Batboard

hey folks, I have a 2m v8000 and a 900 gtx in the car, but i would like to add a 440 monoband to add to the mobile... I have all the cables and software so i don't mind having a non-field-programmable radio as long as i have around 25 to 50 memories for repeaters and simplex. There is really not much in the ham market for monoband 70cm that i can see... any suggestions what commercial model line will give me the most bang for my $$ ??? On ebay i see Syntor, astro, radius, maxtrack, CDM, spectra ??? I would like to hear your opinions. thanks....

Hello. I was in the same boat as you. I found a Spectra which I use on a daily basis. It works great. I assume you are a ham. I used to use a Maxtrac but found it a little deaf in the Ham band. To find the correct Spectra 438-470 MHZ I had to purchase a motorcycle Spectra which was 15 watts. Higher power Spectras can be made to work in the ham band but rx sens is not as good as the motorcycle version in the ham band. Hope this helps. GARY N4KVE

Another approach would be to dump the V8000 and replace it with an
IC-208H dualbander. You'll save space and have a great radio; I've been
using three of them for several years. The radio has no "band" as such
but just interleaves the channels both UHF and VHF as you set them up.

It also runs a fair amount of power.

The Alinco UHF single bander isn't a bad radio at all and may be your cup of tea. It's relatively good on intermod and the audio is good with a decent external speaker. I don't have one myself, but a friend does have one, and my experience around it is that it outperforms the 208 as far as intermod rejection and adjacent channel rejection and interference from co-located radios in the vehicle goes, but that's because all it does is UHF, so the receiver front end isn't so wide open.

I have an ICOM 208H and a V8000 in the same vehicle, and as mentioned above, the 208H is a good choice also, especially considering it's a dual bander AND it's remotable AND it can be had for the same or less money than the Alinco single bander. BUT (there's always a caveat), it has extended receive capability, and that usually means the wide front end yields far less adjacent channel rejection and intermod rejection and co-located radio interference rejection, and the 208H is definitely no different in that respect, trust me.

My choice would be a MotherMoto CDM1550, and that may be my next shot at a UHF mobile, but then again, I've gotten used to having that VHF side of the 208H available for things not programmed into the V8000..........

Well if you want a monster...

Syntor X9000 is a beast but if you have the "right" software and enough mode capability you can program what you need and have 100+watts output.

My IC208H works great on UHF. I get 50+ watts out on this band VHF suffers a bit from desense from intermod and noise generators like powerline noise when listening to less than full quieting signals. My D43 Maxtrac works lots better

I have a Kenwood TK840 mobile that work fine, just low power output, think 20 watts or so.

Few years back, I had a 403-450 (?) CDM1550 LS. Worked great on 440.

So... there is bunch out there. Hardest part on most of the commercial stuff is getting the software for it and making sure the radio covers the part of the band you want without hacking it to death.

Dave

I would go with the IC-208H and then purchase the PAR 152/158 BP Filter to clean up the rx side on vhf-hi.

If necessary you could also pick up a 454 BP Filter for the uhf side but don't think there is much in the way
of paging transmitters up in that spectrum any more.

I have the ID-800H (the 208's dig brother) and that is a great choice as well.

EDIT: Sorry - those PAR filters are the notch type not band pass.

I also have a TK840 that I use for 440 ham. A decent little no frills radio that can be found cheap. I have also used the Kenwood TK830 that worked great on 440. Can have up to 160 channels with the right EEPROMS and full featured control head.

got a uhf 403-470 cdm1250 if your interested.

I've been really happy with my Yaesu FT-8800R.

If you want to stay with Motorola, I'd say an R-Split (403-470) CDM1250, CDM1550, or MCS2000 would be the best bet.

The CDM series has proven to work quite excellent in the 440 ham band, without any hacking needed (save if you get an S split)

I'm using one on a tone remote right now in the ham band and I've had no issues.

I like Maxtracs, and I have one for sale;
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0259174980
Thanks!

I am fond of the MCX1000 radios for VHF and UHF. Plenty of channels and plenty of options in programming.
I also use Hi-power Spectra A9 radios with good results, 100+\- on the ham bands is some serious talk power and with the proper tweaks the receivers are great in the ham spectrum.

The older Kenwook TK-805 is a no frills radio that can be panel programmed, but it's not a simple matter, and you use the mic to add channels.
But it is a 25 watt radio that has a good receiver, great TX audio but also a UHF pigtail antenna port(which stinks).

They should be able to be 'had' for about $100.00 in good condition.....check city surplus.

Mesa, AZ. has some of these radios left, but I can't recall the website they have for their 'auction'.

I agree that the ic-208H is a very nice dualband radio and has excellent rx on it not to mention wide band coverage rx at that.
I have 2 of these units 1 for teh house as base and other in the vehicle, have not had any problems with either one of them.