Batboard

DOES ANYONE HAVE A GP68 AND DO YOU LIKE IT? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FEATURES IT HAS AND IS IT A WELL MADE RADIO. WOULD IT WORK FOR BOTH SEARCH & RESCUE AND WILDLAND FIRE FIGHTING...THIS ONLY BECAUSE IT IS FIELD PROGRAMABLE....THANKS FOR ANY INSIGHT

On 2002-01-24 12:34, CATAWBA911 wrote:
DOES ANYONE HAVE A GP68 AND DO YOU LIKE IT? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FEATURES IT HAS AND IS IT A WELL MADE RADIO. WOULD IT WORK FOR BOTH SEARCH & RESCUE AND WILDLAND FIRE FIGHTING...THIS ONLY BECAUSE IT IS FIELD PROGRAMABLE....THANKS FOR ANY INSIGHT

Its a good radio. Its also an export radio! So if you need service, it may be hard to come by! For S & R or Fire work. I would want a Saber radio, or HT/JT.. and here are your features! http://www.batlabs.com/gp68.html
Also see: GP68 User's Guide. on the same page. Ed

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: radioEd on 2002-01-24 12:44 ]</font>

I had a 68, I was affraid if I carried around in my pocket I'd bust it in half. It didn't take long at all for the contacts to wear between the radio and the battery causing a lot of resets.
If it were me and I wanted something durable and programable I'd opt for a JT1000.
Doug

Don't overlook the GP300, which can have as many as 16 channels vs. the 20 channels on a GP68. No display but so what; the GP68 only has the frequency or a channel number on its display - - no alpha so it's not that useful.
And Motorola will service your GP300 if it needs it, unlike the GP68 which is made in Asia and is intended ONLY for that market. I
had a VHF and a UHF GP68 for a couple of years and they were great radios, but for public safety (i.e., non-amateur) and similar use I'd go with something I can get fixed by the manufacturer every time.

Tom, W2NJS
...in D.C.

I know this will be a cost issue,but for the uses you listed the JT1000 would be a much better radio.The JT(500mw) has twice as much audio output as the GP68(250mw).I love my JT1000.This is my 2 cents!

The GP68 is a good radio, but probably not for your application. I ahve both VHF and UHF, and they both work well, but they don't seem that tough. Liek the other fellows said, go with something like a Saber, MT1000, or GP300/P110/P1225 series. I use a P1225 around the railroad I work at, and it has taken a beating and still works.

Josh KD6KML NNNØFOG

Great radio. Lets be realistic, for $300.00 bucks you can't beat it... We dont all have the money to shell out for a "Saber", come on!! You really can't throw it around or anything, but it can talk to just about anything on uhf,(or easily tap into) I haven't put mine down since I got it weeks ago. For the money, It is an excellent radio. The audio could be a bit louder but I have spent more on a scanner than this radio. Look at it this way, if you buy it and get tired of it, there is always someone standing in line to but it from you. working or not! Just make sure you buy from a good dealer, one you can at least return it to if it is defective when you but it. After that it could be a gamble, so take good care of it. NSI communications sells them. (nsiradio.com)

The receivers on VHF are real hot. The battery connection has no spring to maintain a good tight connection.

The radio seems to suffer from the battery connection just like the old GE MPI portables. Solved their problem with a small piece of folded over solder wick on the battery connection.

Worked good untill the solder wick became flattened out. Then just replace it with a new piece.

Jim