Frequencies for public use with the HT1000

[KC9VZV]

Hi!

I am thinking about getting a HT1000, and want to use it for a few things:

1. I am working on getting a ham technician license, and if possible, I would like to use the HT1000 as a ham transceiver.
2. If possible, I would like to listen to my local police (in receive-only mode) on one of the channels.
(now, to the main question) 3. I would also like to use the HT1000 as a "walkie-talkie" type thing, so my question is, are there any frequencies that I can LEGALLY operate on without any kind of license, anywhere in the US?
Also, if I can use it as a walkie-talkie, can I get a cheaper radio to use on the same frequency, say a GP68, so I can transmit back and forth (no repeater)?

Thanks for your help, and sorry for my ignorance!

 

[AYoung2600]

Yes you can use the HT1000 as a ham transceiver. You can monitor your police on a receive only channel if they are on an analog system and you can use it as a "walkie-talkie" by programming it with MURS frequencies if you use VHF or FRS channels if you use UHF

 

[EMTLJB]

the HT1000 is not approved by the FCC for use on FRS channels. Transmit at your own risk.

 

[bezking]

Use GMRS instead of FRS - you need a license but it costs like $80 for five years - so it is really worth it. FRS has a power limit of 0.5 watts and you may not use repeaters. However, the limit on GMRS is 50.0 watts and you can use a repeater.

 

[RKG]

Yes you can use the HT1000 as a ham transceiver. You can monitor your police on a receive only channel if they are on an analog system and you can use it as a "walkie-talkie" by programming it with MURS frequencies if you use VHF or FRS channels if you use UHF

The HT1000 is not legal for use on the FRS frequencies, as it is not type accepted for FRS (and not eligible for FRS type acceptance because, among other things, of the removable antenna).

 

[aconway]

Ht1000

Yes you can you a HT1000 for HAM use that what I do, If you get one you will have to get it programmed and thats a pain if you don't know someone that can do it for you. If you go to a shop you will pay about $100 to get it setup. You can have it setup for RX only so you can listen to the local PD granted they are on the same band split. Yes you can get MURS set in it and anyone can use that its 5 VHF channels that anyone can use.

 

[KC9VZV]

Thank you everyone, I am studying very hard to get my ham license, so I think that I will end up using that HT1000 solely as a ham transceiver. Thanks for all the great responses!

 

[aconway]

If you are going to use this just for HAM you should get a ham transceiver. They are very easy to program and they are cheaper and have nice screens on them! The Kenwood THK2AT is for HAM use and it sells for $150 and it will do 136-174 RX so you can listen to you local PD,FD.

 

[chrismol1]

If your going to get a radio for the first time, buy a ham radio so you have the full band to play with and not just constrained to a few frequencies programmed into an HT1000. By the time you get done purchasing the HT1000 and getting it programmed you could have bought a decent ham transceiver with that money and have many features.

 

[asd6845]

The HT1000 is not legal for use on the FRS frequencies, as it is not type accepted for FRS (and not eligible for FRS type acceptance because, among other things, of the removable antenna).

But also 7 of the GMRS frequencies are shared by FRS. Those 7 allow you to use the max output allowed by your GMRS license. That is why these 22 channel FRS/GMRS radios are capable of 1 to 2 watts on the first 7 channels and the last 7 channels.

 

[hockeyshrink]

If your going to get a radio for the first time, buy a ham radio so you have the full band to play with and not just constrained to a few frequencies programmed into an HT1000. By the time you get done purchasing the HT1000 and getting it programmed you could have bought a decent ham transceiver with that money and have many features.

I tend to agree with aconway and chrismod here. The HT1000 is a workhorse of a radio - I have a few myself. BUT, if your main interest is exploring amataur radio, you should invest your money in an amateur transceiver. For the money you will spend on single band HT1000 (UHF OR VHF) and programming it ($50 a pop in my neighborhood), you can easily get a nice dual band (UHF AND VHF, or 70cm and 2m as hams say) amateur radio, with direct key programming and/or computer programming interface, much more channel capacity, flexibility, and tons of neat bells and whistles.

IF your main interest is short range, point to point communication with non-hams, then yes, get the HT1000 and another radio and program them for GMRS on UHF, or MURS (LOW power, mind the deviation setting) on VHF.

Some, not all HT1000's will extend into the amateur frequencies of their respective band. For example, not all UHF HT1000's will accommodate the 70cm ham band. So, if that's your intention, beware and research the radio carefully. ("R" serial numbers will have extended capability.)

So, what did you end up doing??

'shrink

 

[W2NJS]

In addition to all of the good information given in response to the OP, it's also a fact that limiting yourself to only 16 channels on a radio that is not FPP is going to drive you crazy within a very short time due to the lack of channel selections in quantity and the fact that you're "Stuck" with the program in the HT1000, which is a great workhorse radio for commercial radio guys who only need a few channels in their daily routine. Good, new, ham HTs with lots and lots of channels can be had these days for between $100 and $200. As a reference, look up the Yaesu line and you'll see their selection. The other guys, like Kenwood and Icom, are just as interesting and reasonably priced.

 

[RKG]

Yes you can use the HT1000 as a ham transceiver. You can monitor your police on a receive only channel if they are on an analog system and you can use it as a "walkie-talkie" by programming it with MURS frequencies if you use VHF or FRS channels if you use UHF

The HT1000 is not type accepted for FRS use, nor does it meet the technical specifications for FRS use.

 

[KC9VZV]

Sorry that I haven't replied until now, but this has been very helpful. The one thing that I am still not clear on is if I want to operate a ht1000 w/o a ham license (and no repeater), are there any frequencies that I can legally operate on? Just using them like walkie-talkies?

Thanks!!!

 

[KG4INW]

Sorry that I haven't replied until now, but this has been very helpful. The one thing that I am still not clear on is if I want to operate a ht1000 w/o a ham license (and no repeater), are there any frequencies that I can legally operate on? Just using them like walkie-talkies?

Thanks!!!

Just on the VHF MURS freqs but at no more than 2 watts.