Buying Your First Ham/Amateur Radio!!

[@gblan]

Just got my first radio. I decided to go with the K.I.S.S. philosophy...Icom IC-V86. Built like a tank, 2 meter only, outstanding power and audio, $125. This is the radio for a beginner.

[@cpreovol]

I love my Anytone radios (578 and 878), but I will say it took me quite a while of messing with the software to get it how I want it. Like hours of playing with the software to get all the channels and zones and scan lists, etc. setup. It wasn’t until I figured out you can import spreadsheets of the frequencies that I really turned the corner. Not much DMR up where I live but we are getting a DMR repeater in Vallejo this week, actually. Right now I use them 100% for analog, but love the ability to organize zones for different counties and even setup for annual public service events and CERT. Plus when I got my 578, it was extremely easy to copy the channels over from the HT.

[@JohnnyFive626]

This is the best starter video I have found thus far!!

[@joshbloom9646]

Thank you for your feedback!

[@roberts3942]

I just passed the Technician's exam and found this very helpful. Keep up the good work.

[@poopenshnapples7160]

CHIRP works fantastically on my UV-5R and I would assume it would be more than adequate for most HT (Handheld) radios

[@H67530n]

The background music was worse that static noise. Awful. BUT, good material well presented

[@johndoggett9297]

Very helpful, the background music was a liter distracting, buy a very beneficial presentation. W9YCD. SEMPER Do.

[@joshbloom9646]

I appreciate the feedback regarding the music. I was trying to make it more entertaining, but you're right about the music. I promise to limit it in the future.

[@gblan]

I woulda pitched this video and started over.

[@teon39]

Loose the damn background music and speak louder.

[@stephenwilliams5201]

Chirp. Can be used to turn on/off the vhf/UHF. Xmiter s. Then to set a baofeng to scan, listen fm, and monitor.. and also locks out any changes to programing. (Fixed) tks

[@bradleyrieger1517]

Radio first or license first? Does it matter?

[@joshbloom9646]

It doesn't matter. Normally I would suggest getting your license first so you can use the radio, but I bought a radio first and just listened until I had my license for transmit.

[@bradleyrieger1517]

Thank you.

[@davidhartinger636]

I recently obtained my technician license. Been playing in the GMRS world under the recent improvements in the FCC rules, and can share radios hiking and kayaking. Looking to get more involved in HAM and use Baofeng uv-82hp. The Anytone advice is well taken. Confused by APERS and DMR, but will learn. No elmer near

[@jlr3636]

Cut the music, it’s too loud and doesn’t go with your presentation

[@jsgll...godgunsliberty2025]

What would anybody want just an FM radio

[@assocpress]

Anytone AT-D878UV or the AT-D878UV-BT Bluetooth version? Which?

[@elijahbaumgarner3047]

Hey there great video. I'm currently scheduled to take my technician class next Month, I'm very confident I'll pass, been doing a lot of test prep. and I'm doing some research on what radio I should be getting after passing. I'm looking for something handheld, in the $400 or less price range and something that will be ideal for red cross / cert and emergency operations. I would like the abilities to listen to emergency services to stay up to date and be dual band and have any other functional features someone may suggest that I don't know about. If you could suggest a radio that would fit that bill or if there is a common radio used among red crossers/ cert please let me know Thank you and have a wonderful day!

[@joshbloom9646]

I was a red cross volunteer and everyone used different radios. There are so many different types of radios that will do the basic stuff. If you are new to Ham Radio get a radio that others are using so they can help. Just ask what the use. If you need a recommendation for a basic FM only radio the Yeasu FT-60 is a tried and true radio. Not a lot of bells and whistles but a very solid radio. If you are looking for more modern, the there's the Yaesu FT-3DR. The 3DR does a lot more, but is more complicated and more expensive. For digital modes it only does Yaesu Fusion. If you want a DMR radio see my other video on the Anytone 878. I'm not sure what frequencies the emergency responders are on in your area so you'll have to confirm the radio you buy will cover those frequencies. The FT-3DR covers a lot. But if they are using a digital mode, especially encryption, you may still not be able to hear them.

[@elijahbaumgarner3047]

@@joshbloom9646 thank you so much for the information

[@briandavis4442]

I understand ham radios are ineffective in Kalifornia, that they are taking the repeaters out of service, is this true?

[@joshbloom9646]

From my house near San Francisco I can hit at least 100 repeaters on 6M, 10M, VHF, 220, UHF, 900, and 1.2 ghz. So, I would not say that California is taking out repeaters. There was some rumor about forrest service sites, but seems like fake news. There was an issue near sacramento where UHF repeaters were not allowed due to interference with military radar, but did not affect the other bands. I would hazard to guess that California has more repeaters than any other state... just a guess. Regardless we have more than enough repeaters.

[@johndoggett9297]

Darn incorrect, should be renamed autocdefect. W9YCD, Semper Fidelis.

[@Martian74]

I hope you don’t talk on the radio with music playing all the time, it is very distracting. I couldn’t make it through the whole video because of it.

[@DARDA360]

Background sounds suck