Suggestions for an oddly specific mobile radio?

[sefrischling]

I am looking for an oddly specific radio ... but at the same time have no idea what radio I am looking for. Your input is welcome!

I am looking for a relatively compact dual band , 25W radio, that has no dials, only buttons. The radio will be a secondary radio, primarily used for TAC channels, while using a Kenwood TK-790 for primary channels.

That said, no variation of the Leixen VV-898 will work.

Any suggestions?

 

[Reconrider]

What bands?
Analog only or digital and analog?
What digital system do you want?
Price range?

 

[sefrischling]

What bands?
Analog only or digital and analog?
What digital system do you want?
Price range?

VHF-UHF (136-174) - (400-480) ; analog is fine.

Price is less of a factor. No, not the APX / Harris / NX radios. This is a radio of convenience, to listen to other channels while going to calls, and if need be communicate on a TAC channel, while leaving the primary channel free and clear.

Forgetting the cost, the sheer size of installing a second TK-790/890 dual band set up, along with a Vertex VX-4000L, is not viable.

I find the buttons only tends to get screwed with less than dials.

 

[2154]

At first thought the connect systems units come to mind-but I don't think they ever released a dual band version.

 

[Reconrider]

VHF-UHF (136-174) - (400-480) ; analog is fine.

Price is less of a factor. No, not the APX / Harris / NX radios. This is a radio of convenience, to listen to other channels while going to calls, and if need be communicate on a TAC channel, while leaving the primary channel free and clear.

Forgetting the cost, the sheer size of installing a second TK-790/890 dual band set up, along with a Vertex VX-4000L, is not viable.

I find the buttons only tends to get screwed with less than dials.

I don't actually know anything about radios other than the button to talk are on the sides (lol)
But I'll tag @mmckenna because this person knows a TON of stuff.

If you don't mind me asking, what do you do that you listen to a radio all day and want to monitor other stuff while working? I see you're in new london - you don't work at the base do you?

 

[a417]

I am looking for an oddly specific radio ... but at the same time have no idea what radio I am looking for. Your input is welcome!

I am looking for a relatively compact dual band , 25W radio, that has no dials, only buttons. The radio will be a secondary radio, primarily used for TAC channels, while using a Kenwood TK-790 for primary channels.

A second 690/790 in a dual deck configuration? I know you said no dials, but this gives you most of what you want as well as keeping gear unified for modifications and programming ease...

 

[2154]

He answered that by saying the size would kick this out of consideration.

 

[mmckenna]

25 watts, dual band, compact, that's going to land you squarely in the CCR category.
Finding one that has a legitimate Part 90 certification and actually puts out a good enough signal to be worthy of using in public safety type service might be difficult. Yeah, I know the hams love their CCR's and will claim they work fine, but that's different than using them for applications where lives depend on it and your agency's license requires type certified radios.

Not sure I'd put my eggs in the CCR basket, and I'd expect any public safety agency to not do that either.

Small button only radios are out there, but from reputable brands, there's not really any dual band models. TK-x90's, as you pointed out, are too large. NX-5000's, too expensive. Motorola <anything> is too overpriced, even on the used market.

If it was me, I'd probably pick up a Kenwood TK-7180 and TK-8180 along with two KRK-10's remote head kits and just figure out where to mount both heads up front. The TK-x180's are inexpensive on the used market, but the KRK-10's are still expensive.
Or, a pair of Motorola CDM-750's or CDM-1250's. Cheap on the used market and the remote kits are a bit cheaper than the Kenwood's. But they still have a knob for volume.

Some of the older Icom's are pretty small, and will do narrow band just fine. IC-F1020 and IC-F2020, but those are 20+ year old radios, and unless you have someone to do an alignment on them, I'd be a bit careful about relying on them.

 

[tweiss3]

At first thought the connect systems units come to mind-but I don't think they ever released a dual band version.

They do have a dual band part 90 radio, the CS800D. I have two, and like them, but there is a volume knob, the rest is all buttons. 50w vhf and 45w UHF. Not a bad choice, and I know there were circuit revisions when they were trying to get part 90 certification in order to pass testing.

 

[a417]

He answered that by saying the size would kick this out of consideration.

I scrolled right past the followup post. thanks!

 

[jaspence]

VGC VR-N7500 This radio is very different. Easily remote mounted, mike can be extended with a simple CAT5 cable or a blue tooth wireless mike. Programmed from an Android tablet. I have been using one for several months and it has been trouble free. VGC VR-N7500 50W Dual Band Mobile Radio With APP Programming

 

[mmckenna]

VGC VR-N7500 This radio is very different. Easily remote mounted, mike can be extended with a simple CAT5 cable or a blue tooth wireless mike. Programmed from an Android tablet. I have been using one for several months and it has been trouble free. VGC VR-N7500 50W Dual Band Mobile Radio With APP Programming

Interesting radio.
However, it is lacking Part 90 certifications:
"Note: Approved for ham radio use only."

Operating under the agency license still requires using Part 90 accepted radios.

 

[popnokick]

Appears the Connect Systems CS800D is being overlooked by all but one of the prior posts in this thread -
Connect Systems

 

[sefrischling]

If it was me, I'd probably pick up a Kenwood TK-7180 and TK-8180 along with two KRK-10's remote head kits and just figure out where to mount both heads up front. The TK-x180's are inexpensive on the used market, but the KRK-10's are still expensive.
Or, a pair of Motorola CDM-750's or CDM-1250's. Cheap on the used market and the remote kits are a bit cheaper than the Kenwood's. But they still have a knob for volume.

I am running a TK-790/890 on a single head for my dual band. The low band is a VX-4000. I am looking for a secondary radio, that is fairly compact to listen to secondary channels. Its ideal for listing to mutual aid, or TAC channels. If it was being used to transmit it would be the TAC channels, not the primary channels, or on a talk-around channel.

I simply do not have the space for a second dual-deck Kenwood set up, especially for a radio that is going to spend 95% of it's life monitoring two channels. The search for a compact radio, with buttons, not dials, is a matter of saving space, since its not at all a primary radio.