Recommendation Requested - Inexpensive receiver for single frequency analog VHF 24/7 reception

[Omega-TI]

I'm looking for an inexpensive no-frills receiver to monitor a single analog VHF frequency 24/7.
I just want to take it out of the box, turn it on and leave it on a single frequency. Is there anything out there that fits the bill?
The receiver does not even have to be that great because the frequency to be monitored is a local repeater output.

 

[footage]

Perhaps a used Minitor, if you want portability; a Minitor could also sit permanently in an amplifier-charger.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I'm looking for an inexpensive no-frills receiver to monitor a single analog VHF frequency 24/7.
I just want to take it out of the box, turn it on and leave it on a single frequency. Is there anything out there that fits the bill?
The receiver does not even have to be that great because the frequency to be monitored is a local repeater output.

There are a ton of small Uniden scanners hand held and mobile that re very small and you can set the frequency and PL tone. You could probably spend $50 on e-bay.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm looking for an inexpensive no-frills receiver to monitor a single analog VHF frequency 24/7.
I just want to take it out of the box, turn it on and leave it on a single frequency. Is there anything out there that fits the bill?
The receiver does not even have to be that great because the frequency to be monitored is a local repeater output.

Not sure what you mean by "I just want to take it out of the box....". Do you mean something that is either pre-programmed for you, or something you can easily program yourself?

To me, this sounds like an excellent place to grab an old CDM-750, GM-300, Icom F320S, or a 4 channel Kenwood. Program it up, leave the mic unplugged/program for RX only, and you'll have a decent receiver that will last forever.

 

[Omega-TI]

Not sure what you mean by "I just want to take it out of the box....". Do you mean something that is either pre-programmed for you, or something you can easily program yourself?

To me, this sounds like an excellent place to grab an old CDM-750, GM-300, Icom F320S, or a 4 channel Kenwood. Program it up, leave the mic unplugged/program for RX only, and you'll have a decent receiver that will last forever.

By take it out of the box I meant unpack, enter the frequency and be good to go. I know the incredibly cheap Chinese UV5R would be capable *IF* you downloaded a program, bought an extra cable, installed CHIPS software, learned how to use it, programed the radio... etc. I don't want to mess with all of that. I'll investigate those radios you mentioned and see if one meets my requirements. Thanks.

 

[mmckenna]

By take it out of the box I meant unpack, enter the frequency and be good to go. I know the incredibly cheap Chinese UV5R would be capable *IF* you downloaded a program, bought an extra cable, installed CHIPS software, learned how to use it, programed the radio... etc. I don't want to mess with all of that. I'll investigate those radios you mentioned and see if one meets my requirements. Thanks.

All of them will require some form of programming. You might find sellers on e-bay that will do a limited amount of programming as part of the sale.

Other than that, find an old/used programmable scanner. Anything else is going to need programming or crystals.

 

[Omega-TI]

It's too bad the cheap $20.00 Retekess V115 cannot be modified to go higher up in the VHF band. It'll pickup WFM, but if it could do NFM and go an additional 50 - 60 MHz higher it would be perfect for my application.

 

[Omega-TI]

Back in the day they sold radios like the one below. With today's technology something like this could be very small and useful to people that only want to listen to one frequency.

 

[lamarrsy]

… but you *can* take a radio (Baofeng UV-5R or whatever) out of its box, punch in a frequency manually *without* requiring a cable + software + PC.
You can then leave it connected all day, listening to your single frequency.
You should even lock the keypad (and ptt if it is a transceiver) so the janitor or anybody else won’t mess it up.

It does exactly what you want to do, « out of the box ».

Same thing —and even *safer*—for a Uniden portable scanner like the SR30C.

*But* you *do* have a minimum of initial action to do manually, no matter the make and model of radio you will buy.

There are simply no electronic devices yet that can «automagically» tune the frequency that you have in mind, «out of the box» 😉

 

[KevinC]

It's too bad the cheap $20.00 Retekess V115 cannot be modified to go higher up in the VHF band. It'll pickup WFM, but if it could do NFM and go an additional 50 - 60 MHz higher it would be perfect for my application.

View attachment 171119

It’s probably made in China anyway, which would negate you from buying it.

 

[Omega-TI]

… but you *can* take a radio (Baofeng UV-5R or whatever) out of its box, punch in a frequency manually *without* requiring a cable + software + PC.
It does exactly what you want to do, « out of the box ».

Believe it or not, this *IS* news to me. I had read somewhere that one had to mess around with CHIPS software to get the Baofeng radios to receive out-of-band. So, on your word alone I'm going order on in the next 10 minutes.

It’s probably made in China anyway, which would negate you from buying it.

Yeah, normally and in most cases, but since it's only for a single frequency I'll make an exception.

 

[KevinC]

Believe it or not, this *IS* news to me. I had read somewhere that one had to mess around with CHIPS software to get the Baofeng radios to receive out-of-band. So, on your word alone I'm going order on in the next 10 minutes.



Yeah, normally and in most cases, but since it's only for a single frequency I'll make an exception.

It's CHIRP. not...

 

[Omega-TI]

It's CHIRP. not...

HA! Love it! Anyway...



Never thought I'd roll the dice on one of these, but I don't need much of a radio for this application, so I'll see how it deals with QRM.

 

[lamarrsy]

…. And don’t forget to lock the keypad/ptt, just to avoid transmitting on unauthorized frequency 😉
Keep us posted when you’ll be up and running.

 

[Omega-TI]

…. And don’t forget to lock the keypad/ptt, just to avoid transmitting on unauthorized frequency 😉
Keep us posted when you’ll be up and running.

Well, it arrived... my first impression is that it's a cute little radio and way more than I expected for only 20 bucks. and does not feel cheap in the hand either. It was easy to punch in the frequency and start monitoring, so for my application it's not bad at all. On the same local analog repeater output frequency it does as well as the SDS100. The only drawback I see is that I'll have to leave it in it's docking bay 24/7 to operate it on main power as it does not have a separate power connector like the Uniden. The fact that it came with a docking stand for that price is quite frankly amazing.

Now I'll admit it, I've since downloaded the CHIRP software and ordered a programming cable because at this price I'll probably get another one to leave in the car, because even if it gets stolen it would be no big loss. and it's so small I can jam it in my pocket when I go out for a walk/exercise and can even listen to one of the local FM radio stations if I so choose.

 

[lamarrsy]

Happy to read that it does what you want !

Two things before closing :

1) when you’ll have received the cable and have done the setup with Chirp software, start by *reading* the content of your radio and *save that file* preciously.
It registers the content but also the config of your radio, useful if you want to start from scratch again.

2) since you are not licensed to transmit with this radio, take time to select « off » in the « Duplex » column in Chirp, for *each and every channel* that you’ll program, thus rendering inoperative the Push-To-Talk button. Of course save this on your PC with a new name, and upload to the radio this safeguarded programming.

 

[AB4BF]

Well, it arrived... my first impression is that it's a cute little radio and way more than I expected for only 20 bucks. and does not feel cheap in the hand either. It was easy to punch in the frequency and start monitoring, so for my application it's not bad at all. On the same local analog repeater output frequency it does as well as the SDS100. The only drawback I see is that I'll have to leave it in it's docking bay 24/7 to operate it on main power as it does not have a separate power connector like the Uniden. The fact that it came with a docking stand for that price is quite frankly amazing.

Now I'll admit it, I've since downloaded the CHIRP software and ordered a programming cable because at this price I'll probably get another one to leave in the car, because even if it gets stolen it would be no big loss. and it's so small I can jam it in my pocket when I go out for a walk/exercise and can even listen to one of the local FM radio stations if I so choose.

You may want to get a battery eliminator for your UV-5R to keep it in the car.

Vehicle Power Supply Car Battery Eliminator For Baofeng VPS-001 UV-5R A/E Radio | eBay

Compatible with: Baofeng UV-5R series two-way radios UV-5R, UV-5RA, UV-5RE. Output: Max: 3A. Capacity: 1800mA. We have multi-warehouses in NY/CA/KY/TX,so your item may not be sent from the warehouse which stated in the item location.

www.ebay.com

 

[Omega-TI]

You may want to get a battery eliminator for your UV-5R to keep it in the car.

I wish they had one for the home, I don't know how keeping it on the inexpensive charger will affect the battery over time.

One thing I found interesting about this thing is that when you have it VFO mode and switch to the FM broadcast band it automatically switches back to the VFO frequency highlighted when traffic occurs.

 

[a727469]

I own a v5 r….From miklor…

UV5R F8HP UV82 FAQ - Miklor

UV5R F8HP UV82 FAQ - Miklor

www.miklor.com

“Battery Charging
Do not leave the radio turned on while charging. If the transceiver is powered on, it will continuously consume energy. The charger cannot detect when the battery has been fully charged and will fail to indicate correctly.

This could overcharge the battery and shorten its life.

I had an old wouxon that I modified by attaching an adapter directly to the radio battery terminals and it worked fine for stationary use. I used an old 6 volt adapter and no problems running constantly.. I think that the uv5r is 7.4 volts input so it would probably be ok with 6-9 volts since I think there is a voltage regulator built in but I could be wrong.

Also mine came with 2 batteries and so one is charging while the other one is on and the battery time is very long if not transmitting although I have not timed.

 

[brndnstffrd]

https://a.co/d/9oshms0

One of these paired with the Battery Eliminator should work well to power it in the house.