| PA0SNY |
Equipment
My HAM equipment covers a range of frequencies and applications.
My activities run from 80 meters till 70 centimeters.
No extreme 'Lows' for me (Antenna limitations), nor extreme 'Highs'.
Therefore, the equipment is just practical. In the information below,
I express my personal experience and observations on the listed items.
Click on the icon (or a link in the text) for a higher resolution picture.
| Equipment
picture (icon) |
Description |
Remarks |
 Since March 2021 |
Since March
2021 I own this ICOM IC-7300. The set replaces most of the
older equipment that I had (Kenwood TS-820S and R-820S). |
Internet
provides an enormous amount of information on this "People's
Transceiver Number One". The User Manual is useful, and
when in doubt, look out for HAMs who give explanations in publications
and Youtube tutorials. |
 |
The YAESU
FT-897D is a compact HF/50MHz/144MHz/432MHZ all mode transceiver with
coverage of Rx from 100 kHz till 470 MHz in various ranges (all mode).
Als the AIR band. I program the memories using te FTB software as developed by Bob Freeth, G4HFQ. |
After I
acquired the FT-897D in 2008, I have enjoyed many pleasant hours with
it. However, the electrocs around the filters gave unpleasant
situations, that were finally modified by a professional. Since 2024 the display is deteriorating rapidly. Readability gets worse by the day. This FT-897D has everything under one roof. I used it around 2010 for Packet Radio (PSK) with good results. |
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The YAESU
FT-8900. A sturdy and compact unit! Four band FM transceiver for 28
MHz, 50 MHz,
144 MHz (all 50 Watts) and 430 MHz (35 Watts). In addition there is
coverage of the Aviation frequencies in AM. I program the memories using te FTB software as developed by Bob Freeth, G4HFQ. |
I own the Rig
for a long time. I
bought it in the year when it was presented to the world. The
unit is now fixed in the shack on the V2000 Diamond
antenna. The only issue I encountered was the squelch of the left 'window', that failed after the rig fell from the passenger seat during a car braking action.... Finally it became clear that the squelch potentiometer had failed due to the shock: I could have it fixed mechanically by glueing parts together. Thanks my radio friend and SWL Steven. |
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This is an
extremely small sized 25W VHF/UHF transceiver known as CRT Electro UV,
but
you can also acquire it as the AnyTone AT779 UV. There is CRT
programming software available, but that is not so intuitive as CHIRP.
Unfortunately CHIRP does not incorporate this model yet (March 2025) |
I use it in
the car, as it is so easy to carry with my 2m/70cm combi antenna
with magnetic base. Indication: about 2 cigarette packs "big". |
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SDRPlay is the
hardware part of
the ideal combination with the SDRUno software. I can write a lot but on https://www.sdrplay.com/ you have all the info you need. SDRUno is a free software that is dedicated to SDR, and for the SDRPlay a must. |
When I stopped working on my 63rd birthday (2017), my colleagues gave me this SDRPlay. I discovered that memory banks can be filled with readily available xxx.s1b files. Or, you can fabricate your own! I managed to make a memory bank for Amsterdam Schiphol Airport related frequencies. |
 |
Here is the
first portophone I bought, the
Yaesu FT-60R for 2m/70 cm. It has the Airband (108-137 MHz) AM
reception. I program the memories using te FTB software as developed by Bob Freeth, G4HFQ. |
A very sturdy
unit, that I once dropped on a concrete floor. I can't even find the
dent
anymore. |
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Baofeng and
Quansheng portos have been added in due time. Programming goes with
CHIRP. There is is enough to find about them on the web... |
I operate the Quansheng UV-K6 using egzumer V0.21 firmware via its developer https://github.com/egzumer/uv-k5-firmware-custom/wiki |
 |
Latest
addition! Even smaller than the CRT UV Electro! This one even has a
well regulating fan. And with 25W on VHF and 20W on UHF, it may become
the future car transceiver. Size: width 10cm depth 12cm (including fan)
and heigth 3.8 cm |
The user
manual that comes with the set is not easy to use. With trial and error
I got the set eventually well programmed by hand, and prepared for that
an improved (in my view!) and understandable alternative user
manual. Here
you can find it. |