A new addition to the shack

I seem to suffer with the same addiction that so many other hams have. One hand held is just not enough.

It was my birthday the other day and seeing as I’m officially really old according to my kids I thought I could treat myself to a 2m hand held that I could happily take with me when I’m out on my mountain bike (Its full suspension, which goes with my old age, apparently!). I’ve never been too keen on taking the excellent Yaesu VX8-G that is my primary summit radio. I don’t regularly come off but I wouldn’t want to come off with that in a back pack. So like many others a Baofeng UV5 was ordered through eBay. After a 3 week wait it landed on my doorstep, out of the XYL’s view and was quickly moved into the garage retreat.

The specs are well known and whilst you shouldn’t expect too much for 30 quid I was quiet surprised when I sneaked it into the car when we had a trip to Mirehouse at the weekend. Even with the short and doubtful antenna I got a good signal report from M0YDH on Robinson from Keswick.

Now then what about one for 4m?

Alex Hill, G7KSE, is a regular contributor to AmateurRadio.com and writes from Cumbria, UK. Contact him at [email protected].

3 Responses to “A new addition to the shack”

  • Paul W3FIS:

    My favorite “grab and go” HT is a Baofeng UV-3R with its stock “ducky” or a “stubby” antenna. Takes up very little space in my kit.

    73 /paul W3FIS

  • I was really happy with how good the ‘stock’ set up was. Far better than the VX-3 I had previously as a small hand held.

  • Eddy:

    Just run the audio out of radio through a coplue resistors to pad a bit then to the mic in on the comp. I use a external audio to USB adapter. Then crankup cocoaModem.

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