My Radios

HF Radios

My Yaesu FTDX10 monitoring the regional 80m net.
  • Yaesu FTDX10
    My primary HF rig at home as of November 2024. Sometimes you just can’t fight the new radio itch. A fellow ham brought his FTDX10 to a club meeting over the summer and I just couldn’t get over how great the receiver sounded. The digital noise reduction in the FTDX10 is far superior to the IC-7300 (which to be fair, is a 2015 design, this came out in 2020). I have access to 80m-6m, so expect to see me on a lot of 20m and 40m voice and FT8.
  • Yaesu FT-891
    Again, sometimes you can’t fight the new radio itch. I purchased mine used in December 2024 for a bargain on eBay. This will become my primary portable rig just due to it’s size, but I’ll still bring out one of the other rigs for Field Day and the like when I need a little more radio. Still working on the pack this will reside in.
  • Icom IC-7300
    My former main HF rig. I bought it in 2019 as a new call sign present. It’s a solid rig and I will still likely use it at Field Day or other contest applications in the field when the FT-891 is just not quite enough radio.
  • Icom IC-7200
    My former former main HF rig. I purchased it in 2014 to replace my Kenwood TS-50, which I no longer have. While the IC-7300 is better radio in very way, the IC-7200 is more simplistic and more rugged. I still love to use this in the field when I can.
  • Yaesu FT-817ND
    Scored this on eBay a few years ago with the premise I would do some portable operating. Well I haven’t done as much portable operating as I had hoped, but it is still a great radio to have in the arsenal.

VHF/UHF Radios

  • Yaesu FTM-400XDR
    So nice, I bought it twice! Okay kinda. I purchased my first one in October 2019, replacing an FTM-100DR (see below) I had in my 2018 F-150, as I wanted true dual VFO for APRS. This one made the move to my 2021 F-150, that install I did document on the F150 Gen14 forums. My second one was purchased used in October 2020 to be installed in one of the trucks I use at work, but I got an FTM-300DR instead. So the second FTM-400 is now in the shack as a base.
  • Yaesu FTM-200DR
    In October 2023 I updated the radio in the WIRES-X/YSF Bridge for CQ-NODAK to an FTM-200DR. It just sits there and runs in the background, so I really haven’t used it a ton. But conversly, it’s been on 24/7 for over a year and is a solid performer so far.
  • Yaesu FTM-100DR
     I originally purchased this in 2017 after the second System Fusion repeater signed on in the area. This rig ran shotgun in my truck for roughly two years until I upgraded to the FTM-400XDR. After being assigned to base duty, and then as a dedicated APRS beacon for a road trip in January 2020, this became the heart of my WIRES-X/YSF Bridge for CQ-NODAK until October 2023 when it was replaced with an FTM-200DR. It has since become my dedicated VHF/UHF packet/Winlink rig, though I may replace it with a HF/VHF/UHF shack-in-a-box rig down the road.
  • TYT TH-9000D
    This is a knock off of the Alinco DR-138/438, but in a 220 MHz flavor. This was purchased for a future 220 MHz Allstar node I plan to put up in the shed. As of January 2025 it’s 90% built, I just need to get an antenna mounted on the shed.
  • Icom ID-880H
    This is my former mobile VHF/UHF rig, and the star of my 2014 Ford Escape Install that I still get tons of hits on to this day. It is D-STAR capable. While a little outdated in terms of D-STAR features, it’s still a great radio that sees occasional use.
  • Yaesu FT-1900
    My former former mobile VHF rig. Actually it got used mobile maybe for 4 months. It was installed right when I got licensed in my 2007 Ford Taurus. Shortly thereafter I traded in the Taurus for the aforementioned Escape, and needed something with a removable head. This rig is now in use as a base in my office at work, where it sees no use. I may repurpose it for another project.
  • Kenwood TM-2550A
    I picked up this rig a ham fest several years ago to serve as a 2m base for my office at work. Through various upgrades elsewhere the Kenwood is retired from regular use.
  • Yaseu FTM-300DR – SOLD AUGUST 2023
    This was purchased in October 2020 for use in one of the trucks I use at work. The menu structure very much mimics the FT3DR. I know people like the smaller head on this radio, but I have to be honest, I think the FTM-400 is better. In any case, this sees pretty regular use during the week. UPDATE: This radio was sold to a friend in August 2023.

 

Handheld Radios

  • Yaesu FT5D (System Fusion)
  • Yaesu FT3D (System Fusion)
  • Yaesu FT2D (System Fusion)
  • Yaesu FT1XD (System Fusion)
  • Yaesu FT70 (System Fusion)\
  • Yaesu VX-6R
  • Icom ID-31A (D-STAR)
  • Icom IC-80AD (D-STAR)
  • AnyTone AT-D878UV PLUS II (DMR)
  • AnyTone AT-D878UV PLUS (DMR)
  • TYT MD-380 (DMR)
  • Several Baofeng UV5Rs of various flavors

Updated 7/21/2024