New to the site and studying for my license

[accumack]

The programing cable is coming from China it was shipped a couple of weeks ago and should be here in couple of more.

[Radio]

I had a Radio Shack 10 meter in my previous truck. It's the same radio as a "Ranger" just with the RS name on it. Nice rig! Used a center loaded RS CB antenna. Worked all over North Africa and Eastern Europe with that thing running mobile with 25 watts.

What fun that was!

[electricflyer]

Accumack, are you a full time RVer? I see your address is Livingston, TX at an Escapees RV park. I go through Livingston on my way to DD's house in Magnolia, TX. Last time we stopped at Sandy Creek COE west of Jasper (a beautiful lake). It may this fall before I get back that way since I have a 2000+ mile trip planned in late July going to Iowa for my 55th year class reunion, the trip to Magnolia is about 1700 miles round trip. If you are still around there I'll give you a call on 146.52 or a local repeater.
Marv
KT4W

[accumack]

We don't spend time at Livingston. We are currently wintering in Hemet, CA. and are heading to Bastrop Texas in late March early April then to New Mexico. Back to Hemet then back to New Mexico and heading up to South Dakota for the summer. I have a 10 meter unit coming in tomorrow and will use that when parked.
KG5LTL

[accumack]

I passed my General last Saturday in Palm Springs CA. I'm going to wait to study for my Extra as the test questions change July 1st. I'm going to try to learn CW in the mean time.

[wa8yxm]

1st Radio and antenna depends on many things.

First what band: VHF/UHF
For VHF/UHF a good NO GROUND PLANE antenna, Diamond, Comet, Single or dual band (Depending) works well. Mine is mounted on the Mirror arm, but a second one can be mounted... in other places. (long story).

These antennas do not need a metal surface.

Radios: There are some very cheap China made hand healds like the Baoefeng (Which I happen to have one of) I'm not very impressed with it.. Though many say it is hard to "program" I've not had that problem,, But it flat does not perform as well as I'd like. I think I paid 50 bucks.

Yeseau, Kenwood and Icom all have very good radios, both hand held and "mounted" single and dual band, and some of them offer advanced modes like Digital. Hand healds can sell for as much as 500 dollars or more... Generally mounted radios are lower in cost. (You can get a decent used one from HRO or some such for as low as 100 bucks if you are lucky, perhaps less at a swap meet).

HF, I Picked Kenwood (TS-2000) back when the model number was the price, along with a KAT-1 Auto tuner and a long wire (Currently 50 feet) and a few fishing poles and a flag pole to hole it up.. (I really like a longer wire)

ICOM also makes some great stuff as does Ten-Tec, Yesau, Elecraft and a host of other companies.. I actually would hesitiate to recommend any of them over the others.

OH, so why did I pick the TS-2000... Well I measured the space where I was going to mount it, and I measured the TS-2000 (And a few others) it fit, the others did not.

[wa8yxm]

Suggestion.. If you can convince your traveling partner to get a Tech license.. The little Baofeng or the other company (Starts with W as I recall) might be a good "Intercom" rig for when one of you is outside and the other is inside.