So to follow up:
I had my friend program some of the old wide-band channels (001 thru 099) to some local ham frequencies. I was able to use it on several local repeaters and our local simplex net so it seems to transmit just fine, at least at 144-148 MHz.
On receive it seems just as good as any of my other radios on the RR channels but not quite as good on the ham channels. I suspect the 144-148 stuff is just a little too far for this old Spectra radio. It could also caused more by the antenna choice. One antenna I have on it seems to be better for 161 MHz. reception and another seems to provide better 2M performance.
As I really do not need another 2M radio in the shack I will dedicate it to reception only on my local railroad channel.
These radios are set from the factory with the wide-band rail channels in slots 001 thru 097 and narrow in 101-197, with NOAA weather channels in 201-207 (RX only). As one can select the TX channel and RX channels separately I just select 201-184. This sets the TX channel to a WX channel, so it will not transmit if one presses the PTT Button.
One of these days I will get around to programming "Home" buttons, this would allow me to set names to the channels selected via that method. Since I do not have a RIB or cable for this (yet!) I will have to do it at the availability of my friend who does until I get one. I am going to Dayton next month, maybe I will get lucky and score one there.
