just passed my Technician level test yesterday (just $14 and easy to pass if you use the self study guide at HAMelmer.com) and I already have a radio on its way
I read a whole bunch of reviews on eham.net and decided on the Yaesu FT-2800M from Universal Radio for <$130. Later, when I have more experience I might upgrade to dual or quad band (FT-8900R or FTM-10R?) with some more bells and whistles - this one can stay with me in the work vehicle.
This thing looks like a giant heat sink with a display - it's a simple single band 2M (144MHz - 148MHz) with a supposedly awesome receiver and 4 levels of transmit up to 65W -no cross band repeat, no packet, no APRS, it does have Weather Band with Severe Weather Alert, 221 memories (Memories can store repeater shift information, CTCSS/DCS data, power output level, scanning status (“Skip”), and Alpha-Numeric labels) and WIRES. The only negative I read about it is that the buttons feel loose
I already know the first mod I'll be doing, which is a simple solder/desolder on the board, to open up the transceiver to 137MHz - 174MHz.
Since I just got my job back (but in the Eastern Region), I'll have a whole lot of seat time running mobile and needed an antenna that can be moved quickly between vehicles without permanent mounting. So I also got a Comet M-24M dual band mag mount for < $40.
At 2M, there is less need for direct antenna grounding and a mag mount can provide capacitance ground plane to the vehicle roof - so not so bad there, although I'll probably do a hard mount on the 4runner with a bracket coming through the cowl below the windshield and a slightly taller antenna. This antenna is also only 19.5" tall so it shouldn't get knocked off by wind at highway speeds.
I also have an idea involving this waterproof military surplus case, for "field days" and equipment mounting
the mag mount antenna will fit in it diagonally and, just by sticking it on something metal (garbage can, fridge, etc), can be used as a base station antenna (or I might make something like this mag mount radial ground plane to stick on the bottom)
I also plan to use some spare coax to make an extra antenna like this ->Indestrucible 2M Antenna <- or this -> Portable 2M Antennas <- which would be easy to hoist and set up
I still need an SWR/Power meter for 2M (don't want to use a CB meter), but that'll have to wait a few weeks as the cheapest ones I found are still over $80.
So, to the more experienced HAMs out there, does this sound like a decent plan? Am I missing any key equipment?