Looking for a hand held 1st HAM

[Fish]

I'm also not sure where you're getting your information about helicopters and their capabilities, ie, "long lines" but you're completely and totally incorrect.

Care to elaborate on that statement?

As far as radios for SAR/Public Service, I'm fond of the Bendix King line. It's the standard for wildland firefighting across the country. With the right knowhow it's field programmable. You can get a "clamshell" that uses AA batteries. Many of the newer models will transmit 136-174. Note that's it's about impossible to find an antenna to cover that whole range.

If you're not going to have to worry about digital in your area, I'd go with the GPH-Commander. It allows you to build a custom command groups with freqs from the other groups.

There is now a hand-held mike for the BK which includes a GPS. It can transmit location to another such unit, similar to APRS. But you'd need a second (or multiple) unit(s).

 

[ScoutII]

For SAR work you really need to weight the pro and cons of the radio.
How much of your SAR work is hiking. Weight will be an issue. Maybe battery life is more important and a radio with a bigger amp/hour battery is a better solution. Water proof, do you really need it to be water proof. Easy in programming. Most just use there P.C. as it makes tracking and added new channels easy. But on the fly programming needs to be simple too.
Maybe being able to monitor more than one channel is what is needed.
Does it have a built in GPS, do you really need it. Maybe you own a separate GPS unit. It really amazing what they have added.

Forgot budget, $$$ that always comes up.

I would narrow your choice down to a couple radios and read the reviews.

Just to help make John a happy camper. There is nothing in the rules to keep the agency you talked to under those emergency circumstances from prosecuting you for illegally transmitting on their frequencies. It has happened. I mentioned it before and got a smart remark like I'm just making this ******** up. It's funny and sad.
No worries, I will be sure to drive 20 miles to get cell ph reception for some of you. :smiley_drive:

 

[ScoutII]

I always like to inform people vs saying something its illegal. People want to do the right thing most of the time. This is from a an SAR team by Mike Dugger
Cut and paste. A search itself is generally not considered to be a life or death emergency, and frequencies used by incident command are used under an FCC-issued license. As a non-licensed SAR person, it is OK for you to use the frequencies designated by incident command for search information only, and only during the duration of the mission. Only licensed amateur radio operators may use frequencies other than the mission frequency, unless a life or death emergency exists.
Some SAR members become licensed amateur radio operators so that they can have access to other frequencies and repeaters to convey information.

This sound a lot like wildmed. As a SAR person on a team he has permission to talk on the teams freq. Plus being a HAM he can also comminicate on the HAM bands for which he has a license for.

 

[ScoutII]

I was quoting our resident expert on the capabilities of rescue helicopters where he stated that only the CHP has helicopters with "long lines". I have no idea what that's supposed to mean but I took it to mean that the helicopter in his story about an alleged rescue that the helicopter used didn't have a a winch on board and was forced to land to affect a rescue.

None of which of course has anything to do with the issue at hand, which was using an illegally modified Ham radio on public safety bands. It's amazing how the topic which was originally put forth has gotten lost in the piles of BS that have been posted on this thread.

Good call on the antenna issue by the way. Yet another example of why one shouldn't use modified radios. The main one of course is that it remains illegal to do so regardless of what a few misguided folks here think.

John E

Still waiting on a cut and paste from part 97:ylsmoke:

Edit: I going to add what is illegal, this is just the basics as with any topic there are still other rules that apply.

1: No music. i.e you can't hit the Mic and hold it over the radio
2: No foul language. If it was OK in kindergarten its OK here.
3: Transmissions outside of your class. Each class Tech, General, Extra has bands that they are allowed to transmit in. (No exceptions unless somebody is dieing and no other form of communication will work. Examples: Cell Ph, police/fire/park ranger radio, etc. Smoke signals don't count, common sense does.
4: Using a HAM radio to talk on CB bands ( This would be transmissions outside of the assigned HAM bands) CB is Citizen band and limited to 4 watts. People are taking nice 10 meter HAM radios and making them work on 11 meter = BIG NoNo and on the HOT list with the FCC crack down.
5: Using a modded ham radio to talk on a say a private security or race channel or other business type of freq. i.e 151 Mhz. The radio is not certified to talk on those freq, even if your employer has a license. The only exception is when actively working a Search and Rescue mission and have the NET controls permission.
5.a You can use any radio to talk on HAM bands for which you have a license. i.e. using an old military radio on HAM bands is OK.
6. For profit i.e you can't run your tow truck business using a ham radio

Read 97.113 Prohibited transmissions. for all the details (click here)

There are a lot of other rules for geographical areas. Near me there is a lot of military, so power limitations come into play on the 70cm band. Other bands too, but since most radios cover that range I mention it.

 

[xtatik]

Only licensed amateur radio operators may use frequencies other than the mission frequency, unless a life or death emergency exists.

Yes, but the licensed Amateur can only use frequencies within the allowed Amateur spectrum or on the specific channels assigned to the first responder/public service license.

Some SAR members become licensed amateur radio operators so that they can have access to other frequencies and repeaters to convey information..

This is fine if the content of their conversations are casual and are not used for conducting or coordinating their operations. They can do so only in rare emergencies where the threat to life or property is immediate.

This sound a lot like wildmed. As a SAR person on a team he has permission to talk on the teams freq. Plus being a HAM he can also comminicate on the HAM bands for which he has a license for.

Assuming WildMed is a licensed Amateur...this statement is true. If so, and if he chooses to xmit in both services with just one radio, he must use a radio that is type accepted for the public service band. As an Amateur, he can use the public service radio inside the Amateur bands, but he cannot use a ham radio (modified or not) to xmit in the public service band. Additionally, he cannot get "permission" to do so from any other agency other than the FCC.

The penalties for doing so are as follows:
Fines of $11,000 per day, per radio used illegally.
Equipment forfeiture.
Forfeiture of Amateur Operator license and the loss of any opportunity to EVER get an Amateur license.
There are other extraneous penalties that can be compounded as well.

 

[xtatik]

Using a modded ham radio to talk on say a private security or race channel or other business type of freq. i.e 151 Mhz. The radio is not certified to talk on those freq, even if your employer has a license. The only exception is when actively working a Search and Rescue mission and have the NET controls permission.[/QUOTE}

ScoutII, if you step away from your computer, no one will get hurt. You seriously need to give up the Google searches, study up and get a license.
You've spread enough manure in this thread, and it is patently clear you haven't a clue what you are talking about.

 

[xtatik]

Np, when xtatik posted misleading info I had to do may part to show what he said is not what is written. I'm game for discussing part 97 as written. Not making assumption, reading between the line,etc. John everyone must make there own decisions. I'm mean you get in your car and don't break the law, why? Because you know the rules of the road. Same thing with HAM radio you need to know the rules. You need to learn cut and paste or something as I never told anyone to do something wrong. If modding your radio is wrong post that section up. If helping somebody so there life is saved and that is wrong post up that section. Get my point, you and xtatik are posting stuff that is not 100% true. Its like you two are trying to intimidate people, whats up with that?

Try posting the rules as written, so people learn right way. I posted the link to part 97 so it should be easy for everyone to find it and read it. It's a seachable pdf.
so as xtatik said "I'm certain we can set a better example"

If you think you were being dealt with harshly, I'll give you this example of how moderators on the largest Amateur Radio forum are dealing with the very same "modification misinformation" you are inserting into this thread. This post is from one the moderators and co-owners of QRZ.com. Perhaps you'd like to present your questions over there. I'd love to see the replies.

Read the lower paragraph on this page.
http://forums.qrz.com/announcement.php?f=11

 

[ScoutII]

I have a license.

What you are missing in all of this, I'm talking about emergency's as outline in part 97. That's it!

I don't think posting part 97 for a 3rd time will make it sink in any better.
You need to read everything I posted with fact that somebody is dieing and your radio is it (I said it before too, work within the system not outside if possible. i.e cell ph)

I think our differences stems from the fact I travel to locations that HAM radio is your only link back to emergency help. It's the reason I got involved in HAM radio in the first place. Its the reason I help other people get there license. People are realizing that it can save a life.

I'm sure you and a few others won't be changing their minds any time soon and thats OK. Maybe you use your radio to make contacts around the world or talk local every morning at 7am and thats great. But I carry mine, just like I carry a fire extinguisher for emergency's. Not everyone I travel with has a HAM license as most still just have a CB radios. I've tried to tell real story's to help others understand, so heres one more. There was a group of us out on the trail last summer and it was after dinner. I have my radio run to a speaker so I can hear it while in camp. (listening in case somebody needs help) I hear a buddy thats on the other side of the mountain (via repeater) talking with his wife at home. The conversion is not important, what is important is the fact that everyone in my camp realized you can have communication back to home.


So to wrap up this thread "xtatik" It is completely illegal for you to be using a Part 97 type certified radio outside the Amateur Service spectrum."
Unless its an emergency as stated in part 97:victory:

 

[keating]

The HTX-200 on the other hand is fantastically tiny and runs on 2xAA batteries for 200mw or 2w with a 9V adapter.
I like using it to drive a 50w brick in the trunk of my commuter car with a cell phone look-alike antenna where I don't want a full mobile install.
Or battery powered with the rubber antenna for comms on trail rides when I step out of the truck to spot, winch, etc.

While the HTX 202 is a nice radio its pretty old now. They usually go for $50 and why not spend another $40-$50 and get a brand new radio instead of a 15 year old model that most likely will need new batteries.