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Author Topic: Where to buy used ham transceivers?  (Read 1636 times)

Offline Shortwave_Listener

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Where to buy used ham transceivers?
« on: February 13, 2023, 0246 UTC »
I am currently studying for my amateur radio exam (going for basic with honours) and I may want to purchase an HF transceiver some time. Used equipment because new stuff is a bit more than I want to spend. Where are some good places to look? It seems like nearly everything on eBay is untested which sucks.
Lucas Bandura
eQSL appreciated! lucasnerite@gmail.com
Songs are identified with Shazam if needed. I usually use KiwiSDR receivers. Reception from my QTH is using an SDRPlay RSP1A for SWL with a 40 meter band Inverted V at 40 feet. Kenwood TS-570D for ham use.
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Offline RobRich

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Re: Where to buy used ham transceivers?
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2023, 1424 UTC »
A few links here:

https://www.hfunderground.com/board/index.php/topic,109729.msg343677.html#msg343677

Buy used can be okay, just do not put yourself into the position of buying a radio with common-fail, yet "unobtanium" parts.

You might also want to check the clearance, open box, and used sections at the usual amateur radio suppliers like Gigaparts, HRO, etc.

There are a few decent deals in the new market IMO, especially for the QRP segment. For example an assembled (tr)uSDX (not a half-cooked clone!) is under $150USD new. That is 5w on 80/60/40/30/20m using CW or SSB. The display lacks somewhat, and headphones are definitely recommended due to the very tiny speaker, but look at the price.

https://dl2man.de/
https://dl2man.de/where-to-buy-trusdx/

Whatever ya' end up picking, good luck on the exam.
Tampa, FL USA | US Map Grid EL88
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Offline Shortwave_Listener

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Re: Where to buy used ham transceivers?
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2023, 1640 UTC »
Thanks! I saw your post in the "Advice" thread and those are very helpful too!

These ones:
https://swap.qth.com/
https://www.eham.net/classifieds
https://forums.qrz.com/index.php

Lots of good stuff on eHam it looks like.

I know what you mean about the used stuff, ideally I can find used equipment that works.
Lucas Bandura
eQSL appreciated! lucasnerite@gmail.com
Songs are identified with Shazam if needed. I usually use KiwiSDR receivers. Reception from my QTH is using an SDRPlay RSP1A for SWL with a 40 meter band Inverted V at 40 feet. Kenwood TS-570D for ham use.
My website: https://swl7.wordpress.com/
Shortwave Radio Archive: https://www.youtube.com/@SW_Archive
https://archive.org/details/@shortwave_radio_archive

Offline Dr. Strangelove

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Re: Where to buy used ham transceivers?
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2023, 2333 UTC »
What kind of transceiver are you looking for?  Old tube stuff?  Newer stuff?  How much do you want to spend?  I would get something that has general coverage receive which a lot of the old tube stuff doesn't have.
R-390a, WJ-8718, Rohde & Schwarz EK07 and EK56, Siemens E311, 51-J4, R8, IC-7610. All reports are from my radios and antennas at my QTH.  Please QSL to morrisgarage770@msn.com   Northwest AL EM64

Offline Shortwave_Listener

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Re: Where to buy used ham transceivers?
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2023, 2358 UTC »
What kind of transceiver are you looking for?  Old tube stuff?  Newer stuff?  How much do you want to spend?  I would get something that has general coverage receive which a lot of the old tube stuff doesn't have.

Something that is solid state and has digital tuning with general coverage (so generally 1980s onwards). Nothing tube because (as you said) no general coverage receive most of the time, probably will need work, and analog tuning SSB signals sucks. Looking to spend around $500 CAD ($375 USD) or less.
Lucas Bandura
eQSL appreciated! lucasnerite@gmail.com
Songs are identified with Shazam if needed. I usually use KiwiSDR receivers. Reception from my QTH is using an SDRPlay RSP1A for SWL with a 40 meter band Inverted V at 40 feet. Kenwood TS-570D for ham use.
My website: https://swl7.wordpress.com/
Shortwave Radio Archive: https://www.youtube.com/@SW_Archive
https://archive.org/details/@shortwave_radio_archive

Offline Dr. Strangelove

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Re: Where to buy used ham transceivers?
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2023, 0115 UTC »
Two that come to mind, and I own both, are the Kenwood TS-430 and the Yaesu FT-890AT.  The 430 is probably one of the best ever made.  Great Kenwood audio, tough and easy to repair.  The 890AT is more radio as it has probably one of the best internal antenna tuners I've ever used.  If you look around and are patient you can probably fine one between 350-450.  It probably wouldn't hurt to place a wanted ad on qth classified and just say what you are looking for.  Most of us old hams have a bunch of stuff sitting around not getting used and some of them might want to rehome some of their stuff.
R-390a, WJ-8718, Rohde & Schwarz EK07 and EK56, Siemens E311, 51-J4, R8, IC-7610. All reports are from my radios and antennas at my QTH.  Please QSL to morrisgarage770@msn.com   Northwest AL EM64

Offline Dr. Strangelove

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Re: Where to buy used ham transceivers?
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2023, 0120 UTC »
There is a 430s on qrz.com right now for 300 shipped
R-390a, WJ-8718, Rohde & Schwarz EK07 and EK56, Siemens E311, 51-J4, R8, IC-7610. All reports are from my radios and antennas at my QTH.  Please QSL to morrisgarage770@msn.com   Northwest AL EM64

Offline PIGS KNUCKLES

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Re: Where to buy used ham transceivers?
« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2023, 0112 UTC »
THE BEST PLACE I FOUND              https://swap.qth.com/

Offline ThaDood

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Re: Where to buy used ham transceivers?
« Reply #8 on: February 17, 2023, 1853 UTC »
I've done pretty well with MTC Radio in Paris, TX. Look under their USED GEAR:    https://www.mtcradio.com/  It's where I bought a used Xiegu G90 for under $400.00, a.k.a. my jump-in to an SDR rig.
I was asked, yet another weird question, of how I would like to be buried, when I finally bite the big one. The answer was actually pretty easy. Face-down, like a certain historical figure in the late 1980's, (I will not mention who, but some of you will get it, and that's enough.) Why??? It would be a burial that will satisfy everyone: (1) My enemies will say that it will show me where to go. (2) On the same point, I can have my enemies kiss my butt. (3) It will temporarily give someone a place to park a bicycle. See??? A WIN / WIN for everyone.