Need radio suggestion please.....

[Rescue1]

Hello all.Well I got the "you may be going to the southern states notice" yesterday.Aparantly they want to relieve the various rescue workers down there and put everybody on 14-day rotations per the State of NJ.I would be going as a Paramedic and what I will be doing is a big question Mark.I am told that for the first 72 hours you may need to be self sufficent and radio communications are a big question as well.I have all Motorola equipment and as everyone knows you need computers to program them which is in no way practical.Anyway,I am looking for a suggestion on a dual band(UHF/VHF) radio with PL capability(also would have the ability to read PL'S).The problem is I don't know of any radio shops in NJ that would have good equipment,and I can't play the order by mail thing because I might need it on a moments notice.I am guessing a converted HAM radio would work,also it would be nice to have a battery pack that uses regular batterys because there is no way of charging them(the last time I was told anyway).Any suggestions would be appreciated,also if anybody has any used equipment they would want to sell of even rent it would also be appreciated.Thank you ahead of time....

 

[Rescue1]

Any ideas??

 

[FlyGuy16352]

The problem is I don't know of any radio shops in NJ that would have good equipment,and I can't play the order by mail thing because I might need it on a moments notice.I am guessing a converted HAM radio would work,also it would be nice to have a battery pack that uses regular batterys because there is no way of charging them(the last time I was told anyway).Any suggestions would be appreciated,also if anybody has any used equipment they would want to sell of even rent it would also be appreciated.Thank you ahead of time....

Rescue1, your best bet at finding a good radio store in NJ would be by looking on the internet. Also, if you know of someone that sells and/or programs radios, see what they can do for you. Finally, if you want to buy or rent equipment, you should post in the equipment wanted forum, I'm sure there will be someone with something there. Good luck!

 

[stvnd53]

Motorola is down there in a big way!If you have a radio that will work where you are going,better to do it down there.Motorola has brought down app.2,500. 700mhz.radios.I you hurry there might be one left.

 

[elk2370bruce]

If you are going down there as part of the EMAC response, talk to State DOH before plunking down hard earned bucks. As part of the official state team, there is a lot going on behind the scenes that appears on top of the water line. From the last big teleconference, I do believe this was addressed.

 

[fineshot1]

You may have to go with single banders in order to get what you are looking for. I know that some of the top of the line motorola portables have key pad programmable capability if they have a special motorola flash installed. Some Icom single banders also have this capability just the way they are sold - see the link below to one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ICOM-IC-F30-LT-...807250117QQcategoryZ40066QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Good Luck & be safe......fineshot1

 

[K2GW]

>>I am guessing a converted HAM radio would work

I know nobody wants to hear it, but although many Amateur Radios are capable of operating outside the ham bands, they are not type certified for the public safety bands and thus transmiting there violates FCC rules. I know it's an emergency, and the chances of anybody complaining are small, but it's still in violation of FCC rules.

That said, in the aftermath of Katrina with all of the public safety radio systems melting down along the gulf coast, a number of licensed hams have used their equipment to directly relay rescue information directly to USCG and Fire/Rescue first responders. But when they do, they should note the details of such emergency communications in their station logs if the FCC ever asks them why they did it.

Just a thought to protect yourself legally. Please take care and protect yourself physically when you're down there. God Speed.

73

Gary, K2GW