← Upgrade to General · General hub
HF starterYour first HF shack (General class)
General unlocks regional HF voice and data. This page picks radio class, antenna style, and tools — not a contest station, an emcomm-capable shack.
| Radio | Best for | Budget | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiegu G90 | Portable HF, go-box, field NVIS | ~$550 | G90 guide |
| Icom IC-7300 | Dedicated HF shack, Winlink, NVIS nets | ~$1,100 | IC-7300 guide |
| Yaesu FT-991A | One-box HF+VHF+UHF home station | ~$900 | FT-991A guide |
Antenna first — radio second
- Regional emcomm (Appalachian terrain): NVIS wire on 40m/80m — NVIS advisor · NVIS playbook article
- Statewide+ when bands open: dipole or vertical — antenna calculator
- Still need local FM nets: add VHF/UHF base vertical or keep mobile layer
HF emcomm bundlePropagation, Winlink, 60m
Winlink workflowFirst successful session
Winlink troubleshootingWhen sessions fail
East TN HF netsPhone net, emcomm HF
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HF base station starters
Shack or field-base HF for regional emcomm — size power and antenna first.
Icom IC-7300
Entry HF base SDR — NVIS nets and Winlink.
~$1100 · Amazon →
Xiegu G90
Portable HF with internal tuner — field base and go-box.
~$550 · Amazon →
Yaesu FT-991A
HF/VHF/UHF base — one-box shack for General class.
~$900 · Amazon →
Astron RS-35M supply
35A linear bench supply for HF base duty cycle.
~$180 · Amazon →
Super Antenna MP1
Portable HF/VHF whip system for POTA and emcomm.
~$150 · Amazon →
LMR-400 coax 25 ft
Lower-loss feedline for mobile and base — PL-259.
~$45 · Amazon →
After upgrade: General operator hub · gear by budget