Got a new Ham Radio

[smokin97]

Well, I was looking at getting a new radio and thought it was better to get another HAM radio rather than another CB.
So it was between the IC-92AD and the VX-7R.

I chose the VX-7R, not only because it was $300 cheaper but I dont see myself using DSTAR right now or in the next 6-8 months and if I do Im gonna get the IC-2820 for the truck.
Overall, I am happy with the radio, I was told it was a real pain in the butt to program so before I even turned it on, I let it charge and read the manual a few times to figure it out. Yea it was a pain to start, but once I programed a few freq. I was good to go and had no problems.

[dynosaur]

Smokin97,

Appreciate your comments on the ham radios. Looked them up and they are mighty pricey, but I have always believed you get what you pay for. I haven't been driving for the last year, but will be back on the road next month. I have a Ranger 6900F25/150 with a Texas 400 watt linear and a pair of monkey made antennas. It's really just a conglomeration of pricey, for CB's, components that never really performed to my satisfaction. All together they ran me about $1,400 and I spent another $700-$800 on installations, re-installations, and re- re-, scrapped hundreds of dollars worth of antennas. I enjoy CBing, although I listen far more than I holler out.

All that said, I'd like to get it right and it sounds like you have the system I would like to have. Could you give me an idea of what I'd need in equipment and how to go about getting a FCC Ham operators license? Also, does communicate well with CB's? Seems like a pretty dumb question as I hear them all the time.

Appreciate any info you can offer or websites you can direct me to.

[L.B.]

I'm looking at the Yaesu FT-8900R. It's a quad band mobile radio that's cheaper then the handheld you listed. It will no receive on as many freqs but it will talk on all the bands I want.