Subj : Todays New Gear Tip
To   : All
From : Daryl Stout
Date : Tue Aug 01 2017 12:35 am

Choosing a Ham Radio - Your guide to selecting the right equipment 

Lead Author: Ward Silver, N0AX
Co-authors: Greg Widin, K0GW, and David Haycock, KI6AWR

Note: Graphics, tables, etc. are NOT posted in these messages. Download
the file CHOOSERG.PDF from the Ham Radio Files area on The Thunderbolt
BBS (wx1der.dyndns.org) -- the Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view
or print the file. A portion of this guide will be posted in the echo
"New Ham Gear: What's Right For You" on Days 1-28 of the month, and
the posts will recycle each month.

***

Hello, and welcome to this handy guide to selecting a radio.

Choosing just one from the variety of radio models is a challenge!
The good news is that most commercially manufactured Amateur Radio 
equipment performs the basics very well, so you shouldn't be overly 
concerned about a "wrong" choice of brands or models. This guide 
is intended to help you make sense of common features, and decide 
which are most important to you. We provide explanations and
definitions, along with what a particular feature might mean to you
on the air.

This publication is aimed at the new Technician licensee ready to
acquire a first radio, a licensee recently upgraded to General Class
and wanting to explore HF, or someone getting back into ham radio
after a period of inactivity. A technical background is not needed to
understand the material. 

About This Publication

After this introduction and a "Quick Start" guide, there are two main
sections; one covering gear for the VHF and UHF bands, and one for HF
band equipment. You'll encounter a number of terms and abbreviations
-- watch for italicized words, so two glossaries are provided; one for
the VHF/UHF section and one for the HF section. You'll be comfortable
with these terms by the time you've finished reading! 

We assume that you'll be buying commercial equipment and accessories
as new gear.

Used equipment is cheaper, of course, but may have faults or defects
with which you might be unfamiliar, leading to problems. Teaming up
with an experienced ham or a reputable dealer is the way to evaluate
used equipment. Unless you are experienced with electronics, kits
and homebuilt rigs are not recommended as a first radio, either. The
Web sites for manufacturers of Amateur Radio equipment are listed at
the end.

What This Publication Is Not 

This isn't a traditional "buyer's guide" with feature lists and prices
for many radios.

Manufacturer's Web sites and catalogs from radio stores have plenty of
information on the latest models and features. You won't find operating
instructions or technical specifications here - download brochures and
manuals directly from the manufacturer!

Your Best Resource 

Your best resource is a knowledgeable friend. Better yet, how about a
group of friends?

This is where a ham radio club or team can really help. Find local clubs
via the ARRL's home page: www.arrl.org; enter "Clubs" in the site's
search window. A club can help you with every aspect of choosing a radio;
from explaining a feature to filling you in on what works best in your
area. These helpful Elmers (ham radio mentors) may be willing to loan or
demonstrate a radio so you can experience different styles of operating
before making buying decisions. If the group is supporting a public
service activity, such as a walkathon, parade, or race, volunteer to
help, so you can see how the radios are actually used. 

The "Choosing a Ham Radio" Web Site 

It's not possible to give you all the details in one publication, so
a supporting Web page has been created at www.arrl.org/choosingaradio.

It is referenced on a Web page for new hams www.arrl.org/newham that
includes handy references to download and print, supplements that will
be updated, and links to a more complete glossary and other online
resources and books to help you learn even more. 



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