Extenders

[aschenavar]

Hi guys, i'm pretty retarded when it comes to amateur radio or radios in general. I currently use a TK-2212 for my fire department handheld. With that, I didnt know where to look to find a good answer on this site so here goes... I am trying to get around having a mobile in my vehicle just for space and money reasons..Is there anyway to run an extender or some other equipment to essentially increase the output power on my handheld for when i'm in my vehicle. Again, excuse my ignorance on the topic.

 

[mmckenna]

RF amplifier. You'll need one that will handle a 5 watt input (from your hand held) and give you a 50 watt output, or whatever your departments license is for.

External antenna. Get a good one

Speaker Mic, because once you hook up the amp to the radio, you won't want to be trying to hold it and talk at the same time.

Really, though. Been there, done that. It'll work, but after a few weeks, it'll drive you nuts. In 6 months you'll want a mobile radio.
Save your money on the amp and just get a suitable mobile radio and be done with it. It isn't going to cost any more than a good amplifier, wiring, etc, and the cost you'll pay repairing the antenna jack on your hand held because it has been damaged from constantly being connected and disconnected all the time will end up being more than if you just did the mobile radio thing from the get go.

If you really have to do it this way, ditch the Kenwood, and get a Motorola with an MTVA/XTVA mobile adapter and you'll be happier. But really, just get the mobile.

 

[aschenavar]

awesome..thanks for the information..i'm prolly just gonna by patient and wait on a decent mobile

 

[Gezelle007]

You could switch to Motorola and get a Convertacom which is basically a mobile, except you drop in your portable radio to make it work.

 

[aschenavar]

Yea I saw some of those on ebay actually...neat concept but by the time I switch portables and purchase the convert-a-com I could prolly just buy a mobile and be done lol

 

[mmckenna]

True.

The Convertacom, MTVA, and XTVA are all the same thing, just different radio models go in them.

You can score HT1000's or an MTS2000 on VHF or UHF for $100 to $200, and if you get the right model, they are narrow band capable. I've seen MTVA's go for $100 or less, so yeah, you could save some money.

Then again, you can get a used CDM1250 or CDM1550 for $300, a new Icom for $300, or a really good used Kenwood for $300. Just pick your poison and go for it. I picked up a used/like new CDM1550 VHF for my truck for $300 bucks back in July. A whole lot of those on e-Bay right now.

 

[krokus]

Don't forget to get a narrowband capable model, when you buy the mobile. There are going to plenty of non-compliant models available, for really good prices, but you can only use them for a few months.