Should You Buy This For Your First Ham Radio?

Exploring the pros & cons of a shack in a box ham radio. If your looking for a new radio, is this the best way to go?
Join this channel to get access to perks:

Join me every Saturday morning at 0900 hrs mountain time for the Southern Idaho Preparedness Net. This is the net where we learn about personal preparedness for emergencies, disasters & SHTF & train to become the news, information and situational reporting sources in our communities.
Locally in the Idaho Magic Valley on the K6UDA repeater 444.500, Hansen Butte 2M 145.170 or KB7DFP 442.000. You can get on from anywhere in the world using:
Wires X: Idaho Command 40448
YSF Reflector: Idaho Command 40448

[tedhillx]

I just purchased the 991-a. I look at it like my leatherman multi tool. I take it with me everywhere. Sure a socket wrench works better than the pliers on the Leatherman but I don’t have to carry around 32 sockets, 6 screwdrivers, a saw, tweezers, bottle opener, can opener knife and wire cutters. One box and I can do whatever I’m in the mood to do and be portable as necessary. I’ll give up a little bit of performance for access to the whole world. Also as a minor prepper I have multiple ht’s. So I can monitor one band on an ht (most of my ht’s are mars modded and unlocked) while working another band on my 991-a. I know it’s not for everyone but it fits my needs exactly. I know this solution is not without compromises.

[timbookedtwo]

I agree with the statement, "Jack of all trades, master of none." Also, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." I use two radios. One is HF, the other is UHF/-VHF(FM). The HF radio is a Yaesu FT-891 (HF plus 6m), actually a mobile/portable rig with up to 100w output. It does all modes, too. Its footprint is very small. I have a Yaesu FT-6100 mobile rig for UHF and VHF. max 50w on both bands. It also has a data port so I can connect it easily(?) to a computer for doing digital modes and APRS. I am not interested in D-Star, Fusion or what have you at the moment nor SSB on VHF/UHF. But that is my personal preference. Needless to say, both radios take up little space on my desk. I can also easily take them mobile or portable. I sometimes do mobile/static HF from my motor scooter. Another consderaton is price. The FT-891 sells for around 700 bucks. I got a brand new FT-6100 for under 200 bucks. That left a decent amount of cash in my budget for buying quality coax cable and connectors and antenna wire (I build my own wire antennas) and a couple of "ham sticks" for mobile/portable work. Of course, everyone has his own particular working conditions and budget in mind, and I am the last to say that one set up is better than another one. Enjoy the hobby! Do what you can with what you have. It IS a hobby.

[SteelWolf]

I do wish that the FT-400 was not discontinued for a smaller screen 500 version. Good vid.

[nelsonlivingston]

What about the Icom 7100? All band / Mode 100 w hf & Dstar on HF at 100 watts.

[wmft]

Being a newbie the ‘shack in a box’ is perfect.

[pale_]

Another drawback of an all band all mode radio is the TX Audio settings. One has to make adjustments to SSB and FM for good audio. I have the IC-705, IC-7100 and the IC-706MKIIG. When changing modes, I always have to adjust the mic gain.

[TrenchKraft]

I look at the IC-705 as more of an all band/all mode HT or portable. I believe the new Yaesu FTX-1F will fall in that same category. Yes, they are shack in a boxes but different.

[mediocreman]

I understand the allure, especially for space and cost reasons. As cool as the idea is, you always have compromises to deal with. My minivan does way more than my sports car, and it's actually pretty quick. But it can't do the sports car things very well and even if it could, it's simply not an enjoyable experience.
But for those that just want one radio and be done with it, I totally get why it makes sense.

[jneale]

I have 2 shack in the box radios. The Yaesu 857D and the Icom 746PRO. They both work good, but if you want to monitor 2m or 440 while you are on HF you can't. I recently bought a 710 and I have a FTM400 in my shack. I alos have an old Drake TR4C.

[wjjohnsable]

I started with a 991a. If I had it to do over again I’d prob get a 10dx and a cheaper seperate vhf/uhf seperate mobile for the shack. Although my 991a was my all around Emerg radio that I could pack up and go if needed. I’ll prob put it in a gator case and replace it with something with more ability to connect to external monitor.

[bwillan]

I agree that dedicated tools are much better at their designed task than any multi tool. So I think separate HF radio and a separate VHF/UHF radio in your shack would be ideal. Also, I'd like to know why so many radios only have an operating temperature range that only goes down to freezing (0C or 32F)? A good portion of the world gets winter temperatures below that.

[goneflin]

My first radio was the 857D and it was a great radio. I sold it and bought a ic 7300 because of the easier setup on digital modes and better filtering, then bought a used 2 meter radio that I can use in the truck or home. I probably would not buy another all in one radio. Although I should have kept the 857D because the prices went up after Yaesu discontinued production.

[SteelWolf]

Old shack radio FT-897D Replaced with FTDX10 and a FT-2980R. The FT-897 is going to get mounted in my Jeep on a rack suspended between the driver and passenger just under the freedom panels.

[wheeler]

I started off with a 991a and still use it at as daily driver. 100% agree that having separate radios for each task is the way to go.

[EricSolomon-opti]

Already placed a deposit for the NEW Yaesu QRP rig when it finally gets released. BUT….. Everyone & I Mean EVERYONE talks about a Large display FT857 replacement with ALL the goodies. And IF Yaesu were to include DMR - Well Hell I would probably buy 2. Now every manufacturer NEEDS to put a Full Function External screen “OUT” so we could Add a Super Sized Touch screen for Every use situation. Again, FULL FUNCTION MOBILE 100w does Everything radio would be Incredible.
But we all know THAT WONT HAPPEN - Just cause

[freddysamson]

I agree with your analogy and even the summery that a shack in a box doesn't do it all as some would like. So with that said I've run the multi radio set-up and the all in one set up there is not any difference that affected my operation and the 991 is so much more convenient and adds SSB to the VHF and UHF at no extra cost and it works great. All the other benefits/modes are gravy! For any body just starting the All in One's are a lot more for the money and so much simpler to run. One manual and all the goodies! 73, K0LC

[w.rustylane]

My shack in the box is a Yaesu 991a. I do have a 2 meter Kenwood I use for local nets. Cheers from K9POW in eastern TN

[MaryBrownForFreedom]

2m SSB 100 watts to a medium boom(~15 foot) beam will give 100+ mile range in poor conditions, 200+ in okay conditions and if we have tropo or e-skip 1, 000+ miles! My best 2m tropo contact is 1351 miles! That was with 2 big(31' boom) beams stacked and 160 watts... and an ancient Icon IC-251a 2m all mode. Now I use IC-9700's for VHF+.

HUGE advantage of using beams and say 23cm SSB is chances of eavesdropping are low. So a good way to pass messages and not be listened in on if that need arises. Same for 2m SSB, not that many monitor it 24/7 so chance of being overheard are low. Beams concentrate your signal in one direction instead of an FM vertical spewing it every direction. We used to have a late night 2m SSB group... language and topics got a bit off color to put it nicely LOL lot of beer drinking... no band scopes back then so pretty dang private unless someone was actively tuning around! I remember the night 2 friends were using 2m SSB as their 70cm ATV talk back... I popped in and said "Nice porno movie" and they started stammering and asking how the heck I could see it at 150 miles away... high performance antenna and preamp!

2m is NOT just line of sight! My propagation indicator is a beacon 350 miles away, it has a pair of stacked omni directional loops and 10 watts! I can hear it 90% of the time! When you go SSB and use a large antenna(s) range can be hundreds of miles even on poor condition days. I have no problem working a guy 378 miles from me every day of the week, takes a snowstorm or major rainstorm to not be able to hear him.

[t.m]

I love the Icom 705. Great video. Thank you for sharing..KN6PWH..73

[johnmine]

A shack in the box is great but what do you do if not in the budget?