VHF...

[WMDunkin]

I was searching around and found this radio

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4_493_499&products_id=824

But with the radio being VHF would I need an license? Also is this radio any good? Is it better then CB (range, clarity, etc.)?

 

[gary in ohio]

Your going to need a license of one sort or another to use this on any freq. Vertax/Yaesu is a good brand.

 

[Shoeman]

$448 !! Yeow. A bit pricey. And at least a ham Tech license will required. Check out Ham Radio Outlet for better pricing and good info. Get your license too. It's easy.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Part of the reason the VX-2200 is so expensive is that it's a trunking radio that can do ANI and inversion encryption. It's a higher end commercial & public service radio and would be a fine VHF ham radio, but since encryption is not allowed in the amateur service the main features that make the radio more expensive are not useful to us.

 

[AndrewP]

I agree with Dave. Not the radio you want. It isn't clear but it looks like there is no VFO? So you program a set number of "channels" and have at it.

You will be much better off with a Yaesu 2900 or Kenwood 281. Both are rugged, excellent radios perfect for offroad use and cost under $200.

 

[WMDunkin]

Awesome thanks, now what it the range difference in VHF and CB?

 

[Frdmskr]

VHF means a lot. Marketing wise you have VHF low band 49-70 MHz, VHF high band 130-174 MHz, then 220 mhz.

CB means the 40 channels on 26-27MHZ. You also have FRS and GMRS around 460Mhz.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[gary in ohio]

CB will go 5-10 miles mobile to mobile, VHF can go 20-30 miles. Most of the range difference is due to the amount of noise on the CB bands.

 

[abruzzi]

Technically, it looks like that radio will do MURS frequencies (151,154) which are license free, but as stated it is overkill for that.

The easiest thing is to spend $17 and half day of studying to get the tech license, then spend about $130 for the entry level 2m Kenwood (TM-281A). The problem with the ham approach is everyone you want to talk to has to get licensed as well.

Geof

 

[bnsfham]

MURS is license free, but is limited to 2 watts ERP. Most programmable radios won't go down that low in transmit power without making internal adjustments.

 

[robgendreau]

And the range of any radio is dependent on a good antenna. And power: a ham licensed radio can use more power than a CB radio.

The one you're looking at would be used by say a race team that has a commercial license from the FCC. That might be what a NASCAR team is using, say. There are also GMRS licenses, but you couldn't use 50W for that (I think it's limited way under that amount, even with a license).

 

[WMDunkin]

thanks for all the info guys

 

[prerunner1982]

Per Title 47, Part 95, Subpart A (GMRS)... (http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-id...=text&node=47:5.0.1.1.5&idno=47#se47.5.95_121)

§95.135 Maximum authorized transmitting power.
(a) No station may transmit with more than 50 watts output power.

(b) [Reserved]

(c) A small control station at a point north of Line A or east of Line C must transmit with no more than 5 watts ERP.

(d) A fixed station must transmit with no more than 15 watts output power.

(e) A small base station must transmit with no more than 5 watts ERP.

[48 FR 35237, Aug. 3, 1983, as amended at 53 FR 47717, Nov. 25, 1988; 63 FR 68975, Dec. 14, 1998]

 

[gary in ohio]

MURS is license free, but is limited to 2 watts ERP. Most programmable radios won't go down that low in transmit power without making internal adjustments.

And even if you can get the power down that low. MURS cant be added to a VHF radio, the radio must be made specifically for a MURS. With rare exceptions you cant legally just slap a MURS freq in a VHF radio and have it be legal.

 

[CaliMobber]

read some of the stickies in this section and just get your ham license.