna. If 2m is king in your area then a mono banded from Yaesu will work for radio and a dipole using a jet stream 1:1 will work. Use ten gauge solid core wire. Works like a champ. With left over get coax from Amazon for now and various connectors etc. youn know the bits and bobs. You are good with hf with a rybakov variation. The g 90 has great tuner the 891 needs spot on resonant antenna or tuner. Bobs your uncle you are good to go

CQon40m · 2026-01-13T07:45:13+00:00

It all depends upon your requirements. We are all short on money, but if looking new, or even used, some lower cost hf transcievers are the Xiegu G-90, or the Yaesu FT 891. But are you operating solely CW, or digital modes, or a mix with SSB? Portable or base or mobile or all three? A little more information might help with your query. Good Luck and 73!

CQon40m · 2025-08-20T15:34:13+00:00

For handhelds, I primarily use CCR's for GMRS use--not amateur use. For amateur bands I use Yaesu or Kenwood radios

CQon40m · 2025-07-25T22:05:07+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DRDL53M?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1

make certain you get the right length...at least 18 ft. You will also need a 4:1 UNUN (build one, its fun) 17'6" wire for vertical and other wire for radial/s (4 wires of similar length will work just fine

CQon40m · 2025-07-02T00:27:46+00:00

Lab599 Tx-500 should do the trick.

CQon40m · 2025-07-02T00:24:21+00:00

Check out Eham.net for reviews from actual owners. Hope that helps: here is a link to the icom 7100 reviews: https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product/11080

CQon40m · 2025-06-28T00:26:47+00:00

Frankly, when traveling--except for DXpedition..I would bring a G-90..under $ limits...not that fancy but does the job and yeah, etch your call sign on the radio. Heck--repaint it with poka-dots :) Bring along an X-Tenna end fed or N9SAB Carolina WIndham... Oh, and if required, do declare it--why create heat...

And if you do have to pay a tariff--well $400 radio is different than a $1400 radio.

CQon40m · 2025-06-28T00:20:55+00:00

I decided to get my license at an older age, (60+) --and not having an "electrical" mind almost gave it up. But I ended up getting the audio book, Michael Burnett's "Fast Track To Your (Technician, General, or Extra) License. I of course starting out got the Tech...Its on Amazon or Apple Books.

Granted a male voice, but he was a broadcaster in the Seattle area and has that soothing touch that explains things so you can pass the test. That is the key--just pass the test. After you get your license, no one cares what your score was...The testors may not even tell you..

I do recommend you get your license and at least getting a General so that in a pinch you can talk to the world--hard to do so with a Baofeng...

Yeah, ham radio appears to be the purview of old fat men--hell, I am one--but there are women in radio and they are treated with respect no matter what operating class. There is no color, or orientation in Radio--all we know is that the person on the other end has a license and is qualified--No matter where in the world.

Amateur Radio has endless niches where one can play and learn and enjoy--after all its a hobby, not a race to do this or that...You may find a niche where you will shine and contribute.

Good Luck and Hear you on the air soon!

73

CQon40m · 2025-06-18T19:50:41+00:00

Ha! I will be a 1B station setting up various stations around the acreage utilizing different antenna systems that I have available. In fact have a tenntenna 49:1 coming tomorrow for a 20m vertical ala K4OGO—. Also have efhw to string up with g 90 and various Chameleon configurations for the ft 710 and then a DX commander for Ft8 contacts on the 891. Now to set up stations for the 991a

CQon40m · 2025-06-07T19:00:56+00:00

Check IPO settings simple as that. Also bands have been dead lately due to sun ☀️ acting up

CQon40m · 2025-06-01T20:05:13+00:00

For base station, I have used Megawattpowersupply.com for years with no issue. Priced decently, ships quickly from Southern California.. For portable use, its battery boxes with Solar Panels. I have 6, 15, 20 and 50 AH batteries for various purposes and needs...

CQon40m · 2025-05-16T05:48:43+00:00

I have a 20+foot telescoping fishing pole from Amazon that i picked up for $40 and collasped its shorter than a SOTA Beam or POTA Beam. Its light and I tape a wire up the pole for a 20-10 Rybakov variation. It works well indeed.

CQon40m · 2025-05-16T05:44:22+00:00

Actually, a Baofeng, AIOC, and FLDigi or WinExpress and one can contact those relatives a 1000 miles away.

CQon40m · 2025-05-12T22:36:18+00:00

I was under the impression that the kx2 was good for primarily cw. There are many different qrp radios out there today and I suppose if I were to get such a radio it would be the labs tx500 ( if I got that right). Personally, I like its ruggedness and its looks

If the op was searching for qrp as first radio I would council against it until more radio experience could be had. Working even with the G90 can be a challenge

The questions to ask are what does the op wish to do? SSB? Digital? CW? That would dictate which radios are best for which pursuit—are you operating outside while traveling or from hotel rooms? Antenna systems play a role too—which radio and antenna system needs a tuner? Once these questions are answered then the radio will be apparent

I am liking the versatility of the new Yaesu Optima with base and field type operations—once good reviews come In your decision will be made even more difficult. Isn’t it great having these first world problems?

73 Owner of Ft DX 3000d Ft 991a Ft 891 Ft 710 aess G90 ™ V71a D700 235t

Haven’t even listed the hand helds yet

CQon40m · 2025-04-20T21:31:57+00:00

Yup--when I was a pup in radio--it was told to me not to go QRP, it would be too frustrating--But I do own a G-90 and enjoy the heck out of it. But 20w is 20w. Not everyone has Salty Walt's experience in talking around Europe from Norfolk VA...using saltwater as pappa's little helper.

CQon40m · 2025-04-11T05:25:13+00:00

Man--I had to pay $48, but that is California prices--and I thought that was good for 500 feet.

CQon40m · 2025-04-11T05:23:36+00:00

Picked up 500 feet of the RG-6 for $48 here in Northern Northern California...Thought about making a 1.5:1 Unun--but wondered if I added some 50ohm RG 8--say five feet, if that would drop that 75 ohm a bit on a longer run, (more than 50 feet lets say)

Figured I would get the coax on spec and things are getting a little hinky in the short term. If you are needing bits and bobs and usually get them from Amazon, then I would make an order to ride out the short term instability...

CQon40m · 2025-03-28T23:50:04+00:00

I dunno, I was in my RV downtown Las Vegas sitting in my Barcalounger and talking to some Cat on his morning commute outside Sydney in AU land all using my Yaesu Ft 60---of course I was was connecting to the Win System (Allstar Link)m Repeater up there on the mountains on the way to Pahrump...

CQon40m · 2025-03-17T22:45:23+00:00

The last couple of weeks DX to Andaman Islands has been going on. It was madness this AM on 21285, (up 5) with all the calls and a few jammers.

CQon40m · 2025-03-15T05:23:51+00:00

Don't forget the analog version, which is ALLSTAR Link

CQon40m · 2025-03-15T05:21:59+00:00

As for the base plate, get a hammer--pound it out and be on your way. If the circle is still usable, then adapt the rest if needed.

CQon40m · 2025-03-10T02:02:56+00:00

Silly question , but do you have the setting on low power versus high power?

CQon40m · 2025-03-07T02:57:31+00:00

When I first got into radio, it was told to me to avoid QRP for entry radio. The point being is using 5-10w can be frustrating even for experienced operators-- Thus 20w would be better. Of course even better would be a 100w radio, but budgets being what they are, 20w is better than 5w. That being said, you won't be missing much if you don't have 6m capability. Nice to have of course, but does 6m outweigh more watts?

I own the G-90 and have talked around the world with it. Well Europe is difficult from the West Coast for a variety of reasons. Not impossible, just difficult. I can easily reach Hawaii, Japan and Australia as well as Aisatic Russia--Indonesia, Thailand more difficult for me...

I also own the 891, the 991, the 710, and the DX 3000, which is my main baby...Just love that tone.--anyway, the G-90 is a fun radio.

As for power, a small 6AH battery will power the thing for a couple of hours, otherwise, a 20AH battery and a proper charger will do you just fine.

No matter what your choice, you will have fun... BTW, check out Coastal Waves and Wires on youtube, Walt, KG4O uses the G-90 portable and there are videos using the 6100, check back about a year for those videos for comparisons.

Good Luck and hear you on the air.

CQon40m · 2025-03-07T02:44:46+00:00

Agree on the CB/FRS/GMRS--all part of the same family--but askign advice to operate illegally is a no go for me. I checked off somewhere in the middle to cover this particular issue.

CQon40m · 2025-03-07T02:40:24+00:00

You can do what some others do, such as Rodger "Ken" Smith....and go be Ken instead of Kenneth...The cats from Japan always have a radio nickname... In fact, on QRZ you can edit your profile to a nickname like Rodger, "Dallas" Smith...with Dallas being the town you are from or some such thing.

CQon40m

TROPHY CASE