FRS like intrasquad radios.

[Tim-B]

When FRS was still in its infancy one of the FRS radio manufacturers made some radios for the military that looked exactly like one of their FRS models. They were 14 channel analog radios that worked on frequencies from 396.875 to 399.975 MHz. I even saw some of them being used in a documentary about certain military units. They were complete with the FRS style roger beeps and all. I have had these frequencies in all my scanners since then (for about 20 years now) and I have only heard traffic one time. It was between what sounded like a father and son travelling on interstate 20 near Shreveport, LA and neither of them sounded military. The radios were probably stolen. But they definitely were on one of the military frequencies assigned to those intrasquad radios. Does anyone know if they still use these radios? I have been contemplating removing those frequencies from all my scanners just to speed up scan speed. I program them into the same bank as FRS, GMRS, MURS, and itinerant business frequencies.

 

[iMONITOR]

I recall ICOM made a hand held variant of their civilian FRS radio that had military frequencies in it.

It looked like this:

 

[nd5y]

Icom was the original manufacturer.
Several years ago NTIA took several frequencies back. I don't know if there are any legitimate DoD users left.

 

[Tim-B]

Yep, I think that is them. I was wondering if they are still being used or if that was just a one time thing and the radios are long since retired. If they don't use them or similar ones on those frequencies then I will just remove them from my scanners.

 

[nd5y]

If you don't live within a mile or so of a military installation or someplace where the Civil Air Patrol operates then you will probably never hear anything anyway.

 

[iMONITOR]

I would see some of the military versions turn up on Ebay from time to time for insane prices. Haven't seen any for the last 5+ years.

 

[freema22]

CAP still has them, but I’m not sure how often they are actually used. They are pretty tired, beat up, and the range is pretty crappy.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I have 3 of the civilian version IC4008A's. They are very good radios and the batteries last 3 days. I usually hand a couple out to family when on trips and use my Saber radio to communicate with them. Works great. I did pump up the Icom deviation a bit within the bandwidth of the receivers.

 

[Tim-B]

Well, Ok, maybe I will leave the frequencies in a bit longer.

 

[jeepsandradios]

Have not seen those in decades. I was with an ICOM dealer when they were released and we got a set to demo for the local ANG. If I recall they were tagged as a "soldier intercom" and not a true radio. Never did end up selling any via our shop as most had to go thru DOD but they were a cool little setup. I can't imagine any are in service anymore.

 

[PACNWDude]

I saw these at a remote fire base in Afghanistan in 2004, and they were being used as an "intra-team" radio by Marine Corps units going to the field. 3/3 Marines elements.

Actual high-speed types were using Thales AN/PRC-148 Multi-Band Intra-Team Radios (MBITR's), which now includes both the Thales handhelds and the Harris AN/PRC-152.

As of 2004, it was known that the Icom's could possibly set off Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's) and the Marines were told to limit their use as a result. As an Air Force comms person, I arrived with a Garmin Rino 120 which was a GPS crossed with a FRS/GMRS radio, and I received the same briefing and warning on radio use as the Marines as a result. My job was to repare the many Harris AN/PRC117F and Motorola XTS series handhelds broken at the site. The Icom radios were good little units, and many made it home with the person they were issued to, as the military did not seem to want them back. They were considered expendable, and some were used with earpieces or headsets.

 

[ecps92]

Since they are not made anymore as they die. the parts are re-used to keep others running.
I've only heard them in use by the CAP at an Air show, or during an ELT [Ground team] search but you need to be close-by


Also some of the Frequencies have been removed from access by the NTIA
I thought there was a Wiki for those channels, but now can't find it

Yep, I think that is them. I was wondering if they are still being used or if that was just a one time thing and the radios are long since retired. If they don't use them or similar ones on those frequencies then I will just remove them from my scanners.

 

[tyytor]

Hi I agree with CAP useing them from time to time from seeing actual use,
several years ago i talk to a military comm person at an air show they told me they surplused there's?
After that CAP started useing them.

 

[ecps92]

CAP's had them long before any Mil Units sent their to Surplus.

I've talked to more than one member of the Armed Services and other than the normal MIL Issues PRC etc radio
they have never seen the Icom, unless someone brought their own FRS/GMRS Bubble packs for Camp/Compound use only.

Hi I agree with CAP useing them from time to time from seeing actual use,
several years ago i talk to a military comm person at an air show they told me they surplused there's?
After that CAP started useing them.

 

[737mech]

A few years ago I noticed the NV Guard units on New Years patroling the airport with Icom radios. This was the channel list. They are heard on the State EDACS system during New Years as well. These were from 2018 so I'm guessing no longer in use?
NV GUARD ICOM 1 396.875000
NV GUARD ICOM 2 397.125000
NV GUARD ICOM 3 397.175000
NV GUARD ICOM 4 397.375000
NV GUARD ICOM 5 397.425000
NV GUARD ICOM 6 397.475000
NV GUARD ICOM 7 397.550000
NV GUARD ICOM 8 397.950000
NV GUARD ICOM 9 398.050000
NV GUARD ICOM 10 399.425000
NV GUARD ICOM 11 399.475000
NV GUARD ICOM 12 399.725000
NV GUARD ICOM 13 399.925000
NV GUARD ICOM 14 399.975000

 

[ecps92]

Bingo that is the list, however, Ch13 and 14 were revoked from approval as that is now a DoD Satellite Band
and CAP were told [2014] that Ch.10 and 11 were no longer approved

A few years ago I noticed the NV Guard units on New Years patroling the airport with Icom radios. This was the channel list. They are heard on the State EDACS system during New Years as well. These were from 2018 so I'm guessing no longer in use?
NV GUARD ICOM 1 396.875000
NV GUARD ICOM 2 397.125000
NV GUARD ICOM 3 397.175000
NV GUARD ICOM 4 397.375000
NV GUARD ICOM 5 397.425000
NV GUARD ICOM 6 397.475000
NV GUARD ICOM 7 397.550000
NV GUARD ICOM 8 397.950000
NV GUARD ICOM 9 398.050000
NV GUARD ICOM 10 399.425000
NV GUARD ICOM 11 399.475000
NV GUARD ICOM 12 399.725000
NV GUARD ICOM 13 399.925000
NV GUARD ICOM 14 399.975000

 

[tyytor]

CAP's had them long before any Mil Units sent their to Surplus.

I've talked to more than one member of the Armed Services and other than the normal MIL Issues PRC etc radio
they have never seen the Icom, unless someone brought their own FRS/GMRS Bubble packs for Camp/Compound use only.

Hi I agree with you now sence I moved were I am now, year's ago they might have tried to feed me a load of dodo.😁

 

[danesgs]

As to being a mile from a base to hear any traffic on MIL LM 395-398, here in the DC area the system has been built out, I guess region-wide so living in Leesburg, 75 miles from The Washington Navy Yard, I can still hear them along with Ft. Belvoir and such. They must have microwave links to all the local bases and I am picking up the down links. Never heard anything that sounds like intra-sqaud traffic though, mostly gate security and base FD.