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Best 2-Tone Radio/Pager Combo

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BlueDevil

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What do you think the best 2-tone radio/pager combo is? What is your experience?

I am looking for something to replace the expensive Motorola Minitor 5. With the increasing size of pagers (not only Motorola) these days it is not much more beneficial than just carrying a radio. There are a lot of radios out there that are about the same size as a pager and offer all the benefits of a radio.

The challenge comes in at getting the radio to behave exactly like a pager would. The single most difficult problem is finding a radio that will allow you to monitor the channel but still alert with a 2-tone signal. I have only been able to find 1 radio that will do this, Motorola HT1250. However my experience has been somewhat limited.

Some of the other radios I have played with but have not be able to setup completely to my liking include: Icom F50, Motorola CP200XLS, and the Relm/BK RPV3600A.

What are your thoughts and suggestions?
 

cmjonesinc

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I used to carry a ht1000 back when those were still popular and it paged great. Only two tone sets or one and a long tone (I think, its been a while). I upgraded to a vertex vx 180 then a 420 then a 820 series. All worked great for paging and as a radio. Had a couple kenwoods and an ICOM along the way but I prefer a moto or vertex. As for a small pager though, I like my US alert watchdog Lt. Its small and works just as good as my minitor v.
 

BlueDevil

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Typically just 1 or 2 sets. However there are times when it would be nice to have several sets.
 

12dbsinad

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The Icom F50V will do all that your're asking for, plus it has voice record and vibration alert. Make sure it is the V model and not a regular F50. Department around me use them and have had no troubles. If you set the channel to "OR", it will still decode and set off the radio while keeping the channel always open.
 

BlueDevil

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Thanks for the info! I was wondering if that was one of the features of the F50V... I have only been able to play around with the standard F50. Even it has some difficulties decoding certain tone sets. Although its probably in my programming.
 

12dbsinad

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No problem! Also, make sure you get the newer "MM" firmware, Icom took all of the minitor alert tones (I believe there is 10) and included it in the firmware so it sounds exactly like a minitor. Really neat. It will also decode up to 10 sets of tones. Good luck!
 

wa2chj

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I vote for the Vertex VX-459 series. Multiple tones encode/decode, on duty/off duty, multiple alerts, and best of all free programming software...although you do have to buy a programming cable.

Scott
 

sibbley

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No problem! Also, make sure you get the newer "MM" firmware, Icom took all of the minitor alert tones (I believe there is 10) and included it in the firmware so it sounds exactly like a minitor. Really neat. It will also decode up to 10 sets of tones. Good luck!

Where can you find the F60v with the newer "MM" firmware? I'm looking for the 450-512mhz model. I've only found the 400-470mhz model.

The Antenna Farm has it, but I've found with other purchases from them, you don't always get the latest firmware. Can you get the latest firmware from Icom like you can from Vertex?

Thanks,
 

sibbley

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The Kenwood 2312/3312 series is a great radio. You can decode 2 pairs per channel, up to 6 pairs. Has Monitor type beeps and you can adjust the alert tones to your liking. You get 128 channels, nice scan feature, and great reception.
 

Voyager

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The 750 is physically identical to the HT1250 he found, but the 1250 is capable of many more channels.

I was thinking a cheap dual-bander like the Anytone, but it will only decode 1 tone set. It's much smaller than most commercial HTs and is only a bit larger than a Min V.
 

12dbsinad

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Where can you find the F60v with the newer "MM" firmware? I'm looking for the 450-512mhz model. I've only found the 400-470mhz model.

The Antenna Farm has it, but I've found with other purchases from them, you don't always get the latest firmware. Can you get the latest firmware from Icom like you can from Vertex?

Thanks,

The MM firmware has been out for awhile now, so unless they have really old stock they should have it. Any Icom dealer should be able to easily burn the new firmware into an older F60V. I don't think Icom will just give it out to anyone. As far as the band split, 400-470 is popular but again any dealer should have no troubles getting you a 450-512.
 

BlueDevil

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I am new to the Relm/BK RPV3600A. Can anyone confirm whether or not this radio can monitor and alert on the same channel? I am not real familiar with the programming software but it sure looks like you could program the radio this way.
 
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I am new to the Relm/BK RPV3600A. Can anyone confirm whether or not this radio can monitor and alert on the same channel? I am not real familiar with the programming software but it sure looks like you could program the radio this way.

It can! I replied to you on that other topic you commented on! Shoot me a PM and I'll help you!
 
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