using commercial equipment sometimes you can use commercial two- way radios in amateur service. they...
TRANSCRIPT
Using Commercial Equipment
• Sometimes you can use commercial two-way radios in amateur service.
• They have bands very close to the amateur band, so some can be re-tuned to the amateur band.
• Most 2M FM activity started with modified commercial equipment back in the 60s.
• Back then it was crystal controlled so it was pretty expensive to have a multi-channel radio.
Commercial Equipment cont’d
• Some of the older radio (mid 80s & 90s) are programmable using eproms and can be modified to work on the ham bands.
• The most popular are Motorola and GE.
• Motorola radios are more difficult as it is harder to get the programming software.
• The GE you just need to change the eprom using the equations etc.
Commercial Equipment cont’d
• Commercial equipment is different than amateur in that it is not capable of changing frequencies. They are programmed in, you will have a license to transmit on a particular frequency only (not a band of frequencies).
• Most are simple to operate, and are pretty rugged (go in dump trucks, garbage trucks, etc.).
Motorola
• Motorola Maxtrac, GM300, M120, and M10 series are good and usually can be reprogrammed to the Ham bands. They come in VHF and UHF, 2 channel or multi-channel.
GM300
GE
• GE has several radios that are used by hams.
• The Phoenix and the MVS are the most popular.
• The Phoenix has a old eprom that is not readily available and needs a DOS computer to program it, there is a mod to add a newer type eprom.
GE cont’d
• The MVS is easy to program using Windows and a special cable ($ 40 - $ 50).
GE Phoenix GE MVS
eBay & Ham Tailgates
• These radios can be bought for $ 25 to $ 50 depending on model, accessories etc.
• With shipping and some up front costs you can have a good radio for the house etc. for less than $ 100.
A
B
C
D
E
F
Off eBay – 10/13/2010
eBay
• Buying on eBay, you have to set up an account.
• Usually you have to set up a PayPal account also (most eBay sites will accept PayPal).
• There are Auctions Items and Buy it Now (fixed price) items (some auctions will have a Buy it Now option).
eBay cont’d
• Some things to look out for:– Read what you are buying – the picture may
not be exactly what you are buying– Check the shipping – sometimes the shipping
is way too high (eBay has been cracking down on the shipping prices)
– Check out the accessories (don’t have a microphone – may cost another $ 20 to get a microphone etc.)
eBay cont’d
• A & B are the same - $ 10 difference
• C & D have a $4 difference but one doesn’t have a microphone.
• E is $ 10 cheaper yet
• F has all the accessories, mike, cables, bracket
• A, B, C, D, & F are “Buy it Now” – Fixed price
• E is auction so it may go higher
eBay cont’d
• Probably the best buy is F – just need to get a programming cable and you are up and running for less than $ 100 – next time you won’t need a programming cable.
• You could use one of these radios to make an IRLP node (don’t need the microphone).