HAM advice

[Defender]

I’m looking for a mobile that covers all the ham bands and can also be used as a base station.  I’m studying for my license but trying to acquire some gear so I’m ready when I get it.  I have some GMRS Baofeng GM-15s, a UV82, a BTECH BF-F8HP Pro and a Yaesu VX-5R.  I’d like to start with something that will work in my house for now with a view of either moving it to my truck later if I need to or buying something later for my truck, but I’m thinking I want as many bands as possible.  Also interested handheld recommendations as well.  Can anyone give me some advice, please?

[Photoguy67]

Finding the radio isn't the biggest challenge here, it's going to be antennas. HF antenna are huge, but you can get some but most will only cover one or two bands. Not trying to "challenge" you, but why do you want all bands? Most hams only use 2 meter and 70cm mobile. To answer your question though, icom 706, yeasu ft-891 both come to mind with several others as possibilities. 

 

[Jackalope]

The Icom IC-7100 covers all the HF bands, 2 meter band, and 440 band.  It has multiple antenna ports.  It is still in production.  I’ve used one mobile, and it works well.

[Defender]

12 hours ago, Photoguy67 said:

Finding the radio isn't the biggest challenge here, it's going to be antennas. HF antenna are huge, but you can get some but most will only cover one or two bands. Not trying to "challenge" you, but why do you want all bands? Most hams only use 2 meter and 70cm mobile. To answer your question though, icom 706, yeasu ft-891 both come to mind with several others as possibilities. 

 

Well, not sure.  Just wanted to cover all the bases, not knowing which ones I’d need. So;robably I should just look at those two, then?

[TGO David]

2-meter is still king for local mobile communications and the antennas aren't ridiculously large.  Once you start getting into longer distance comms, the antennas get a lot larger which then becomes challenging and (in my opinion) aesthetically unpleasing on mobile platforms. 

If you've seen cars with enormous "screwdriver antennas" on them, you've seen someone running an HF rig.  And that link is honestly one of the cleaner, nicest looking setups I've seen on a vehicle.  Most of the time they are far more conspicuous, like this one.

2-meter radios compatible with digital network gateways give you the opportunity to talk with people in other parts of the country and/or world, but you won't be able to count on those gateways being available in an end of the world as we know it scenario.

For me, I prefer a 2-meter mobile with digital capabilities and then an HF setup at home as a base station.

 

[TripleGGG]

My advice is to go slow.  Right now you don't know what you don't know.  Ham radio has so many directions you can go it will take you some time to figure out which area you like the most.  My problem is I like almost all of them.  Watch tons of YouTube videos.  Join a local club that is active where you can get hands on with radios.  You may be surprised what resonates with you.  Also, please be cautious of anyone who bogs you down with minute details and says you need this, that, and everything in between before you can go radio.  That is not the case.  Below are four of my favorite YouTube channels.  They tell it like it is but more importantly they tell you to go get on the air. There are plenty of others but these four guys will get you on the air.  They have real life reviews of portable and HF radios.  KM4ACK is local in Murfreesboro area.  You really start learning once you start getting on the air and trying.  

https://www.youtube.com/@COASTALWAVESWIRES

https://www.youtube.com/@KB9VBRAntennas

http://www.youtube.com/@KB9VBRAntennas

https://www.youtube.com/@KM4ACK

For local communications, as stated, 2m is what you will want.  There are so many great, quality handhelds on the market today it really is amazing.  In the world of 2m there are many directions.

The same thing applies to HF.  You can purchase a Xiegu G90 with built in tuner for about $400, add a hamstick or 17ft collapsible antenna ($25-$70) and you can work the world.  The G90 will tune just about anything you can hook it up to for an antenna.  LOL.  You can use it for a "shack radio" or take it portable.  Don't let anyone tell you 20watts isn't enough.  I have literally worked most states and probably 40 countries with this exact setup from my truck and had a blast.  With other setups I have now talked to about 150 countries.

I have everything from $20 Baofeng handheld radios and up.  My main shack radio now is a Yaesu FTDX-101MP but many times I will hook the Xiegu G90 or the Yaesu FT-891 portables up on a 12v battery at my desk and chat around the world.

You can go to my QRZ page here and see a list of most of my radios and antennas.

Shoot me a PM if you like and I can share more with you via text, email or phone.

My last piece of advice, since you are studying for your technician license, once you get it, immediately jump on getting your General license.  It opens up a whole new world of bands and is much easier to get it right after your technician as a lot of the questions are the same.

Edited 13 hours ago by TripleGGG