900 MHz radios

[W2NJS]

The Alinco sheet, available online, contains fhis information about the power of the 220/900 HT:

"222MHz 5/2/0.8/0.3W, 902MHz 2.5/0.8/0.3W max output with a standard Li-ion pack"

 

[Skypilot007]

Thanks for the effort Alinco but I think I'll be sticking with commercial gear for 900MHz for now.

 

[zz0468]

Thanks for the effort Alinco but I think I'll be sticking with commercial gear for 900MHz for now.

Personally, I hope that there are enough hams that don't share your attitude and buy the things. Otherwise, we can't expect new and improved models.

I like my commercial gear, and use nothing but Motorola gear on 440, I'm seriously thinking about grabbing one of these things, just because I can. =)

 

[N4KVE]

Not many hams have an Alinco radio, so to buy this new 900 radio will also require the purchase of several batteries, a fast charger, etc. However, if someone purchased a surplus 900 MTS2000 for cheap, they most probably already have all the accessories they could need from their VHF, or UHF Jedi's. In my case, I got a NOS MTS2000 900 top display radio for $40. Absolutely new. I also have a friend who works for a utility company, & every year they have to get rid of 1 year old Impress Jedi batteries which are in perfect shape. These batteries are rescued from the dumpster, & go to hams with Jedi radios. I don't think that will happen anytime soon with Alinco batteries. However, if Alinco would build this radio with VHF/UHF/900, I'd buy it, & all the accessories. I mean they build the VHF/UHF/1200 radio, so just get rid of 1200, & replace it with 900. 450x2=900. How hard could it be? As it is, I already have 5 900 HT's, & 2 30 watt mobiles. No real reason to buy the radio. I do have an Alinco DJ-V5T, & it's one of the best dual band HT's I've ever owned. GARY N4KVE

 

[mgolden2]

Wirelessly posted (PantechP7040/JLUS04042011; Mozilla/5.0 (Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1; Opera Mini/att/4.2.16479; U; en-US) Opera 9.50)

Anyone tried the new Alinco yet that could give us some first-hand knowledge on how it works? I think it looks like a great radio.

N0ZOJ

 

[AK9R]

Not many hams have an Alinco radio, so to buy this new 900 radio will also require the purchase of several batteries, a fast charger, etc. However, if someone purchased a surplus 900 MTS2000 for cheap, they most probably already have all the accessories they could need from their VHF, or UHF Jedi's.

On one hand, you say that buyers of the Alinco DJ-G29T will have to stock up on accessories for the radio and then, on the other hand, you say that these buyers could buy an Motorola radio and use the accessories they already own.

That statement makes one huge assumption...that these potential buyers already own Motorola handhelds. I don't, and very few of my ham friends do. So, why would we be interested in an out-of-production radio that is a lot more challenging to program than a new radio made specifically for the amateur radio market?

I'm not trying to fuel the amateur radio vs. commercial radio debate, but I think that fans of commercial radios need to understand that commercial radios are not for everybody.

 

[jhooten]

I have one in hand and waiting for the second. With the addition of the DJ-G29T and DJ-G7T radios to the mix I can now operate on every band from 160 m to 23 cm. The radio is solidly built, it feels like you have something in your hand. It did not get excessively hot after a long period transmitting. They come with li-ion battery and drop in quick charger. Receive audio is clear with good volume for a HH. Reports on the transmit audio were good. Entering frequencies and tones from the key board is quick and easy. I received the USB programming cable in yesterday's mail and have not tried to program with the Alinco software yet. This weekend I'll be doing so.

From the limited time I have had it I will say Alinco has a winner.

 

[N4KVE]

On one hand, you say that buyers of the Alinco DJ-G29T will have to stock up on accessories for the radio and then, on the other hand, you say that these buyers could buy an Motorola radio and use the accessories they already own.

That statement makes one huge assumption...that these potential buyers already own Motorola handhelds. I don't, and very few of my ham friends do. So, why would we be interested in an out-of-production radio that is a lot more challenging to program than a new radio made specifically for the amateur radio market?

In my experience, the hams in my area that are interested in 900 mhz seem to be employed in the 2 way radio business, whether they are cops, work for a 2 way shop, work for a county, or state agency, or utility company. These people already have UHF & VHF Jedi's, which are out of production, but still being used by thousands of people on a daily basis. Since these people work in these 2 way shops, the software is only 10 feet away in the nearest computer, & is free to use. But yes, I will admit that 900 users in other parts of the country may have no interest in commercial radios, & that's just fine. So I am basing my quoted statement on my personal experience that 90% of my ham friends use Motorola equipment because this allows them to use the same radio on the ham bands, & their legitimate commercial freq's. I just wish they made the radio as a VHF/UHF/900 so I could travel with 1 radio. Not 2. GARY N4KVE

 

[Skypilot007]

Personally, I hope that there are enough hams that don't share your attitude and buy the things. Otherwise, we can't expect new and improved models.

I like my commercial gear, and use nothing but Motorola gear on 440, I'm seriously thinking about grabbing one of these things, just because I can. =)

It's not really an attitide as you call it at all sir.

Those of us who have been tinkering on 900MHz for several years now have had no other option but to use commercial gear. I look forward to more companies stepping up to the 900MHz plate. Just because one company releases a portable doean't mean all Hams have to or should embrace it. I personally don't use portables much so it is not an option for me, hence my comment above. When I see a mobile unit from a one of the Ham manufacturers with some power behind it I will be looking hard at it. So for nnow I stand by my earlier statment of sticking with commercial gear.

 

[K2KOH]

Not many hams have an Alinco radio, so to buy this new 900 radio will also require the purchase of several batteries, a fast charger, etc. However, if someone purchased a surplus 900 MTS2000 for cheap, they most probably already have all the accessories they could need from their VHF, or UHF Jedi's. In my case, I got a NOS MTS2000 900 top display radio for $40. Absolutely new. I also have a friend who works for a utility company, & every year they have to get rid of 1 year old Impress Jedi batteries which are in perfect shape. These batteries are rescued from the dumpster, & go to hams with Jedi radios. I don't think that will happen anytime soon with Alinco batteries. However, if Alinco would build this radio with VHF/UHF/900, I'd buy it, & all the accessories. I mean they build the VHF/UHF/1200 radio, so just get rid of 1200, & replace it with 900. 450x2=900. How hard could it be? As it is, I already have 5 900 HT's, & 2 30 watt mobiles. No real reason to buy the radio. I do have an Alinco DJ-V5T, & it's one of the best dual band HT's I've ever owned. GARY N4KVE

I'm a diehard Batwing man for my 2m/440, but I also have a Yaesu VX6 and a Kenwood F6. This could bring more people to 900 and 1200 MHz. Use it or lose it!

 

[W5RDW]

I welcome these little radios for 900 MHz FM. I had a MSF5000 on 927.1125 MHz for years and got very little use on it. I even tried to give away programmed 10 watt Motorola mobiles to anyone wanting to use them on the repeater. Very little interest!

I am hopeful that Alinco follows up with a mobile 900 MHz FM radio of at least 25 watts or more. Then, the use of the FM band on 900 should accelerate. Maybe a tri-band mobile 2M/440/900 mobile rig or 220/440/900 or even 2M/900/1.2GHz?

Roger W5RDW
223.820
Murphy, Texas

 

[jhooten]

I'm starting fresh after the big fire Looks like Alinco is leading the rebuild. I should say going back to Alinco. Alinco was in the early 80's what Wouxun is now. DJ-560 was the first in the box new radio I bought.

Roger, look at the DJ-G7 2M/70CM/23CM. It has been out a while now.

 

[Hornhonker]

My 900 Alinco just arrived yesterday. Kinda interesting scanning the band which I can't do with my
motorola gear.

 

[N2ICV]

I like to know if anyone has used P25 on 900MHz and how?

 

[WX9EMS]

For the kind of money they get for the Alinco, I am sure it is a nice radio, but I will stick to my commercial gear for now to be on 900, nice chunk of change there. The band is fairly quiet her in SE WI, every now and then someone kerchunks it, but other than that it is quiet. I have a GTX 900 for the car, but I am in no hurry to get it installed. As far as 220 goes, may just get a Wouxun.

 

[mm]

There is one P25, 900 MHz ham repeater south of me in Eugene Oregon, which is to far to hit from my house otherwise I'd have my 900 P25 setup working now.

Also for almost out of the box P25/900MHz, the Motorola XTS2500 comes in a 900 MHz model and it works fine in the ham band.

For my own use I was using an XTS5000 set to low power as an IF transceiver, outputting 10 milliwatts fed into a Mini-circuits RF front end module which was up-converting in P25 to 900 MHz a few years ago.

It was being used as a 900 MHz to 6 and 10 meter remote base that I had on briefly in Northern Arizona.

It was running P25 for half a day and then I set it back to analog and never went back to P25 again, I was the only one on 900 in my area in Northern Arizona.

Once again where I'm at now I'm the only one on 900 MHz analog, just South of Portland, and P25 would not be worth the effort nor received very well up here.

Heck handing out free 900 MHz radios wouldn't even work up here and you would most likely get run out of town if you had anything P25 on the air up here.

I operated P25 mode on a mixed mode 2 meter repeater in Salem Oregon about a year ago and got chewed out for using encryption or so the analog people thought, it was such a hassle that I haven't touched analog 2 meters nor 440 MHz since then.

If anyone operates 10 meter FM you may have heard or talked to me on my analog 900 MHz crossband from Salem Ore. it's been on the air for almost a year and I'm still the only one on 900 MHz in this area.

Mike

 

[jhooten]

For the kind of money they get for the Alinco, I am sure it is a nice radio, but I will stick to my commercial gear for now to be on 900, nice chunk of change there. The band is fairly quiet her in SE WI, every now and then someone kerchunks it, but other than that it is quiet. I have a GTX 900 for the car, but I am in no hurry to get it installed. As far as 220 goes, may just get a Wouxun.

Save $80
TYT TH-9000 VHF Transceiver

Or not. Looks like I got the last one in stock. They said more will be in soon. It is the same radio as the one on the Wouxun US site for $149.95 instead of $229.95.

 

[N4KVE]

I saw the Alinco guys at the Orlando Hamfest. I expressed my disappointment that the HT was 220/900, & not VHF/UHF/900, but they said that was a business decision the people in Japan made. However, they did say that a 900 only mobile radio was in the works, similar to the other single band FM radios they make, & I expressed my concern that the radio must be 30 watts, not 15. They were in agreement with me on that. I believe this will be a radio I would purchase, so I hope this comes to be. Let's all keep our fingers crossed. GARY N4KVE

 

[SCPD]

Sounds good

I saw the Alinco guys at the Orlando Hamfest. I expressed my disappointment that the HT was 220/900, & not VHF/UHF/900, but they said that was a business decision the people in Japan made. However, they did say that a 900 only mobile radio was in the works, similar to the other single band FM radios they make, & I expressed my concern that the radio must be 30 watts, not 15. They were in agreement with me on that. I believe this will be a radio I would purchase, so I hope this comes to be. Let's all keep our fingers crossed. GARY N4KVE

That sounds like something I just may buy when it comes out. It would be nice to have a programmable mobile on 900. Thought hard about getting the programmable handheld, but like I have said in previous post, the band is just a little too flaky for portable comms in my opinion. I'm less than 10 miles from a 900 machine just west of Detroit. On the same building is a 2M and 440 machine I can make just fine. But the 900 handheld won't even bring up the machine, unless I walk around the front yard to find a sweet spot. And the sweet spot moves the next day.

 

[WX9EMS]

Or not. Looks like I got the last one in stock. They said more will be in soon. It is the same radio as the one on the Wouxun US site for $149.95 instead of $229.95.

Then again, it appears that Powerwerx.com still has them (or some) in stock, $119.99 + applicable taxes and shipping. Wouxun KG-UV3D Dual Band 128 Channel Handheld Amateur Radio