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Good 2 meter mobile?

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by nshore harleyguy, Oct 23, 2014.

  1. Oct 23, 2014 #1
    nshore harleyguy

    nshore harleyguy Medium Load Member

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    Feb 8, 2014
    NH
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    Good evening. My grandfather was a radioman in ww2 he was heavy into ham ready throughout his life after that. I was always amazed how he could talk to people around the world. And the wide array of antennas he had throughout his yard was amazing.

    When I was about 10 or 11 I started to show interest and began to study for my novice exam. He taught me Morse (I wasn't very good at it and forgot most of it since then) I never got around to taking the test and then I just lost interest I am asumming it was the teenage years and most likely girls LoL.

    Now fast forward over 20 years later i am driving a truck and another driver on my act has his extra class and stsrted talking about amatuer radio. This kind of sparked my interest and made me want to get back into it. I picked up Gordon west's study Manuel and will hopefully be testing in the next month or so for my technician class license.

    I would like to set up (once licensed) a 2 meter radio in my truck and wanted to get a wide range of opinions on what to purchase. I am not looking for the cheapest radio around but I don't want to break the bank on my first radio either. I would want something user friendly for a beginner. Driving a truck down the road I can't be fiddling with an electronic device so it would be nice to have something that I can program/setup ahead of time and use when I can.

    I don't doubt this could be a typical Ford vs Chevy conversation on what different people prefer. But would really like opinions from people who have set up radios in there trucks and use them on a regular basis

    Thanks
     
    nshore harleyguy, Oct 23, 2014
    nshore harleyguy, Oct 23, 2014
    #1
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  3. Oct 24, 2014 #2
    OFTOTR

    OFTOTR Medium Load Member

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    Jul 19, 2011
    Toccoa GA
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    A lot depends on where you run, and what you expect to do on 2m.
    Many of the repeaters are pretty dead, not like they were 20 years or more ago.
    All I use 2m for is aprs.
    Any of the main line 'japanese' radio brands will be ok. Icom, yaesu, kenwood, etc
     
    OFTOTR, Oct 24, 2014
    OFTOTR, Oct 24, 2014
    #2
  4. Oct 24, 2014 #3
    delta5

    delta5 Road Train Member

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    Sep 9, 2010
    Ohio
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    Yaesu FT-7900R is what I have in the truck with me. It is a very good dual-bander.
     
    delta5, Oct 24, 2014
    delta5, Oct 24, 2014
    #3
    Big_m Thanks this.
  5. Oct 24, 2014 #4
    nshore harleyguy

    nshore harleyguy Medium Load Member

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    Feb 8, 2014
    NH
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    Thanks. I strictly run the northeast. I mainly stay around nh, Me, Ma, Ct, vt,RI and western/upstate Ny. I did some searching and found that there are quite a few repeaters in the northeast. Look forward to getting out there. Will be taking my test 11-8
     
    nshore harleyguy, Oct 24, 2014
    nshore harleyguy, Oct 24, 2014
    #4
  7. Oct 25, 2014 #5
    Neverready

    Neverready Medium Load Member

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    Jul 24, 2014
    Pocomoke City, Md.
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    My newest 2m is a icom 2100h, I like it pretty well reasonably compact and the screen is easy to read. I liked my htx 242 also easy to set up. neither of these radio's are currently produced but can be found used relatively cheap. Good luck on your test. Amateur radio has it's share of bad operators also but for the most part I've met nice folks on the air.
     
    Neverready, Oct 25, 2014
    Neverready, Oct 25, 2014
    #5
  8. Oct 26, 2014 #6
    Big_m

    Big_m Heavy Load Member

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    Oct 13, 2009
    Central Maryland
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    The Yaesu FT-2900 is a nice unit to run. And I know for the last 2 years HRO had them for $120 after rebate between Thanksgiving and Christmas. With free shipping. A lot of radio (75w) for that price. I own 2 of them. But the FT-7900R would be the better radio by it being a Dual Bander. And it had 1000 programmable memories. I own 2 of the FT-7800r which was replaced by the 7900. Small enough to put anywhere. Great radios!
     
    Big_m, Oct 26, 2014
    Big_m, Oct 26, 2014
    #6
  9. Oct 26, 2014 #7
    delta5

    delta5 Road Train Member

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    Sep 9, 2010
    Ohio
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    That FT-2900 is a tank! I wish they would make a duel band version of it...
     
    delta5, Oct 26, 2014
    delta5, Oct 26, 2014
    #7
  10. Oct 26, 2014 #8
    marmonman

    marmonman Road Train Member

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    Dec 14, 2009
    central illinois
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    I would suggest you go with something like the Icom706mkllg or Yaesu 857D .
    You will have hf voice privileges on 10 meters .
    That way you can get your feet wet on HF before you upgrade.
    The 10 meter mobile antenna is shorter than your C.B. antenna so mounting one on a truck is a piece of cake .

    That way you also have VHF and UHF along with your 10 meters too .
    Then when you do upgrade you just add a screwdriver antenna and off you go talking around the world while you are sitting in traffic or stuck at a receiver or shipper .
    Mobile Hf is so much more fun than repeater hoping .

    So that's my 2 cents worth of babbling on this subject.
    It is worth what you paid for it so enjoy it LOL

    Good luck on the test and the general is a peace of cake too .
     
    marmonman, Oct 26, 2014
    marmonman, Oct 26, 2014
    #8
  11. Oct 26, 2014 #9
    nshore harleyguy

    nshore harleyguy Medium Load Member

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    Feb 8, 2014
    NH
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    I feel pretty confident about passing the tech test and it is about 2 weeks away. I might pick up the study Manuel for the general and take a whack at that while I am there.

    10 meter really interests me as well so I would really like to get the general out of the way if I can
     
    nshore harleyguy, Oct 26, 2014
    nshore harleyguy, Oct 26, 2014
    #9
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