Once you receive your ham or GMRS license, it’s time to consider what’s the best equipment for you as a reporter and for your newsroom. There are several considerations to keep in mind when choosing the most suitable radios.
One of them is the budget. The good news is that radio equipment can be bought from as low as $19 per handy talkie. They have limitations like about 5 miles range on flat open terrain, but they are resistant and very good to start. One piece of advice from many ham radio operators is to start small and little by little to scale in price, range and functionalities. Radios can cost even up to $13.299 (These radios are for people whose goal is to do extreme worldwide contacts. Neither you nor your newsroom need even think about them.)
The other thing to consider is from where you will be operating, consider the circumstances in which you expect to relay most of the information gathered.
Handheld radios, handy talkies or HT, are intended to be carried while in use. They all fall under the category of portable radios and are ideal if you will be moving around the field or gathering information from different locations. Keep in mind that you will need repeaters assistance to get your messages further.
Another option to transmit information while you are on the field are mobile radios. They are usually intended for use in vehicles in the VHF and UHF bands (nearby and regional range), and it’s the typical radio that can be found in police cars or fire trucks. They need an external antenna mounted outside of the vehicle. They have loud volume capabilities as well as noise filtering so you can hear messages relayed the first time while you also endure the traffic noise.
Base or fixed-stations are the most capable and powerful and they are ideal to have in your newsroom. They are also bigger, heavier and their standby power requirements are higher. They work under the HF or intercontinental band, which allows you to basically contact anyone in the world with them, but you will also need an external antenna that needs to be connected via coaxial wires. They are sold separately. Keep in mind that you need to disconnect your antenna if a storm or hurricane is about to hit your area, and you will need to reconnect it once the cyclone has passed. A quick tip about these radios: When you see a smaller front panel it means it has fewer controls and often uses menus for some functions.
Range
Considering how radio waves of different frequencies (VHF, UHF, HF, etc.) propagate or travel helps answer the question of what bands your radio will need. Each frequency band supports different ranges of communication, so different equipment will be needed.
If you will use your radio to be in touch with nearby communities, a VHF-UHF radio is sufficient, but if you are a reporter working from a different state than where your newsroom is located, you will need a regional or countrywide range, an HF radio. Keep in mind that during optimal HF conditions, global contacts are possible with this kind of radio without relying on repeaters.
Memories and channels
Memory channels can store the complete radio configuration to access a favorite repeater or channel in an easier way.
Having several memories programmed on your radio means you can dedicate a specific frequency and repeaters for special events, training, or when broadcasting.
For example, in one memory you can program the frequency you have previously agreed to use with a group of people after an earthquake. Another frequency memory can be used to program the frequency to operate after a hurricane. In another, you can program the frequency to perform drills.
The more memories a radio has, the better.
The American Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio, recommends at least buying a radio with 50 memories for emergency communications like the type a newsroom would need to relay messages during the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Man-made and natural barriers
Among the many factors in the field that can influence equipment performance, you will find topography or buildings. That’s why it’s important to talk to local experts to find out what is the best equipment available considering man-made and natural barriers. For example, in Puerto Rico, where I am based, El Yunque – the only tropical rainforest that exists within all U.S. jurisdictions – is like a wall that negatively impacts radio communications. But there are other factors like how high you will be based over the terrain or if a building has thick walls. Connect with local ham radio clubs to get their input on what works best in your areas of operation. They will know from experience.
Joining a ham radio club will provide valuable assistance in every aspect of selecting radio equipment. “Elmers,” experienced ham radio operators who take a novice under their wing, are often willing to lend or demonstrate radios, allowing you to experience various operating styles before you purchase your own.
Also keep in mind that your first radio doesn’t have to be new. There are many older transceivers that have years of useful service left in them. Ham radio flea markets and hamventions are great places to start looking for.
Read more about buying your firt ham radio as operator and reporter here.
