Radio for Amateur and Non-Amateur usage

[byndhlptom]

ham/PS radios

"This person had volunteered with the county in a few events and situations and saw that the amateur group could have been equipped better and had some issues with communications."

With out knowing what the specific "issues" were, just replacing the handhelds may not fix the problem. Odds are most of the hams were already using 3-5 watt HH's, replacing them with basically the same units may not solve the problem(s).

Having a "new" set of radios may actually delay help in a true emergency depending on how they are stored. If in a central location, someone has to get them, then distribute them, then get them back. That also implies that this someone is also responsable for service/repair/programming. Hope the person never takes vacation..... and has access to any place in the area (can't hand them out if they can't get to where they need to be.....

As has been mentioned, the list of requirements may not be available in a single radio anywhere near your price point.

I think you may need to dig a little deeper as to the perceived issues, you may find other equipment (upgrades to reapeater hardware, addition base/repeaters, comm van, etc) may be more "bang for the buck".

$.02

 

[jim202]

Let me jump in here and make a few comments to stir the pot.

First, I have been using commercial radio equipment for many years that have been taken out of service on the public safety side. Then turned around and used it on the ham frequencies. One point to keep on the front of your mind, is like many have already said, the radio needs to be compliant to the part 90 rules and regulations to be used on any of the public safety frequencies.

Second, you will need a letter of authorization from the license holder to use a radio on the public safety frequency. This may or may not cause a political stir among your intended users and the owner of the license.

Third, I find myself having to be extra careful about what channel the radio is set on as to what user identification is used when talking over the radio intended here. It wouldn't be the first time a ham call was sent over a public safety frequency or a public safety call was sent over a ham frequency. It's easy to really goof up here. This type of radio doesn't want to be placed in the hands of a weekend helper or volunteer. They would be very much prone to making the same type of mistake of the wrong radio identifier being sent over the wrong frequency. We have all done it.

The older public safety radios that have been taken out of service because, in most cases, they were not able to be programmed onto narrow band operation. All the VHF and UHF public safety frequencies are now required by the FCC to be operated in the narrow band mode. Not all of the off shore radios have the ability to do narrow band. This is one of the reasons they are not part 90 certified.

Last but not the least is the cost your dreaming about obtaining these radios for. Even used, your looking at, like has already been said, over a factor of 10 higher. More like in the range of $1800 to $3000, depending on the options they have.

Get over it about programming frequencies with out a computer. That just isn't going to happen these days. Front programming generally isn't available except in very limited circumstances. Yes there are radios that can be programmed by the key pad, but even if you could obtain a used one, you would find it much faster and more reliable to use a computer and cables. That's just the fact of life today.

One last comment that hasn't been posted yet. All these radios need to be bench tested to make sure they are on the correct frequency and not generating spurs or trash where they shouldn't be. So even if you found a way of obtaining radios at your dreamed of price, they still need to be run through a bench check before being used. The bench testing will check for on frequency operation. Proper TX deviation of both the voice and CTCSS operation. It will check the radio for RX sensitivity and being on frequency. If any special signaling is used, that also will be tested. Just getting a used or new radio doesn't mean it's ready to use.

Not wanting to pop your ballon for your efforts, but you need to stop and stand back. Look at just what your looking for. Have a reality check and ask yourself if you really think what your asking for can be made to happen with your requirements and funding. Many on here have tried to provide facts of life comments. Maybe it's time to put it all down on paper:

1. What is your goal?

2. What equipment will it take to try and meet that goal?

3. How many pieces of equipment will it take to reach that goal?

4. What type of an organization will it take to control those your looking to provide for?

5. What type of a charter does this group need to operate under?

6. What type of rules will this group have to function smoothly?

7. Who will be in charge?

This list can go on for some time. But I am just trying to point out that someones dreams and efforts also need to have some sort of a 4 corner box and guide to be able to function smoothly and correctly. Personally and this is just me talking from experience, you would be much better off functioning as a ham type group. Operate these radios on the ham frequencies. Then maybe having a couple of people that are sanctioned by the public safety agencies to be the liaison person with the ability to bridge the communications gap between the 2 groups. Typically this would probably be the fire department. They generally provide the first aid for most of the 1st call emergencies. If law may be needed, then the fire dispatch could bridge the message over to the law channels. I know very few law agencies that want a non certified person talking on their channel.

Not trying to be harsh or dig my heals in on your efforts, but want to pass on what those of us that work with public safety agencies and their communication systems run into all the time. Each of these agencies are very protective of their sandbox and don't allow strangers to play in them at all.