Build your own VHF Radio Package

[MarkT]

My radio didnt require a hack. Although not legal to TX on race(commercial) freqs I have never had a problem. If we run across someone legally using the channels we simply find another channel.

Race radios are one of those things you can over think to death. I only use mine in Baja and at races and I never think twice about the legality.

Greg. I have the Yaesu FT270R for a handheld and it's awesome. Ive never thought of dual band just because everyone I know runs VHF.

Just want to make sure that everyone understands there are "legalities" whether you want to ignore them or not...

Transmitting (TX) on Race or GMRS frequencies is admittedly "low risk" and almost no risk as long as you aren't interfering with a legal user.

On Ham? I think you are much more likely to have a problem if you don't have a license... there's a whole group of amateurs dedicated to finding illegal users on the ham freqs.

Many of us use and have the FRS/GMRS* radios on Raptor runs... so it's awesome to have ONE radio that will work on race, GMRS, and in case of emergency (or you just feel like chatting with someone across the country, in England or Australia, or ?), Ham!

*The "bubble pack" radios do not have removable antennas and that severely restricts the range vs a model with an external antenna capability.

---------- Post added at 09:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 PM ----------

Is it true, that if you get a "RACE" radio you can not talk to the big truck drivers on the freeway? If not what do you guys recommend for a radio that would do both? SNIP.

The dedicated "Race" radios are considered "business class" and have to meet a higher standard (FCC Part 90 certification).

"Amateur" radios do not meet these higher standards which is what makes "hacking" an amateur radio illegal for use in the business bands.

To answer your question, race radios operate near what is called the "2 meter" frequency band.

What the truckers use, commonly known as a CB, operates on frequencies in the "11 meter" frequency band.

The difference is a little like trying to tune in a AM radio station with your TV (or vice versa). It won't work.

As far as I know, there are no radios that will work on both CB frequencies and race radio frequencies even if hacked. Too much difference between the frequencies and the type of transmission. Apples and oranges.

 

[CineSLR]

Bingo!
http://www.worldwidedx.com/yaesu/40253-yaesu-ftm-350r-mod-first-internet.html

So what is the legal way to go about using a VHF on land? Is it the same as on the water? I have grown up on boats and that is what sparked this nerdy obsession. Do you need to take a test for VHF or just pay a fee? I read the book on the ham test a few years back but it was right as I was moving out of state so I never got around to taking the test.

There is also a safety factor for when cell phones go down. Here in New Orleans it was the only way to communicate during Katrina. I'm also hoping to get a dog this coming year and really want to do search and rescue training with it so it will be handy to know my way around a VHF/ham by then.

The main reason for the radio is to integrate it into a communications package I will offer with the truck. On a film set everyone has a VHF, some hard cores are licensed, a lot of people are not. I'm not sure how the laws change for film productions or if they lease the space or what but while on set everyone is always a call away. Having a director be able to comment live about a shot without needing him in the vehicle is a huge plus when there are dangerous stunts involved etc.

According to this website, the common film freqs are in the same commercial range as the racers... Glad I found that mod!


Thanks for all this great info!

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[CineSLR]

Aaron,
The features that really got me were the dual band monitoring, APRS, GPS/tracking and the repeater modes. Im sure there are more i have yet to find, but more than anything it looks killer! I was about to go with the full rugged radios setup but realized the price for their radios were about the same with less frequencies and they required a computer to change the freqs. I picked mine up at hamradiooutlet.com who were very helpful in figuring out if the unit would play nice with the Lowerance GPS (it does) and got it shipped that day.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[CineSLR]

Are these frequencies available to the race radios? Sounds like just what we are looking for and legally does not require a license.

Multi-Use Radio Service - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some good reading about APRS...
http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=27773

 

[BigJ]

LVDezDawg and I have been researching radios and found a high quality LEGAL*** NO HACKS REQUIRED unit that is certified by the FCC to be used on:...

Mark, which radio?

 

[treypal]

Freq I always run is

locos mocos 151.775

Weatherman 151.625

Here is a pretty good list of race freqs.
http://www.mag7race.com/pdf/channel.pdf

 

[ruffstuff]

My guess is Wouxun.

 

[MarkT]

Yup, Wouxun. Incredible HT radio that costs only $119 and is FCC Part 90 certified for use on the "business" frequencies.

'Dawg and I are going to run some range tests on the "race" (VHF) and GMRS (UHF) frequencies using different antennas... hopefully tomorrow?

Stock "rubber duck" in the cab.

Aftermarket "rubber duck" in the cab.

Aftermarket mag mount antenna on the roof.

At the same time, we'll test and compare the range of our CB's and "Wally World" bubble pack radios.

If they work well, we are going to talk to the mods here and a local supplier to see if we can put together a FRF "group buy" and/or pre-program the radios to use the race and GMRS freqs out of the box so all anyone has to do is turn it on when they get it and it's ready to use.

(Both 'Dawg and I have set up frequency lists, own the cable and software and can program the radios in seconds... but we think we might get the vendor to do it if we supply them with a copy of the frequency file)

Another test will be the Anza-Borrego trip coming up.

The "serious" guys that want to run baja would be better off dropping the cash and buying a race radio setup like Trey's... but we were looking for a CHEAP solution for the "casual" user and guys that go out wheeling with their buddies on occasion.. who would like to be able to tune in to the race guys and/or their buddies with GMRS and even have ham capabilities for emergencies (or fun).

It sounds too good to be true for all of that to be capable from one low-priced radio... but it is true. The unknown is how well they work out in the desert and how much better they work with an external antenna over one in the cab.

 

[ruffstuff]

The Wouxun is an incredilble deal. They have a detachable face model coming out soon. How are you keeping the radio charged in the truck? Are you using the Wouxun 12v battery eliminator?

 

[MarkT]

I have the $15 battery eliminator... but to be honest I haven't used it because the battery life is good enough to last all day and then some.

Also, the cradle charger that comes with it has a 12v input so it can be used in the truck to charge the battery... say on an overnight camping trip. (the radio does not come with the cigarette lighter cord for the charger but I have one already)

You can also get a battery pack that you load with AA batteries... for those times when you might not have a 120v or 12v power source, say a hiking trip.

I'm waiting for the new model to come out too... If it has the solid features and construction of the small handheld I have now? At a good price? I'll be mounting one in the truck. Probably won't be out for a few months though