Using Commercial Equipment

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Using Commercial Equipment

• Sometimes you can use commercial two-way radios
  in amateur service.
• They have bands very close to the amateur band,
  so some can be re-tuned to the amateur band.
• Most 2M FM activity started with modified
  commercial equipment back in the 60s.
• Back then it was crystal controlled so it was
  pretty expensive to have a multi-channel radio.

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Commercial Equipment contd

• Some of the older radio (mid 80s 90s) are
  programmable using eproms and can be modified to
  work on the ham bands.
• The most popular are Motorola and GE.
• Motorola radios are more difficult as it is
  harder to get the programming software.
• The GE you just need to change the eprom using
  the equations etc.

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Commercial Equipment contd

• Commercial equipment is different than amateur in
  that it is not capable of changing frequencies.
  They are programmed in, you will have a license
  to transmit on a particular frequency only (not a
  band of frequencies).
• Most are simple to operate, and are pretty rugged
  (go in dump trucks, garbage trucks, etc.).

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Motorola

• Motorola Maxtrac, GM300, M120, and M10 series are
  good and usually can be reprogrammed to the Ham
  bands. They come in VHF and UHF, 2 channel or
  multi-channel.

GM300
5
GE

• GE has several radios that are used by hams.
• The Phoenix and the MVS are the most popular.
• The Phoenix has a old eprom that is not readily
  available and needs a DOS computer to program it,
  there is a mod to add a newer type eprom.

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GE contd

• The MVS is easy to program using Windows and a
  special cable ( 40 - 50).

GE Phoenix
GE MVS
7
eBay Ham Tailgates

• These radios can be bought for 25 to 50
  depending on model, accessories etc.
• With shipping and some up front costs you can
  have a good radio for the house etc. for less
  than 100.

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A
B
9
C
D
10
E
F
Off eBay 10/13/2010
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eBay

• Buying on eBay, you have to set up an account.
• Usually you have to set up a PayPal account also
  (most eBay sites will accept PayPal).
• There are Auctions Items and Buy it Now (fixed
  price) items (some auctions will have a Buy it
  Now option).

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eBay contd

• Some things to look out for
• Read what you are buying the picture may not be
  exactly what you are buying
• Check the shipping sometimes the shipping is
  way too high (eBay has been cracking down on the
  shipping prices)
• Check out the accessories (dont have a
  microphone may cost another 20 to get a
  microphone etc.)

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eBay contd

• A B are the same - 10 difference
• C D have a 4 difference but one doesnt have a
  microphone.
• E is 10 cheaper yet
• F has all the accessories, mike, cables, bracket
• A, B, C, D, F are Buy it Now Fixed price
• E is auction so it may go higher

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eBay contd

• Probably the best buy is F just need to get a
  programming cable and you are up and running for
  less than 100 next time you wont need a
  programming cable.
• You could use one of these radios to make an IRLP
  node (dont need the microphone).