Can anyone identify this radio?

[telsta860]

Greetings!!

I've dug up a box of old radios of mine and I'm trying to find out what I have here. I've been researching the web to find an answer and was led to this site and ultimately to this forum.

This is a radio I took out of one of my boom trucks about 20 years ago. It is an E.F.Johnson Challenger FM two-way radio. Thing is, the back of the radio is much longer than the one in the picture on the cover of the manual. I'm thinking it must be an upgrade of some sort. I realize I should know this, beings how I bought it and all, but that was a long time ago. What I do remember is that a radio shop in Tacoma set me up with these and rented me repeater space before ultimately we all went to cell phones. (Actually I guess not all huh)

There are no identifying markings except for a serial number and an FCC ID number.

Also who, if anyone, still uses this type of radio?

 

[mmckenna]

I know that some of our Motorola VHF radios come in a 50 watt version and a 100 watt version. The 100 watt versions are much longer than the 50 watt radios. The extra length is needed for heat dissipation and the larger amplifier section. Likely the difference between your radio and the one on the cover of the manual is the power output.

If you shared the FCC ID, we could help you narrow it down. Or, you can go here and type it in: OET -- FCC ID Search

That should help you figure out band and power output.
Looks like it could be an EF Johnson 71xx series radio, might be a good place to start looking. From what I can find those were VHF or UHF, and 2 channels up to 99 channel versions, and anywhere from 25 watts VHF/15 watts UHF to 100 watts VHF/80 watts UHF. With the longer chassis, I'm thinking you have one of the higher powered units.

 

[telsta860]

OK! I'll take a look. The FCC ID is ATH90F242-7175

 

[telsta860]

Well the FCC ID search didn't work. The serial number is 718708182A 11075.

 

[zz0468]

You used it on a rented repeater? Probably UHF, then. Those radio are mid-80's vintage, they came in VHF low, VHF high, and UHF versions up to 110 watts. I'm guessing the model number is a 7175. There's lots of information on the web about that series, but little on the 7175 itself.

Who uses them now? Nobody but hams, most likely, They're not narrow band compliant, so will soon be obsolete and no longer legal for business band use.