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Why I have an Extra Class license
Some thoughts on license tests
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Currently my equipment consists of the following:
Icom 706MKIIG. I choose this as my main base transceiver because along with
HF it has 6 meters, 2 meters, and 70 cm. With 6 meters, my son will be
able to work some DX when he gets his Tech license, and with 2 meters and
70 cm, I don't need a second unit to access local nets. It's a little
more expensive than some possible two unit combinations, but I like the
small size.
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Icom 207H. This is the one in my car. It was inexpensive, and allowed me
to purchase both it and a handheld. If I'd bought the more expensive unit,
I would have had to have waited for the handheld. Being impatient, I wanted
both now.
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Icom W32A. My first handheld, bought at a great price used. It's
bigger than most now-a-days, but I really like it.
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Icom T2H Sport. Again, it's not a real small HT, but I like it for
several reasons. It can run on 8 'AA' batteries, but you can also use
rechargables. The unit doesn't come with a power supply, but if you
purchase one, the T2H will charge the batteries. It's a single band
(2m) handheld with 40 memories. And it outputs six watts.
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Yaesu FT-1500M. I bought this because I could get it at a good price. If
I'd known I was going to purchase the Icom 706 a week later, I wouldn't have
bought it. It's a nice little 2 meter mobile, and my intent was to use it
as a base unit. Now I'll probably box it up and plan on giving it to my
son when he gets his license -- he'll have something to use when he's at his
mom's house.
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Radio Shack 2 meter HT. I really dislike this little thing. It has no
direct frequency input, too little storage, and too little power. I think
it was a rebranded Alinco, but I'm not sure about it. However, I didn't
buy it for me. I bought it at my first hamfest in 30 years and bought it
for my son, as incentive to study for his license. (He knows the rules: It
stays as my house and he can't use it without my supervision until he gets
his own license.)
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MFJ Versa Tuner II. A relatively inexpensive manual antenna tuner hooked
up to my 706. I'm seriously thinking that I want an automatic tuner...
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I'm looking forward to Icom's 2720 coming out. I'll probably sell
both the Yaesu 1500 and the Icom 207h and buy the 2720. It's a
little nicer, since it's a 'true' dual bander, allowing receive on
both bands simultaniously.
I wouldn't mind putting a 706 into my truck, but I haven't figured out
how to install an antenna that will go into my garage. Currently I've
got a Comet SBB-1NMO -- it's essentially a 'rubber duckie' with an NMO
mount. Sitting not quite on top of my 4Runner, it still hits the
garage door going in and out. Anything any higher would make it nearly
impossible to go in and out of the garage.
Not that it matters, I can't afford another 706 right now.. :-)
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