pre-loaded radio frequency

[dflavell]

Not sure where to post this. I just purchased 4 additional radios to add to our existing. After putting the radios together I turned them on and one station was pre-loaded and the radios all worked on this frequency. When I went to upload my frequencies into the radios I downloaded first to see what frequency this was and it is 134.300. Not that this is important but the radios are Vertex standard vx 230s. My question is, is this a frequency that can be used by anyone? Seems dangerous for Vertex to pre-load this frequency into their radios if it is not? I still plan to program my frequencies over the top but was curious as too 134.3000 and its use. Thank you

 

[DisasterGuy]

This is an aeronautical frequency. It is pretty common for radios to come loaded with "something" in them. In the case of Harris and Motorola they come with factory test frequencies. It has been a long time since I have done any work on a Vertex however it is likely that they ship the same way with "something" in the default code plug.

 

[SteveC0625]

Not sure where to post this. I just purchased 4 additional radios to add to our existing. After putting the radios together I turned them on and one station was pre-loaded and the radios all worked on this frequency. When I went to upload my frequencies into the radios I downloaded first to see what frequency this was and it is 134.300. Not that this is important but the radios are Vertex standard vx 230s. My question is, is this a frequency that can be used by anyone? Seems dangerous for Vertex to pre-load this frequency into their radios if it is not? I still plan to program my frequencies over the top but was curious as too 134.3000 and its use. Thank you

All manufacturers program new radios with one or more frequencies so that they can align and bench test the radio before it is shipped out. Radio shops and techs all know this and would never let a radio out to a customer with that frequency (or any other bench test frequency) still programmed into it. Agencies that have qualified and experienced programmers on staff do the same.

I believe it is now also illegal to program in tx frequencies that the end user or agency is not authorized to transmit on.

It is highly illegal to operate a radio on any frequency that you are not licensed to use.

 

[dflavell]

Thanks for the repiles. It was more curious than anything. I don't plan to use the frequency, and thought it to be strange that these particular radios still had a common frequency in them. Wonder why the don't bench test these with a family radio frequency that anyone can use??? Anyway thanks for the info

 

[SteveC0625]

Thanks for the repiles. It was more curious than anything. I don't plan to use the frequency, and thought it to be strange that these particular radios still had a common frequency in them. Wonder why the don't bench test these with a family radio frequency that anyone can use??? Anyway thanks for the info

Your radios are VHF according to the frequency you mentioned. FRS is UHF. It's not possible to program UHF frequencies in a single band VHF radio.

The 134 MHZ is likely at the bottom end of the radio's capability. They bench test radios to work well at the upper and lower ends of capacity as well as in the middle.

I think you're missing the point that radios come from the factory this way because the manufacturers need to test and align them first and then expect them to be properly programmed by a tech or other qualified programmer before being handed over to a customer or end user. It does not matter what's in the radio because the tech or programmer is going to overwrite it with proper programming for field use.

 

[nd5y]

Wonder why the don't bench test these with a family radio frequency that anyone can use???

When doing transmitter testing your signal goes into test equipment and a dummy load, not over the air on an antenna. That way the unit can be tested on any frequency without causing interference.

 

[cabletech]

Just have to ask. Are these radios brand new from a dealer? As mentioned above, the frequency you posted is an air band frequency and should never have been put in a standard commerical radio to start with.

Air band works on AM mode and commerical and ham work in FM.

Also mentioned above was the maker normally enters in at least three frequencys that they and the dealer use to check out the radio before it goes to the customer.

Frequencys are at the low, mid , and high end of the band.

 

[nd5y]

In case anybody is interested, here are the frequencies and tones my UV-5R shipped with.
All were wideband, high power and simplex.

1 452.125 69.3
2 453.225 91.5
3 454.325 136.5
4 455.425 151.4
5 456.525 192.8
6 457.625 241.8
7 458.725 025N
8 459.825 134N
9 461.925 274N
10 462.225 346N
11 463.325 503N
12 464.425 073R
13 465.525 703R
14 402.225
15 437.425
16 479.975
17 138.550
18 157.650
19 172.750
20 438.500
21 155.700
VFO A 155.500
VFO B 136.000
FM 100.7

 

[robertmac]

nd5y: was this a reconditioned UV-5R or bought over the internet. At lest nothing preprogrammed in the aeronautical band. Have bought Wouxun [of course a little higher quality transceiver] and they have no memories.

 

[nd5y]

It was supposed to be new. I ordered it online from a reputable dealer that has a real store. The radio and accessories were in thier small plastic bags and did not appear to have been tampered with. The first thing I did was download the image from the radio and save it for future reference then do a full reset. I read on other sites that UV-5Rs come with test frequencies but nobody said how many or what they were.

 

[DisasterGuy]

Again, this is all very normal. It is worth mentioning that things like this are one of many reasons manufacturers (Motorola, Harris, Johnson, etc) only sell to shops and large customers with in-house shops. Part 90 radios aren't intended to ever go from manufacturer to end user.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[dflavell]

Just have to ask. Are these radios brand new from a dealer? As mentioned above, the frequency you posted is an air band frequency and should never have been put in a standard commerical radio to start with.

Air band works on AM mode and commerical and ham work in FM.

Also mentioned above was the maker normally enters in at least three frequencys that they and the dealer use to check out the radio before it goes to the customer.

Frequencys are at the low, mid , and high end of the band.

These came from the dealer this way. 16 channel radios. Channel 1 had this frequency on all four radios. These were brand new in the box.