Portables Set Up - 2002 Yukon XL

[sefrischling]

I have been trying to organize the gaggle of portables I use for work in my 2002 GMC Yukon XL. So far this is the solution I have, I plan to remove the 396xt and 346xt on the drive side and drop a 996P2 in under the 996xt, as well as probably swap the 436hp for the 396xt which I prefer.

My 800mhz XTS3000 will be mounted flush against the center console where the 346/396 currently are, like the rest of the radios.

On the driver side by my knee I have a VHF XTS 3000, next to that is an 800mhz Astro Saber. By my elbow (seat belt) is a VHF Astro Saber. On the passenger side, is a Low Band MT1000 (33mhz), a UHF XTS 3000 and Low Band (46mhz) Vertex vx510. By the passenger elbow (seat belt) is usually a UHF Astro Saber, in this photo is a VHF MT1000.

I find having them attached to metal brackets screwed into the center console i can easily access the volume knobs, as well as easily adjust the channels on the VHF XTS3000 and 800 Astro Saber next to my knee as I drive.

 

[firetaz834]

Looks good, but why so many portables? I noted that you said you have 3 vhf portable, whey not combine the frequencies that you listen too in one radio, just curious?

 

[KJ6HCB]

Sorry.... scary stuff right there.

I cannot STAND dealing with batteries and coax lines everywhere... been doing it for a couple months with 3 handhelds and have practically thrown them out the window.

Get a couple of mobile scanners, mobile radios, 1 or 2 scanners and a minitor fire pager or something, theres just no reason all those handhelds are needed lol

 

[scannermanner1]

Wow ! So why everything portable? The range is severely limited on HTs compared to mobiles


Sent from my iPhone 6

 

[sefrischling]

The reason for the portables is simple ... I shoot news, so when I get out of the truck almost always one or two radios comes with me. It can't stick a mobile in your back pocket and clip the speaker to the back of your collar.

Two 800, two UHF, two VHF are because one 800 is on a shared municipal PD FD, the other is on state police. One VHF is almost always on the medics and the FD of the town I am in (or adjacent town) while the other scans. Same goes for UHF depending on what town/city I am in. Low band is exclusively 33mhz in one county and 46mhz in the next county over. Each radio has its purpose. The VHF MT1000 is on Marine and has talk channels I can use. As I take my 15 year old daughter out shooting fairly often I hand her that radio and talk to her on it, the other radios have a talk channel on channel 1, the others scan what I need to hear.

Also, I travel for work, and keep certain zones programmed for frequent places or program what I need. Aside from shooting news, I cover aviation and transportation security professionally and have zones for various agencies. It is impossible to walk through an airport with a mobile.

Not to mention when I go home, I take the radios out of the truck to continue monitoring them for news.

 

[firetaz834]

I see your reasoning, I have been in similar situations and I've handled it by having a mobile and also a portable and when I get out of the vehicle the portable goes with me.