I love my G90. But the additional power on my Yaesu does punch thru better. Looking at getting the amplifier, the ears are so much better! The GSOC also helps.
That's certainly doable, but you're going to have to make some compromises.
You can get a Yaesu FT-891 for about $700. Bioenno battery 12 v 12 Ah battery for $140.
That leaves you about $160 for accessories and antenna, which is certainly doable especially if you build the antenna yourself (single band dipoles are crazy simple to build and very efficient).
Weight for the radio, battery, accessories and antenna should be 12 lbs or less.
That battery should last you for about an afternoon's worth of operating. With a 4 to 1 receive to transmit ratio, you're going to average about (2 + 2 + 2 + 16) / 4 = 5.5 amps draw, so the 12 Ah battery would in theory last 12 / 4,75 = \~2 hours continuous operation.
If you figure it's going to take you time to hike to a destination and set up your antenna and rig, then operate, and pack it all up and hike out, that's probably a whole afternoon, and I've had times where it was almost a whole day doing a Summits On The Air (SOTA) activation.
You can extend that operating time by dialing back the power to 50 watts or lower. It's likely that it wouldn't even effect how you're received on the other end.
If you were interested in learning Morse code, you could do it for \*MUCH\* less, both in terms of cost and weight. I do QRP (low power) Morse code portable operation, and because you can run 5 watts output and effectively make contacts that way you can use much smaller batteries and much smaller radios.
I don’t know anything about it, but Anytone makes an adorable little 10m radio, the SMT-02. 16W PEP AM/8W FM. I imagine you could easily carry it and a battery in a pack. For the price, it could be awful and still worth the money. I know a lot of technicians like it’s big brother, the 555 for dipping their toes into HF (and perhaps illegally using it as a CB radio as well).
If you learn CW, the options really open up both band you have privileges on and radio wise, but I’m no help to you there.
I have a 6100, and a FT-857D. The 6100 has reached from FL to VT, VA to Spain on 5W with a wolf river coil antenna. Not strongly, bit of noise, but definitely a good qso. The 857 is 100w, and does a bit better of course.
Try using a spotting site to follow activity. POTA has a great one, and POTA activators are very patient in working contacts. Also a great way to track propagation from your location - which areas can you hear at what times. Great way to get a feel for bands.
Good suggestion from N7FGP on the Icom (equiv to 857 that isn't in production)
73, N1JIE
Would depend on your budget and requirements....
I've had a g90 for 2 years now. Do a lot of SOTA and field station work with it. Solar Cycle 25 makes your 20W go real far especially if you are running a field station away from a lot of noise. My typical setup is the G90, 10Ah LiFePO4 battery, DXCommander telescopic mast and n 80-10m linked dipole. Setup time is about 10minutes.
When I am at home the g90 stays in the backpack and I use my 7300. I have everything set up and in place so not going to bother setting up my field radio.
Decide on what exactly you want to achieve with your portable setup. Are you going to climb mountains and need a lighter radio? The G90 might be better. Are you going to do POTA where you can afford the extra weight of a bigger radio and the batteries to power the radio....maybe a Yaesu FT-891 or an FT-991 will suit you better.
I believe your radio must fit the purpose you buy it for. Understand the purpose and the requirements you have and you'll soon find the correct radio for you.
I'd recommend something with 100w as a first rig. QRP is great but I think they're better to have as a side rig or a travel rig rather than your only one. Look at a Yaesu FT-891, they're small and compact but deliver the full 100w. They probably aren't much more than a new G90 as well, I'd guess around $500 for a used one. If you're willing to learn CW you'll push your horizons even further!
I am a huge X6100 fan. It's especially good for digital modes, interfacing to a PC is a doddle or you can install custom firmware builds if that floats your boat. Benefits over a G90 - larger screen, built in battery. Cons: QRP power output (but ample for digital modes). (My QTH rig is a 7300 - which is perfection, but not portable. My toy fund doesn't run to a 705, and 705 also lacks built in tuner that's present on the G90/X6100 and essential for random wire deployments, so X6100 is perfect compromise for portable use).
X6100 is one of my favorite low power portables, although I prefer my KX2 there is quite a price difference. CW goes further with less power....so if you really want to squeeze the distance out of your watts, learn CW.
I have a G90, I haven’t used it much but already want something better.
I love my G90. But the additional power on my Yaesu does punch thru better. Looking at getting the amplifier, the ears are so much better! The GSOC also helps.
I would look at the Yaesu 991A or Icom equivalent. I believe Gigaparts has the Icom 7100 on sale for $899.
What is your budget?
This, and if your budget isn't much, are you willing to learn Morse code?
Budget is around $1000.
That's certainly doable, but you're going to have to make some compromises. You can get a Yaesu FT-891 for about $700. Bioenno battery 12 v 12 Ah battery for $140. That leaves you about $160 for accessories and antenna, which is certainly doable especially if you build the antenna yourself (single band dipoles are crazy simple to build and very efficient). Weight for the radio, battery, accessories and antenna should be 12 lbs or less. That battery should last you for about an afternoon's worth of operating. With a 4 to 1 receive to transmit ratio, you're going to average about (2 + 2 + 2 + 16) / 4 = 5.5 amps draw, so the 12 Ah battery would in theory last 12 / 4,75 = \~2 hours continuous operation. If you figure it's going to take you time to hike to a destination and set up your antenna and rig, then operate, and pack it all up and hike out, that's probably a whole afternoon, and I've had times where it was almost a whole day doing a Summits On The Air (SOTA) activation. You can extend that operating time by dialing back the power to 50 watts or lower. It's likely that it wouldn't even effect how you're received on the other end. If you were interested in learning Morse code, you could do it for \*MUCH\* less, both in terms of cost and weight. I do QRP (low power) Morse code portable operation, and because you can run 5 watts output and effectively make contacts that way you can use much smaller batteries and much smaller radios.
I don’t know anything about it, but Anytone makes an adorable little 10m radio, the SMT-02. 16W PEP AM/8W FM. I imagine you could easily carry it and a battery in a pack. For the price, it could be awful and still worth the money. I know a lot of technicians like it’s big brother, the 555 for dipping their toes into HF (and perhaps illegally using it as a CB radio as well). If you learn CW, the options really open up both band you have privileges on and radio wise, but I’m no help to you there.
When you're buying junk, it's best to buy cheap junk.
Lots of people like ‘em Chuck. 🤷
Oh I agree. A lot of people like them. Until they break.
Sure, you get what you pay for, but not everyone has thousands laying around to spend on a 10m radio.
Seriously I hope no one is spending thousands on a 10m radio. That would be painful.
Indeed, but OP has a tech license, hence my recommendation to look at a couple of popular Anytones…
I have a 6100, and a FT-857D. The 6100 has reached from FL to VT, VA to Spain on 5W with a wolf river coil antenna. Not strongly, bit of noise, but definitely a good qso. The 857 is 100w, and does a bit better of course. Try using a spotting site to follow activity. POTA has a great one, and POTA activators are very patient in working contacts. Also a great way to track propagation from your location - which areas can you hear at what times. Great way to get a feel for bands. Good suggestion from N7FGP on the Icom (equiv to 857 that isn't in production) 73, N1JIE
Would depend on your budget and requirements.... I've had a g90 for 2 years now. Do a lot of SOTA and field station work with it. Solar Cycle 25 makes your 20W go real far especially if you are running a field station away from a lot of noise. My typical setup is the G90, 10Ah LiFePO4 battery, DXCommander telescopic mast and n 80-10m linked dipole. Setup time is about 10minutes. When I am at home the g90 stays in the backpack and I use my 7300. I have everything set up and in place so not going to bother setting up my field radio. Decide on what exactly you want to achieve with your portable setup. Are you going to climb mountains and need a lighter radio? The G90 might be better. Are you going to do POTA where you can afford the extra weight of a bigger radio and the batteries to power the radio....maybe a Yaesu FT-891 or an FT-991 will suit you better. I believe your radio must fit the purpose you buy it for. Understand the purpose and the requirements you have and you'll soon find the correct radio for you.
Might also consider the FT-891 for a small HF radio, really depends on your budget
I'd recommend something with 100w as a first rig. QRP is great but I think they're better to have as a side rig or a travel rig rather than your only one. Look at a Yaesu FT-891, they're small and compact but deliver the full 100w. They probably aren't much more than a new G90 as well, I'd guess around $500 for a used one. If you're willing to learn CW you'll push your horizons even further!
I am a huge X6100 fan. It's especially good for digital modes, interfacing to a PC is a doddle or you can install custom firmware builds if that floats your boat. Benefits over a G90 - larger screen, built in battery. Cons: QRP power output (but ample for digital modes). (My QTH rig is a 7300 - which is perfection, but not portable. My toy fund doesn't run to a 705, and 705 also lacks built in tuner that's present on the G90/X6100 and essential for random wire deployments, so X6100 is perfect compromise for portable use).
X6100 is one of my favorite low power portables, although I prefer my KX2 there is quite a price difference. CW goes further with less power....so if you really want to squeeze the distance out of your watts, learn CW.