I've used these forums and the database for years to monitor local municipalities, railroad, aircraft and so on and to help build my knowledge of radios as good as I can. So now I finally made an account to pick the minds of others. I'm going to be making an attempt at restoring an old police car that wouldve had an astro spectra vhf with a w9 head. I've been able to find a few complete in car remote mount set ups on Ebay from anywhere between 250 and 400 which seems a little high especially since this doesn't include any channel programming (I found a few xtl5000 in the 150 mhz range for 400 so that's why I say high). I've also found astro siren units with the amp, wiring and the dek for around 200 as well. Still seems a little high.
Now the car originally had a remote mount w9 head that was programmed between 154 to 158mhz and the keypad on the w9 was programmed to control the siren functions instead of the dek accessory keypad. I'd like to have a functional siren and radio setup in the car. Everyone local has made the switch to 800mhz trunked or is about to so having frequencies in the 150 to 162 range is okay. Plus I am an fra licensed railroad employee and plan to have railroad channels in there as well.
So my real questions are:
1. Do those prices seem high for old school equipment? Or would I be better off piecing it together since I already have the w9 heads?
2. How hard is it to program these radios and where would I start or obtain the software? I'm not computer savvy at all so I'd preferably like to find someone local who could assist with the setup and programming of the system to make sure I dont screw it up.
3. Well there isnt a 3 but I'm open to any suggestions or ideas you guys (or gals) may have. I'm a little tight on budget as my finances this year have had major hits so please keep that in mind before you tell me to blow a grand on something. Thank you all and thank you for letting me in to the community.
Now the car originally had a remote mount w9 head that was programmed between 154 to 158mhz and the keypad on the w9 was programmed to control the siren functions instead of the dek accessory keypad. I'd like to have a functional siren and radio setup in the car. Everyone local has made the switch to 800mhz trunked or is about to so having frequencies in the 150 to 162 range is okay. Plus I am an fra licensed railroad employee and plan to have railroad channels in there as well.
So my real questions are:
1. Do those prices seem high for old school equipment? Or would I be better off piecing it together since I already have the w9 heads?
2. How hard is it to program these radios and where would I start or obtain the software? I'm not computer savvy at all so I'd preferably like to find someone local who could assist with the setup and programming of the system to make sure I dont screw it up.
3. Well there isnt a 3 but I'm open to any suggestions or ideas you guys (or gals) may have. I'm a little tight on budget as my finances this year have had major hits so please keep that in mind before you tell me to blow a grand on something. Thank you all and thank you for letting me in to the community.
