# My first radio **URL:** \ **Category:** My ham shack\ **Tags:** projects\ **Created:** [August 12, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138 "2026-08-12T01:14:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KM7HEH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/km7heh/32/37995_2.png) [@KM7HEH](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/KM7HEH)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/1 "2026-08-12T01:14:47Z")
Well got my first radio. Lots of work to do so I can make sure it works in all vehicles and for now in the house. Many improvements to coma and additions. Km7hgh ![IMG_1627](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/uploads/americanradioclub/original/3X/f/d/fd6e261c005674bc5e80ab2e4f4168b855155211.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![W7YBY](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/w7yby/32/18857_2.png) [@W7YBY](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/W7YBY)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/2 "2026-08-12T02:45:43Z")
Congrats and welcome to the madness. My suggestion would be a small investment into a mag mount antenna that you can use in the vehicle and possibly at home. My first radio was also a handheld connected to a mag mount that was attached to my gun safe in my office. It made for a great ground plane and I had no problems getting out. ---
**Author:** ![N0WRL](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/n0wrl/32/38628_2.png) [@N0WRL](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/N0WRL)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/3 "2026-08-12T12:23:54Z")
Great suggestion by @W7YBY ! You’ll be amazed what you can do with an upgraded antenna with that handheld, it will increase your range by about 2x. Here is a good guide on repeaters: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtdaBT6zpLs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtdaBT6zpLs) ---
**Author:** ![KI5ZAF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/ki5zaf/32/36179_2.png) [@KI5ZAF](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/KI5ZAF)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/4 "2026-08-12T14:32:26Z")
Yes, use a mag-mount but beware, it will not attach to newer model Fords and other aluminum body vehicles. it seems obvious but you don’t always think of it when you buy a mag mount. KI5ZAF ---
**Author:** ![KM7HEH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/km7heh/32/37995_2.png) [@KM7HEH](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/KM7HEH)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/5 "2026-08-12T15:19:56Z")
I am looking into a few. I am trying to remember start small as I like to get the best. Thank you for the feedback back. ---
**Author:** ![KM7HEH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/km7heh/32/37995_2.png) [@KM7HEH](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/KM7HEH)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/6 "2026-08-12T15:21:28Z")
Well getting on on order today and a tuner. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![AC3I](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/ac3i/32/42159_2.png) [@AC3I](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/AC3I)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2026, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/7 "2026-08-12T17:24:56Z")
Welcome to it! Never underestimate the fun and usefulness of a 2m HT. It’s easy to want to “upgrade” to mobile 50w rigs or HF radios, but learning to squeeze the most out of VHF on an HT is great fun. You will be much more motivated to get your General and Extra if you feel you’ve outgrown/maxxed out VHF. And please, for the love of all things radio, call out on 146.52 every chance you get and don’t be discouraged with silence. 52 deserves to be busy again! 73 ---
**Author:** ![KM7HEH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/km7heh/32/37995_2.png) [@KM7HEH](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/KM7HEH)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/8 "2026-08-15T01:04:36Z")
I have been calling out on 146.52 radio silence in my area but I am working on it. ---
**Author:** ![AC3I](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/ac3i/32/42159_2.png) [@AC3I](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/AC3I)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 1:21am UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/9 "2026-08-15T01:21:04Z")
Don’t hesitate to draw out your CQ calls anywhere in the simplex freqs, esp on 52. For anyone scanning, it’s easy to miss a 2 second “callsign, listening” transmission. And re-call frequently. One and done may not get heard, but three or four with 30 second breaks in between might. Give anyone with a radio turned on the best chance to hear you. And even with all that, it may just be silence. But you got CQ calling practice! Keep at it. 73 ---
**Author:** ![KI5ZAF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.worldradioleague.com/ki5zaf/32/36179_2.png) [@KI5ZAF](https://community.worldradioleague.com/u/KI5ZAF)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://community.worldradioleague.com/t/my-first-radio/46138/10 "2026-08-15T16:15:21Z")
When you are out and about call cq there too! I got a contact on simplex that way a bit back