Batboard

I am a member of the local Fire Department volunteer Emergency
Response Team.

We currently have Motorola VHF SP50 HT's and are planning on
replacing these with newer radios and I would like to get some
recommendations from batlabs members on radios that we should
consider getting.


The main criteria for new radios would be:

- Price: The lower the price, the better.

- The radios must be narrow-band capable.

- The radios need to be able to accept a battery pack with AA
alkaline batteries that can be used when the rechargable
batteries have run down.


We are currently only using three channels and I don't anticipate
needing more than a dozen or so channels.

I would prefer Motorola radios, but understand that there are
other companies which might have radios just as good for a lot
lower price.

If anyone has any recommendations for radios that would meet our
needs, please let me know!



-Thor (N6FNP)

try the Vertex vx180. Its a great radio. I love it. Use over 20 of em! Not a problem. Easy to program.

For a few more pancake feeds, you might look at the Icom F50. I'm seeing a lot of FD's trying this radio, it's waterproof, compact, built-in scrambler, and it will take an alkaline AA pack.

Tony

jmr3865 wrote:try the Vertex vx180. Its a great radio. I love it. Use over 20 of em! Not a problem. Easy to program.

I will have to second the VX-180. We got ours for in the neighborhood of $275 each will charger. They are a breeze to program. They are 16 channels, have an 8 character alpha display, and will decode quick call II.

We have had them for more than 2 years and have not had a single issue.

Mike

The VX180's ability to deconde QCII is so limited, I wrote it off as not even having the feature. It's also not a durable radio I'd trust for operations.

The Bendix/King series are dirt cheap anymore. They are 14 or up to 210 channels with face programming (no need for software) and AA packs are available.


mancow

I have no problems with the vx180 and the QCII. My tones are soo low, Motorola will not even except them. I have them out to 20 members and 10 explorers. I have 2 myself. No problem.

n6fnp wrote:- The radios need to be able to accept a battery pack with AA alkaline batteries

Have you considered storing them with lithium AA's instead. I believe they have longer shelf life and will perform better under heavier loads when you transmit.

Man, that would be big $$