Help please!!! NO idea... NEWBIE

[mhubert123]

Hello RR user's,
I'm new to the whole radio communications other than CB and walkie talkies. Soon I'll be ready to start a small business that will be vehicle based. (I'll have about 3-4 trucks at first)

Questions:
What do I need to do before my business can operate the 3-4 radios in co. vehicles and a base station as well.

The area I'll be running in most will be Montgomery County, Alabama and from time to time surrounding areas. What type of radio would be best for my local area. I know that I'll only be able to go so far and hear, but what would give the most distance as possible? Around 5-10 miles hopefully

Will I need any type of HAM license(s) to operate these radio's?



Thanks,
Matt.

 

[Mike_G_D]

I'm surprised that no one has yet responded to your question - those who can do so knowledgeably are likely quite busy folks I would imagine, so I'll just repeat what I think they would all tell you.

Firstly, don't even consider a Ham license - that is ONLY for personal use and cannot be used for business use at all - period! What you would need if you ran your own system would be a business radio license. Having said that, I think that you should consider simpler solutions given the small size of your fleet and coverage and just to get your business off the ground in the shortest time possible with the minimum of fuss and bother.

I would look at two options to start with:

1) A cellular PTT service for fleet dispatch like Nextel. Nextel is now owned by Sprint and is in the process of changing to new technology from their older iDen system but, if their coverage in your area is good (you will have to check) and you can afford the charges, this might work out well for you. If you find the cost or service not to your liking in the future you can always drop them (assuming no contract issues - check carefully before you sign up) and go to something else. I think some of the other carriers are also offering PTT (Push-To-Talk which means using a means to simulate "simplex two-way radio" operation using cellular or cellular-like services) operation options so you could check around - maybe even your own current provider.

2) Go to a local professional two-way radio shop in your area and see what they may have available as a service in terms of a system that they maintain and rent time on to customers. Many, if not most, larger professional two-way radio shops maintain one or more two way systems that cover their area and then rent usage on to customers. The advantage to this over "doing it yourself" is that you don't have to worry about getting a license or maintaining the equipment. Of course, you pay a fee (monthly or whatever) but you just deal with them when there is a problem and don't have to worry about having to maintain the equipment yourself or hiring someone to do it for you (which you would really have to do unless you are very technically proficient in radio gear and installation/maintenance and have the spare time to do so).

Frankly, I think the two options above are your best bet. You have enough on your plate starting your own business without having to deal with setting up and maintaining a working and reliable radio system. Let someone else do this for you and factor the cost of their services into your startup and recurring costs.

One MINOR (read remote) possibility is that you could try a license free service called MURS (Mult-Use Radio Service). It allows 2 watt radio VHF usage on five frequencies and allows external antenna usage including external base antennas which you would need and might cover the five miles you quote depending on the surrounding terrain in your area. If your "headquarters" or central office is located on high ground and has good line of sight to most or all of the area you want to cover this might work. BUT, you would still need the help of someone with good radio technical expertise to help you set it up properly for the best operation (installing the base system and antenna and all of the mobiles and their antennas as well as picking out the best options for FCC Part 95 compliant radios) or be prepared to spend considerable time researching it yourself and experimenting (meaning lost time and revenue for you - I think you get the point!). The reliability of this solution may also not be viable for you depending on how your local terrain is relative to your central office. Unless you want to devote time to a new "hobby" in addition to starting and running a business I am not too sure this is a good option for you - I might try it but that is because I am a long time radio nut with a professional background; I am guessing that is not your description?!

I just think that "doing it yourself" is likely a bad choice for any small business these days considering a two way fleet dispatch radio service. There are too many good subscription services either cellular or LMR (Land Mobile Radio) available in most reasonably urban or semi-urban areas these days that I think you would be foolish not to take advantage of; at least do some shopping around in your area and see what is available. Just look online and/or the Yellow Pages - "Two-Way Radio Services and Solutions" etc.

Setting up and maintaining a properly running and reliable (and legally licensed) radio system is no small endeavor even for low coverage conventional simplex systems let alone wide coverage repeater and/or trunked systems! Not exactly "plug and play"!

-Mike

 

[Jimru]

Mike,

You've pretty much said everything that needs to be said! A good primer in my view, for the OP.

Jim

 

[mhubert123]

I'm surprised that no one has yet responded to your question - those who can do so knowledgeably are likely quite busy folks I would imagine, so I'll just repeat what I think they would all tell you.

Firstly, don't even consider a Ham license - that is ONLY for personal use and cannot be used for business use at all - period! What you would need if you ran your own system would be a business radio license. Having said that, I think that you should consider simpler solutions given the small size of your fleet and coverage and just to get your business off the ground in the shortest time possible with the minimum of fuss and bother.

I would look at two options to start with:

1) A cellular PTT service for fleet dispatch like Nextel. Nextel is now owned by Sprint and is in the process of changing to new technology from their older iDen system but, if their coverage in your area is good (you will have to check) and you can afford the charges, this might work out well for you. If you find the cost or service not to your liking in the future you can always drop them (assuming no contract issues - check carefully before you sign up) and go to something else. I think some of the other carriers are also offering PTT (Push-To-Talk which means using a means to simulate "simplex two-way radio" operation using cellular or cellular-like services) operation options so you could check around - maybe even your own current provider.

2) Go to a local professional two-way radio shop in your area and see what they may have available as a service in terms of a system that they maintain and rent time on to customers. Many, if not most, larger professional two-way radio shops maintain one or more two way systems that cover their area and then rent usage on to customers. The advantage to this over "doing it yourself" is that you don't have to worry about getting a license or maintaining the equipment. Of course, you pay a fee (monthly or whatever) but you just deal with them when there is a problem and don't have to worry about having to maintain the equipment yourself or hiring someone to do it for you (which you would really have to do unless you are very technically proficient in radio gear and installation/maintenance and have the spare time to do so).

Frankly, I think the two options above are your best bet. You have enough on your plate starting your own business without having to deal with setting up and maintaining a working and reliable radio system. Let someone else do this for you and factor the cost of their services into your startup and recurring costs.

One MINOR (read remote) possibility is that you could try a license free service called MURS (Mult-Use Radio Service). It allows 2 watt radio VHF usage on five frequencies and allows external antenna usage including external base antennas which you would need and might cover the five miles you quote depending on the surrounding terrain in your area. If your "headquarters" or central office is located on high ground and has good line of sight to most or all of the area you want to cover this might work. BUT, you would still need the help of someone with good radio technical expertise to help you set it up properly for the best operation (installing the base system and antenna and all of the mobiles and their antennas as well as picking out the best options for FCC Part 95 compliant radios) or be prepared to spend considerable time researching it yourself and experimenting (meaning lost time and revenue for you - I think you get the point!). The reliability of this solution may also not be viable for you depending on how your local terrain is relative to your central office. Unless you want to devote time to a new "hobby" in addition to starting and running a business I am not too sure this is a good option for you - I might try it but that is because I am a long time radio nut with a professional background; I am guessing that is not your description?!

I just think that "doing it yourself" is likely a bad choice for any small business these days considering a two way fleet dispatch radio service. There are too many good subscription services either cellular or LMR (Land Mobile Radio) available in most reasonably urban or semi-urban areas these days that I think you would be foolish not to take advantage of; at least do some shopping around in your area and see what is available. Just look online and/or the Yellow Pages - "Two-Way Radio Services and Solutions" etc.

Setting up and maintaining a properly running and reliable (and legally licensed) radio system is no small endeavor even for low coverage conventional simplex systems let alone wide coverage repeater and/or trunked systems! Not exactly "plug and play"!

-Mike

Thanks for all that great insight! I have done some further research after I posted this on here and found about "FleetTel" radios. They would be on anytime my trucks are running and I added the PDF document in the attachments for you to give me your thoughts on the system.

Thanks,
Matthew H.

 

[Mike_G_D]

Matthew,

I have no first hand experience with the FleetTel system nor have I heard any comments concerning it. It looks ok for your purposes and if you are fine with the cost involved then you're set. It sounds like it works using a standard cellular PTT service but uses mobile units that are dedicated to that service and look like standard two-way radios - that is, they are really just cell phones dressed up as two-way radios and take full advantage of the PTT service. As far as I can see, that's fine and would, ideally, be transparent to the user and probably be a simple solution for you notwithstanding the cost.

Now, as to the cost, I am wondering if the FleetTel system is overkill for you? I do not know what kind of business you intend to run and what your future expansion goals are (say to cover more than your initially stated 5-10 mile area) but, if you are not intending to go outside that area within the next few years there may be cheaper solutions. I see that the FleetTel system has a free trial using 2 Way Radio Express. I went to their website and they seem legit and professional based on the website alone. What I would do if I were you is call them up and explain where you are and what you want to do both now and in the foreseeable future. Starting a business is always fraught with unintended and unforeseen issues that almost always translate into money that vanishes in unexpected ways and inappropriate times;-). I would see what that service (2 Way Radio Express) has besides the FleetTel system that may be a cheaper solution for you while you are just starting out - if your main customers/service area is going to be within a 10 or so mile radius of where your office is and will be for the next few years it might make better financial sense to consider possible cheaper options. But, I don't know - just call them and see what they say. And don't rule out other services and shops that may be local to you! Take advantage of the "free trial" but be careful not to let them upsell you or lock you in to something that taxes funds better needed for the many "rainy days" to come in getting your business off the ground!

I should mention that I am not a professional radio system installer and do not have that background - I am of the "lab rat" variety just so you know. I am pretty certain many others on this site (those with service/installer background and experience) might be better suited to giving you better advice at this stage. Maybe some other folks on here have direct experience with FleetTel and/or 2 Way Radio Express? Or someone can recommend some service more local to where you are? Anyway, just keep a cool head, don't panic, and do some shopping and cost versus performance comparisons. And good luck!

-Mike

 

[rapidcharger]

If you're willing to spend more up front for equipment such as a tower, antenna, etc and high powered radios, and possibly a repeater (if you want the mobile units to talk with one another reliably and not just to dispatch) you can forgo the monthly fees.

You might even see a return on your investment quicker than with cell phones. At least this is what I was programmed to tell people when I was a Moto salesman.

Just in my personal ham station, I can get at least 5 miles of base-to-mobile coverage reliably with an antenna in the attic, a radio that cost about $500 new and some other ancillary items like coax. Then again, I'm in a high spot on a hill and that helps. Digital radios may help too since if you have a weak signal that would be very staticky on an analog radio would be crystal clear on digital.

 

[mhubert123]

Re: Radio's

Personally, I can live with the monthly fee and the upfront cost of the units. Since I will be using the radios mostly farther away from home base I.E. Regional runs and sometimes that occasional coast to coast run this would come in handy!

Not to say too much at this point, but I plan on running the entire East Coast but when needed be able to run the lower 48. It seems reasonable for a rough idea of about 10-15 company vehicles including my personal truck in that number in the 1st year or so.

I attached a picture of my prospected home base. The best part is, it's within about 3-4 minutes from the Main Interstate interchange of 65/85 in Montgomery. I was looking through the picture I took as well and noticed I had gotten a picture of a radio tower? that is right next to the highest portion of the building. Posted a picture of the tower as well. Pretty open area around the property although not sure if this means much but there is a small power substation 2 football fields away and their are some High Tension lines about 150' away from the antenna pole itself. Would this cause much interference? FleetTel's base is some kind of an actual pc program and requires internet connection to dispatch trucks over the radio. I really do like this system for its intended purpose.

 

[rapidcharger]

I'd have someone come out and inspect the tower and coax and see what kind of antenna is in place. If it's usuable, that's a substantial part of the investment required for a radio system for use locally in montgomery. I wouldn't go buying a radio system for nationwide coverage until you're ready to expand. Then again I'm a ham and this is all fun for me. If you don't know, don't care and just want it to work and work right now, then cellphone with PTT service is the easiest solution.

 

[mhubert123]

I am still looking into a radio system for only 2 trucks at this point... Have not gotten that property just yet.

 

[Drachen_Fire]

Just looking at your county in the database, it appears as if there are several rental systems at your disposal.

Allcomm Wireless
Darden Communications
Southern Company LINC 800 (iDen)
Telecom Network

 

[KevinC]

I am still looking into a radio system for only 2 trucks at this point... Have not gotten that property just yet.

You could always give Zello a try...

Zello. Live conversation.