Reprogramming old Federal Voice Alerting Receiver

[buildintechie]

Anybody here know if its possible to reprogram an old Federal Signal Voice Alerting Receiver (VAR-H) built in 1996? I'd like it to scan a new VHF frequency and tone set for alerting. We found it in the attic are the fire station, and our county doesn't use VHF anymore, but a neighboring county that we have primary district in does.

Thanks

 

[cmdrwill]

That may be one that still used a crystal for the LO. Crystals are hard to get now.

There would be two crystals, one the local oscillator, that determines the RX frequency, and one for the second LO.

 

[RadioTowerMaster]

I'm only familiar with the Federal crystal controlled Ten Ten circa 1967 series & the fairly new very overpriced programmable Informer series. If you have the Ten Ten you can order crystals from www.bomarcrystal.com Blank page or Crystals, oscillators, filters, precision crystals, TCXOs and more from International Crystal You still might need to have the unit realigned though. I don't know of anybody that deals with much less specializes in vintage Federal products but these guys may be able to assist you or steer you in the right direction. Home Page or Plectron, WallaceRadio, LLC. Home

Or you can try this:

I've seen guys totally gut these vintage Motorola, Plectron & Federal receivers & tear down BCT-8's & BC-350's & reconnect the volume, power, squelch & other pertinent controls into the shells & let them either sit on one particular frequency of choice or let them scan whatever fire service frequencies they selected up or the entire fire service frequency allocation, I've seen them jerry rig different antennas to accommodate different bands though. These pretty much were the same guys who would gut surplus single up to 3 tier Micor heads & tear down BC-III's & BC-IV's & reinstall them in separate fabricated enclosures under the front seat wired to the Micor heads in their Gran Fury buff mobiles.

 

[cmdrwill]

Bomar and International crystal company's are not making individual crystals for radios anymore.