Replacing a receiver with a transceiver?

[Grant]

After the discussion here, I managed to get my first ham license (General class) and my first radio (a THF6A). I’ve been very happy with the radio as I have to move around a lot right now and it’s been a great help to not have to take down antennas and the like to operate. I’ve been all over multiple states and haven’t had a problem yet.

Accessorizing it a bit, I’ve concentrated on power first, with two Li-ion packs, a AA pack, and AAA adapters, all of which work fine. I also have the wall and 12-V chargers. I did wind up replacing the stock antenna with a diamond one and I’ve found that you all were right, my ability to work repeaters greatly increased (I regularly use one that’s 20 miles away). For obvious reasons I grabbed a pocket repeater directory.
For walk-around I have the lapel-mike with earbud and I’ve also added the hand-mike remote for the car. All of these have worked great and I still have spent less on my radio so far than many people spend on their antennas.

All of this stuff except the adapters and remote mike (which gets left in the car) can fit in an old game-boy case, and I’ve finally hit decision time. My bug-out radio has been a Grundig G6 Aviator for a long time. It runs on 2 AA’s. I’m considering replacing it entirely in the bag with the THF6A. It has even wider reception and it can, needs be, CALL for help or even call 911 if a compatible repeater is around. My AA solar charger will still work with it, too.

The downside, though, is that it DOES wind up being two items: the radio itself, which also can’t fold its antenna like the Grundig, and the old case with the batteries and such in it.

I would just like some takes on replacing the Grundig with the THF6A. I don't really plan on choosing (I like both), but if I have to on short notice such as a repeat of the Apex chemical fire I went though a few years back, there may be advantages or disadvantages either way and I’d like to find out about them BEFORE I have a problem.

Thanks all!

[KJ4VOV]

A unit I belonged to had the motto: "Redundancy is good, redundancy is good, redundancy is good."

I'd keep both unless there's a compelling reason to limit yourself to just one.

[Grant]

I meant more for when I'm actually backpacking and having to save weight. I certainly don't plan to dump my G6, the same as I never got rid of the non-SSB/Airband shortwave it replaced. You never know!

[KJ4VOV]

In that case, since it's an either/or choice, the HT is the way to go, hands down. It maximizes your comms capability with very little penalty.

[skunkworks207]

Keep both....... If your just hikeing the HT will be fine alone to save weight, but...... The Grundig will likely be a better performer (in the shortwave bands) and less thirsty on the batterys in a bugout situation. Use it to collect your news and info, use the HT for communication and a backup. rechargeable batteries and solar charger can be used in it (the Grundig) as well.

[TacAir]

If you take the HT, you'll want to add a better antenna for HF work. So one of these



and 20 or so feet of wire and you'll be amazed at what you can hear on the bands.
You may need a SMA to BNC adapter. I've not seen the adapter in the image in SMA

[nacho]

I always travel with one of these and a length of 24 gauge wire with alligator clips. The package is really small (slightly larger then a pack of smokes) and works well. I'm a big fan of using the right tool for the job and even though the THF6 can do a lot, at the end of the day it's primarily a two way radio. I like the concept of being able to monitor broadcast radio while being able to simultaneously talk to whomever I need to talk to.

[Grant]

If you take the HT, you'll want to add a better antenna for HF work. So one of these
and 20 or so feet of wire and you'll be amazed at what you can hear on the bands.
You may need a SMA to BNC adapter. I've not seen the adapter in the image in SMA

I've never seen an adapter like that before. What is it called? I tried BNC-to-wire in Google and that's obviously not right.

I do wish I could find an adapter that let the roll-wire antenna that came with my little Grundig radio to work with the THF6A. It's an audio-jack style plug. I haven't seen anything that goes between the two.

[TacAir]

If you take the HT, you'll want to add a better antenna for HF work. So one of these
and 20 or so feet of wire and you'll be amazed at what you can hear on the bands.
You may need a SMA to BNC adapter. I've not seen the adapter in the image in SMA

I've never seen an adapter like that before. What is it called? I tried BNC-to-wire in Google and that's obviously not right.

I do wish I could find an adapter that let the roll-wire antenna that came with my little Grundig radio to work with the THF6A. It's an audio-jack style plug. I haven't seen anything that goes between the two.

If you right click on the image, you see

http://www.caltestelectronics.com/photo ... ize=medium

which gives the source and the item name. I apologize, I thought everyone knew how to do this.

[KJ4VOV]

If you take the HT, you'll want to add a better antenna for HF work. So one of these
and 20 or so feet of wire and you'll be amazed at what you can hear on the bands.
You may need a SMA to BNC adapter. I've not seen the adapter in the image in SMA

I've never seen an adapter like that before. What is it called? I tried BNC-to-wire in Google and that's obviously not right.

I do wish I could find an adapter that let the roll-wire antenna that came with my little Grundig radio to work with the THF6A. It's an audio-jack style plug. I haven't seen anything that goes between the two.

Could always make your own. Just use a short piece of coax between a BNC and a phono jack.