Having an amateur license and no station is a little like having a driver's license but no car. Without a station, your FCC Amateur Radio license is just another piece of paper. You can probably arrange to use a friend's equipment or operate from a club station when your license first arrives. You'll soon want to have your own station, however.

Most hams look with pride at their operating position. When hams meet, conversation always turns to the station. Whenever hams visit each other, the shack is usually the first stop on the tour. Many amateurs who develop friendships on the air will exchange pictures of their stations, whether they're at home or in a vehicle. It's no wonder, really. The shack is where a ham operates from home, repairs equipment, makes improvements and experiments with new projects.

Not all hams have shacks, however. You can spot mobile hams by the antenna (or antennas!) on their vehicles. Depending on the type of radio you use, you can operate from home, from your vehicle, or from nearly anywhere.

As you look for radio equipment, you may find the wide assortment confusing at first. You'll wonder, "Why is this type of rig (ham term for radio equipment) better than that one?," "What features does this one offer?" or "Do I really need all those accessories?"

The first step is to decide on your goals. Do you want to operate on the VHF bands with a tiny hand-held radio (the most versatile type, often called an HT), or in your car or truck with a mobile radio? Or will most of your operating be from home? Do you prefer a radio that operates on many bands -- several VHF and UHF bands as well as the HF bands hams use to contact distant stations? Or will you be using 2-meter repeaters to talk with your friends and take part in emergency communications and public service activities?

Most new hams will be limited by their finances. If money is no object, you may want a gleaming new transceiver that covers all the popular ham bands. It will have all the features you could want, and will serve you well for several years. If money is an object, as it is for most of us, you may want to start with a less expensive new or a used rig. Many recent models are available in excellent condition on the used market.

Selecting your station equipment can be easy, if you know what you want it to do. The information in this chapter will help you select a radio that will provide you with many hours of enjoyable operating.

To help you select station equipment, the ARRL publishes a collection of Product Reviews from past issues of QST, the ARRL monthly magazine. The ARRL Radio Buyer's Sourcebooks include dozens of in-depth reviews and practical information about VHF, UHF and HF transceivers and accessories. These books explain significant equipment features and specifications in more detail than we can provide in this chapter.

Where Do I Start Looking?

There are many factors to consider. Specs (specifications) are very important, but don't choose your equipment on that basis alone. Some rigs are technical marvels but can be more complex to operate than other, not quite state-of-the-art, radios. Other gear may look great but have technical problems. The most important consideration is what works for you: Choose equipment that will be enjoyable and comfortable to operate.

There are many different places to look for equipment. Check with local hams to see what they use. Find out what they like about certain pieces of gear and what problems they have had. Learn from their experience. They are as proud of their shacks as you will be of yours. When you are deciding what you want, there is no substitute for sitting down and listening to a rig.

Another place to look is your local radio store. Check your phone book or ARRLWeb for stores in your area that sell ham gear. Most large metropolitan areas have at least one. At the store, you will be able to see and compare several different radios. In addition, many ham stores have antennas set up so you can listen to the radios you're interested in buying, even if you don't yet have a license.

The popular ham magazines carry many ads in each issue. When you look through any issue of QST, you can find ads from many manufacturers. Local dealers and large mail-order companies also advertise in QST. This book includes ads from many manufacturers and dealers. Many list features and specifications, and will give you a rough idea of what the equipment costs.

QST has an advertising acceptance policy that can help you decide on a particular model. If a piece of equipment doesn't live up to its manufacturer's claims, as tested in the ARRL Laboratory, you won't see it advertised in QST. If you see an ad in QST, you can be sure it meets its manufacturer's claims. It's a good idea to study the ads and have some equipment in mind before you visit the ham store.

You can also look at a list of reviews that have appeared in QST by logging on to ARRLWeb. Photocopies of all Product Reviews are available from ARRL Headquarters for a handling charge per item. The ARRL Members Only Web site has a section that includes all reviews that have appeared in QST since the 1960s.

VHF and UHF

Figure 1 -- The ICOM IC-821H is a full-featured VHF/UHF multimode transceiver designed for home station use. It operates on both 2 meters and 70 cm, making it ideal for use with ham satellites as well as FM repeaters.

Most hams get their first taste of Amateur Radio on the VHF and UHF bands. Many VHF/UHF transceivers operate only in the FM (frequency modulation) mode. Other gear can be used only for SSB and CW. For both FM and SSB/CW in one unit, there's a third type: the multimode transceiver (see Figure 1). Two and three-band radios are increasingly popular. Some also feature the amateur HF bands in the same small package! (see Figure 2). Technicians who pass a code exam can operate on 10 meters as well as portions of three other HF bands.

Figure 2 -- The Yaesu FT-100 all-mode transceiver can operate on 11 (count 'em!) different HF, VHF and UHF bands, including 2 meters and 70 cm. For good measure, it can also receive on the shortwave bands.

Also consider where you'll use the equipment. Some VHF/UHF equipment is designed for home station operation. Other, more compact, units are ideal for your vehicle. Portable, hand-held transceivers can be used anywhere.

Although some radios are designed for a certain application, you can use them wherever you want to. You can use a hand-held transceiver in a car (an outside antenna is helpful), for example, or a mobile rig at your home station (with the addition of a power supply).

Mobile Radios

Many hams enjoy operating from cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles and even private planes and hot air balloons. The decision here is whether you want to install a mobile radio and antenna more or less permanently or use a less permanent installation. Will a small, battery-powered HT meet your needs, or do you prefer a larger transceiver that features more power and, well, more features? Do you want a relatively simple and less expensive 2-meter FM transceiver, or a multimode, multiband radio that provides greater flexibility -- and can cost a great deal more?

FM mobile transceivers usually have a wide variety of features. Power output is typically in the 25 to 70-watt range. The rig's physical size and the power supply are the most important things to consider.

Mobile rigs are often smaller than base-station transceivers. Since they operate from a 13.8-V automobile electrical system, you'll need an external, accessory power supply to use one at home. See Figure 3.

Figure 3 -- As this gaggle of VHF/UHF FM radios demonstrates, those looking for a mobile transceiver will have no shortage of manufacturers and models to choose from.

Talking to local hams is probably the best way to answer these questions. See what works for them, and decide, based on your interests and operating privileges, what mobile equipment will work best for you. For the name of a nearby radio club, contact ARRL Headquarters or check ARRLWeb.

Figure 4 -- The Kenwood TM-V7A mobile transceiver features a detachable front panel that can be removed and carried in a pocket when you park your vehicle.

It can be a bit complicated to install a mobile transceiver. Hams who haven't done it before often enlist the help of those who have. If you want a professional installation, the same outlets that install car radios should be able to install your mobile transceiver. Figure 4 shows a 2-meter/70 cm radio that can also receive on 118-174 MHz.

FM home stations often consist of a multimode transceiver or a mobile transceiver. Multimode home-station transceivers often have built-in ac power supplies.

Multiband and Multimode Transceivers

Multiband transceivers such as the one shown in Figure 1 combine more than one VHF/UHF band in one unit. This rig has the additional ability to transmit on one band and receive on another at the same time. Amateur Radio satellites require users to transmit and receive on separate bands, which is easy if you have two radios. With transceivers like this one, you need only one. It can be used on FM and SSB voice, and also on CW. Not all multiband rigs are multimode, and some multimode rigs operate on only one band.

Hand-Held Transceivers

Figure 5 -- (Left) The Yaesu VX-5R is a triband HT--despite its small size, it operates on the 6 meter, 2 meter and 70 cm VHF bands. This model also features expanded receive, including the AM and FM broadcast bands. (Right) The Alinco DJ-V5TH is a dual-band HT that features 200 memories, paging and several scanning modes.

Hand-held VHF or UHF FM transceivers (often called HTs) are very popular -- and very versatile. Two examples can be seen in Figure 5. They use battery power and have a built-in antenna, speaker and microphone -- everything you need to operate in one self-contained package the size of a deck of cards. Most HTs can be used with an external 12-V power supply (which allows extended operating in a vehicle or at home). Aftermarket accessories, such as a speaker/mike and several types of antennas that are more efficient than the "rubber duck" add performance and convenience.

To reduce size and conserve battery power, HTs have a lower power output than mobile or home-station radios. A typical HT has from 1 to 7 watts output. Many have two or three power settings, which allow you to save battery power when you don't need to maximum power. Optional higher-power battery packs provide an increase in power and capacity for lower powered HTs. Those who wish to use their HTs in a vehicle or at home may want to invest in a VHF amplifier, which can bring the power level up to that of a mobile radio. See Figure 6.

Figure 6 -- Two models of VHF amplifiers offer increased power (and range) for those who feel they need it. The top one brings 25 W of output up to 160 W, while the bottom unit boosts a 50 W signal to a whopping 300 W. (photo courtesy Mirage Corp)

Features of VHF Radios

VHF and UHF FM transceivers have many features not always found on HF rigs. While many of these features are not essential, they are useful. All FM transceivers have a squelch control that quiets the receiver when no signal is present. Squelch lets you leave your transceiver on without having to listen to noise when the frequency is not in use.

Modern transceivers use a synthesizer to control the operating frequency, while many older ones use VFOs or crystals. Synthesized and most VFO-type transceivers can operate on any frequency in the band. Crystal-controlled radios have a front-panel control to allow you to switch between two or more repeater or simplex channels. If you add the cost of crystals (about $15 per channel) to the cost of an older crystal-controlled transceiver, the total cost may be more than that of a synthesized transceiver. For that reason, few crystal controlled transceivers are in use today.

Synthesized transceivers offer almost unlimited frequency flexibility. Going from simplex to repeater operation is as easy as pressing a button or two or flipping a switch. The transceiver comes factory programmed for the proper repeater frequency split for the band. You dial up the repeater output frequency and the transceiver automatically switches to the repeater input frequency when you transmit.

VHF transceivers have memories to store your favorite frequencies. You simply enter them in the memory and call them up as needed. Memory 1 may be for your local 146.68 MHz repeater, memory 2 for the 146.52 MHz simplex frequency, and so on.

Automatic scanning up and down the band, or among the channels stored in memory, is helpful for those who are looking for an active repeater while traveling.

There are other features to consider, sometimes standard and sometimes available as options. Tone pads for autopatch use and tone-burst or subaudible-tone generators for repeaters that require such tones for access are standard on new FM transceivers. (See Chapter 2 for more information on using tone pads and subaudible tones.) An autopatch provides a connection between the amateur station and the telephone line. A tone pad is a 12 or 16-button keypad used to generate audio tones similar to those used on TouchTone telephone systems. Many VHF/UHF radios feature wideband receive, which lets you listen to signals outside the amateur bands. These transceivers are useful for communicating during weather-related emergencies, since they include
National Weather Service frequencies.

Should You Roll Your Own? There was a time when almost all hams built their own rigs. The cost was small, and the operators took great pride in their work. Many hams still build their own equipment, either from used parts or as kits. You may want to build at least some part of your station as well. Lower power transceiver kits are available from several sources. Other hams enjoy putting together their own antennas and accessories. The satisfaction of being able to say, "I built it myself!" is a joy you will never forget.

HF Equipment

Once you pass the Morse code exam, you will be able to transmit on several amateur HF bands, typically used for long distance (or DX) communications. Until then, you can use HF gear to listen to ham stations around the world communicating on voice, on Morse code or on any number of other modes.

Before you go out and purchase a room full of equipment, you'll want to figure out how big the room is! Try to get some idea of how much space you will have for your shack. Chapter 4 has more detailed information about where to locate your station. Some hams use a corner of a bedroom or den, and some use a foldout shelf in a closet. Available space is usually an important consideration in what equipment and accessories you purchase.

You probably won't want to start with a top-of-the-line rig, one with all the "bells and whistles." For one thing, HF radios can cost several thousand dollars, even if purchased used. For another, they can be more difficult to learn to operate. Once you've become comfortable with the features of a decent-quality rig, you can always trade up to one that has all the latest features, if you wish to do so.

New or Used?

As with any purchase, you're safer buying a new piece of radio equipment than a used one. Fresh out of the box, it will have the manual or manuals, all the accessories and, perhaps best of all, the manufacturer's warranty. If something goes wrong during the warranty period, part or all the cost of any needed repairs will be covered. In addition, you'll know that the radio didn't have coffee spilled on it, and that it has not been abused in some way.

On the other hand, buying a good used transceiver is a great way to get on the air without investing a large sum of money. There is a healthy market in used gear that will ensure that you'll find a transceiver that's right for you and your pocketbook.

Before transceivers, there were separate transmitters and receivers. Still available on the used market, these "separates" required special wiring between the two pieces of gear, along with a transmit-receive (TR) switch to switch the antenna between the two units. Nearly all the rigs sold today, new or used, are transceivers, although some hams use a separate "outboard" receiver for added convenience.

Figure 7 -- These transceivers are typical of the gear available today in the new and used market. (Clockwise from upper left) The Kenwood TS-450S is a compact transceiver whose many useful features include 100 memory channels, 9-band operation, general-coverage receiver and optional built-in antenna tuner. The ICOM IC-706 MF/HF/VHF transceiver is an ideal mobile radio because it operates on all bands from 160 through 2 meters, and all this capability fits in a package no larger than some single-band VHF rigs. The RadioShack HTX-10 is a small, inexpensive 10-meter transceiver. The Yaesu FT-990, somewhat larger than the other rigs pictured here, has a long list of standard features, including full coverage of the 160 through 10-meter bands.

Examples of several types of new and used ham transceivers are shown in Figure 7.

Features

When you decide what kind of HF gear is best for you, you'll want to examine specific features. The next few sections describe some of the things to look for.

Frequency Display

Of all the controls on a rig, you use the frequency control most often. The frequency display includes the knobs, dials, gears and readout. Make certain that the mechanism works freely, the dial markings and frequency readout are understandable, and you feel comfortable operating it.

Digital frequency displays are accurate and easy to use. Many transceivers have a control that allows the user to change the tuning rate, making it easy to scan the bands slowly or quickly. The analog circular dial (Figure 8) is more common on older and home-built equipment. The dial is usually calibrated in kilohertz. A fixed pointer indicates where the dial is tuned.

Figure 8 -- The Ten-Tec Argosy, introduced in the early 1980s, features simplicity of operation and an analog circular dial.

Choose a radio with a dial mechanism you are comfortable reading and tuning. Make sure the knob operates smoothly. Avoid radios that feel sloppy and slip or skip.

Selectivity and Sensitivity

The receiver is the most critical part of the station. In this section, receiver applies to either a separate receiver or the receiver section of a transceiver.

There are two important receiver specifications you should know about: selectivity and sensitivity. Selectivity is the ability of a receiver to separate two closely spaced signals. This determines how well you can receive one signal that is very close to another. Sensitivity is the ability of a receiver to detect weak signals. Selectivity is more important than sensitivity. The ability to isolate the signal you are receiving from all the others nearby directly affects how much you will enjoy your time on the air.

We use bandwidth to measure selectivity. Bandwidth is a measure of the range of frequencies you hear with the receiver tuned to one frequency. With a 6-kHz bandwidth, for example, you can hear signals as much as 3 kHz above and below where you are tuned. If you can't hear signals more than 1200 Hz above or below where your receiver is tuned, your receiver has a bandwidth of 2400 Hz or 2.4 kHz. Narrower bandwidth means better selectivity, and makes it easier to copy one signal when another is close in frequency.

Special filters built into modern equipment determine the selectivity. Some receivers come with several filters. You can choose the filter that gives the best reception.

Look for a selectivity of 500 Hz or less for CW (Morse code) operation. Receivers designed for single-sideband (SSB) voice operation come with a standard filter selectivity of 2.4 to 2.8 kHz. Although this filter is usable on CW, a 500-Hz filter is better.

What rig should you buy? The answer to that question depends largely on available resources and personal preferences. Older issues of amateur magazines can provide a lot of information on equipment you may see on the used market. Full Story

To receive HF single-sideband (SSB), CW, RTTY, AMTOR or packet signals, your receiver must have a beat-frequency oscillator (BFO). Almost all HF transceivers do, but many VHF/UHF-only transceivers do not. On VHF and UHF, RTTY and packet signals are usually sent with FM rigs, so you won't need a BFO for those modes on those bands.

Figure 9 -- Several types of audio filters. At left is the Autek QF-1-A. The large filter at the right is a JPS Communications NIR-10. The smaller unit above it is the j-COM Magic Notch, a switched-capacitor notch filter.

An audio filter (Figure 9) is an inexpensive way to add selectivity to a receiver that has only an SSB filter. An audio filter doesn't work against interference as well as other types, but it may mean the difference between maintaining a QSO or losing one.

Another selectivity feature available on some receivers is a notch filter. This filter can be used to cut out, or notch, a specific frequency from within the received bandwidth. A notch filter is handy when you're trying to receive a signal that is very close in frequency to another signal. By adjusting the notch control, you can effectively eliminate the unwanted signal.

Other Receiver Features

You may find other features on receivers that improve their performance or make them easier to use. Most have an S meter that shows the strength of the received signal. Most of the time, the first thing the operator you are working wants to know is his or her signal strength. S meters are also useful when you are comparing the performance of different antennas.

Aside from the filters already mentioned, some receivers have noise blankers, used mainly for reducing ignition noise from cars and trucks. Some can help reduce power-line noise as well. Receiver incremental tuning (RIT) allows you to shift the receiver frequency somewhat without affecting the transmitter frequency. This helps tune in stations that have transmitters whose transmit and receive frequencies are slightly different.

Most HF transceivers feature general-coverage receivers. Unlike ham-bands-only receivers, a general-coverage receiver lets you listen to shortwave broadcast stations and utility stations transmitting digital modes and voice.

All these features can add to your operating enjoyment. They're not essential, however. Frequency coverage, tuning mechanism, frequency resolution, selectivity and sensitivity are the most important things to look for in a receiver.

The Transmitter

Almost all transceivers offer voice operation. CW-only transmitters or transceivers are available used or as kits. Technicians who have passed a CW test can use voice or data on the HF 10-meter band.

Although maximum power can vary, most transceivers produce about 100 watts output, which is less than the 200 watts that Technician licensees can use. This may sound bad, but it isn't. Most of the time, if 100 watts won't make the contact, neither will 200.

Other Transmitter Features

Microphone

To talk on SSB, you will need, naturally enough, a microphone. It connects, naturally enough, to the microphone jack on your radio.

Individual voices and microphones have different characteristics. Your rig should have a microphone gain control you can adjust for a clean signal. Most SSB transmitters have an automatic level control (ALC) meter to help you determine the correct microphone-gain setting. See your equipment manual for instructions on adjusting everything to the right levels.

You can use the mike included with the transceiver or purchase a sturdier desktop mike if you wish. Another popular accessory is a boom/headset mike, which comes in handy for home stations located in an area that is shared with other family members.

Speech Processor

Speech processing increases the average power of a single-sideband signal. Used properly, a speech processor can greatly improve the readability of a signal. Misused, however, it can severely degrade the audio quality and make the signal more difficult to understand. Almost all SSB transmitters and transceivers built since 1980 have speech processors as standard equipment.

On some rigs, there is no adjustment for the speech processor; there is just an on/off control. Other gear has one or more variable controls to set the speech processing level. Check your equipment instruction manual for information on setup and operation. When you think you've got everything adjusted properly, ask other amateurs for on-the-air checks.

Voice-Operated Transmit (VOX)

Most SSB transceivers and transmitters have a voice-operated transmit (VOX) switch. VOX switches the rig into transmit automatically when you speak into the microphone, then back to receive when you stop talking. VOX is handy because it allows you to listen during pauses and lets you keep both hands free.

There are usually three VOX controls: gain, delay and anti-VOX. VOX gain sets the sensitivity. Adjust this control so the VOX keys the transmitter when you speak in a normal voice.

VOX delay sets the interval between when you stop talking and when the transceiver switches back to receive. Most hams set this control so the rig switches after a short pause in speech.

Anti-VOX works with VOX gain to keep receiver audio from keying the VOX. If improperly set, speaker audio can key the transmitter. You could set the VOX gain so speaker audio wouldn't key the transmitter, but if you did, you'd have to shout to activate the VOX. Anti-VOX circuitry allows the VOX to ignore audio from the speaker, yet respond when you speak into the microphone.

For More Information

We've tried to give you a few guidelines in this chapter. There are lots of rigs out there, both new and used. Take your time and try to get as much information as you can. Talk to other hams and read the Product Reviews in QST. QST advertisements will tell you what's available. Keep in mind, though, that everyone has an opinion -- what someone else likes might not be what you like.