Motorla Minitors?

[WQBE935]

Is it possible to purchase a Minitor (any model) to monitor a particular frequency or 2 in my area. I am not a member of a FD or anything, I'd just like to have a smaller, more convineint device to monitor than a scanner.

If I can purchase one, any online retailers? Do i need to use tone reeds? I believe the newer ones can be programed by computer: am I able to purchase software for that?

 

[thumbtrap]

you can find them on ebay. batlabs.com has info on the various models and what it takes to retune them (crystals or little electronic contraptions - you probably want a crystal model unless you know someone with a programmer). They're not really that great of a radio. You'd be better off with a small handheld.

 

[Voyager]

Is it possible to purchase a Minitor (any model) to monitor a particular frequency or 2 in my area. I am not a member of a FD or anything, I'd just like to have a smaller, more convineint device to monitor than a scanner.

If I can purchase one, any online retailers? Do i need to use tone reeds? I believe the newer ones can be programed by computer: am I able to purchase software for that?

Minitor Is (ones) are no longer supported by Motorola, and Minitor IIs are now becomming hard to get parts for (little things like housings and such). Minitor IIIs and IVs are programmable, and the programming kit is a couple hundred dollars. (more than you will likely spend on the pager)

Joe M.

 

[K5MAR]

The Yaesu VX-2R is a great little scanner/receiver, as well as being a good dual band ham HT, and they can usually be had for around $150. It's no bigger than my Moto alpha pager. Freeware programming software is available, although you'll have to buy a cable. Just be sure and lock off the xmit.

Besides, it will give you incentive to get your ham license! :lol:

Mark S.

 

[WQBE935]

Thanks for the replies. The Yaesu VX-2R looks like the best option so far.

 

[thumbtrap]

1.5 watts in that little thing? Can you really change the batteries fast enough to send code? (I'm guess two dots per battery change, one dash per battery)

 

[nexus]

Thanks for the replies. The Yaesu VX-2R looks like the best option so far.

If you're thinking of the VX-2R then be sure and add this site to your
favorites, they provide mods for those radios....

One of them will open the receiver up into the HF bands.

http://home.comcast.net/~sllewd/

There is also a link on there to a guy who sells pager style clips for the VX series radios. I would highly recommend that option if you buy one because the cheap ass beltclip that comes with the radio isn't very good.

I have it's father, the VX-1R and I love the little radio except for the belt clip.

 

[K5MAR]

The VX2 will do HF without any mods, but a bit bigger antenna is recommended. :wink: The excellent Commander software is free, and does have some mod capabilities, but this is on the xmit end, so you have to be a ham, eh-h-h, amateur radio operator. And there is a Yahoo group for the VX2: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VX-2R/

Thumbtrap, what are you talking about?

Mark S.

 

[thumbtrap]

I was just joking that given the batteries forced by the tiny size, transmit is likely to eat batteries like candy.

 

[K5MAR]

I was just joking that given the batteries forced by the tiny size, transmit is likely to eat batteries like candy.

Well, the VX-2R doesn't do CW! But as far as general use on the VHF/UHF bands (90/10), the battery lasts about a day. Using it as a PS scanner, a couple of days. But, given that the batteries as as cheap as candy on ebay, I have three! :wink:

Mark S.

 

[mark99]

Used Minitors

I have used G and G communications, check out his site.
http://www.iinc.com/ggcomm/pager.html