I'm looking for radios that may be used by volunteers (VFD) to receive page outs, Motorola Group 5, two tone. We received a pallet of Vertex Standard 4000 and 5500 radios for our vehicles (without the option boards for paging) but we need "base stations" that are not "on" all the time. I have a Pro 106 that is supposed to have the capability but it may need a firmware update. Which scanner model (least expensive solution) could we buy several of that could be programmed to receive tones 767.4 and 617.4 to open the squelch to hear the page? We have looked for the option board F2D-8 without any luck for the Vertex radios and the last listing we saw was more expensive than a scanner. Thank you for suggestions.
Least expensive radio to receive Motorola Group 5 two tone page
Uniden scanners have the Two-Tone feature (called Fire Tone Out/FTO).
The cheapest (new) desktops with it include the BCT15X (~$240) and BCD260DN (~$350). For handhelds the BCD160DN is the cheapest with FTO(~$250).
None of the RS/GRE/Whistler radios have FTO capability.
The cheapest (new) desktops with it include the BCT15X (~$240) and BCD260DN (~$350). For handhelds the BCD160DN is the cheapest with FTO(~$250).
None of the RS/GRE/Whistler radios have FTO capability.
You mean like a Minitor pager? Or maybe a federal signal informer?
We need the capability of receiving two tone paging to alert us to calls (open the squelch) rather than listening to all the traffic on that channel.
NopeNadda
DoodleBob
get an HT1250 radio, HT1000, kenwood TK series radios, or you could go with an EF Johnson 5100. these have far more programmable features as well as you can hook them up to certain radio systems for an alternative input. hope that helps
I would not use a scanner for a critical need. Look for CDM 750, 1250 or Kenwood TK-x180, or most any Kenwood made in the last 20 years will have 2-tone decode, or as QC said Federal Signal Informer, or a Minitor Pager in a amplified charger.
Yes. A Motorola Minitor is what you're looking for. Or do they have to be portable two-way radios? I guess I'm having a hard time understanding the exact need other than a pager.
NopeNadda
DoodleBob
same here. they might just be meaning a scanner that has an auto rx meaning squelch is always open. I am still a little bit stumped though
I speak firefighter (I was one for 20 plus years, and now maintain several station alerting systems for the last 27 years) , it sounds like they are looking for receivers/radios that will open up with the correct 2-tone.
NopeNadda
DoodleBob
I see. I am going to go into the fire and EMS services here in a couple of years once I get my ducks in a row. I am also thinking that they could use a raspberry pi, Arduino, or esp32 to make a homemade receiver to open the rx feed to the pa system only when the tones for the station or unit are dropped. I don't know how hard it would be to create such a device since there are many cheap options and people willing to help around the globe.
Thank you all. We just need units in our homes we can connect to an external antenna to receive the page out. Motorola two tone to open the squelch. Once we are responding we use the Kenwood TK-2312 units (which are not powerful enough as is to receive in the houses and we don't want to fiddle with antenna swapping when going out the door.) I have found the Uniden BCT15X which has FTO. I believe that will work for our purposes as a base with outdoor antenna. I appreciate the help.
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ok yu to?
How far from the paging transmitter are you or the other firefighters that don't receive the tones on the 2312s?
We believe the problem is the metal roofs. Distance is 5 to 10 miles from a repeater. External antennas (or the addition of another repeater tower) would be the solution. Even when at the fire scene we sometimes have problems so it is likely a coverage issue. Thank you for the interest. I think we have enough information now.
Motorola Minitor IV, V, and sometimes VI are available pretty cheap on eBay. Last time I looked a used VI was still pretty expensive, but now that the VII has come out, the prices may be dropping. Get them in your frequency range and buy a programming base for less than $100. Programming software is free. You may have to run the V software in XP compatability mode on your Win10 or Win11 machine. Purchase an amplified charger base (not the little standard charger) to get the features you want. An example is the RLN5869C for the Minitor V. It has an external antenna BNC connection and an amplified speaker. Some of the Minitor bases (maybe all?) have relays that can be used to turn on a notification/safety light, or turn on other devices.
There is a used/refurbished market for these pagers and bases and you can also catch them on eBay. Be careful selecting used Minitor pagers. You can't just grab any VHF or UHF labeled unit and program it for your frequency. They may say VHF or UHF, but because of the tiny tuned antennas and circuitry, they are for a specific portion of the VHF or UHF band so that they will be more sensitive to the programmed frequency. I have bought a couple of used ones on eBay for my guys that are sick of toting radios and they were misidentified by the seller for the correct portion of the band I needed.
In addition, there are versions of the V and VI that take multiple tones. If you have a general tone for your station and say you are also a member of a specialty unit such as HazMat or Swiftwater that uses a different tone on the same frequency, these versions will be handy. Some of the V's and I think all of the VI's have stored voice capability. You can set the recording duration after the tone in the programming software. To recognize the V's with this feature, they will have a little button on top of the selector knob. They are not always labeled as stored voice pagers on eBay so look at the pics. There are also versions that recieve two frequencies within the band.
There is a used/refurbished market for these pagers and bases and you can also catch them on eBay. Be careful selecting used Minitor pagers. You can't just grab any VHF or UHF labeled unit and program it for your frequency. They may say VHF or UHF, but because of the tiny tuned antennas and circuitry, they are for a specific portion of the VHF or UHF band so that they will be more sensitive to the programmed frequency. I have bought a couple of used ones on eBay for my guys that are sick of toting radios and they were misidentified by the seller for the correct portion of the band I needed.
In addition, there are versions of the V and VI that take multiple tones. If you have a general tone for your station and say you are also a member of a specialty unit such as HazMat or Swiftwater that uses a different tone on the same frequency, these versions will be handy. Some of the V's and I think all of the VI's have stored voice capability. You can set the recording duration after the tone in the programming software. To recognize the V's with this feature, they will have a little button on top of the selector knob. They are not always labeled as stored voice pagers on eBay so look at the pics. There are also versions that recieve two frequencies within the band.
Great information; thank you. How would I know what portion of VHF a unit is tuned to? I need to program 154.1075.
tglendye
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River- VA
You would want a VHF-Hi. The Minitors cover the 150mhz range on vhf-hi.
How about setting up a "kick-back" transmitter at your firehouse. I am in WV where terrain is difficult for paging signals, and many departments set up a transmitter at their firehouse that is always listening for their tones, and when they are heard it will instantly key the "base" transmitter and automatically transmit the pager tones. Seems to fill in well a few miles around the firehouse so the pagers go off. Once they know of the alert, the member can move their receiver to hear the alert message.
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