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Favorite UHF HTs?

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K0TIN

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Jun 23, 2013
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Hey guys, I'm right now looking over UHF Land Mobile HT options to recommend for a friend who's working an annual event that lasts a weekend.

I've worked with a set of Motorola HT1000s for a similar even I worked on in May, but since I'm not sure his event will have the budget to find a used set of those, and I've got a small set of Kenwood TK-360G HTs that I really like, but a set of those seems to be around the same price.

So basically I was wondering what your favorite UHF HTs were and why, and if any of you have experience with the UHF specific Little Chinese Radios if you would recommend any of those for actual use.
 

KK4TTR

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Nov 29, 2010
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102
Location
Raleigh, North Carolina
I own 2 baofeng uv-b5 ht's and use one in the car. It's easily programmable with a cable and chirp. I also use an external mic and recommend getting a 14" whip antenna.

I tried a baofeng uv-82 and sent it Bach due to front end overload issues. I like my uv-b5's.
 

Spankymedic7

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Mar 30, 2007
Messages
342
Location
Wisconsin
My favorite UHF HT's, and the ones that I currently own), are:

-APX7000 (VHF/UHF)
-XPR7550
-XPR6550
-XTS2500 Model 3
-MTS2000 Model 3
-Visar
 

kayn1n32008

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Sep 20, 2008
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I love the MTS 2000, but currently I am using a CS-700 from connect systems inc. great radio, and is both analogue and DMR. Does both wide and narrow band.


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W8VFD

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Jul 8, 2005
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202
Location
Northeastern Ohio
My 3 favorites (in no particular order):

XTS5000 model 3
Kenwood NX-300
Kenwood TK-3180

(wishing I had the $$$ for an APX7000)
 

K0TIN

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Jun 23, 2013
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W8RMH: Renting radios was one of my first reactions, and one i honestly agree with, but the problem is that somebody seems to think they need to *own* radios, and of all the things to fight about this isn't the battle i'm choosing.

W8VFD: Can the TK-3180 be used with a repeater/programmed to channels outside of the pool in the owner's manual? I know the 3130 is limited to certain itinerants and can't do repeaters.

kayn1n32008: I'm gonna keep am eye on that one, thanks. It's likely not something i can get the event to spring for, but i may get a few staff members to look at it for themselves. (And i'd like one for myself as well)

KK4TTR: Thanks for the feedback on the LCRs, depending on what I find that may be what i recommend there. I've only used the UV-5R and those are starting to go back up in price again.
 
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W8VFD

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The TK-3180 is a commercial radio and can be programmed with any offset that you want, just make sure that you get the radio in the bandsplit that you desire, I believe that they come in 450-512MHz split and 400 to 470MHz split models


W8VFD: Can the TK-3180 be used with a repeater/programmed to channels outside of the pool in the owner's manual? I know the 3130 is limited to certain itinerants and can't do repeaters.
 

Project25_MASTR

Millennial Graying OBT Guy
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Jun 16, 2013
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4,163
Location
Texas
HT750
Icom F4021
Icom F21
HT1000
GP300
Icom F4GS

That's my rank from most fond of on down that I own.



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Kirk

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Dec 19, 2002
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784
My favorite UHF HT's, and the ones that I currently own), are:

-APX7000 (VHF/UHF)
-XPR7550
-XPR6550
-XTS2500 Model 3
-MTS2000 Model 3
-Visar

Wow, Wisconsin paramedics must make bank! I was lucky to make rent when I was a medic 20 years ago. :)
 

wa1nic

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May 28, 2012
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Westfield, Ma
The ICOM F4021's are good radios. You can equip them with a rolling scrambler if you wish. They are pricy though. I have several of the VHF versions (F3021) and they ran close to $500 each with scrambler modules. You will have to get software and a programming cables as well.


The UV-5R are on the other end of the spectrum. If you get some with good transmit audio they are sure worth the $35-$50 bucks each that you pay for them. Software is free. I own 4 of them, and my one complaint (I believe it is a common one) is that the transmit audio is extremely low. There appears to be nothing that can be done about it.
 

PACNWDude

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Oct 15, 2012
Messages
1,336
My favorite UHF handheld radios would be the following in the order I like them (and age of radio, newest to oldest):
Motorola XPR6550, small size, good audio and long battery life.
Icom F-43GS, decent audio, tied into Sordin headset, options provided to certain DoD affiliates.
Motorola HT1250, small size, good audio, and display helped with seeing features, clock on display as well as channel indication.
Vertex Duo/Yaesu FTH-2070, actually dual band VHF/UHF but great audio, large brick shape, but could be used as a weapon if need be.
 

Project25_MASTR

Millennial Graying OBT Guy
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Jun 16, 2013
Messages
4,163
Location
Texas
The ICOM F4021's are good radios. You can equip them with a rolling scrambler if you wish. They are pricy though. I have several of the VHF versions (F3021) and they ran close to $500 each with scrambler modules. You will have to get software and a programming cables as well.


The UV-5R are on the other end of the spectrum. If you get some with good transmit audio they are sure worth the $35-$50 bucks each that you pay for them. Software is free. I own 4 of them, and my one complaint (I believe it is a common one) is that the transmit audio is extremely low. There appears to be nothing that can be done about it.


I think my 4021 ran $135. I don't know what the scrambler board runs but I do know what I paid for the ht was close to dealer cost.

Fairly easy to field program, however auto defaults to narrow band (you can change it if wide/narrow is programmed or if it is done through cs).

I've had some guys suggest tecnet radios to me but haven't gotten my hands on one.


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