What VHF portable do you recommend?

[avguy]

As you may or may not know, I am working on starting up a small radio rental firm aimed at the live event industry.
My inventory is VHF Motorola XTN's and CP100's.

When things pick up (fingers crossed) I hope to be able to offer a complete system of 20 radios in a tiered inventory.

I have 3 out 4 tiers covered, the last thing I need is a "master" that can quickly access any channel available to all units.
I need the following:
-Motorola (obviously)
-Used
-Freqs. 150-160 MHz
-Bandwidth 12.5 / 25 kHz (programmable)
-At least 26 channels available with operator controls
-Portable
-2-5 Watts

This is not a want ad at the moment, I would just like opinions from some professional users.

[john9912]

PR400 with display. This will use audio accessories with the two pin connector.

Without going to a high end model. I would suggest HT1250, HT150XLS or EX600. These have their own style of audio accessory connectors.

Good luck.

[avguy]

I've been watching some stuff on eBay, and these two radios seem to be within my budget-
Saber II H43SAJ7139CN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0330477983

MT2000 H01KDD9AA4AN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0330472390

[Tom in D.C.]

To legally rent radios you need what the FCC calls a Private Carrier License. Odds of getting a VHF frequency assigned these days are slight; they will probably insist that you go to UHF. That is unless you have the PC license already in effect. You can get an itinerant PC license good for the whole USA for up to four UHF channels.

I used to run a PC operation where we had about thirty GP300 and P110 radios. The customers beat the hell out of them, stole them, lost them, etc. so it was a continual battle to keep the stock up and running. My advice would be to start with new, not used, radios, and to stay away from the used stuff, especially Sabers. Sabers are nice and tough, but far too complicated for use in a rental operation, both from your point of view and the user's point of view.

Regards,

[OCSD117]

I would think that customers would not like the sabers as they are HUGE! Compared to other radios. Try CP200 radios for lower teir. HT1250 or ex series for a littler higher!

[alex]

I've been watching some stuff on eBay, and these two radios seem to be within my budget-
Saber II H43SAJ7139CN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0330477983

MT2000 H01KDD9AA4AN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0330472390

If your going to rent out radios you want the most simple possible unit to give out. Neither of these radios fit that profile. Most small events you probably will end up lending out radios for will need 1-2 channels tops.

Stick with something "cheap" like the CP series portables. I see SP50's, P1225's, most of the old radius line out and about in the city when people are doing movie shoots. You want simple, easy, works after you drop it 1023948023840234 times, light, and good battery life.

You can also contact Motorola which has a HUGE rental fleet, and just borrow their stuff. Just make sure you have a good attorney draft up a contract which covers the broken, stolen, etc that tend to happen with any rental radios.

Just some suggestions.

[wavetar]

We rent a TON of CP200 radios...far better than the SP50 & P1225 they replaced, as far as durability, reliability & battery life. For the higher tier, I agree with the poster who indicated either PR400 or HT1250, since you need more than 16 channels.

Another radio to consider for indoor events should be the DTR series. License free and you can have a large number of non-interfering talkgroups in one location. 1-watt at 900MHz works extremely well for in-building coverage.

Certainly stay away from Sabers! Not only are the radios huge & now ancient, but the accessories are either non-existant or extremely expensive! The cost of the batteries & cases alone would be prohibitive compared to simply getting newer radios. Nobody is gonna want to carry those beasts around.

MT2000 would be better, however keep in mind the accessories for them are generally also quite expensive.

Todd

[avguy]

At this point I only send out units programmed on MURS frequencies, or if the customer already has a license.

This portable would be for a trained on site tech, either myself or an associate.

[wavetar]

At this point I only send out units programmed on MURS frequencies, or if the customer already has a license.

This portable would be for a trained on site tech, either myself or an associate.

Your original post made it sound like you needed a batch of 20, to create your "4th tier" of rental radios in your fleet. If it's just gonna be a single radio for your use, get whatever tickles your fancy. If you're gonna go Saber, at least go Astro Saber...the RSS is much more modern computer friendly, or you can use Windows CPS.

[MT2000 man]

If it's for your own use (or someone else who is also trained) as you imply, then by all means get at least a HT1250. That would probably be the ideal portable for your needs. For a more rugged portable, I'd go the HT1000/MTS/MT2000 route.

[wkr518]

We have worked with various live event companies who rent radios to touring bands,promoters,stadiums and other events.
If you are keeping it local in your area for rentals I would suggest getting licensed for a few itinerant UHF and VHF frequencies for your surrounding counties.If you are going across state lines I would suggest nationwide itinerant licenses.
As for model radios,it all depends.I have sold the EX500 for its size to a music tour radio rental company in UHF,they needed coverage inside stadiums and venues.4 watts worked good for them and their needs.
Also have done the DTR 900mhz frequency hopping hand helds since they wanted to be able to do private 1 to 1 and subgroups ( catering,FOH,BOH,tour manager,band chaperone,merch table etc) and they worked fine outdoors ( Burning Man Festival,Summer Fest in Milwaukee) and inside buildings such as Filmore in SF,Limelight in NYC and Key Club in LA.
Locally here for rentals I use VHF and UHF TC700 radios, I program to them to be unusable ( time out with rental feature) 24 hours after event ends.Easier to keep 100 of them on hand than CP200 or HT750.Plus the 6 gang chargers for them are the smallest on the market.
We even rent ( locally) 40 watt desktop VHF and UHF repeaters for added coverage when needed.
Availability of licenses in VHF and UHF depends on your coordinator.We use EWA out of VA.I have been finding it is easier now getting licensed for VHF since the FCC Audits of non responsive licensees in 2001-2003 cleared up some spectrum.

Personal VHF Master radio: HT1250,MT1500 model 1.5,PR400 ( the 2 prong audio accessory port sucks!) with display.
I believe the above radios can be programmed down to 1/1.5/ or 2 watts output to match your existing XTN/CP100.

Good luck in your endeavors!
Wayne