Does Motorola make a VHF/UHF dual-band radio?

[Gilligan]

Just wondering if Motorola makes (or has made) a radio that would do VHF & UHF like some of the Alinco mobiles and portables? My thinking is that they do not because combining bands would give lower performance on each band due to component and antenna limitations. Is this about right?

 

[N_Jay]

Just wondering if Motorola makes (or has made) a radio that would do VHF & UHF like some of the Alinco mobiles and portables? My thinking is that they do not because combining bands would give lower performance on each band due to component and antenna limitations. Is this about right?

There is a very limited market for a dual band commercial radio.

 

[nd5y]

Kenwood and Vertex Standard both have kits for certain models that allow you to run two radios from one control head.
I don't know if Motorola ever had that. That is about as close as you can get to a commercial VHF/UHF dual band radio, not counting some of the ones for aircraft and military use.

 

[N_Jay]

Kenwood and Vertex Standard both have kits for certain models that allow you to run two radios from one control head.
I don't know if Motorola ever had that. That is about as close as you can get to a commercial VHF/UHF dual band radio, not counting some of the ones for aircraft and military use.

Motorola also have dual control options.

 

[prcguy]

They have for the military market but I have not seen one for commercial or public service.
prcguy

 

[mancow]

They made the Spectra SIU setup that utilizes two 110 watt decks (vhf) and (uhf). They radios are connected through external security housing encryption boxes then into one central junction box called an SIU (serial integration unit... I believe). The control head plugs into the SIU and is a hand held 2 character LED display setup with all switches and the volume right on the microphone/control head.

They are monsters and will suck a car battery dry if left on a couple of days just in receive mode. I have one in my work car. They work well but are a nightmare to program and install.

 

[Grog]

You can setup the newest XTL5000 for four control heads, would be cool in a car. Each person can change channels :lol:

 

[mancow]

There is a very limited market for a dual band commercial radio.

I kind of disagree. I wonder if it's not more a matter of marketing. They probably make more money forcing people to buy a different radio for each band.

Maybe it's more of a rural thing but I can't think of a department or agency in our area that wouldn't have a use for dual band as long as the price was reasonable.

 

[Grog]

Vertex is making new radios with an extra RX band as an option, still wish they made an updated 2070.

 

[N_Jay]

I kind of disagree. I wonder if it's not more a matter of marketing. They probably make more money forcing people to buy a different radio for each band.

Maybe it's more of a rural thing but I can't think of a department or agency in our area that wouldn't have a use for dual band as long as the price was reasonable.

I have had this very same discussion with many people.

There have even been attempts at dual band radios. They have failed to sell well.

It is one of those things everyone asks for but very few are willing to pay for.

One of the problems is there are so many different feature sets, and everyone wants a SPECIFIC dual band radio.

The market is increases due to interoperability needs, so I would expect to see one or more companies bring a product to market in the next few years.
We will see how they do. I think there will be a market for a few specific types, but it will still be a small market. IMHO

 

[studgeman]

According to the Motorola Engineers, their excuse is they have a hard time getting performance characteristics they are sasatified with out of a dual or multi-band radio. That being said look for the 7/800 and VHF radio due out 2 or 3rd Quater this year. What the engineers said was that was the easiest combination to do, an that is why that is being released first. They eventually expect to release a V/U/7/800 radio later.

 

[rescuecomm]

Quite a few people make radios for the military that cover VHF Low to UHF. The newest by Thales for the Army covers 30mhz to 512mhz. I am sure that the radio works better over some frequencies than others.

BOB

 

[prcguy]

That particular radio has birdies to deal with on some receive freqs and early versions have a whole lot of birdies. Otherwise the performance is very consistent over the entire 30-512MHz range, not counting the antennas of course.
prcguy

Quite a few people make radios for the military that cover VHF Low to UHF. The newest by Thales for the Army covers 30mhz to 512mhz. I am sure that the radio works better over some frequencies than others.

BOB