Which ham radios can transmit public safety frequencies?
- Thread starter ben4345
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sloop
Member
Not to beat a dead horse, but legally...none of them. Where I live the fire/rescue are volunteer and as such have limited funds so only officers and select members get supplied with HT's. Others purchase radios with their own money and many of them use ham radios. "no body cares", "I'm only using it to help people, so nobody will say anything", but let something go wrong...... One in a million chance I know but are you willing to take it? You need to realize what could happen in a 'worst case scenario before you go there! That being said, a good mono-band 2 meter that will do narrow fm is what you need to look for. Yaesu, Icom either one will work....from my experiences stay away from cheap Chinese brands as they tend not to be as stable or durable. BTW I've been in emergency services as law enforcement, firefighter, EMT, HazMat tech for 25+ years and am now retired. I survived without ever having to use my ham radio for communications in an emergency (even before cell phones). Good Luck.
n9upc
Member
Well that is not exactly true as it depends on how you view the question and term 'ham radio'.
Numerous manufacturers are now making handhelds that are part 90 and 95 certified that can do both ham and business/public safety freqs. As an example the Wouxun (Powerwrex rebadged Wouxun)and the QX8a are both part 90 and 95 certified. However, the issue falls into the ability to keypad program ability.
The Wouxuns are a good one to chose for your type of needs as I use one in the same aspect.
Numerous manufacturers are now making handhelds that are part 90 and 95 certified that can do both ham and business/public safety freqs. As an example the Wouxun (Powerwrex rebadged Wouxun)and the QX8a are both part 90 and 95 certified. However, the issue falls into the ability to keypad program ability.
The Wouxuns are a good one to chose for your type of needs as I use one in the same aspect.
cabletech
Member
A couple of things. 1) Ham radios are only designed to transmit withing the ham band. 2) As here in the US, all public safety frequency's now transmit in the narrow band mode. 3) Ham radios are NOT set up to transmit in the narrow band mode.
Bottom line, ham radios may RECEIVE public safety frequency's but even then the audio will sound different. use the correct radio for the correct function.
Bottom line, ham radios may RECEIVE public safety frequency's but even then the audio will sound different. use the correct radio for the correct function.
Some ham radios do support SNFM, but the way the question was asked the correct answer is 'none of them'. You can't use a ham radio in the PS band. You CAN use a Part 90 radio in both the PS and ham bands, however. There are many such radios including the cheap Chinese radios that are Part 90 radios. One limiting factor is that for Part 90 compliance (what is needed for the PS band) you need to disable the keypad frequency entry so you will have to program your ham frequencies via PC.
mikepdx
Member
Forget about "ham" radios.
Do those you serve a favor and
purchase a high quality commercial
transceiver.
You need not buy new. There are
plenty of current and recent model used
available at VERY reasonable prices.
I carry a Kenwood TK-280 VHF 250 chan.
You can program every amateur 2m repeater
in your area +plenty of simplex channels -
with room left over for Part 90 narrow band
freqs.
Do those you serve a favor and
purchase a high quality commercial
transceiver.
You need not buy new. There are
plenty of current and recent model used
available at VERY reasonable prices.
I carry a Kenwood TK-280 VHF 250 chan.
You can program every amateur 2m repeater
in your area +plenty of simplex channels -
with room left over for Part 90 narrow band
freqs.
Last edited:
Folks, we've been through this before. The dead horse has been hauled out of the building, so there's no need to keep beating it.
The only radios which may legally be used to transmit on a Part 90 frequency is a radio FCC certified for Part 90.
Refer to this thread which is stickied at the top of the forum thread list:
http://forums.radioreference.com/am...ut-band-transmit-illegal-stupid-question.html
This thread is closed.
The only radios which may legally be used to transmit on a Part 90 frequency is a radio FCC certified for Part 90.
Refer to this thread which is stickied at the top of the forum thread list:
http://forums.radioreference.com/am...ut-band-transmit-illegal-stupid-question.html
This thread is closed.
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