Can anyone clarify?

[jdcadc]

Hi everybody! I have spent quite a bit of time looking through the sight and I must say that you guys really seem to know your stuff, so what better way to get some clarification on some questions that I have as a new person to the world of Moto radios. This is a 3 part question so here it goes.

1. Can someone explain the pros and cons of VHF vs UHF vs 800 Mhz? For example does one band work better for certain terrains and others better for distance?

2. I have been looking at getting my own FCC freq for some endeavors that I am involved in and by the prices of radios it seems that you can get 800 mhz equipment used much cheaper than VHF or UHF and there doesn't seem to be quite the demand for it. So what does everyone think of the MTX8000 radio? What would you suggest?

3. Can you explain to me the difference between a conventional and a trunked 800 mhz radio, and can a trunked radio be programmed to conventional, and vice versa.

Thanks in advance for everyones time to put a little more knowledge into this box of rocks that I call my brain!!

JDC

[Bruce1807]

1. Can someone explain the pros and cons of VHF vs UHF vs 800 Mhz? For example does one band work better for certain terrains and others better for distance?

VHF is better for open terrain, UHF for Urban areas and 800 , it very short range and needs a repeater or a system.

2. I have been looking at getting my own FCC freq for some endeavors that I am involved in and by the prices of radios it seems that you can get 800 mhz equipment used much cheaper than VHF or UHF and there doesn't seem to be quite the demand for it. So what does everyone think of the MTX8000 radio? What would you suggest?

It is unlikely for you to get a 800MHz stand alone license as these are generally for systems and or public safety. You need to provide more details of what you are trying to achieve.

3. Can you explain to me the difference between a conventional and a trunked 800 mhz radio, and can a trunked radio be programmed to conventional, and vice versa.

Trunked radios can be programmed as conventional (one or two exceptions). Conventional cannot be programmed as trunked.
Conventional can be used radio to radio or via a repeater. Trunked uses a rather expensive system, Smartnet, SmartZone, MPT, LTR etc.
They can be single site or multisite as in a state wide area. It depends what you are trying to cover. You would pay thesystem owner a monthly fee to operate on his system.

[d119]

To add to this, here's my opinion:

You're best off not pursuing anything in 800MHz. There's already a gigantic mess going on in that band right now known as rebanding.

Essentially, NexTel occupies an enormous amount of spectrum in 800MHz with various public safety, government, and a few legacy commercial systems interleaved in between.

There's been documented interference issues between these other systems and NexTel, and as a result, the band is being shifted around to put all of public safety/commerical on one end, and NexTel on the other.

It's a gigantic freaking mess thats costing hundreds of millions of dollars to sort out, and the result is that licenses are all screwed up in 800MHz.

The point?

Spectrum in 800MHz is EXTREMELY valuable, and it seems like NexTel is snatching up anything that's free. Same goes for local government systems that are needing to expand channels.

If it was even possible to get a license in 800MHz, you'd most likely be up against local governments and NexTel for the frequency/spectrum.

VHF and UHF would be ideal. 900MHz is also an option, you'd undoubtedly have less trouble obtaining a license in 900MHz than in 800MHz if you absolutely want to stay off of VHF or UHF bands.

Don't forget about lowband (30-50MHz). Granted the antennas are much larger, but the band has an interesting propogation characteristic, and the range is unbeatable for simplex operation. The HT750 and CDM1550 radios are available in a low-band version.

Again, this is my $0.02 as an MSS Technician.