Need help selecting a multi band portable radio.

[fireman406]

Good morning.

I'm currently looking for a portable radio that I can transmit and receive on two frequencies. One is an air band frequency (128.875), the other is a VHF Frequency (160.1250).
I'm not entirely sure if it is possible, but I thought I would ask the community.

At the very least I need a portable radio that can transmit on the VHF frequency and Receive the air band frequency.

Thanks Everyone!

 

[900mhz]

Air band is AM, the VHF frequency is FM. There is no portable that would transmit both AM and FM.

 

[fireman406]

Air band is AM, the VHF frequency is FM. There is no portable that would transmit both AM and FM.

Is there one that would transmit and receive on FM and only receive on AM?

 

[900mhz]

My guess is that there is not a type accepted radio that would do that. What type of modulation is used on the VHF frequency?

 

[fireman406]

My guess is that there is not a type accepted radio that would do that. What type of modulation is used on the VHF frequency?

NFM DCS054

 

[mmckenna]

Nothing legal that will do that. Might be some military gear, but it'll be expensive and large/heavy.
To do it legally, you'd need to buy an air band specific radio, and a separate Part 90 certified radio for the 160MHz frequency.
As stated, air band uses AM modulation, and they won't do FM. The Part 90 radios won't do AM, and won't go that far down in frequency.

It's more common for the aircraft to have FM capable radios installed to facilitate talking to first responders directly on the ground. Fire fighters/EMS carrying AM capable radios to talk to the helicopters isn't something I've heard of before.

 

[natedawg1604]

Air band is AM, the VHF frequency is FM. There is no portable that would transmit both AM and FM.

Well Harris does make a few lol...

 

[mmckenna]

Well Harris does make a few lol...

Yeah, getting them is the hard part. I don't think they have the necessary Part 90/Part 87 approvals. Plus they are big/heavy/green.
Not to mention running non-type accepted gear on an employers radio system can get one into legal issues.

 

[natedawg1604]

Yeah, getting them is the hard part. I don't think they have the necessary Part 90/Part 87 approvals. Plus they are big/heavy/green.
Not to mention running non-type accepted gear on an employers radio system can get one into legal issues.

Well hit me up when you find some AN/PRC-152s lying around a pawn shop by mistake or at a flea market or something, maybe we can work out a deal together ....

 

[mmckenna]

Well hit me up when you find some AN/PRC-152s lying around a pawn shop by mistake or at a flea market or something, maybe we can work out a deal together ....

I had my hands on one a few months back (a real one, not a BaoFeng knock-off), but they would have been cranky if I'd walked off with it.
Heavy radio, big, not something I'd want to carry. But, yeah, the feature set is pretty amazing.