Batboard

I am in search of a truly waterproof radio for use on our FD's marine unit. We need a mobile and a portable, 16 ch UHF conventional. Does it exist?? HELP!!! thanks!

Mobiles, Im not sure. Probably a motorcycle edition XTL.

Portables, the new TRBO portables are supposedly waterproof.

or the XTS5000R, 2500I, I think the 1500 is available in a submersible version too. Vertex-Standard makes a few too.

http://www.rfwiz.com/VertexStandard/Por ... _Radio.htm

Look they make a mobile too:
http://www.rfwiz.com/VertexStandard/Mob ... cleKit.htm


I've never used a Vertex radio, but they dont look bad.

This would be a good time to look at the EX560-XLS, it's submersible

Our FD and Police/custroms marine units use either XTS5000/XTS3000 or XTS2500 all submersible
On the boats we use XTL series motorcycle radios

Bruce1807 wrote:Our FD and Police/custroms marine units use either XTS5000/XTS3000 or XTS2500 all submersible
On the boats we use XTL series motorcycle radios

The guy need 16 channels of analog operation and you're recommending a $4000 radio???

I see you've been to University in Chicago!!!!

You get what you pay for.
The VHF marine radio on the boats is an XTL2500 programmed with the marine frequencies.
They also have a cheapo just for the DSC.

Not a Motorola but ICOM M-88 VHF Marine handheld radio has 22 open LMR channels programmable to fire/rescue frequencies. It's waterproof (1 meter for 30 minutes), available in Intrinsic Safety model (probably for industrial use on the coast or in tanker/freighter holds) and is programmed with software and cable easily purchased. Just got one for private marine use on my boat and have programmed for volunteer fire and county EMS. Works well. Hope this is helpful.

The radio you want is the Vertex VX-920 fully submersible can do MDC-1200 with option board. Can also add a sub board for receive only of the other band. http://www.rfwiz.com

When I served on FDNY marine 3 we used submersible Saber I radios, but we were all VHF at the time, so we carried a radio that had our dispatch and a few marine channels programmed. We also carried an addition Fireground radio in case we had to operate with land units.

The mobile probably won't have to be watertight as most installs are pretty protected. Again Vertex has a few models that are dual band capable. Which is like the big M setup two radios with 1 control head. On our boat we had a regular off the shelf marine radio and a VHF Spectra to reach the dispatcher.

Hopefully it's not too late for me to add my two cents...

It all depends on what radios you already have on your network. Personally, i try and keep everything pretty much the same. It makes life easier when maintaining the system (hardware maintenance, programming, etc.)

If you're currently using a network with motorola equipment, i'd stick with motorola. For a submersible portable, the EX560 would be your best bet. EX560 would fall into a family with the HT750/1250/1550 and EX500/600. Basically it's a small version of the HT1250 limited keypad (like the ex500 is a small ht750 and the ex600 is a small ht1250 with full keypad). The EX560 is submersible to 1 meter (fresh water) for 30 minutes (a little salt water won't hurt it neither). Basically, what you want something that'll withstand some spray, because when you drop that thing in the water, it'll be a cold day in hell before you get it back in one piece.
I'm not very familiar with submersible mobile radios from motorola, but as previously stated motorcycle radios should be right up your alley. However, if the radio is in an enclosed helm, you really don't need a submersible mobile radio. For a mobile radio, i would install a radio with a remote control head, so if something does happen to it, it's only the control head that's shot and not the radio itself. The US Coast Guard uses (i believe) maratracs with remote heads, that are not waterproof (I've seen them in their RIB boats -- rigid inflatable boats).


If you're willing to mix and match equipment, vertex standard is a good choice. They're known for their submersible marine radios. I can't imagine them not making a good submersible uhf portable and mobile radio.

Hope this helps.
-Parker

Not sure where I saw it,maybe MRT MAG,but saw an ad in there for a floating portable radio.
It may have been only a VHF Marine type radio though.
New to Vertex here myself.I can check and see what they have they is waterproof.
Wayne

The Vertex 970 series has special order option of IP68 rating,6 ft for 3hours.Appears available in 48 channel model.
Find your local Vertex Dealer and get a price from them.You can also put a SRX-4 crossband board into it if you needed to transmit into VHF Marine channels.No RX options on that board.So they could not talk back to you easily,unless you had VHF mobile or another portable nearby.
Hope this helps a bit
Wayne

Yea wayne...
the floating radio i believe is made by iCom and is a Marine VHF radio.

-Parker