HT useage?

[K3MRI]

I wonder how often we use our HTs. For me it’s one of those tools I absolutely love but realize I do not use as much as I should or would like to. Do you feel you’re using your HTs as much as you’d like to? How often do you actually use one?

[WA2WMR]

I don't use my VHF gear much at all. HT doesn't have enough to hit the repeater without attaching the base station antenna. The repeater is dead most of the time so I don't use the base station except for Tuesday night round table. Same with the mobile rig. (Since I'm in a telecommute mode, I don't use the car that much either) 

[K3MRI]

You know who still uses VHF lots and lots, people with land. When you have a big plot of land, it's a great tool to 'phone home'. I'm also hoping to revive 146.52 some day. I just had some new stickers printed up and I bought the domain 14652.org. I would love to make 146.52 MHz the Channel 19 of ham. When I drove to Hamvention, I literally went from here to 50 miles from Xenia without a single VHF contact and I was calling out on 146.52 regularly. Nada, Nothing.

[WA2WMR]

Are there any VHF rigs that can be set to listen on two separate frequencies?

[K3MRI]

Plenty. On the mobile side, my Icom 5100 works great with dual VFOs. On the HT side, my Yaesu VX-8DR is also an amazing dual VFO one. In fact, when I travel, that's what I usually do. Keep one on the calling frequency and the other on a D-star.

[WB4KFO]

On 11/11/2021 at 10:48 PM, WB4KFO said:

I like an HT as a mobile rig.  Plug it in  a "cigarette lighter" (yeah I still use that term)  a magnet mount antenna with a microphone.  Throw the antenna in the trunk and take the ht with me when I leave the car.  The down side to ht is the battery packs are unavailable after a while.

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2022 by WB4KFO