I've made a decision to purchase a ham radio to scan the railroad band. I've read that a ham radio is more sensitive than an all band scanner. I've got it narrowed down to either the vx-150 or the vx-170. I'm looking for opinions between the two. I don't plan on getting too much into the actual ham hobby but I think this will be the push towards at least getting a ham license. Is there a difference in scanning/programming/sensitivity between these 2 models? I just don't know which would be the better buy. Again, all I want this radio for right now is better Rx capabilities than a normal scanner in the railroad band. And just to make sure they both have alpha tags? And will this radio work well with a diamond rh77ca antenna that I already have? Thank you for any opinions.
Ham radio as scanner
- Thread starter scanrrman
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I don't personally know about those two radios, but most ham rigs don't have the scan speed of even the lower end scanners.
To check reviews of those rigs check out www.eham.net
To check reviews of those rigs check out www.eham.net
I think the vx-170 is a newer model, I would prefer it to the vx-150 as it has a larger display and is 'submersible'. The vx-150 receiver covers 140-174 MHz, while the vx-170 covers 137-174. The vx-170 comes with a 1400 mA-h Ni-mh battery pack while the vx-150 has a Ni-Cd pack less than half that capacity. Of the two radios, I would definitely go with the vx-170 unless the vx-150 was a whole lot cheaper and price was very important.
You might also want to consider if the frequency range is adequate for scanning. If all you listen to is between 137-174 MHz then the vx-170 would be OK. I just got a Yaesu FT-60 dual band handheld and the receiver covers almost everything, from just above the FM broadcast band up to about 1 GHz (minus TV and cell phone bands). It's a very nice radio for under $200.
I like the idea of getting a ham radio as incentive to getting your license, you can also listen to the ham bands of course and this will increase your motivation to get on the air!
You might also want to consider if the frequency range is adequate for scanning. If all you listen to is between 137-174 MHz then the vx-170 would be OK. I just got a Yaesu FT-60 dual band handheld and the receiver covers almost everything, from just above the FM broadcast band up to about 1 GHz (minus TV and cell phone bands). It's a very nice radio for under $200.
I like the idea of getting a ham radio as incentive to getting your license, you can also listen to the ham bands of course and this will increase your motivation to get on the air!
N8IAA
Member
I believe you will be better off with the VX-170. It has memory banks and louder speaker audio. Not really much different in size or price, either.
Larry
Larry
One thing to be aware of is that many ham rigs are spec'd for operation IN the ham bands, and it is frequently stated in the product literature that the specifications are NOT guaranteed outside the amateur bands. Caveat emptor...
KG4ZPD
Member
I've got a 150 and have had it going on 3 years now. The battery lasts forever, have gone about 3 days talking on it off and on and keeping it on while monitoring before it dies. Its a good radio and would recommend it to anyone.
Some of the retailers had a buy a VX150, get a second battery for free, Universal Radio had a 2 batteries deal. I posted it a while back. Not sure if it's expired. My 150 does better than most scanners in the rail band. It did pick up some intermod on a speeder trip near some pagers recently but mainly it does what others have stated.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/3187.html
They are throwing in 1 battery still.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/ht/3187.html
They are throwing in 1 battery still.
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SkipSanders
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"More sensitive than a scanner"... but where? In the ham bands, yes. Outside them in the extended receive range? maybe yes, maybe not. The VX-120/170 probably are better in rail freqs than a scanner, though. It won't matter in the slightest, since your range is almost entirely dependent on antenna heights, but it is more 'sensitive'. When you're talking handheld radios, at both ends, you're talking 1-4 miles, usually the low end of that, reliably, as 'line of sight' range. If you're not in line of sight, you won't hear anything. If you are, it'll be strong.
The ham rig will probably be less likely to be bothered by intermod and desense from non-high band stuff, though.
Ham rigs make poor 'scanners'. They are designed to sit on one channel, primarily. The scanning is usually slow, in comparison to a 'real' scanner.
The ham rig will probably be less likely to be bothered by intermod and desense from non-high band stuff, though.
Ham rigs make poor 'scanners'. They are designed to sit on one channel, primarily. The scanning is usually slow, in comparison to a 'real' scanner.
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