Kenwood TK-5320 Radio Question

[deputy540]

Hello, new here, do have a question about a specific radio...

I recently purchased a Kenwood TK-5320 K6 UHF P25 radio. The frequency range is 380 to 400 mhz.
My question, can I tweak, adjust anything about this radio to make a higher frequency range?? or Lower? I have the programming software aswell. I have searched for an answer to this to no avail. I jumped the gun when I bought it not paying attention to the frequency range and am regretting it now. I would like to make the thing VHF if possible or atleast go higher in frequency (400-500 mhz). Anything at all I can do to accomplish this? A hack? Something inside that can be replaced? I have no use for 380 to 400.

I bought radio second-hand.

Thank You for any answers and reading.

 

[n9vjw]

K6

I believe that the range of the K6 model is 380-470MHz, not 400. Maybe that will help.

 

[sfd119]

Usually you can go +/- a few mhz but you will not be able to go VHF or upper UHF without hardware modifications. Your best course of action is selling the radio and getting one that will work for you

 

[mmckenna]

The TK-5320K6 does, in fact, only cover 380-400MHz. Kenwood advertises at "US Federal Government & Export Sales Only".

So, short answer, no, you are not going to be able to stretch it much out of this range.

Modifying it takes a huge amount of work, and it will violate it's type acceptance (if it even has one, being its designed for US Federal government, which falls under the NTIA, not the FCC), that alone would make it illegal to use anywhere but the amateur radio bands.

 

[deputy540]

The TK-5320K6 does, in fact, only cover 380-400MHz. Kenwood advertises at "US Federal Government & Export Sales Only".

So, short answer, no, you are not going to be able to stretch it much out of this range.

Modifying it takes a huge amount of work, and it will violate it's type acceptance (if it even has one, being its designed for US Federal government, which falls under the NTIA, not the FCC), that alone would make it illegal to use anywhere but the amateur radio bands.

Thanks. I figured that would be the answer. Do you all know of ANY frequcies I can listen to on it at least? Something entertaining, UHF weather? I know that spectrum is not used a lot.

 

[spongella]

No UHF weather that I know of up there.

 

[mmckenna]

Thanks. I figured that would be the answer. Do you all know of ANY frequcies I can listen to on it at least? Something entertaining, UHF weather? I know that spectrum is not used a lot.

The only stuff down in the 380-400 range is going to be federal type stuff. P25, likely encrypted/trunked. You won't be able to decrypt it.

NOAA sometimes does some linking to transmitters around 406-408, but picking it up really depends on where you are. Not all NOAA transmitters use that sort of connection. The ones that do use directional antennas at fairly low power, so to hear the link, you need to be pretty close to the path.
If you can stretch the radio that far outside the band.

I think you'd be better off selling it, or just calling it lesson learned, and getting the right radio. You are not the first one to fall into this, and won't be the last.