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I'm looking for a good radio. I plan to study for a tech license during some of my 10 and 34 hour "vacations". I was thinking about getting one of the radios that is 10M and modified to work on CB channels so that I'd have the 10M when I get my license. My question is, when a theoretically reliable shop modifies the radio for CB does it disable the 10M functioning? Is there any reason this can't be just as good a CB and then when licensed be just as good a 10M radio?

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No and yes are the answers.

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Anyone have suggestions on a particular brand or even a particular model that performs well and accepts modification well? I was thinking of the Galaxy 99 but want to be sure I'm getting good quality. Do ICOM or Kenwood make a unit adaptable in this way? Are they any better than Galaxy? Thanks for input on this.

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So instead of beating the thin film of deceased equine dust that remains of all those many evil dealers threads could we get some input and feedback on radio choices and anything else pertinent and useful to someone wanting to get started in amateur radio?

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Here's an alternate choice. "Export" radios are rather expensive for what they do. *Most* amateurs want to continue to advance in privileges and move on up to "true" ham rigs. Everybody is different, but a good, used ham rig such as
an Icom, Yaesu, or Kenwood would be better in the long run for the simple reason that, as you gain privileges, you will already have the equipment. Since operating on the HF bands still requires the Morse endorsement. one of these "export" rigs can cost upwards of $300-$400 dollars depending on just how *much* radio you want. Of course, there are cheaper ones, but it doesn't make sense to spend $200 + on a radio, then turn around a couple years later and buy another HF rig. Rigs such as the IC-706 feature ALL bands
including the 2 and 6 meter bands, and one of the earlier ones can be had for around $400 or so. I sold an IC-735 rig a few weeks age for $350, for example, that is HF only, so you can see that there is a wide choice of radios and prices.
Actually, it is illegal to have a "dual-purpose" radio in that the Galaxy isn't approved for sale (the 'export' ones), nor are most of the other exports you see in the cases in car stops. A ham radio is not approved to be used as a CB, so the *legal* way to do it is to buy a regular CB and keep your Amateur activities separate from CB. Both activities are perfectly legit, but the rules that govern them are different. I have a little "Commander" series set I stick in my pickup for trips If I plan to do any CB-ing, and a JC Penney base at home. Keeps the doorbell from ringing
RR

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Presuming someone went the separate unit direction how is the Yaesu FT-8900R? It shows to be 10M, 6M, 2M and 70cm and seems pretty reasonably priced at $419. I believe 2M is pretty much local up to a few dozen miles via repeaters but what kind of range would you have on a mobile system on the other bands? Can you mount an effective antenna to a tractor? Thanks for the input so far and please continue.

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b-4 I can answer your question info is needed does the company you are going to work for assign you a car or are you going to be slip seating for your prob period? I ask this question because the radio you asked about is not a low cost radio to be moving to car to car and mabe drop by accident. a lower cost and mabe better aproach might be to look at a hand held. smaller size factor some will do a full 5 watts when hooked to the 12vdc cig lighter or some other 12vdc power source.you could also hook it to a external antenna same range as a full size radio when talking into a rptr. also you may hook a spkr/M into the radio or if volume is a question a amplified spkr .I have a full size radio in my car and use my handheld for most of my contacts as I can use the handheld in the car stop, receiving docks, shippers waiting rooms ect and the mobile is used for data aprs ect I use a kenwood TM-D700A with kenwood handheld TH-D7Aand a kenwood TS-480 hx for my HF contacts can you tell I like kenwood radios? Just a personal choice other radios are also just as good. buy a radio for function and use ability and always ask questions of others see what works for them and ask why.I told you about my mobile set up because it works for me but if I were limited to just one radio I would keep the hand held amd get rid of the rest. Good luck in your quest for the perfect radio and remember their is no such beast as a perfect radio what works for me or ray or some one else might not be perfect for you. please excause my typo's fat fingers ya know. Please also remember larger radio's should not be hooked to a lighter plug but to a direct dc source to work at full rated power. Just a another thing to think about in you quest for a new radio ray anything more to add?

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I almost forgot most any top end c.b. will do just fine in your car if properly tuned by a good tuner. the only problem ain't many around worth the time or money If you are going to become a ham best stay legal as the fcc will hammer you more than a regular guy with no license. Ray does this advice make you happy ? I among others are tired of reading about the 11mtr/10mtr/freeband issue . It used to be fun to tweek you into a rant but it just got old. and all hf users have a more pressing problem! that being BPL let's fight the good fight before all hf is lost to big business and to the mistake the fcc is making now. i still wonder if the electric power industries talks louder to a politician or a mad group of voters who will not vote for the current dup in office.

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I appreciate the info so far and am back to a previous question re: 10M, 6M, 2M and 70cm bands. I know 2M is very popular. How popular are the others? Is it worth getting a radio that does those bands or would it be better to get a dedicated 2M for less cost now and then later on move up to something like a 706 that covers everything? I believe I would want to stick with Icom, Kenwood or Yaesu, listed alphabetically and no other preference, because they have good reputations and are plenty big enough to do good research and put out a top end product.
I believe I will have an assigned car for as long as I am with them, only changing periodically when they upgrade their fleet. My current thoughts are that after a year I will probably get my own car which I would drive for 6 to 8 years before upgrading. I do like the idea of an HT unit until I get my own car that can be modified as I choose and won't be changed for half a dozen years or more. Thanks again to all who are sharing thoughts and ideas with me. Please keep them coming. Not only are they definitely wanted and helpful but it's a nice break from the gloom and doom of export radio talk.

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Sorry I did not address your question fully I have not been keeping up with the lic changes so here goes if I make a mistake I am sure ray will correct my errors and or omissions. If I remember correctly 10 mtrs is now a general class lic so you will not be able to talk on it until you upgrade your tech lic and take a simple 5wpm code test. with the tech lic you should enjoy the following. 6mtrs =50-54 mhz popular band fun to talk on better when skip is in limited contacts. 2mtr =144-148 mhz I think this the most popular band for making contacts on while you are on the road. many rptrs most are open squelch and available for you to use. some rptrs are closed for member use only. simplex is always a option for talking close range. 1.25cm =220-225 mhz simular to 2mtr in range. limited rptrs this band should be more popular why it is not is a mystery to me. limited contacts on this band mostly due to radio's not easy to get I believe this band will be the next one the fcc sells if we do not use it more.. 70cm=440-450 mhz almost as popular as 2 mtr most like 2mtr. you should have noticed most dual band radio's are 2mtr/440 very popular set up and you will never be board or at a loss for contacts with a dual band radio .imho to help you understand the popular bands I would pick up a rptr directory that lists most rptr nationwide and find what is popular on the route or part of the country you will be in. I hope this helps you Ray anything more to add I hope I got it right with all the changes as of late I might have made a error. I think 1.25 mtr band has a 219-220 band range also again I just am not sure. but most Important Just enjoy the hobby. 33cm=902-928MHZ I think this is a shared use band not popular with mobiles or hand helds. 23cm=1240-1300 mhz or 1.240GHZ-1.300GHZ not a popular band for mobile use as of now. 13cm=2300-2310 mhz or 2.300GHZ-2.310 GHZ not popular mostly point to point use a fun hobbie to get into.

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Well, Not much to add here; you pretty well covered it LBD will certainly find
he will have plenty of company. The only other item that is attractive is EchoLink-don't remember if I mentioned it before. This is a method of linking
repeaters on 146 MHZ and 440 MHZ via computer nodes, or stations. It provides the ability to talk overseas on your 440 or dual-band rig like you are on the phone. With the software and a M, base stations can use their computers to talk without a radio itself to access the system. On the road, you can make friends with folks all over the place and have "company" all the time.
73
RR

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This is a very nice rig, one that I have, I also have theYaesu FT-7800r, which I use in my KW.. 7800r is a real nice dual-bander, your Tech lic allows you to use anything on the radio.. The 8900r, you will be able to use 3 of the bands right away, and the 10m band once you obtain your General Class lic.
Now the 8900r is a very sweet radio, but RR brings up another nice choice, the Icom 706 series, it will cost you over $700., but is worth it.. Only spend that if you truely are going to upgrade to a General CLass lic.. Otherwise you are not going to be able to use a lot of it legally.
Diamond Antenna has a great Dual Band Antenna, the SG7900. I have it mounted on my Headache rack, Antenna goes for 100-bucks.. Diamond also has a antenna that you can use for the 8900r, it is the one I use in my P/U, , it is the HV7A. It runs for about 100-bucks, plus you will also need a duplexer, that will run you an additional $75.00
You may also want to get yourself a well-made external speaker for what ever radio that you get, so add on for that..
One thing you want to do, is to ensure you have a excellent ground to the Antenna, and run your wires for what ever Radio you get, direct from the battery. It will help a lot on cutting any noise from the engine or charging system.
If you are a company driver, I would probably just use a simple Kenwood TM-271A. For the 165-bucks it costs, if someone rips it off from your car, you will not be as upset as you would be if you had a $500. rig in there. The 271a is a nice little 2-meter radio, and on the road you will find plenty of action and people all over to talk to. I barely go up to 440 when I am on the road, I find that the 2-m repeaters in the morning and evening are quite busy in most areas of the US. You can also get out on simplex pretty far depending on your terrain, like up to 40-miles plus sometimes.
Using repeaters I talk to friends in PA, NJ, WV, NY, CT & Ma pretty often. Get a Repeater book, like from ARRL.org or HRO.com...
If you have any questions about the test , studying, your car set-up or otherwise with all this, send me a message and I will get back to you and send you pictures on what I did . Or post on the eHam.net in the "Elmers" area. They are pretty helpful in there at times.
Chug