2m, 1.25m, 70cm, tri-band mobile out there?

[orangEMT246]

Hello all. I just received my Tech. ticket a few months ago (KC2UOL), and was wondering if anyone makes a mobile tri-band radio with 2 meters, 1.25 meters, and 70 cm.? I found some multi-band radios, but none with the 1.25 meters. The Kenwood TH-F6A is a portable with these three bands, but reading on the forums here, it seems that it is better to start with a mobile and not a portable radio. The Yaesu's are nice, but full power on 1.25 meters would be desireable if I can only get a portable. My budget is about $350, after I pay for my wedding in October, but wanted to start researching radios now. Thanks in advance for your advice.

[ffemt601]

Originally Posted by orangEMT246

Hello all. I just received my Tech. ticket a few months ago (KC2UOL), and was wondering if anyone makes a mobile tri-band radio with 2 meters, 1.25 meters, and 70 cm.? I found some multi-band radios, but none with the 1.25 meters. The Kenwood TH-F6A is a portable with these three bands, but reading on the forums here, it seems that it is better to start with a mobile and not a portable radio. The Yaesu's are nice, but full power on 1.25 meters would be desireable if I can only get a portable. My budget is about $350, after I pay for my wedding in October, but wanted to start researching radios now. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Seeing that the Japanese don't have 1.25 meters there are very few 1.25 meter radios. Thus all mobile radios that include 220 are single band. Unless you have a 220mhz repeater in your area its highly doubtful that you will find anyone to talk to.

The main reason they recommend you start with a mobile versus a portable is the ease of programming and functionally. I started with a portable and haven't looked back.

[gewecke]

I like 220mhz. also,and congrats on your ticket! You might check ebay for the Kenwood TH 742 tri-band mobile. They had modules which could be changed out,so 2m. 220,and 440mhz. could be had.
Jetstream also has a nice 50 watt 220mhz. mobile out now!
N9ZAS.

[va3hub]

Originally Posted by orangEMT246

Hello all. I just received my Tech. ticket a few months ago (KC2UOL), and was wondering if anyone makes a mobile tri-band radio with 2 meters, 1.25 meters, and 70 cm.? I found some multi-band radios, but none with the 1.25 meters. The Kenwood TH-F6A is a portable with these three bands, but reading on the forums here, it seems that it is better to start with a mobile and not a portable radio. The Yaesu's are nice, but full power on 1.25 meters would be desireable if I can only get a portable. My budget is about $350, after I pay for my wedding in October, but wanted to start researching radios now. Thanks in advance for your advice.

2 meter and 70 is all you need,go mobile............and a good CB is a must.........lol

[W9RXR]

Originally Posted by orangEMT246

I just received my Tech. ticket a few months ago (KC2UOL), and was wondering if anyone makes a mobile tri-band radio with 2 meters, 1.25 meters, and 70 cm.?

Congratulations on your license!

Your options are:

1. A 2m/440MHz mobile paired with a single-band 222MHz mobile. I have a couple Alinco DR-135 2m radios that I'm satisfied with and the Alinco DR-235 is the 222MHz version of that radio. I haven't seen an in-depth review of the Jetstream 222MHz mobile.

2. A 2m/222MHz/440MHz handheld. Set this up with a good mobile antenna and a reliable power source inside the vehicle and you may do OK. Handhelds do have their ergonomic and RF overload limitations when used mobile, though.

3. Find a Kenwood TM-742 (2m/440MHz) or TM-642 (2m/222MHz) on the used market. These radios were modular and there were band modules available for 10m, 6m, 2m, 222MHz, 440MHz, and 1.2GHz. The radio chassis can accept any 3 band modules,so it's possible to build a 2m/222MHz/440MHz radio. Granted, this is a 10-15 year old radio system, so the ones that have been in service are starting to fail. However, there is a good support network for this radio and a pretty good market for radios and band modules. I have one specifically for its 222MHz capabilities.

[gewecke]

I have a buddy who recently purchased one of the Jetstream 220mhz. mobiles and he claims he likes it a
lot,but says it has only one downside and that it is it should have been equipped with a fan since it does have a 50 watt p.a. I tend to agree as well.
My boss has the kenwood 742 with the 2,220,440mhz. modules in it and he said he wants another,so there ya go!
N9ZAS.

[orangEMT246]

Thanks for all of your replies. I live within view of the Mt. Beacon Radio Tower. There is a 2 meter, 220, and a 440 MHz repeater on it. It is run by the Mt. Beacon Radio Club. Here is their website: Mount Beacon Amateur Radio Club - Home I also commute to Newark NJ, so a mobile would have been the ideal choice. I'm leaning towards the Yaesu FT-7900 and possibly a seperate 220 MHz mobile. Space was the main reason for an "all in one" as I drive a Hyundai Elantra Sedan. Thanks again, and hope to be up and running this fall.

[W9RXR]

Originally Posted by orangEMT246

I'm leaning towards the Yaesu FT-7900...

One of the best features, in my opinion, of a true dual-band radio is the ability to montor two frequencies simultaneously...especially if it can monitor two frequencies in the same band simultaneously. I believe the FT-7900 can monitor only one frequency at a time. Granted, a true dual-bander, like the FT-8900 or Kenwood TM-V71, may be out of your price range, but it's something to consider.

[Wyandotte]

Originally Posted by orangEMT246

Thanks for all of your replies. I live within view of the Mt. Beacon Radio Tower. There is a 2 meter, 220, and a 440 MHz repeater on it. It is run by the Mt. Beacon Radio Club. Here is their website: Mount Beacon Amateur Radio Club - Home I also commute to Newark NJ, so a mobile would have been the ideal choice. I'm leaning towards the Yaesu FT-7900 and possibly a seperate 220 MHz mobile. Space was the main reason for an "all in one" as I drive a Hyundai Elantra Sedan. Thanks again, and hope to be up and running this fall.

To paraphrase what someone else has already said here, is the 220 machine active enough for you to go thru the extra expense of getting a 220 radio?
Seeing as your club runs all three machines, is the 220 side linked to the 440 already?
Since you are leaning towards a radio that will receive 220, I suggest you listen to it for a while, and then decide if you think it's busy enough to spend the extra money on it. Here in Metro Detroit, 220 has never been active enough for me to consider buying a radio for it.
I went and looked at the website you linked to. I see they have a 900 machine. Plug that one into your 7900, if it's not blocked. 900 machines, if active, can have good, technical, intelligent conversations. Unfortunately, sometimes 900 can be blocked in a Yaesu. I have a Yaesu that blocks 900 receive, even with all the mods done to it, I guess because that’s where cordless phones are.

[SOFA_KING]

Originally Posted by Wyandotte

To paraphrase what someone else has already said here, is the 220 machine active enough for you to go thru the extra expense of getting a 220 radio?
Seeing as your club runs all three machines, is the 220 side linked to the 440 already?
Since you are leaning towards a radio that will receive 220, I suggest you listen to it for a while, and then decide if you think it's busy enough to spend the extra money on it. Here in Metro Detroit, 220 has never been active enough for me to consider buying a radio for it.
I went and looked at the website you linked to. I see they have a 900 machine. Plug that one into your 7900, if it's not blocked. 900 machines, if active, can have good, technical, intelligent conversations. Unfortunately, sometimes 900 can be blocked in a Yaesu. I have a Yaesu that blocks 900 receive, even with all the mods done to it, I guess because that’s where cordless phones are.

220 is a killer band! If he wants it, then he wants it. I love 220. My first experience with 220 was Mt. Beacon (lived in Dutchess most of my life) and Mt. Greylock (thanks to Doug Sharp...I helped a little to build and install the Beacon machine). These good sites had large coverage areas and you could compare different band coverage since they had multiple bands at each site. 220 beat 2m time and time again and was tied with 6m in the mountains of northern NY! I could not believe it! 440 was long gone, but 220 went the distance. Why? Lower noise floor??? Maybe, but 220 is a great band.

I had the Kenwood 741 tri-band with 2m/220/440 in it. I sold it in FL due to bad IM rejection. I also had a great Yaesu 220 rig (forget the model...slanted face) which was a great radio. I now have an Alinco mobile and a Motorola GP300 on 220. There is 220 activity in my area of FL and even a couple of repeaters.

220 rocks! I say GO FOR IT!

Phil (N2HUC)

[gewecke]

I second that. We also have a very nice 220 repeater (k9mbs)in our area as well. Even though my radio for it is a little dated, a Kenwood TH 315A it's a lot of fun on this band. Seriously thinking about the jetstream mobile as well.
73's.
N9ZAS.

[orangEMT246]

After having the itch to buy a radio, I finally went with the Kenwood TH-F6A. Couldn't wait until after my wedding. It came yesterday and paid about $285 shipped from Ham Radio Outlet. Nice tri-bander, I should be able to hit the repeaters no problem. (They are about a mile away) Now comes the task of sitting down with the manual and trying to really figure out this radio. Thank you everyone for your help and advice. I will eventually get that mobile I asked about at the start of the thread. Now for that first contact.....

Tom
KC2UOL

[W9RXR]

Originally Posted by orangEMT246

Kenwood TH-F6A...Now comes the task of sitting down with the manual and trying to really figure out this radio.

I've heard good reports about that radio. A vision-impaired ham friend has one. Actually, I think he now has two of them. His first one has been beat around, dropped, rained on, and I don't know what else. The display is blank (which doesn't bother him a bit), but it still works. If he can operate the radio with no vision, I'm sure you'll be able master it.

Sit down with the radio (with charged batteries), the manual, and a refreshing beverage. Plan to go through everything in the manual so you have some exposure to how everything works. Then practice, practice, practice the basic tasks (setting frequency, setting repeater shift, setting tones, storing and recalling memories) until you know them by heart.

[gewecke]

My boss has a couple f 6's and loves them. I plan to get one myself. They are one of the only tri-band ht's to give you full power 220mhz. and a bfo for ssb listening!
Enjoy!
N9ZAS.

[Wyandotte]

Originally Posted by SOFA_KING

I now have an Alinco mobile and a Motorola GP300 on 220.

Did you mod the GP300 to 220 yourself, or did you buy it modified?

[kc4jgc]

Originally Posted by W9RXR

Congratulations on your license!

Your options are..............

.

3. Find a Kenwood TM-742 (2m/440MHz) or TM-642 (2m/222MHz) on the used market.

Actually, the TM-641A and 642A were tri-banders with 2m and 220 installed with optional third band. the TM-741A and 742A were tri-banders with 2m and 440 installed with optional third band. Used tri banders can be found occaisionally on eBay with 3 bands installed usually runs about $700. I'd love to have one; it's out of my price range. I'm afraid these rigs will still run in the $700 range unless/until Kenwood decides to market a new tri-band mobile.

BTW, the Kenwood 2m/220 dual banders are the TM-621A and TM-631A. I have both these rigs. Both are modified for crossband repeat. The 2m/440 dual banders of the time were TM-721A and TM-731A.

Icom had a 2m/220 mobile as well. Can't remember the model. Wish I got that one. The cool thing about this rig was that you could crossband repeat out of the box and with an optional board installed you could control your crossband remotely via your handheld. I believe Icom had a 2m/440 version as well. I believe these were the first rigs (I know of) that had the remote control capability.

Originally Posted by Wyandotte

To paraphrase what someone else has already said here, is the 220 machine active enough for you to go thru the extra expense of getting a 220 radio?
Seeing as your club runs all three machines, is the 220 side linked to the 440 already?
Since you are leaning towards a radio that will receive 220, I suggest you listen to it for a while, and then decide if you think it's busy enough to spend the extra money on it. Here in Metro Detroit, 220 has never been active enough for me to consider buying a radio for it.

My response is this: There may not be as many operators on 220; but one more is ONE MORE! Hams should be encouraging operations on as many bands as possible; not discouraging a band because there are "fewer" hams on it. I've been a big 220 proponent since I passed my novice exam in 1989 (novices picked up 220 MHz and 1270MHz priviledges during the "novice enhancement" era) .

Originally Posted by orangEMT246

After having the itch to buy a radio, I finally went with the Kenwood TH-F6A.

Great! Excellent handheld. I have one as well. You would do well to either A- purchase the PC programming cable or B- make one yourself and download MCP-F6/F7 programming software from the Kenwood site. It'll make your programming life SO much easier

[SOFA_KING]

Originally Posted by Wyandotte

Did you mod the GP300 to 220 yourself, or did you buy it modified?

No mods. All factory. Some of these were made for the Asian market, and I managed to latch onto one.

Big /\/\ also made MCS2000 radios on 220 for Asia. No luck on getting one of those.

Phil

[AYUDI]

congrats on the wedding and getting your ticket. I think you'll be happy with the F6a. I PM'd you some info for the Newark area.

Welcome to the hobby.
Al
K2AFY