Tuesday was my birthday, and the highlight (besides my live interview with Rand Paul on my radio show) was getting the gift I asked for — a couple of aluminum tool cases.
The ones I wanted are sold for about $25 at Lowe's. They look like aluminum briefcases, only thicker. There's a pocket-y organizer inside the lid, and then the bottom has foam you can pluck out (ala Pelican equipment cases) to fit the size of the item(s) you wish to haul around.
In my case, I wanted to use one of them to contain my handie talkies and related paraphernalia. I hesitate to call it a “Go Kit,” because it really isn't designed to be an all-inclusive sort of kit. But my goal is to keep my HTs, spare batteries and chargers all together.
It's the geek in me I supposed, but I have a plethora of HTs. Now the truth is I don't use them often at all for talking; I do make use of them for listening, and for limited use when needed when the power is out. These HTs are my backups — if the power goes out and I need to monitor the local EM frequency, I'll always have my backups handy.
In the case right now I have two VX-150 2-meter HTs, my VX-170 HT and two ADI AT-201 HTs with AA battery packs. Those two are the “when all else fails” radios. The case also contains a rapid charger that fits the VX-150 and VX-170 battery packs.
These aren't all of the HTs I own, of course. I picked up another VX-170 that's still on top of the bookcase behind me (you gotta love a bargain). I have a third VX-150 (another bargain!) that I use as my daily driver HT around the house. I use it to monitor public service frequencies a lot for newsgathering purposes. The VX-150 is the Chevrolet of Yaesu HTs … it runs forever on a charge, is easy to program and operate. The VX-170 is an upgraded version and has a larger display, but the VX-150 is cheap and dependable.
So … there's a grand total of five HTs in the case. I have extra AA batteries plus charged packs for the VX-150/170 (note that the same battery pack works on a multitude of Yaesu HTs — including Amateur and commercial models. Replacements are both plentiful and cheap on eBay. I have two new unopened on standby.
What the hell am I preparing for, you ask? It's called “Ice Storm 20xx.” Actually, I'm not prepared for it, I'm just trying to keep these toys together in one spot … or at least some of them.
I have several other HTs that probably won't make the case. My favorite is my VX-2R mini HT. I also have a Yaesu VX-1R, its predecessor. That HT needs a new battery pack, and I've just not used it enough to make it worth my time to plunk $40 down for a new ni-cad pack. The VX-2R has a very inexpensive battery pack that's easy to find. Not so with the VX-1R.
I also have a VX-3R HT, but I have never really adopted it. It just has this uneasy cheap feel to it. In fact, I'm not sure where its at, its around here somewhere.
I also have a bargain-priced VX-5R that I have owned for months, but probably haven't put to good use yet. It's a great HT, but I'm so used to the VX-150, and that's really the HT I always go back to.
It's funny, but sometimes radios have to grow on you. When I bought my first VX-150, my main HTs were a pair of Yaesu FT-11R. Now those were workhorses; solid metal cases through out, sturdy battery packs, 5 watts out. Still a helluva handie talkie. I had the VX-150 for at least 2 years before I really cared to use. When I did, I dropped using the FT-11Rs. I tried to sell them on eBay without success; I probably need to try to list them again.
One HT I have that I don't use often — but not because it isn't a super rig — is the Alinco DJ-C7. Talk about a radio with capabilities! Dual band and very expanded receive coverage. I used to own an Alinco DJ-C5 dual-band “credit-card” size HT, but sold it a few years ago. The DJ-C7 is a fine HT, but one that I don't use enough given its capabilities.
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Given the space inside one of these cases, one of these could be a handy way to haul a 2-meter or HF/VHF/UHF mobile rig around. I have radios in both cars, so I'm not sure I need to really do that. Having my FT-1802 in a case with a switching power supply and roll-up 2-meter J-pole might be a good use for the other one. That one would certainly be one of those “when all else fails” rigs.
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I was in a CW contact in the old 40 meter Novice band a week or so back, and the guy couldn't figure out what the hell my rig was when I sent it to him. I was using my old Tempo 2020 HF rig, and he just couldn't get the rig straight; might have been my sending, but he seemed befuddled, as he had only had his ticket 4 or 5 years.
He complimented the rig, saying that my CW sig had that “retro” sound … frankly, I'm not sure what that “sound” is … unless it has to do with “chirp”, lol!!
Speaking of “retro” rigs, I have a rig I've been wanting for a long time … a Heathkit SB-102 and power supply. They're still boxed up until I clear out my bench. I just sold my SGC-2000 transceiver to make room, so now its just a matter of cleaning up the table and hooking up the rig.
I'm out of here for now … 73 es CU AGN … de KY4Z … dit dit ….