parnass@ihuxf.UUCP (09/28/83)
- 1 -
A recent "net.ham-radio" reader asked for recommendations
for 2 meter handie talkies1 (HT's) I recommend the Yaesu
FT208R. I recommend this unit not NOT because I own it,
rather I own it because I think it is one of the better
units available.
It meets several of the criteria important to my needs:
o+ CTCSS - Ease of installing a synthesized CTCSS encoder.
The FT208R has plenty of room set aside for just such
an accessory, and a wiring harness that allows the
encoder (or encoder/decoder) to plug right in.
o+ Battery replacement - The battery pack is a monolithic
unit, and is easily replaceable. Flipping a lever on
the bottom of the radio unlocks a battery compartment
cover. This type of battery is used by several radios
in the land mobile industry, hence replacement bat-
teries are available from several battery manufactur-
ers. Spectronics sells a replacement battery made by
Alexander. It has 50 mah more capacity than the origi-
nal Yaesu battery, and is a bit cheaper.
o+ Ruggedness - A heavy cast metal frame surrounds the
radio. The top is metal, not plastic. The volume and
squelch controls are of the conventional type, rather
than type found in cheapie transistor radios which per-
mit dust to enter the enclosure. The external appear-
ance shows the designers paid attention to details.
It's built "like a Swiss watch."
o+ Flexibility - For interface to the outside world, there
are jacks for earphone, charger, external power
(disconnects the internal battery)2, and external
speaker/microphone. The antenna connector is a BNC
type, rather than the 1/8" "earphone-type" jack on the
Tempo units.
o+ Memory backup - The FT208R uses a lithium ("watch-
type") battery to power the memory. By the time this
battery needs replacement, I will have sold the HT!
__________
1. handie talkie is a registered trademark of Motorola,
Inc.
2. This is important. The batteries may be charged while
powering the radio from an independent DC source.
- 2 -
Now for the negatives:
o+ The receiver does not provide sufficient audio output
for use in noisy environments. The audio output on the
Tempo S1/S5 is much more substantial.
o+ There is no memorization of transmit frequency offsets,
as in the Santec ST144up. The user must make the
proper selection via a rotary switch on the top of the
radio.
o+ With ruggedness comes weight. This is not the lightest
unit on the market.
o+ The scanning algorithm, like that found in most
Japanese radios, could be better. There is no way to
lock out channels from being scanned. The options for
scanning for a clear channel, and scanning without
stopping (even for a second!) are rather useless here.
The priority scan feature acts differently than that of
most scanning receivers3 and is not nearly as useful4.
Ten-Tec just announced their own, American made, 2 meter HT.
Shipments to stores are starting now. I saw this unit
(serial number 8) at the Mid-Con show, and it looked promis-
ing. Some salient details:
o+ Its scanning algorithm resembles that used in the more
traditional scanning receivers Americans have grown
accustomed to.
o+ The case is entirely plastic.
__________
3. The priority scan feature in the Bearcat 250, 20/20,
300, 350, 220, and the Regency K500, M100, and M400
samples the priority channel every 2 seconds. If there
is activity on the priority channel, the radio locks
onto it until the transmission is completed, then
resumes listening on the channel that was interrupted.
4. The priority feature on the FT208R samples every 10 or
15 seconds, which is too infrequent. When activity is
found on the priority channel, the radio locks onto it
... forever! The radio never resumes its normal
activity.
- 3 -
o+ The battery pack is removable in the same manner as
that of the ICOM 2AT.
o+ There is almost no room for a CTCSS encoder, so Ten-Tec
is designing one of their own.
As for future developments in this area, I think we will
see:
o+ Improvements in battery technology, leading to longer
times between recharging. Maybe we will see long life,
throw away, battery packs.
o+ Multi band HT's for 146, 220, and 450 MHz.
o+ Multi mode HT's with SSB and FM.
o+ HT's with public service band receive capabilities
built in, like the merging of an HT with a portable
scanner.
I don't advise buying a used HT unless you have a comprehen-
sive guarantee or trust the seller. Many amateur stores
won't even take in used HT's on trade. They are difficult
to service and suffer more physical abuse than base station
and mobile radios.
--
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Robert S. Parnass, AT&T Bell Laboratories, ihnp4!ihuxf!parnass (312)979-5760 michaelk@tekmdp.UUCP (Michael Kersenbrock) (09/30/83)
I bought a 2m HT recently, and it was a Kenwood TR2500. There were three
major reasons for selecting it.
1. It had most all the whiz-bang microprocessor features that I wanted
and was built nicely (bnc connector, mic./spkr extension plugs, etc).
The only feature I wanted that it didn't have was that the ten channel
memories didn't remember the split. This is not Kenwood's first HT, and
unlike their older model, the split slide switch has -600 and +600
at opposite *ends* of travel, so the selection is easy. These little
things are nice, but not necessary. Kenwood, at least on HF equipment
seems (based on what stories I've heard)to have a good reputation for
support when necessary.
2. Ergonomics. The thing you look at (LCD display) is at the top, and
the thing I talk into (microphone) is at the bottom. My head is built
in a manner that likes that arrangement.
3. The microphone is as far to the bottom as possible. This puts the
antenna (which by the lightbulb & loop test radiates mostly from the
bottom -- near the connector) as far away from my head as possible
while transmitting. HT's with the microphone near the top put the
antenna base much closer to the head, and in this "near-field" the
field intensity is dropping off at least a cubed rate, and so the relative
radiation through my head is much lower percentage wise with the
microphone at the bottom. This might not be an ultra-important factor,
but I am not inclined to be the top-microphone guinea pig to discover
long term effects. Especially radiation to the head. I think
speaker-mikes are not a bad idea.
Mike Kersenbrock WB4IOJ
Tektronix Microcomputer Development Products
Aloha, Oregon