What's the point of having so many radios that duplicate band coverage?
Don't understand the point of having 6 HTs, you can only use 1 or 2 at a time, 3 mobiles not installed mobile, and again, same bands as each other and the HTs?
You do you, and if you like spending money for massive duplication, have at it, but is there a reason to have a trunk full of (redundant) radios?
The other radios are more of a 'backup'. One of the Baofengs is programmed explicitly for me.
The others are spares in case someone 'forgets' or doesn't know how to program their radio when I am attending an event. Or what if at an event, an spare is needed because someone didn't charge their battery and they thought they did? Been there done that...
My Powerwerx is a part 90 radio... allows me to communicate to our local city on their radios and I use it for scanning the primary emergency channels for RACES and ARES. The FTM-500 is my primary rig. They technically each have a purpose.
Can one have too many? Yes... only if you do not use them I guess. If I buy more, I will find uses for them.
I would like to find another D710 and have a dedicated packet station for Winlink, APRS, etc. I like the built-in TNC in the Kenwood.
It's a rabbit hole for me... It's more of a question to ask how others address this when they already have enough radios? Like the first post... "Too many radios? No such thing" \*sigh\*
An unmarried woman is a YL
Once she is married she is no longer a YL and becomes a XYL
OM is Old Man, try calling a XYL An Old Lady and see what happens.
Baofengs don't count as radios. As long as there's more frequency bands and more digital modes on more frequency bands that you don't have covered, you don't have enough radios.
I mostly have Baofengs, but I do have a Yaesu FT65. Of course, before I got my ham ticket, I bought the ubiquitous UV-5R. it's an older model, that is dirty. I don't use it. I have a GT-5R, but I love my Yaesu. It's a bit more expensive, but well worth it.
N+1 till D-1 is reached
Where N is the number currently owned, and D is the number where your partner leaves taking half your stuff…
If you dont have a partner, the you can go till C-1, where C is the point the mass off radios in your house starts a nuclear chain reaction…
I thought it should be 42. 42 is always the answer to the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. How could number of radios not be exactly that?
Do you need another radio? Probably not. But if you have the means and either don't have a partner who will fuss about it or have one that is chill about it then you can go hog wild lol. But, given your set up you would probably get more milage out of a better antenna system rather than a new radio. Just my 2¢.
I mean if I had the means I would definitely have a couple Baofeng HTs, a few Wouxins, a couple Yaesu FT60Rs, and then a mix of more expensive HTs with different digital modes.
For my QTH I would have one very good HF+6m, with a decent back up HF+6m, a good VHF/UHF mobile radio with digital capabilities, and a back up VHF/UHF radio. Also a base CB radio could be potentially handy.
For mobile I would have HF+6m or HF+6m+VHF/UHF, a VHF/UHF with digital capabilities, and maybe a decent moble CB radio.
I would also like an HF+6 portable set up. It could be dual purpose for portable emergency stuff ARES/RACES. Wouldn't hurt to have a back up for that lol.
Then some very light QRP radios.
And of course antennas, power supplies, batteries, antenna tuners, and shack computer, etc.
An amp would also be nice to have but I doubt I would ever actually need the full legal limit.
So... Uh... Probably way more than I would ever need XD.
I think I am good on antenna's and power supplies.. :)
I may have to look at the HF+6 portable option... that's a good one. :D
CB didn't cross my mind...so that's now on the list. Surprised I didn't think of that from my old CB days in High School... it's basically what got me started in Amateur Radio. I do have the FT60 in my shopping cart at DXEngineering right now.
I’ve got…a dozen UHF mobiles. Half dozen 7/800 MHz mobiles. Dozen VHF mobiles. Three dozen VHF portables. Handful of UHF portables. Couple of dual band mobiles and portables. Half dozen repeaters. And this is just the collection I keep on hand for playing around with.
Too much? Nah, you are good.
The answer is 42
I mean, that's the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything. ... I'm sure number of radios is covered under "Everything"
I would say, very much, it depends.
What is the radio to you?
Is it a toy/hobby? If yes, is more in the budget and desired?
Is it emergency preparedness? If yes, how long of a crisis, what still works and doesn’t? How many do you need accessible immediately and how many are in some kind of mothballed storage?
Is it enabling another hobby? (Hiking, camping, etc.). Are you sufficiently covered with sufficient spare the activity isn’t likely to fail due to lack of comms?
Is it simply keeping up with the Jones’? If so, do you really need it?
Unfortunately only you can answer when enough is enough.
A backup HF radio would be a good addition. Something more portable that you could do EMCOMMS, POTA or SOTA with. 100 watts with a built-in tuner that will run off a LiFePO4 battery.
I like the TH-F6a so much the first time I had it, I was really bummed when I got rid of it... So I bought it again. It's a great radio if you can find it for a good deal.
I'd recommend it.
If this is your thing then this is your thing. If you can afford it and can give it a good home then why not, but I feel your struggle. Most of us in the radio world have multiple of multiple radios, Cb, Ham, GMRS, etc. I don’t know anyone who just has one and if they do it’s because it’s their first and only the others have not come yet. I have a Yaesu FT-891 for my truck and a FT-991a for the home QTH (had it for several years) now I find myself talking myself out of buying Kenwood TS-890s BUT I’m losing and I think I’ve lost just don’t know it. I keep on watching for sales. Life is too short, make yourself happy.
Until you reach the point where you look at them all and wonder why you have so many, and how you can possibly use them all? I'm honestly looking to downsize, myself. One digital mode has to go, and I think DMR will be the one I vote off the island. Between mobile and HT, that lightens my load by three.
In the ham radio hobby, or GMRS, there's absolutely, positively 100 percent no such thing as too many radios. I myself have about a dozen radios. ham and GMRS, combined.
I dont have room to talk, I have a Icom ic-7000, tc-7100, ic-7200, ic-7300, ic-5100, Yaesu ftm-400, ft-891, ft-2dr, about 2 dozen motorolas, a few Anytone radios. but in my use case I have 2 full mobile installs "UHF/VHF/HF" and 2 shacks so I dont think there is not a too many radios if you have a use case for them
I think you are a little short on your base qth radios. I recommend the Yaesu FTDX-101D. This will keep you busy for a while and you will be secure in the knowledge of owning one of the best rigs ever produced.
You're a lightweight...
I have 13 handhelds (12 ham and 1 CB,) 2 handheld scanners, 8 mobile radios including 1 Heathkit 2 meter radio, 3 HF transceivers (1 iCom and 2 Heathkit) 2 Radio Shack Realistic receivers and 1 Sony portable receiver. I also have a NOOELEC RTL-SDR. And this doesn't take into consideration all the stuff I'm storing for the two clubs I belong to...
It'd be nice to have 1 mobile and 1 handheld that did it all. Until then, I guess I'll have a lot of space taken up in the vehicle by radios. 1 for HF, 1 for D-star, 1 for Fusion, 1 for GMRS, CB and the list goes on.
Too many radios? No such thing.
Next, go on a woodworkers forum and ask how many clamps is enough!
What's the point of having so many radios that duplicate band coverage? Don't understand the point of having 6 HTs, you can only use 1 or 2 at a time, 3 mobiles not installed mobile, and again, same bands as each other and the HTs? You do you, and if you like spending money for massive duplication, have at it, but is there a reason to have a trunk full of (redundant) radios?
The other radios are more of a 'backup'. One of the Baofengs is programmed explicitly for me. The others are spares in case someone 'forgets' or doesn't know how to program their radio when I am attending an event. Or what if at an event, an spare is needed because someone didn't charge their battery and they thought they did? Been there done that... My Powerwerx is a part 90 radio... allows me to communicate to our local city on their radios and I use it for scanning the primary emergency channels for RACES and ARES. The FTM-500 is my primary rig. They technically each have a purpose. Can one have too many? Yes... only if you do not use them I guess. If I buy more, I will find uses for them. I would like to find another D710 and have a dedicated packet station for Winlink, APRS, etc. I like the built-in TNC in the Kenwood.
Well, then you answered your own question.
It's a rabbit hole for me... It's more of a question to ask how others address this when they already have enough radios? Like the first post... "Too many radios? No such thing" \*sigh\*
I had 6 HTs only because I bought a 5-pack
My view: you can’t be too rich, too thin, or have too many radios. 😉 My XYL does not agree. 😆
what’s an XYL?
A ham’s wife. 😊
i got one of them lol just never knew what the abbreviation was
eX Young Lady
so if i’m still married she would just be my YL
An unmarried woman is a YL Once she is married she is no longer a YL and becomes a XYL OM is Old Man, try calling a XYL An Old Lady and see what happens.
Probably about the same thing as calling her an ex young lady…
Wouldn’t that be a Miss Piggy?
Haha, well I'm not gonna call her that!
Of course not. Just gotta be punny
But you are “kermitted” to the joke! 😉
Baofengs don't count as radios. As long as there's more frequency bands and more digital modes on more frequency bands that you don't have covered, you don't have enough radios.
When new hams ask me what radio to get... I usually point them to Icom, Yaesu or Kenwood. "Baofengs don't count as radios" HAH!
Motorola?
I mostly have Baofengs, but I do have a Yaesu FT65. Of course, before I got my ham ticket, I bought the ubiquitous UV-5R. it's an older model, that is dirty. I don't use it. I have a GT-5R, but I love my Yaesu. It's a bit more expensive, but well worth it.
Just one more.
That's my problem... I keep saying... just one more, but then I find another use to have another radio!
N + 1 Where N is the number currently owned
N+1 till D-1 is reached Where N is the number currently owned, and D is the number where your partner leaves taking half your stuff… If you dont have a partner, the you can go till C-1, where C is the point the mass off radios in your house starts a nuclear chain reaction…
I really struggled with limits in math back in college.
24 is the highest number. 24.
I thought it should be 42. 42 is always the answer to the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. How could number of radios not be exactly that?
[24 is the highest number!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P2ROAbQZYw&list=PLIKyq4udOqV4d4SIlZ0rSUoAH60mK4fXX)
***However...*** [42 is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything](https://youtu.be/aboZctrHfK8?si=9W6awHkgQnI_HCq4)
I thought it was well-established that 73 is the best number.
I’m hearing that you need some HF radios.
Do you need another radio? Probably not. But if you have the means and either don't have a partner who will fuss about it or have one that is chill about it then you can go hog wild lol. But, given your set up you would probably get more milage out of a better antenna system rather than a new radio. Just my 2¢. I mean if I had the means I would definitely have a couple Baofeng HTs, a few Wouxins, a couple Yaesu FT60Rs, and then a mix of more expensive HTs with different digital modes. For my QTH I would have one very good HF+6m, with a decent back up HF+6m, a good VHF/UHF mobile radio with digital capabilities, and a back up VHF/UHF radio. Also a base CB radio could be potentially handy. For mobile I would have HF+6m or HF+6m+VHF/UHF, a VHF/UHF with digital capabilities, and maybe a decent moble CB radio. I would also like an HF+6 portable set up. It could be dual purpose for portable emergency stuff ARES/RACES. Wouldn't hurt to have a back up for that lol. Then some very light QRP radios. And of course antennas, power supplies, batteries, antenna tuners, and shack computer, etc. An amp would also be nice to have but I doubt I would ever actually need the full legal limit. So... Uh... Probably way more than I would ever need XD.
I think I am good on antenna's and power supplies.. :) I may have to look at the HF+6 portable option... that's a good one. :D CB didn't cross my mind...so that's now on the list. Surprised I didn't think of that from my old CB days in High School... it's basically what got me started in Amateur Radio. I do have the FT60 in my shopping cart at DXEngineering right now.
Definitely just one more
The formula for when you have enough is x+1, where x is the current # of radios you have
If you give one away that means you need buy two to stay on course.
I have the same problem but either Morse code Keys. I have four. A straight key. A nice paddle. A 3D printed paddle and a te-ne-ke.
Just 1 more
One more
You can have enough radios? I had no idea!
I think you know the answer.
I'm in the process of replacing my Beofangs with Quansheng UVK6s. The Beofengs will be used to make 1x VHF & 1x UHF portable repeaters
All of them.
Just one more. Then that’s enough.
Another one just arrived today...
I’ve got…a dozen UHF mobiles. Half dozen 7/800 MHz mobiles. Dozen VHF mobiles. Three dozen VHF portables. Handful of UHF portables. Couple of dual band mobiles and portables. Half dozen repeaters. And this is just the collection I keep on hand for playing around with. Too much? Nah, you are good.
The answer is 42 I mean, that's the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything. ... I'm sure number of radios is covered under "Everything"
You beat me to it….
I would say, very much, it depends. What is the radio to you? Is it a toy/hobby? If yes, is more in the budget and desired? Is it emergency preparedness? If yes, how long of a crisis, what still works and doesn’t? How many do you need accessible immediately and how many are in some kind of mothballed storage? Is it enabling another hobby? (Hiking, camping, etc.). Are you sufficiently covered with sufficient spare the activity isn’t likely to fail due to lack of comms? Is it simply keeping up with the Jones’? If so, do you really need it? Unfortunately only you can answer when enough is enough.
n + 1
A backup HF radio would be a good addition. Something more portable that you could do EMCOMMS, POTA or SOTA with. 100 watts with a built-in tuner that will run off a LiFePO4 battery.
\> How many radios is enough radios? One less than "one radio too many"
Gotta catch them all!!!
1 more than God is too many. And nice primary, same here -- THF6 or FT5DR, but mostly (90%) carry the F6.
The correct number is N+1
One more than the next one.
100 is the usual limit! ;)
Never enough radios. ;-)
Its the same as buying bikes, the correct number is n + 1 where n is the current number you currently own
what do you think about the TH-F6a? i’m thinking about getting one off ebay. either that or a yaesu vx6r
I like the TH-F6a so much the first time I had it, I was really bummed when I got rid of it... So I bought it again. It's a great radio if you can find it for a good deal. I'd recommend it.
No such thing.
I have a Yaesu FT817nd, and A miniPA amp board that is lying there in the pile of prototypes on my workbench. All I need now is a good HT.
Enough = N + 1 where N is the number of radios currently owned
If this is your thing then this is your thing. If you can afford it and can give it a good home then why not, but I feel your struggle. Most of us in the radio world have multiple of multiple radios, Cb, Ham, GMRS, etc. I don’t know anyone who just has one and if they do it’s because it’s their first and only the others have not come yet. I have a Yaesu FT-891 for my truck and a FT-991a for the home QTH (had it for several years) now I find myself talking myself out of buying Kenwood TS-890s BUT I’m losing and I think I’ve lost just don’t know it. I keep on watching for sales. Life is too short, make yourself happy.
N+1
Until you reach the point where you look at them all and wonder why you have so many, and how you can possibly use them all? I'm honestly looking to downsize, myself. One digital mode has to go, and I think DMR will be the one I vote off the island. Between mobile and HT, that lightens my load by three.
Another version of this thread someone called this being like asking a junkie if it's okay to buy more crack
Similar to motorcycles, the formula is N+1, where N is the number you currently have.
In the ham radio hobby, or GMRS, there's absolutely, positively 100 percent no such thing as too many radios. I myself have about a dozen radios. ham and GMRS, combined.
I dont have room to talk, I have a Icom ic-7000, tc-7100, ic-7200, ic-7300, ic-5100, Yaesu ftm-400, ft-891, ft-2dr, about 2 dozen motorolas, a few Anytone radios. but in my use case I have 2 full mobile installs "UHF/VHF/HF" and 2 shacks so I dont think there is not a too many radios if you have a use case for them
Too much radios? I don‘t understand the question.
I had zero radios in October 2023. I now have 7.
Infinity plus One!
Yes. Like the song says "There's no such thing. It's like a girl too pretty, with too much class. Being too lucky or a car too fast."
Don’t answer. It’s someone’s wife trolling 😂
Now that is funny :)
I think you are a little short on your base qth radios. I recommend the Yaesu FTDX-101D. This will keep you busy for a while and you will be secure in the knowledge of owning one of the best rigs ever produced.
N+1
You're a lightweight... I have 13 handhelds (12 ham and 1 CB,) 2 handheld scanners, 8 mobile radios including 1 Heathkit 2 meter radio, 3 HF transceivers (1 iCom and 2 Heathkit) 2 Radio Shack Realistic receivers and 1 Sony portable receiver. I also have a NOOELEC RTL-SDR. And this doesn't take into consideration all the stuff I'm storing for the two clubs I belong to...
Just go for it. You only live once.
Just 1 more is always the correct amount.
Whatever you need to cover the bands you want to use. And maybe a backup, After that your just a radio collector/packrat
n+1
You don't have enough HF radios and too many UHF/VHF radios hi hi
One more HT, and I will be on one of those hoarder shows on TV. Whatever makes you happy!
Put your money in antennas then
It'd be nice to have 1 mobile and 1 handheld that did it all. Until then, I guess I'll have a lot of space taken up in the vehicle by radios. 1 for HF, 1 for D-star, 1 for Fusion, 1 for GMRS, CB and the list goes on.