Looking for a radio?

[JonL008]

I'm looking for a good cheap any brand radio that I can instal in my car and use with my agency that I volunteer for. It needs to be easy to program and also be able to use conventional digital and analog channels? Also any suggestion of good antennas that won't damage my car that would work for it would be great.

Edit: it would need to be able to handle both digital and analog channels in the 150mghz range


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[brushfire21]

Which digital format? P25, NXDN, MotoTRBO?

[krokus]

Cheap and digital tend to be mutually exclusive.

What are you considering damage to your car? My Jeep was a week old, when the roof was drilled for the antenna mount.

[wcr20]

my suburban was 30 minutes old when the headliner came out for 5 NMO mounts

[W2NJS]

Do you want to just listen or do you want to transmit as well? If the latter then you'll need permission from your agency to do so, and you'll really need their help if you want to go digital. There's a lot more involved in giving you a cogent answer than just saying, "Use this radio and that antenna." And cheap it ain't gonna be, take our word for that.

[JonL008]

It's P25 conventional and I would like to transmit as well. The agency won't be much help I don't think because they program none of their radios.


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[zz0468]

Cheap P25 that's easy to program with a non-penetrating antenna that works is almost laughably contradictory. Perhaps if you detailed a realistic set of expectations, we'd actually be able to help you.

[W2NJS]

A fair budget figure for a used Motorola VHF XTL mobile radio would be in the area of $1K, and then you would have to have it programmed by a radio shop. Then you will have to have it installed. There are Icom, Kenwood, Tait and other radios available the may cost a bit less but the gold standard is the Motorola XTL at this time.

[krokus]

Originally Posted by JonL008

It's P25 conventional and I would like to transmit as well. The agency won't be much help I don't think because they program none of their radios.

The agency is, possibly, able to give you permission to utilize the radio system. Whoever does the programming will need that, to set up a radio for you, especially if it a trunking system.

[Abb0]

Originally Posted by W2NJS

...but the gold standard is the Motorola XTL at this time.

The gold std??? Really? Wow, that weed must be good.

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by Abb0

The gold std??? Really? Wow, that weed must be good.

( LMAO ) !!!!!!


FF - Medic !!!

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by JonL008

I'm looking for a good cheap any brand radio that I can instal in my car and use with my agency that I volunteer for. It needs to be easy to program and also be able to use conventional digital and analog channels? Also any suggestion of good antennas that won't damage my car that would work for it would be great.

Edit: it would need to be able to handle both digital and analog channels in the 150mghz range


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Why not purchase a handheld/portable, unless you "really" need the output power of a mobile radio. I am not a mobile radio comms price list right now. I think a simple handheld would be better, plus..you could carry it with you.

FF - Medic !!!

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by JonL008

I'm looking for a good cheap any brand radio that I can instal in my car and use with my agency that I volunteer for. It needs to be easy to program and also be able to use conventional digital and analog channels?

Edit: it would need to be able to handle both digital and analog channels in the 150mghz range

Vertex VXD-720 Digital Two Way Radio

The above is just an example. The Vertex is 512 channels ( about $630.00 ), the rest I found ( keyword = found ) in Google were only 128 channels ( ICOM and Kenwood ) and ran much more expensive - around the $1200.00 price range.

Plus with the Vertex, you get the the ability to use a dual band receiver ( UHF receive only ). A plus plus in my book.

I carried a Vertex for years. They are built like a brick. They are durable and reliable, and are great radios.


FF - Medic !!!

[ff-medic]

Originally Posted by brushfire21

Which digital format? P25, NXDN, MotoTRBO?

Gonzales County, Texas (TX) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

ULS License - Public Safety Pool, Conventional License - WQAN582 - GONZALES COUNTY FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION - Frequencies Summary

ULS License - Public Safety Pool, Conventional License - WPRZ946 - GONZALES, COUNTY OF - Frequencies Summary


FF - Medic !!!