• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

    If you are having trouble legally obtaining software please state so. We do not want any hurt feelings when your vague post is mistaken for a free request. It is YOUR responsibility to properly word your request.

    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

    The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.

    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

    This is a large and very visible forum. We cannot jeopardize the ability to provide the RadioReference services by allowing this activity to occur. Please respect this.

Low Band Radio Manufacturers

Status
Not open for further replies.

W8HDU

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2014
Messages
350
Location
Lima, Ohio
Are there any manufacturers still making Low Band radios, (30-50MHz)?

I heard if you're a low band user the only option is someone's used equipment.
 

mmckenna

I ♥ Ø
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
23,618
Location
Hiding in a coffee shop.
Kenwood TK-690, also.

However,
Kenwood is showing on their product life updates, that the following expected EOL's are looming for these models:
TK-190 "around 2020"
TK-6110 "around 2017"
TK-690 "around 2017" and "around 2018" depending on the specific bandsplit.

Since Kenwood is a big supplier of low band radios, especially to big agencies like California Highway Patrol, I highly doubt they are going to bail out of the low band business.
I've heard rumors from people I know inside Kenwood that they are looking at a NX-5000 product line low band radio.

Time will tell, but I don't think Low Band is going anywhere any time soon. It's still got it's place in the world. Since the other large companies are mostly leaving the market, I suspect someone is going to hang around to pick up the business.


On a side note, I'm not following the Vertex product line, but last time I looked, they had a low band model or two on the books.
 

W8HDU

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2014
Messages
350
Location
Lima, Ohio
On a side note, I'm not following the Vertex product line, but last time I looked, they had a low band model or two on the books.

I'll have to check Vertex. The last time I looked at them they didn't have anything, but that could change.

LB still has some use to some of use due to terrain and congestion. It works well for what I use it for.

Thanks for the tips, guys. This helps a lot!
 

NC1

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2014
Messages
733
Location
Surry County, North Carolina
Just wait a little while and something should be available from China.

Probably something in the 30-175 and 400-480 MHz range. LOL

I wonder if any of the existing HT's can be software programmed down that far.

If enough demand is there, they will eventually make it - you can bet on that.

;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top