Hi Richard, you've gotten some good suggestions, to which I'd add,
Kenwood TS430, which has eight memories, and although has no voice cynth, is 
a pretty useable radio.  Also the Kenwood TS140S, which has 32 I believe it 
is, memories, twelve or so of which can be set up to encase portions of 
different bands, IE, EG, the cw and or phone portions of particular bands, 
to keep you from transmitting out of your licensed bands.  the 140 doesn't 
have voice cynth either, but the 140 and I believe the 430 as well, both of 
which can be modded for general coverage xmit and receive, can be 
equiped/with a very hard to find interface, to work with a millenium qsyer, 
but these radios can be used with work arounds, and can be found for around 
$300 on the used market,/I know a couple of folks who fix up and sell them 
from time to time/I'm not making anything on any of this.)

Another fine radio that sometimes goes for around 3 to 350, although many 
times costs more, is the ts440, which has a hundred memories, and can be 
fitted with the VS1 speech chip.  There have been some real problems with 
some of the 440s, but if you get a good one, you've got a fine radio.
Tentec Argosy, both the analog and the digital models can be found for 
around that, and though not general coverage, do give you 80, 40, 30, 20, 
15, and 10 meters.  They can be fitted with a Freqmite, which gives cw read 
out of the frequency you're on,
I very much agree with thoughts about the Icom IC718, they're fine radios, 
with front facing speaker and a direct entry keypad built in.  Lots of 
choices for sure.  If I can help in any way, let me know, and you'll get 
some might good input from folks on this list.  Danny Dyer, Wb4idu.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Wells" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 4:52 PM
Subject: Least Expensive Way To Go HF


> What are the thoughts of those on this list on the least expensive way
> to get on the HF bands with a multiband radio? Where should I start? As
> I have said, I really have no idea what's out there these days and I
> really don't know where to begin my search. I believe the antenna
> situation can be handled by the local group if I can find a radio. I
> might even have computer stuff to trade for a radio if anyone does that
> kind of thing.
>
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