I find I am in the US a couple of times a year, so I bought this in a sale for $149 + Tax.  It is supposed to be a five watt handheld transceiver for 2m and 70cm.  In reality it more like a three watt!  

While in the US, the NOAA Weather channels are invaluable, and you can even programme your location (FIPS codes) to give you weather warnings.  

Another useful feature is the built in electronic compass.  This is graduated in five degree steps, and is useful for direction finding.  

Here are the manuals:

• HTX-420 Manual
• Addendum to Manual

Pros:  Lithium Ion Battery, 4 x AA Battery Pack, Rugged Design.

Cons: Audio distorts to useless above a certain volume level!  As yet I cannot find a way to generate the 1750Hz tone needed to open UK repeaters, although of course I can just enter the proper CTCSS sub-audible frequencies instead.

Ham Radio Menu

My Shack

• Icom IC-756proII
• Yaesu FT-847
• Carolina Window 80
• 20m Dipole
• Triband Co-Linear
• 6m Halo Loop
• 4m Halo Loop
• 2m 4ele Quad
• 70cm 7ele ZLspecial

My Vehicle

• Yaesu FT-100D
• Ascom SE550
• Yaesu ATAS 120
• Triband Whip
• 4m whip

My Field Portable Kit

• Clark Mast
• HF beam (20m/15m/10m)
• Log Periodic (50-1300Mhz)

Copyright © 2002-2010, Peter Jenner. All rights reserved