Low powered UHF mobile radio?

[wwhitby]

All,

I'm looking for a Part 90 compliant very low powered UHF mobile radio in the 450-470Mhz split. No more than 5 watts would be plenty, as this isn't a large location, and would be used on a golf cart. A UHF HT would work, but a mobile radio is what they want.

I haven't had much luck searching, so i'm not sure such an animal exists. Does anyone know of a Part 90 UHF mobile that can be programmed for no more than 5 watts?

 

[toastycookies]

All,

I'm looking for a Part 90 compliant very low powered UHF mobile radio in the 450-470Mhz split. No more than 5 watts would be plenty, as this isn't a large location, and would be used on a golf cart. A UHF HT would work, but a mobile radio is what they want.

I haven't had much luck searching, so i'm not sure such an animal exists. Does anyone know of a Part 90 UHF mobile that can be programmed for no more than 5 watts?

All my kenwoods can be tuned for 5 watts.

 

[KK4JUG]

I have a Yaesu VX-3 that's smaller than a pack of cigarettes (without the antenna). it works on both UHF & VHF.

According to their web site, these are the specs:

1.5 W (@ 4.5 V AA x 3 or 3.7 V FNB-82LI 144 MHz)
3 W (@ 6 V or EXT DC 144 MHz)
1 W (@4.5 V AA x 3 or 3.7 V FNB-82LI 430 MHz)
2 W (@ 6 V or EXT DC 430 MHz)

Low 0.1 W (@ 4.5 V AA x 3 or 3.7 V FNB-82LI)
Low 0.3 W (@ 6 V or EXT DC)

 

[toastycookies]

I have a Yaesu VX-3 that's smaller than a pack of cigarettes (without the antenna). it works on both UHF & VHF.

According to their web site, these are the specs:

1.5 W (@ 4.5 V AA x 3 or 3.7 V FNB-82LI 144 MHz)
3 W (@ 6 V or EXT DC 144 MHz)
1 W (@4.5 V AA x 3 or 3.7 V FNB-82LI 430 MHz)
2 W (@ 6 V or EXT DC 430 MHz)

Low 0.1 W (@ 4.5 V AA x 3 or 3.7 V FNB-82LI)
Low 0.3 W (@ 6 V or EXT DC)

The Yaesu VX-3 is not a mobile radio, it is a hand held.

 

[wwhitby]

All my kenwoods can be tuned for 5 watts.

Thanks Toasty!

I pulled out the manual for my TK-880 and found that it will go down to 5 watts on low power. I'll see if I can pick up a used TK-880 on eBay.

Thanks,

 

[mmckenna]

Many years ago when I was licensed for GMRS I was using a lot of Icom radios. They would all do 5 watts or less:
Icom F-420S
Icom F-420
Icom F-2020
Icom F-221
Icom F-621

Find one of those and you can do what you want. The F-420's are pretty cheap, easy to program. The F-420s is a 4 channel radio that might be suited well for what you are doing.

But, looks like you've already on the trail for a TK-880. That'd be a good choice.

 

[KK4JUG]

The Yaesu VX-3 is not a mobile radio, it is a hand held.

You're right but, though certainly possible, a mobile radio on a golf cart is not terribly practical.

 

[prcguy]

The OP wants an FCC part 90 compliant radio and the VX3 is not.
prcguy

You're right but, though certainly possible, a mobile radio on a golf cart is not terribly practical.

 

[Rred]

This really is a job for an h/t and a power cord. Drop it in the cup holder or Velcro it on the dash and you're done. No need for a bigger box, really.

 

[byndhlptom]

LP UHF Mobile

There are some practical reasons for a mobile over a handheld.....

1- Mobile is mounted to cart, harder to drop, remove, kick, etc. also a little harder to lose (have walk off, etc.)

2- with an external antenna, range is better (or you can use lower power)

3- Most people are more comfortable using a hand mike rather than a handheld

4- Powered from the cart battery (usually recharged nightly/regularily)

5- Most mobiles have noticeably louder speaker audio

$.02

 

[902]

Years ago, I worked on a number of Motorola radios at warehouses, malls, pharmacological manufacturers, chemical plants, refineries, etc. They would be on forklifts, golf carts, dumpster trucks, etc., that only worked within a contained area. There was an animal for low-power industrial use. It had a D04 model prefix. I saw that as recent as a Maxtrac. Then narrowbanding killed all of that off.

I'm not very familiar with the new stuff, but I pulled up a few product sheets and found many from several manufacturers can operate between 1 - 25 Watts out on UHF. You can even find configurations where there are limited number of channels. I am sure that Motorola, Kenwood, Icom, Vertex, and others can meet your requirements.

 

[SteveC0625]

5- Most mobiles have noticeably louder speaker audio

And, they can be outfitted with a remote speaker for even better audio quality and, if needed, even more volume. That's not even looking at an amplified remote speaker, either.

 

[Kirk]

Motorola XPR-5550's come in two power ranges. The low power version (1-25w) would fit your needs.

 

[n5ims]

All,

I'm looking for a Part 90 compliant very low powered UHF mobile radio in the 450-470Mhz split. No more than 5 watts would be plenty, as this isn't a large location, and would be used on a golf cart. A UHF HT would work, but a mobile radio is what they want.

I haven't had much luck searching, so i'm not sure such an animal exists. Does anyone know of a Part 90 UHF mobile that can be programmed for no more than 5 watts?

There's always the low-end market (yes, Chinese made radios and we don't want the usual bashing, we already know you hate them!). Small, low power output, low power drain, cheap, etc. And yes, many are Part-90 certified (but verify this since many also are not).

One example is the Leixen LX VV-898 - LEIXEN LX VV-898 Dual Band VHF/UHF 136-174/400-470MHz 10W Two Way Radio Mobile Transceiver - Main Trading Company. (FCC Cert - http://www.miklor.com/VV898/pdf/VV898_Grant.pdf). It's small (120x90x40mm - not sure what that is in American, but not much larger than the typical hand - OK, I got curious, 4.75" X 3.5" X 1.5") and only one (4 watts out) or two amps (10 watts out) on transmit. No service plan really needed, just buy some extra as spares and end up paying less than a single new radio.

Yes, it's dual band, but so what, you can limit where it will go by only programming in the channel or channels you want and restrict the radio to only those. You could even program your channel(s) with both low and high power, just in case you run into signal strength issues.

 

[kayn1n32008]

If looking for an analogue mobile that can be turned down to 5w, look at the TK-880g, TK-8180K or TK-860 from Kenwood. All these radios come in 5-25w versions. It's easy to find software.

 

[kb4mdz]

Vertex VXR-1000 is a mobile cross-band repeater, 5 watts maximum, and up to 16 channels. It also can be used as a straight mobile radio. 5/2.5/1.0/0.5 watts, front panel mic jack, 16 position channel switch on front. 1" H x 4.4" W x 5.4" D. Available UHF or VHF.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Thats pretty good to know!,

 

[MTS2000des]

I'd get an XPR4350/4550 1-25 watt version.
A low power 4350 can be had for well under $200 used.
Works stable and well at 1 watt!

 

[wa1nic]

It may get wet in a golf cart. There are IP67 handhelds but I have yet to see a part 90 IP67 mobile radio.

I would love to find one for my farm tractor as well.

 

[902]

It may get wet in a golf cart. There are IP67 handhelds but I have yet to see a part 90 IP67 mobile radio.

I would love to find one for my farm tractor as well.

How about a motorcycle radio? They're supposed to be gasketed heavily enough to withstand environmental exposure.