For hams who have just earned their license or have been out of the hobby for a number of years, the task of assembling a station from scratch can be overwhelming. It’s not uncommon to hear an amateur, eager to get on the air but unsure of how to make it happen, say, “Where do I even begin?”
Never fear. A great place to start is at DX Engineering, where you’ll find two essentials that can put you on the road to making QSOs: all the gear you need in one place and Elmers who can help you make the right purchasing decisions for your specific situation and desires.
One of the simplest ways to take the leap from inactivity to filling logbooks is by purchasing an affordable, hassle-free DX Engineering “Getting Started” Package, which includes a high-quality radio plus the accessories you need—
without the guesswork of figuring out if all the components will work together.
Before we get to the new HF mobile/base station combos, let’s take a quick look at the full lineup:
Getting Started Mobile Radio Packages feature an Alinco, Icom, or Yaesu 2-meter mobile transceiver; mobile antenna with one of three mounting options (luggage rack, magnet, trunk/hatch); and the right length of coaxial cable with installed connections. Choose from nine packages.
Getting Started HT Radio Packages come with a 2M or 2M/70cm handheld transceiver (also known as an HT) from Alinco, Icom, Kenwood, or Yaesu; upgraded Diamond HT antenna; radio-specific programming software and cable from RT Systems; and speaker microphone or headset. Choose from four packages.
Getting Started Base HF Radio Package includes the Icom IC-718 HF All Band Transceiver; Buckmaster OCF dipole wire antenna, 100 feet of DX Engineering RG-8X coaxial cable, DX Engineering footswitch, Heil Pro Set 6 headset, and Samlex power supply.
Here’s what’s new: DX Engineering now carries two packages for operators who want to work the HF bands from home using a mobile transceiver:
The Yaesu DXE-FT891START1 Package includes:
* Yaesu FT-891 HF/50MHz All Mode Mobile Transceiver with Handheld Speaker Mic
* LDG Z-100PLUS Automatic Antenna Tuner and Interface Cable
* Samlex SEC-1235M Desktop Switching Power Supply
* 50 Feet of RG-8X Coaxial Cable with PL-259 Connectors
* Par EndFedz® End-Fed Half Wave Antenna (EF-8010-JRKW), 80/40/20/15/10M, 1 kW power
The Icom DXE-IC7100START1 Package includes:
* Icom IC-7100 HF VHF/UHF All Mode Base/Mobile Transceiver with Handheld Speaker Mic
* LDG Z-100PLUS Automatic Antenna Tuner and Interface Cable
* Samlex SEC-1235M Desktop Switching Power Supply
* 50 Feet of RG-8X Coaxial Cable with PL-259 Connectors
* 50 Feet of 400MAX Coaxial Cable with PL-259 Connectors
* Par EndFedz® End-Fed Half Wave Antenna (EF-8010-JRKW), 80/40/20/15/10M, 1 kW power
* Diamond X30A 2M/440MHz VHF-UHF Dual-Band Base/Repeater Antenna
More Transceiver Packages from DX Engineering
Also check out the IC-7300 Basic Package, which features the IC-7300 HF Plus 50 MHz Transceiver, Buckmaster 80-6M OCF dipole antenna, 100 feet of DX Engineering RG-8X coaxial cable, DX Engineering footswitch, Heil Pro Set headset, NANUK wheeled case, and Alinco digital power supply.
The IC-705 Quest for Adventure Package lets you take full advantage of this all-mode portable rig. It comes with Icom magnetic loop antenna, handheld 3150 mAh Li-Ion battery pack, GHD lightweight iambic palm-size travel paddle, and portable transceiver backpack.
Visit DXEngineering.com for more details on all available transceiver packages.
