Best Higher End UHF/VHF Handheld?

[Gstoneburner]

Hi everybody. I have been using the budget UHF/ VHF radios for a while now, and have decided that it's time to step up and get a higher quality handheld with a much better front end. I use Motorola professionally at my job, and I'm pretty partial to them, but am open to other suggestions as far as brand goes. Is the front end and RX/TX clarity worth the price over the more affordable handhelds? My Ailunce HA1's do pretty well as is, and they are much better than the baofeng types as far as spurious emissions and handling rf interference. We are mostly running in the UHF band on GMRS frequencies and repeaters in a pretty rural forested area. Mostly for family communication and dirt work, in and out of heavy equipment all day long.

Last question, I have read that the Motorola basic CPS is now free to download. Is this true? How does it compare to chirp, etc as far as user friendliness and the learning curve?

 

[jeepsandradios]

Your posting this in the GMRS/FRS/MURS Section. There are no certified dual band radios for those services. If your looking for amateur service I'd start with the big three, Kenwood, Icom, Yaseu. All have quality handhelds. For LMR Part 90 frequencies then the APX7000/8000 series are theo nly dual band but defiantely way more than the stuff your using. Harris and Kenwood also offer dual band stuff. If your only usiong GMRS then alot of part 90 radios could fit your bill.

 

[Gstoneburner]

Your posting this in the GMRS/FRS/MURS Section. There are no certified dual band radios for those services. If your looking for amateur service I'd start with the big three, Kenwood, Icom, Yaseu. All have quality handhelds. For LMR Part 90 frequencies then the APX7000/8000 series are theo nly dual band but defiantely way more than the stuff your using. Harris and Kenwood also offer dual band stuff. If your only usiong GMRS then alot of part 90 radios could fit your bill.

I actually originally posted it in the amateur radio equipment discussion, and then got a notification that a mod moved it to the GMRS/FRS/MURS section.... I don't need to run part 90, mostly just the GMRS range for our private stuff.

 

[MTS2000des]

If you can find one, an APX7000 V/U1 fits the bill. Problem is, many that have them want a King's ransom for them and IMO, they aren't worth it. While great radios, they are also 15 years old and no longer supported by MSI- this means no parts like RF boards, displays, etc. So those who spend $2500 on one and something dies, they have a parts radio. That kind of money can buy an APX8000 which is fully supported and capable of much more like all band V/U full range, 7/8) and all the cool CopSounds™ people want. Main advantage is being able to send it to the depot for repair at the wonderful flat rate of close to $1200 (still cheaper than a new one) provided it has a valid S/N and tags match what's on record at MSI.

 

[mmckenna]

I don't need to run part 90, mostly just the GMRS range for our private stuff.

To help us make a good suggestion, what do you -actually- need? If you are running GMRS and just want a really good radio, there are some excellent options.

If you -really- require VHF and UHF, then you are getting into an expensive market, and having the proper type certifications gets difficult.

 

[rf_patriot200]

While not Gmrs or Murs but Still license free, if long distance is not necessary the 900 mhz. DTR FHSS portables are great for covert use without the need for encryption. I have 3 of them I mess with from time to time.

 

[IamEncrypted]

I would recommend Sunny Communications. They sell used Motorola, Icom and Kenwood portables all with chargers and free programming up to 16 (analog) channels.

Used Two Way Radios, Used Motorola Radios | Used Radios

Used Radios has the world's largest inventory of used two way radios and infrastructure, used motorola radios and more. All tested by qualified technicians.

used-radios.com

 

[prcguy]

I actually originally posted it in the amateur radio equipment discussion, and then got a notification that a mod moved it to the GMRS/FRS/MURS section.... I don't need to run part 90, mostly just the GMRS range for our private stuff.

For GMRS you should be looking for Part 95 or Part 90 radios, this is the right section.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I've seen some VP8000's pop up on the second hand market already...confirmed demo units from dealers. I bet there are likely a few BKR-9000's in the same situation right now. I don't know anyone who's offloaded TP9800's yet due to waiting on Tait to fix some bugs in trunking...

 

[K6GBW]

I have both Motorola P25 radios and some Asian brand radios. For GMRS use you don’t need a P25 radio and it’s an additional cost and complication with regard to the software. I have them because I belong to a ham radio club that specializes in P25. For my local ham club that does DMR I use an Anytone 878. Ask yourself what it is that you are trying to do, because there is a definite cost and hassle factor with Motorola. That said, if that’s what you really want then go for it. Just be prepared for what comes with it. Either find a club with someone that has programming experience or you’ll have to go trough the nut roll of signing up for a Motorola business account to get the ability to download software. If it were me, and I was just doing regular analog ham stuff and GMRS, I’d stick to the Asian radios and use RT Systems software. Easier and less frustrating.

 

[hill]

For GMRS would look to the Kenwood TK-3180 and the high split model has GMRS Part 95. Solid radios and much better than CCR.

KPG-89 is the software and it is one of the easiest Kenwood software to learn. Cables can be found on Ebay and BlueMax has quality stuff.

A big bonus if you decide to get a mobile the TK-8180 of the same band split can be programmed with the same software and file to keep programming the same between mobiles and HTs. You just need to edit the buttons before programming up mobile, as the HTs and mobiles have different buttons selection.

If you get into programming the radio there are a lot of people on this forum that have a lot experience with Kenwood Radios to assist you.

 

[K9KLC]

I actually originally posted it in the amateur radio equipment discussion, and then got a notification that a mod moved it to the GMRS/FRS/MURS section.... I don't need to run part 90, mostly just the GMRS range for our private stuff.

Because ham radios are not type accepted for use in GMRS/FRS/MURS. Yes you do need part 90/95 radios (mostly part 95 but I guess they're allowing part 90 stuff now). I don't have a recommendation however, dual band type approved might be a little tricky. As far as a mobile supposedly the Anytone 578 is part 90 approved, not sure how they squeaked that one in. I use one for ham on occasion and it works fairly well honestly. Anytone's site is saying the 878 HT is approved also. I have not tried one of those. Frankly I don't do any MURS, and on GMRS I use UHF Motorola, or Kenwood radios. Good luck in your search.

 

[K9KLC]

While not Gmrs or Murs but Still license free, if long distance is not necessary the 900 mhz. DTR FHSS portables are great for covert use without the need for encryption. I have 3 of them I mess with from time to time.

When Nextel folded up, we took some of the old phones, and re-did them for simplex use there. I was honestly quite surprised at what we were able to do with them. I had a chance to mess with a couple of the DTR radios, they were pretty neat also. We got ~ a mile or so out of them most days. Worked well inside buildings with multiple floors.

 

[hill]

Linked below is my tread on this forum from over a year ago on the TK-3180 and GMRS use.

Kenwood TK-3180 great GMRS HT!

The Kenwood TK-3180 is a great GMRS handheld radio. I many different types and models of Kenwood radios and this radio works well for my limited use of GMRS. it's set up with all the repeater pairs with operator selected tone, plus having my local repeater allready programmed in a channel...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[rf_patriot200]

Because ham radios are not type accepted for use in GMRS/FRS/MURS. Yes you do need part 90/95 radios (mostly part 95 but I guess they're allowing part 90 stuff now). I don't have a recommendation however, dual band type approved might be a little tricky. As far as a mobile supposedly the Anytone 578 is part 90 approved, not sure how they squeaked that one in. I use one for ham on occasion and it works fairly well honestly. Anytone's site is saying the 878 HT is approved also. I have not tried one of those. Frankly I don't do any MURS, and on GMRS I use UHF Motorola, or Kenwood radios. Good luck in your search.

Yes, the 878's do work well for Gmrs. They are part 95 approved, but not 90.

 

[sallen07]

Yes, the 878's do work well for Gmrs. They are part 95 approved, but not 90.

I think you have that backwards. They are Part 90, not Part 95. There is no way that radio could get Part 95 E approval, since it is dual-band and can transmit on ham frequencies.

Anytone AT-D878UVII Digital DMR Dual-band Handheld Commercial Radio with GPS, APRS TX

VHF/UHF Dual-band Digital/Analog Part 90 DMR commercial transceiver with 1.77 inch color TFT display and GPS. New AT-D878UVII model with green colored top button, includes DMR Roaming, larger memory for future enhancements and storage up to 500,000 contacts. Ideal for Fire, Search & Rescue, EMS...

powerwerx.com

Scroll down to the bottom of "Tech Specs".

 

[K9KLC]

Yes, the 878's do work well for Gmrs. They are part 95 approved, but not 90.

I only said what I saw on the site advertising them.

""VHF/UHF Dual-band Digital/Analog Part 90 DMR commercial transceiver with 1.77 inch color TFT display and GPS.""

This is from the powererx site. I've never seen the 878 advertised as part 95.

 

[K9KLC]

I think you have that backwards. They are Part 90, not Part 95. There is no way that radio could get Part 95 E approval, since it is dual-band and can transmit on ham frequencies.

Anytone AT-D878UVII Digital DMR Dual-band Handheld Commercial Radio with GPS, APRS TX

VHF/UHF Dual-band Digital/Analog Part 90 DMR commercial transceiver with 1.77 inch color TFT display and GPS. New AT-D878UVII model with green colored top button, includes DMR Roaming, larger memory for future enhancements and storage up to 500,000 contacts. Ideal for Fire, Search & Rescue, EMS...

powerwerx.com

Scroll down to the bottom of "Tech Specs".

Yep it's backwards.

 

[sallen07]

And you'll find lots of people who say, "Oh Part 90 radios are automatically approved for Part 95 E" but none of those people are the ones who wrote the current FCC rules.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Yep it's backwards.

Tomato, Potato minor details.