HF looking

Hi everyone, I have reviewed so many radio's, yeasu ft450d, icon, etc, can't seem to make a decision, looking for something bigger than the 450d for home setup, my eyes are not the best don't want anything to hard to drive, was looking at the alinco dx-sr8 but hard to find, what can you all recommend please, I have watched so many videos, my budget is probably £400 plus unless I buy the wife a big bunch of flowers etc.....

Hi Chris,

It's horrible having to scour around for a 'new' radio and glad my own decision was taken out of my hands, (I was a lucky sod gifted a radio from a very dear friend!)

You can play 'top-trumps' by looking at specs until you're blue in the face and still get no nearer to buying a radio. It's best to understand that just about every radio receives/transmits as well as each other, everything thereafter is just 'bells & whistles' or personal choices.

Not only was I lucky enough to be gifted a radio but fortunately I was also able to repair and service it, something I know not everyone is capable of so second-hand radios can be a minefield. Most honest sellers will happily demonstrate a radio for you and even send a video of it in operation to assure you that it works as expected. If they "can't be bothered" to even answer simple questions then there's plenty of other radios available out there.

You can buy good second hand radios from many resellers but just remember that you often have to pay a premium for their efforts in providing you a good quality radio with reassurance/guarantees.

The second hand market is a bit fierce at the moment with high prices demanded due to the amount of new and returning Amateurs all looking for radios. I've seen prices jump ridiculously in the past year! There are also private sellers who have jumped on the bandwagon of price hikes and some are asking as much as official reseller stores do. Unless it comes with the same guarantees as a business I can't see how they justify it.

Be wary of radios turning up at a price too good to believe....they often are and you'll at best land up with a non-working radio or at worst be ripped off and never get the radio(!)

Also be aware that if you find a good radio from a foreign seller you may well find yourself with a big fat 'import duty' and 'VAT' bill!!


Every so often take a breather from searching for the 'perfect' radio and above all be patient. So often people buy a radio, (or anything), in haste and then repent at their leisure



But above all think about what you really want out of a radio.
Does it need to be portable? Are you after 'mod-cons'? Do you want multiple 'menu' options or do you like twiddling good old fashioned knobs? Some of these even basic requirements/likes will help you whittle down your choices considerably.

Surprisingly even with recent price hikes a budget of £400+ will give you a choice of many radios.
I'd say pick one you like that you can afford and ultimately be happy with your choice. It can be a quest for the proverbial 'holy-grail' as with many things in life but if you remain 'happy' with the radio you get and get to know it well it'll be a great 'keeper'



So unfortunately no recommendations from me, (I don't care what the brand of radio is so long as it does it's job), but I hope it gives you food for thought.



Best of luck with it, I do hope you find a great radio.

Victor

(PS - My own personal choice of radio is one with good old fashioned knobs! I absolutely love my old Yaesu FT757gx and it does everything I've ever asked or wanted. I didn't get on with a friends FT897D as it has way too many menu options/settings to find....plus it just sounded awful to me! However, I do lust after his old FT101! Personal choices like that can be the difference between hating a particular radio or loving it.)

Thanks probably what I want knobs twiddling, don't need menus telling me how to make the tea etc,, a lot of people are putting them on Facebook ,and yes prices have gone up, someone I have talking to about a ft450 he wouldn't do payment through PayPal goods, services, I am not losing money, starting the foundation tomorrow, with essexham, have been on the mock papers, getting 21 out of 26 just getting through..stay safe...

Nice one Chris,

I do hope you find a radio that makes you happy and serves you well. Good call on the PayPal decision, you don't want to be ripped off mate.

Best of luck with your Foundation studies, EssexHam are awesome and helped me through my Foundation, (best thing I ever did!)
You'll do well I'm sure, even 19 questions correct is enough to pass and as they say, a pass is a pass


All the best,
Victor

Cheers, take care, and stay safe better time's coming...

Already mentioned the 570 in another thread he started Mark. The 990 is another cracker. Both in his area of spending. But he's already got another thread started about an Alinco so i think we're wasting our time.

Paul.

As above.

OK

"was looking at the alinco dx-sr8 but hard to find"

That quote from the OP Chris speaks volumes for me....

I'm sure some of us recall both the feeling of excitement and being overwhelmed with options when looking for a radio set, let alone a first HF radio. The guy has dipped his toe into the Radio Amateur world, signed up for the Essex Ham training course and has a set budget in mind for his own progress into what can be a very rewarding hobby.

For some, splashing out £400 on a radio might be undertaken nonchalantly with the thoughts that if you don't like it you can sell it on. For others it can be a huge sum of money and you would want to be utterly sure of your purchase before parting with that amount of cash. 

There's a bewildering array of radios available and a bewildering array of personal views on each of them....

....they'll be an equally bewildering array of questions.