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Combined Radio

Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 08:23

Robin

As an amateur and CB user and 4wder I would like to cover as many radio frequenices as possible in one or two radios - while this is technically possible many transceivers are blocked from using all channels. My question is which transceivers can give most coverage in one unit (UHF/VHF/HF) without resorting to excessive internal modifactions.

Robin Miller
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ThreadID: 32635 Replies: 9
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AnswerID: 165493   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 08:36

VK3CAT replied:

Hi Robin. First, to directly answer your question, check out
www.mods.dk/
for modifications to amateur radios.
Note that a radio like the Icom IC706Mk2G when opened up will not tx on the UHF CB band. This was also the case with the Yaesu FT100 & FT847.
Some of the amateur dual banders will TX on UHF CB but power outputs may be significantly reduced due to the output filters being out of spec - also RX sensitivity may be down for the same reasons.
You are probably already aware of the legalities of using Amateur equipment on non -amateur bands. For this reason I use a Codan 8528 with the option A eprom. Also have a separate UHF CB - Electrophone TX4000 and a Yaesu FT1500M for 2 metres.
Cheers Tony
Reply 1 of 9
FollowupID: 420364   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 09:21

Mad Dog (Australia) posted:

The best radio for combined amateur/cb is the dualband Icom-208H. The broadband performance is outstanding while still retaining its integrity. This radio can be purchased new with wideband mod already done :)




FollowUp 1 of 3
FollowupID: 420486   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 17:23

Mike Harding posted:

Agree with Mad Dog - I was going to buy a 208H until I decided to get the lot in one box with the Yaesu and as I have a Uniden UHF CB I could live with two radios given that I hardly ever use CB anyway.

Mike Harding
FollowUp 2 of 3
FollowupID: 420516   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 19:52

Star Bug posted:

The IC-208H is my weapon of choice for everyday use. Covers 2m and 70cm, and when modded covers UHF CB.

If I want to play HF then the 706mkIIG is slipped in to compliment it.

Both are fairly easy to mod for out of band TX
FollowUp 3 of 3
AnswerID: 165497   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 08:45

Mad Dog (Australia) replied:

Robin, there are a number of sites on the web with the mods for various amateur radios. Most mods with modern radios are very simple. My uhf\vhf simply requires a diode to be removed to open expanded rx/tx. My mobile HF simply requires the removal of a link., mu dualband handheld is also simple. I suggest before purchase of a radio you peruse the mod sites. I wont go into the legalities of this as this wasn't part of your question.




Reply 2 of 9
AnswerID: 165511   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 09:52

Robin replied:

Hi Guys

Multiple radios is a problem as we are gearing up to take a group on a
north/south simpson crossing and weight/space is at a premium.

2 radios, a combined uhf/vhf and a HF unit can be fitted and there is some
sense to that as beyond a certain level of intregration the things become to hard
to use in a hurry. For example - we have found in useful to have a radio
on the UHF truck channel 40. So now with the low cost of UHF handhelds we have
a second one sitting in a mobile phone holder on the dash, for immediate
"no thinking" use at short range.

In our trips particular senario UHF CB would be most used radio so it needs to be effective.
The IC208H sounds like it might be good.

Ray What are the model radios that you use?

Tony , how do you find the tuning with the 8528 on amateur bands, presume
its via up/down buttons?

Robin Miller VK3ZVV
Reply 3 of 9
FollowupID: 420400   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 10:57

Mad Dog (Australia) posted:

>we are gearing up to take a group on a
north/south simpson crossing

Yeah, can one do that north/south

>Ray What are the model radios that you use

I have the IC208H, a remote head radio. The main unit is tucked up behind the dash with the tiny head stuck to the dash with double sided tape, purchased new about 2 years ago, no problems with it.

HF is an Alinco dx70th, remote head on the console between the two front seats with the main box under the drivers seat. I have to remove the main unit before attempting any deep water crossings but it's only a one minute job. Purchased second hand from ebay a coupla years ago with an auto tuner, has had a bashing around in the ute but just keeps on rocking...so far.

Also have a GME TX4400 in the overhead console, a couple of cheap digitalk handhelds in the glovebox that are suprisingly good and the best amateur dualband handheld ever made the Yaesu FT51R, I'll take that to the grave with me, and oh yeah an FM900 on 2m for APRS. I also use the Alinco for HF aprs when outta range of vhf/uhf repeaters. I think that about covers the ute comms.





FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 420532   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 20:34

VK3CAT posted:

Robin, my 8528 eprom has a most of the 80M, 40M, 30M and 100kHz of 20M programmed in 5kHz steps so broad tuning is just done by the channel up down buttons. Finer tuning is done using the fast or slow up / down buttons. With the option A eprom, this allows TX on any legitimate frequency in the amateur band. Outside of the amateur bands, the fast / slow up & down buttons just alter the RX frequency.
The 8528 is a much bigger unit than the Icom 706Mk2G and doesn't come with DSP , notch filters etc but the mute / squelch is absolutely brilliant!
A disadvantage with the 706 is the current consumption (1.8 to 2 amps - Icom specs)on RX. It gets quite hot on RX and the fan will run so not the sort of thing to leave on all day at camp with fridges running etc. Must put a meter onto the 8528 to see what that draws! (Should have recorded this when I first put it in)
As an aside, the FT1500M draws (if i remember correctly) about 80mA when turned off!
When / where are you going Robin? We are doing the WAA line in July / August.
FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 165520   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 10:12

signman replied:

For UHF we have a Tait 2000.Cost me $80 and programmed for 40 uhf/cb channels, 40 uhf/amateur repeaters, 10 group scan channels, & 10 'private' channels. 25w output.
For HF we have a Codan 8525 with all the normal channels including 25 Amateur frequencies spread over 20m, 40m, 80m. 100w output.
VHF (2m) just a Kenwood handheld.
I know the newish Icoms have all the fruit with uhf.vhf.hf- and I understand the HF can be broadbanded for tx/rx (with the removal of a diode).
Reply 4 of 9
AnswerID: 165538   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 10:51

Member - Mike DID replied:

Modern amateur UHF transceivers won't go above 470 MHz - they were being used on FRS in America.

Mike
Mike R
Reply 5 of 9
FollowupID: 420416   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 11:58

Mike Harding posted:

I think the Icom 702 Mk2G covers the UHF CB band?

Mike Harding
FollowUp 1 of 4
FollowupID: 420418   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 11:59

Mike Harding posted:

706 Mk2G
FollowUp 2 of 4
FollowupID: 420526   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 20:16

VK3CAT posted:

Mike, my Icom 706Mk2g cuts out at 470.000mHz - no good for UHF CB.
FollowUp 3 of 4
FollowupID: 420644   Submitted: Saturday, Apr 08, 2006 at 08:53

Mike Harding posted:

You're correct. It was the 208H I was thinking about, not the 706.
FollowUp 4 of 4
AnswerID: 165556   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 11:52

Mike Harding replied:

I have recently bought a Yaesu FT857D which, after soldering five links on the mainboard (mod detailed on mods.dk) will Tx over the whole HF band so could Tx on Flying Doctor or VKS737. It also Rx’s on FM radio, AM aircraft band and has a very wide Tx and Rx span on 2m and 70cm, unfortunately it will not cover the UHF CB band. Excellent radio right across the range and very robust as I discovered when I dropped it from 1m onto a stone floor when it was one week old! :)

100W on HF, 50W on 2m and 20W on 70cm – all modes on all bands.

Cost is about $1200 from Andrews Communications in Sydney with a 3 year warranty.

A complicated radio with many menu and soft-button options which takes some getting to know but well worth the effort.

Mike Harding

mike_harding@fastmail.fm
Reply 6 of 9
FollowupID: 420437   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 13:25

Mad Dog (Australia) posted:

you been bush or just laying low ?




FollowUp 1 of 5
FollowupID: 420438   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 13:29

Mike Harding posted:

Bush :)
FollowUp 2 of 5
FollowupID: 420440   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 13:40

Mad Dog (Australia) posted:

When are you going to get aprs in your vehicle ?
Make it easy for me to find you when you get lost :)

Site Link




FollowUp 3 of 5
FollowupID: 420469   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 15:59

Mike Harding posted:

I’m never lost. Occasionally, and for short periods, I may be mildly geographically embarrassed however the concept of an ex. Kiwi rescuing an ex. Pom in the Australian bush is an amusing one – just remember though… I don’t share my sheep! :)

I’ll have a look at the APRS link later, I have heard of it but know nothing about it. How do you get comms from a remote area? 2m/70cm to a sat or HF?

Mike Harding
FollowUp 4 of 5
FollowupID: 420493   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 17:37

Mad Dog (Australia) posted:

If you're never lost you aint trying hard enough but these modern nav toys sure make it hard,

APRS in remote areas is catered for by HF, there is a dedicated 30m APRS freq with two or three gateways around Aust, quite often I get gated by ZL. The other option is sat, there is an aprs repeater aboard the ISS which is very easy to get a signal through. It's a bit of fun but has a pratical use with the kids and mum at home being able to look up exactly where dad is on the web.




FollowUp 5 of 5
AnswerID: 165569   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 12:36

Michael Carey replied:

You should be like me! (-: Build the 4x4 around the radios!!

Michael's Hilux Picture Albums
Reply 7 of 9
FollowupID: 420569   Submitted: Friday, Apr 07, 2006 at 23:19

Muddy doe (SA) posted:

I have same radio (Icom) and love it but I would have put the Icom on the bottom so the mic cord does not hang down over the audio unit.

Great pics though!

Cheers
Muddy

Click Image to Enlarge
Playdoe GXL TD Manual with lots of MUD
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 165921   Submitted: Sunday, Apr 09, 2006 at 10:34

olcoolone replied:

Hi Robin,

We use a Icom IC-F7000 hf radio and i think it is the best radio out there,

With the ham pack you can tx anywhere and go down the 100hz increments in VFO mode.

It will do every thing except tx over 30 Mhz that a IC-706 does but with full selcall and 400 channels.

We use a Icom IC-400 for uhf (only because anyone can use it)

Regards Richard

Reply 8 of 9
AnswerID: 166101   Submitted: Monday, Apr 10, 2006 at 08:22

Robin replied:

Thanks for feedback everyone

Looks like while there is not 1 radio to cover all ,that there are a couple that can handle the HF end with easy mods and other options like IC208H which can do amateur and UHF CB side of things.
Two radios is a reasonable break up for me.

We will be trying the Hay river run , and tracks nearby beginning June 10.

Robin Miller
Reply 9 of 9