snap802
Member
Background:
Each summer I work with a camp and we use MURS as our primary means of communication among staff. Prior to a few years ago we relied on a communications company local to one of our staff members that donated a dozen or so radios each summer. However, we had to take what was available. Sometimes we'd get gear in need or repair or gear with batteries that wouldn't hold a charge. It was decided that we would either A) pony up the cash to rent quality gear or B) find an economical way to purchase our own gear. We ultimately found that MURS fit our needs the best and have been using 154.57 and 154.60 for our operations for several years now.
We've been using mostly radius sp10 radios with a few 1 and 2 watt spirits thrown in the mix. These have been good for us because they are cheap and I've been able to maintain all of our units myself.
Well, I've learned a few things since we started with these radios...
My main concern is that our gear is wideband (with no way to change that) at 25KHz and the MURS spec calls for a max bandwidth of 20KHz for the two 154 channels.
First of all, it is our wish to be in compliance with the law. Secondly, it is our intention to operate in such a way as to not interfere with any other communications. Finally, we only use these radios a few weeks out of the year and have a limited budget. It's hard to justify purchasing all new equipment.
1. Is 25KHz close enough to satisfy the spec for MURS? Is there any wiggle room allowed?
2. Is running 12.5KHz permissible on the 154 channels? This is under 20KHz. This would work for us as we phase out older gear and phase in newer VHF units. I had hoped to phase in newer gear over time rather than all at once though.
3. Most handheld units I find either run 25KHz or 25/12.5KHZ. Why would the FCC make the bandwidth max 20KHz for the 154 channels and 11.25KHZ for the 151 channels. It seems like all this does is make most radios not compatible with MURS.
Thanks for any input, suggestions, clarifications, etc...
-DK
Each summer I work with a camp and we use MURS as our primary means of communication among staff. Prior to a few years ago we relied on a communications company local to one of our staff members that donated a dozen or so radios each summer. However, we had to take what was available. Sometimes we'd get gear in need or repair or gear with batteries that wouldn't hold a charge. It was decided that we would either A) pony up the cash to rent quality gear or B) find an economical way to purchase our own gear. We ultimately found that MURS fit our needs the best and have been using 154.57 and 154.60 for our operations for several years now.
We've been using mostly radius sp10 radios with a few 1 and 2 watt spirits thrown in the mix. These have been good for us because they are cheap and I've been able to maintain all of our units myself.
Well, I've learned a few things since we started with these radios...
My main concern is that our gear is wideband (with no way to change that) at 25KHz and the MURS spec calls for a max bandwidth of 20KHz for the two 154 channels.
First of all, it is our wish to be in compliance with the law. Secondly, it is our intention to operate in such a way as to not interfere with any other communications. Finally, we only use these radios a few weeks out of the year and have a limited budget. It's hard to justify purchasing all new equipment.
1. Is 25KHz close enough to satisfy the spec for MURS? Is there any wiggle room allowed?
2. Is running 12.5KHz permissible on the 154 channels? This is under 20KHz. This would work for us as we phase out older gear and phase in newer VHF units. I had hoped to phase in newer gear over time rather than all at once though.
3. Most handheld units I find either run 25KHz or 25/12.5KHZ. Why would the FCC make the bandwidth max 20KHz for the 154 channels and 11.25KHZ for the 151 channels. It seems like all this does is make most radios not compatible with MURS.
Thanks for any input, suggestions, clarifications, etc...
-DK
