AlMR is already P25. The system is upgrading to TDMA over the next couple of years.
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Handheld/Mobile Radio Reccomendations for Fire Members
- Thread starter ecrespol
- Start date
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Never ceases to baffle me, People come and ask for advice, get good solid responses from those that actually know what they are talking about....and the inquiring person isnt happy because the responses are not what they want to hear.
When this happens at my Business, I direct them to go elsewhere.
When this happens at my Business, I direct them to go elsewhere.
My professional suggestion as a radio tech would be to work with your local agency command staff, communications system leaders and local radio vendors to find a solution to what you want to do.
A local and trusted radio vendor is key.
This is a hobbyist website. Some think that they are engineers and fully qualified to recommend solutions for public safety just because they got their Unication G5 or Uniden Sentinal software working. So, you may want to take that into consideration.
Going through a local vendor is always a safe bet since there's a good chance they know how local agencies use their radios, they know the terrain and environment and best of all, if you need service, they are just a phone call away. They may also have used radios at a substantial discount available. The HT1250's were workhorses. If yours are dying, there's tens of thousands of them still out there on the used market in good shape.
I don't know how someone 3,000 miles away can dictate a solution to you when they have no idea what real environment (terrain) you use your radios in for search and rescue. I acknowedge your unique environment being in remote Alaska. I have never been in AK, so I can't recommend something.
Good luck!
speedway_navigator
Member
My friend uses them for his marina. Radios that never come off your belt on land when you are trying to get the radio off to answer a call will magically jump into the lake when the user is walking on a dock. His crew loses 3 or 4 a year, I think there are enough on the bottom of the lake it's raised the lake level by now.
I looked at the UV 5R specs, they list duty cycle in minutes vs 5/5/90% which I've never seen before.
| Duty- cycle | 03/03/54 min. (Rx / Tx / Standby) |
There seems to be some confusion between the OP (new member “ecrespol”) and me. He is the one looking for solutions for his pager problem, but I don’t think he is in Alaska.
My (AK_SAR) posts were about the general situation regarding equipment for volunteer SAR/FD/EMS teams. Since I live in Alaska, that’s where my examples are from. However I’m not looking for equipment advice regarding either radios or pagers. We do have a future issue with replacement of radios, but at the moment we have sufficient HT1250s for our needs. Hopefully we’ll get another grant in the next few years for replacement.
*sigh* (flips table over, walks out, slams door)
LoL, I am going to get an afternoon coffee. Sorry about that!
No worries
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
Because no one likes being told "no" or "there is the mickey mouse way and the right way". Those that do this stuff for a living take offense to hobbyist level B.S. being passed off where people's lives depend on it. It's not a game when someone dies or worse, has a life changing injury because someone wanted to cut corners.
12dbsinad
Member
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2010
- Messages
- 2,005
Since this post screams I can't afford much, I'd suggest the Icom F3001 VHF portable (assuming analog) 150 bucks a pop new, 16 ch, scan, battery lasts 2 days, built in 2-tone decode, superb specs and audio, simple operation and most important they are 100 percent legit and legal.
Remember if something happens and the FCC gets involved somebody's a** is going to be responsible and paying. There are many links on this site with places like schools who got slapped with extremely hefty fines. Be smart and listen to the guys here that have been in the field for years. They are not BS'ing you even though it may not be what you want to hear.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink it. Good luck.
How often do people trust their life to a radio with no failsafe or backup plan? Just curious. How often do they die? I've no idea.
Comms fail on firegrounds all the time (loud environment, injury, blocked signal, wrong channel, equipment failure or damage in event) and it should never be a death sentence. I don't "trust" any radio...always have a backup even if it's $20. The fireman's backup is usually his buddy who should be nearby and in sight.
This is not a challenge to any of the previous posts but just my nature of avoiding tunnel vision on issues.
As to OP issue which is volunteer activation, the most sensical and reliable option as mmckenna stated seems to me to acquire more pagers even if used or surplus. I have no idea what the price range on pagers is or where to find surplus ones. If some of the volunteers want something more "fun" to play with then a standard should be set by the department as to what is allowed to transmit on the departments system. Previous posts have suggested some really good candidate radios to be considered. I have great respect for people who don't spend taxpayer money as if it's free...
Comms fail on firegrounds all the time (loud environment, injury, blocked signal, wrong channel, equipment failure or damage in event) and it should never be a death sentence. I don't "trust" any radio...always have a backup even if it's $20. The fireman's backup is usually his buddy who should be nearby and in sight.
This is not a challenge to any of the previous posts but just my nature of avoiding tunnel vision on issues.
As to OP issue which is volunteer activation, the most sensical and reliable option as mmckenna stated seems to me to acquire more pagers even if used or surplus. I have no idea what the price range on pagers is or where to find surplus ones. If some of the volunteers want something more "fun" to play with then a standard should be set by the department as to what is allowed to transmit on the departments system. Previous posts have suggested some really good candidate radios to be considered. I have great respect for people who don't spend taxpayer money as if it's free...
captaincab
Member
Now before you say it I am not suggesting biocrap radios I fully agree you need real commercial two way radios. That being said I know some volunteers who have triple the training some commercial city departments have and equipment to go with it. Not all volunteers are untrained idiots please don’t try to group us all that way.
ElroyJetson
Getting tired of all the stupidity.
Speak to the radio shop that maintains your department's radios and ask them for recommendations for radios that are budget friendly but will be fully suitable for the intended service. They'll have the best idea of what capabilities you need.
Absolutely don't go with the bottom tier Chinese radios. No way.
Absolutely don't go with the bottom tier Chinese radios. No way.
The other advantage there is they may have the parts, expertise, and will to do some free/cheap repair work for you when needed.
I'd rather have a teenaged Kenwood TK-31x0 in an emergency than any CCR. Even the ones that have had a hard life in industrial environmnts are amazingly durable. I had a tow company's TK-3173 that had pieces of the case and knobs missing and was held together with duct tape. Still worked fine, though. A few case parts and dust removal and out it went for some more abuse.
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