Help deciding radio for my dragster

khorn · Post by **khorn** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:16 pm

Hello,
New to this forum but I'm here cause for the last month or so I have been looking into getting radios for my dragster (hard to see helps to have someone elses eyes.)
I'm not really looking for something brand new just something thats gonna work and not give me fits. I don't have everything yet but I'm starting with the radios and I will decide what I need from there.
So what do you suggest I look for? are sp50's good enough? I see a ton of theses on ebay for sale or should I be looking for something else. MAybe not Motorola Maybe another brand thats just as good? I know the basics and I'm assuming I want to use UHF radios.
Any input at all is haelpful it seems like a few of you guys might know what your talking about!
THanks
Kyle

HLA · Post by **HLA** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:53 pm

the sp50 isn't a real ruggid radio, i'd go with some used ht1000's, there's more accessories available for them and resale later will b around what u pay for them now. stay away from those guys that sell the so called "racing radios", a big rip off, way too much for what you are getting. for the same price you can get some real radios. and as far as uhf or vhf, you should apply for a license first or are you going to use some murs channels?

khorn · Post by **khorn** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 2:36 am

ht1000's ok any other compairable radio just trying to keep my option open! Yes the Racing Radios systems seem to be a while lot of money thats why I'm trying to do this right my way! And as for applying for a license I'm not real sure what all I'm eligable for so I may have to use MURS or GMRS channels. I mean I don't have an official buisness yet and don't know many people who use 2-way stuff. Any info on this would help!
Thanks

mmckenna · Post by **mmckenna** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:47 am

khorn,

GMRS requires a license for each family involved. Also, a lot of congestion/interference on those channels.

MURS would be a MUCH better choice, in my opinion. Less chance of interference/congestion.

khorn · Post by **khorn** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:45 pm

In Ohio in the middle of a field there would be alot of interference? I mean most of the time these race tracks are far from anything else!!! I don't know all that much about MURS guess I will have to look into that. Does anyone know what kind of frequencies most racers or race tracks use???

mmckenna · Post by **mmckenna** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:51 pm

Khorn

All it take is a couple of kids with toys to ruin your expensive GMRS set up. MURS isn't as popular. It's license free, and just as good if you are just using a couple of handhelds.

Unlicensed use of GMRS is pretty wide spread. Cheap radios are sold at just about every drug store. Most little kids seem to have them now.

All I am saying is, if you are willing to spend money on HT1000's, don't go setting them up on GMRS. Sort of like putting $15 used tires on a nice sports car...

Rayjk110 · Post by **Rayjk110** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 1:29 pm

Most race tracks (like professional races and stuff, ie Daytona 500 etc) use UHF Frequencies, like 464.5, 464.55; the list goes on .

MURS is VHF, to be specific, 151.82, 151.88, 154.57. 154.6 and maximum power is around 2 watts.

P1225 2 Channel VHF ought to do you good, just run a DPL or something so if someone wanted to interfere, it would be a bit more diffucult, as most MURS stuff is RadioShack, which can't do DPL, only PL.

If you wanted to go rugged, you could go with the HT600, which is usually found in 6 channels. It is older and a bit heavier than most stuff, but for the price they can be had at, and how reliable they are, it's more often than not worth it. They can be had in both UHF or VHF. As far as Motorola stuff goes, I would make sure the source you get them from, wether it be eBay or other, can provide programming on the radios as well.

khorn · Post by **khorn** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:55 pm

what about gp300 or p110? How are these seems like some racing people use them

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:45 am

P110, GP300 are good choices. I'll second HT600's and also consider MT1000's as well, good rugged radios that could be used as a self defense club and still go back to normal operation.

I will also second MURS over GMRS. For a couple reasons, as already mentioned, GMRS is congested at best in some areas totally worthless and unusable in others. The problem is everyone using the cheap FRS radios with the GMRS channels in them also. These combo radios make the GMRS channels useless around here, 24/7 squaking and gibberish during the summer.

And then of course licensing, MURS is license free, five channels. But you need to either buy a low power 2w radio or get a 5w radio and turn it down. However it's better to get a 2w radio to begin with, taking a 5w radio and turning it down won't be as efficient.

jhooten · Post by **jhooten** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:08 am

You guys got to stop suggesting MURS to racers. If you keep it up the all 5 channels will soon be so crowded I won't be able to talk to my pit crew. Oh never mind he is a drag racer. We don't go to the same tracks.

Just remember if you go with an older radio you can only use the two MURS 154.xx channels. The 600/1000 and such cannot do 2.5k. AND their PAs are not happy when cranked down to 2 watts. Find a true two watt radio if you can.

To the OP. An option is go down to the courthouse and file a DBA something like Joe's Automotive or Tom's Motorsports and apply for a business liscense in the UHF business band. Stay as far away from GMRS as you can.

One more, get your crew togeather and you all go take the Technician class Amateur test. Many more options open to you there.

W6JK · Post by **W6JK** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:37 am

jhooten wrote:One more, get your crew togeather and you all go take the Technician class Amateur test. Many more options open to you there.

That's bad advice. Hams are self policing. If you try to run your business on the ham bands, someone will (quite rightly) turn you in.

'JK

Woody_99 · Post by **Woody_99** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:10 pm

W6JK wrote:
jhooten wrote:One more, get your crew togeather and you all go take the Technician class Amateur test. Many more options open to you there.
That's bad advice. Hams are self policing. If you try to run your business on the ham bands, someone will (quite rightly) turn you in.

'JK

Amen to that! [Suggesting a business be run on ham freqs be BAD.]

Go here:
http://www.rh2way.com/

Examining this site, info and photos can help you decide what you need, setup and all.
It appears the Radius series 2-pin connector is industry standard on most setups. So there's a bunch of radios out there. Most seem to use the P110/P1225/GP300 and SP50 radios.
For mounting, I would advise a swinging soft-case/strap system. Hard mounting will transmit the vibes to the radio and really shorten the lifespan of connections within.... lol.
Oh, and if you're handy with an iron, just examine the website and most of that stuff looks pretty simple, or available elsewhere as a 'non' racing component for a 90% discount.

NOT affiliated, blah, blah, blah...

Good luck!

khorn · Post by **khorn** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:03 pm

Yeah thats kinda what I was thinking too as far as the standard racing radio... I had thourht about building myown stuff like you said but I'm assuming that alot of that stuff is made with good shieded type cable? I can get some, we have every type of wire at work, just figured even though my skill with an iron is above the average person buing at least some parts I would be better off.

jhooten · Post by **jhooten** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:39 pm

Not all racing is a business. If you are pro racing/racing for money then disregard the last suggestion.

Woody_99 · Post by **Woody_99** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 7:47 pm

Yep, I agree...
I'd buy the PTT and earpieces, but most of the other stuff I'd build.
On those switches and stuff, I'd say the motorcycle and/or aviation scene would definitely be cheaper.

On the biz thing... can't imagine a race without a purse, or some sort of benefit to the participants.
Letter of the law would whine about a trophy being of monetary value, thus in the middle of the gray area.

And I guess it isn't so much a biz thing as this:
If I were in a car moving at high speed, and relied on radio for anything,
FRS/MURS/GMRS/HAM would NOT be a wise idea. Too many check-jockeys and kids out there with radios...
'....and y'all knows how we is...'

Will · Post by **Will** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:58 pm

kb0nly wrote:And then of course licensing, MURS is license free, five channels.

In realality the MURS is "license by rule'' this means if you abide by the FCC Regulations, and specifically the rules in part 95 for MURS, you may opperate you radios.

Help deciding radio for my dragster

Help deciding radio for my dragster

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