MLRC Forum - Print Page

MLRC Forum
https://www.mlrc.ca/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl
General >> Buy and Sell >> WTB: 2m band mobile radio
https://www.mlrc.ca/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1093126005

Message started by nhibbert on 08/21/4 at 17:06:45

Title: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by nhibbert on 08/21/4 at 17:06:45

Anyone looking to get rid of a 2m band mobile radio. I just got my licence (through the RSO course) and I'm hoping to find a good radio at a good price to get started on.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by dtompsett on 08/21/4 at 19:43:14

hehehe.... anyone got 2 - 2m band mobile radios that they want to part with? ::) ;D

I also just got my licence. (of course, norm already knew that.... teehehe... congrats to us!)

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by nhibbert on 08/22/4 at 07:43:20

Ha ha! ;D Beat you too it.

John + Pete, do you want to add your names to the list?

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by John_Vanos on 08/23/4 at 03:34:01

sure do!!!

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by DaveC on 08/23/4 at 09:28:16

You can add my name to the list too!

I am either taking a course here locally or writing the test on my own.

The trip to take the course was just too far!

Dave Cotie

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by nhibbert on 08/23/4 at 10:29:55

If we don't get any response from sellers, maybe we can get a group buy rate for new radios.

I was at Radioworld on the weekend and they were recommending the ICOMM V8000 http://www.radioworld.ca/ham/icom/icommob.php#v8000 - 75 watts, $289 (same price at Durham Radio). This includes everything but the antenna.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by DaveC on 08/23/4 at 14:57:27

I would like to look at a magnetic antenna. I don't plan on having this in the car all the time.

Will this work with one of these?

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by nhibbert on 08/23/4 at 15:57:06

Yes. The magnetic antenna Radio World was trying to sell me along with the IC V8000 was just under $100, I think. So the total package would be about $450 tax included at full retail price. I'll call them and Durham Radio sometime when I get a chance to see if they are open to group discount rates.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by RyanHuber on 08/23/4 at 16:19:32

I've got a Larsen MMR-NMO mag mount antenna, and love it. It's only ever come off once, and that was with a branch low enough that it hit the antenna about a foot up from the bottom. Hits repeaters beautifully too, I've been told I'm one of the clearest radios on the air at rallies.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by dtompsett on 08/23/4 at 16:29:37

Hmmm... the Icom v8000 looks nice, but i'm such a ***** when it comes to nifty features... cross band repeat, remote display mounting, etc etc... (uhhh... if we go icom, i'd love an IC-2720H)

I'm gonna be going to the Barrie hamfest on september 11 ( http://www.bconnex.net/~barc/hamfest.htm )

I'd definitely wait until then before I bought a radio... never know, you could with a door prize!

Anyone else going to the barrie hamfest? It's the same weekend as the Barrie Automotive Flea Market, and the two are located very close together (seperated by like 1 concession if I recall).... i'm planning on hitting up the automotive fleamarket after hamfest (assuming i still have money!)

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by John_Vanos on 08/28/4 at 10:56:12

Ryan Huber has sold me on the pluses of geting a dual band, 2m/440 in order to crossband repeat. Basically, if and when you get a handheld you can transmit of 440 to your radio and use your mobile to repeat onto the 2m frequency, thus saving batteries on you hand held and extending you transmitting range greatly...What do you guys think?

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by nhibbert on 08/28/4 at 13:11:35

That sounds like it might be a good feature down the road, but NEW dual bands start in the $400 range + antenna. Right now I'm looking for something cheaper.

The thing that's selling me on the V8000 is the 75w, which could be the difference between making contact from the end of a stage or not. Most other inexpensive mobiles, including dual bands, are in the 50 to 65w range.

We need to find a 75w+ dual band for under $300.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by dtompsett on 08/28/4 at 22:56:43

Ya, I would really prefer to pick up a dual band radio too.... but I also realize that they are very pricey.

I wonder if radioworld or durham radio would do a group buy where if we all bought the same brand, we get a deal.
Basically a bunch of us make up an order... maybe 4 or 5 radios and antennas, and they give us some sort of discount... say a certain % off whatever each person orders... so then norm can get his v8000, and i can get a fancy dual band model.

just a thought.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by DaveC on 10/24/4 at 22:01:09

Any progress on this?

I just finished the second RSO Radio course this year and have earned my license!

I understand there is a Hamfest at the Markham fairgrounds next weekend, but I can't get there. :(

DC
Edit: Soon to be VA3 COT (if that goes through!)

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by nhibbert on 10/26/4 at 10:29:53

There dosen't seem to be a lot of good used equipment available. No responses here and no luck at the Hamfests I went to. I think most of the last class just bit the bullet and got new. No group buy was arranged as we all seemed to want different things. I ended up with the Icomm V8000, which is probably overkill as far as power, but it was about the same price as many weaker 2m radios. It was under $300 (plus $100 for a Larsen magnetic mount antenna). www.eham.net has reviews of all the makes and models.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by dtompsett on 10/26/4 at 10:39:34

i'm still radio-less...... college has a way of sucking you dry

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by DaveC on 10/27/4 at 20:19:48

nhibbert wrote on 10/26/4 at 10:29:53:

Thanks guys. I guess I will look new also. May have to wait until next year. My job at Tall Pines doesn't require a radio anyway. Would be nice just to keep track of what is up.

I was thinking the ICOM V8000 also. The cross band repeat sounds neat, but it is pricey.

DC

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by dtompsett on 11/13/4 at 11:31:10

Well.. I took the plunge.... just returned from radio world with my new IC-V8000 and larson mag-mount antenna.

Ok.... no remote display option, and no dual band/crossband repeat. Thats something for down the road.... maybe after I have a 70cm handheld.

Now.... to cut the antenna to length, and wire in the radio.... this will definitely be in the car for Pines.... if anyone with some HAM experience is willing, i'd appreciate some hands-on instruction.... helping me se it up properly etc.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by Craig_Hamm on 12/02/4 at 20:57:23

This might help:
http://www.radialllarsen.com/docfiles/CuttingCharts.pdf

But, I'd dig up somebody that's done it before, and uses a VSWR meter. Real hard to add length to those antennas after you cut it too short.

Nice radio Doug.

Craig

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by dtompsett on 12/03/4 at 00:49:53

Ya.... having the extra power output came in handy at Pines working stages a8/a10. During the break between stages, the solar powered repeater died on us (i think someone sat on their ptt, and in the process of timing it out, drained the battery).

I was parked on a hill... basically the highest point on the stage ( 101.5 in peterborough was clear on the car stereo..... never clear in bancroft). People started switching over to our secondary repeater, but because the other repeater was out, those simply waiting to hear something had no idea that we'd switched over. I turned back to the primary repeater, set to Tx to the repeater output, and cranked a 75w signal out over the stage..... all the slackers soon switched to the secondary.

I'd like to connect an SWR meter sometime to see just how well the antenna is performing on the 147 frequencies.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by Craig_Hamm on 12/03/4 at 16:31:36

I would just tune for mid-band at 146. The band is not that wide in percentage terms: 4 in 146. So, cutting the antenna, as far as I know, will only FINE tune it, unless the length is wacky, and I doubt Larsen would sell a "wacky" length antenna. Cutting the antenna part of an inch is also just a few percent change in length. Fine tuning it may be worthwhile if you are always cranking out max power, as the reflections IN the antenna will stress the output stage of the amp.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by DaveC on 12/31/4 at 22:32:50

Well, I had to wait a while, a little longer than my wife had planned actually. But I received my shiny new ICOM V-8000 today in the mail. It was supposed to be a christmas gift.

I convinced my wife that a HAM would make an excellent Christmas gift. She was also nice enough to get me a Larsen Mag-mount antenna too!

;D

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by RyanHuber on 01/01/5 at 01:55:12

Good stuff Dave! Wanna be chief radio for Bear? ;)

I look forward to working with you on the air, and no more spectator areas for you! ;D

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by DaveC on 01/01/5 at 22:38:07

Thanks Ryan, let me know how I can help out with Bear. I am looking forward to learning more about how rallies run, not just speccie points!

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by dtompsett on 01/02/5 at 00:04:36

Hey Dave... I'm also running an Icom V8000. I like mine... very easy to use once you get things figured out.... let me know how you like yours.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by DaveC on 01/02/5 at 15:37:11

No problem.

I have to get it all wired up and installed in the car over the next while. I am still trying to figure out where to install it in the Golf.

I did cut the antenna, as Craig suggested for the middle (146 MHz) of the band.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by nhibbert on 01/02/5 at 20:10:45

The V8000 seems to be a popular choice. I was suprized how easy it was to install. In my Subaru it fit in the space just above my CD/radio (i.e. it was the same height as the factory radio). The main problem was running the antenna cable through to the back. Make sure to keep it on low or mid power unless absolutely necessary. You normally don't need 75W.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by Craig_Hamm on 01/09/5 at 17:20:17

Dave Cotie wrote on 01/02/5 at 15:37:11:

No problem.

I have to get it all wired up and installed in the car over the next while. I am still trying to figure out where to install it in the Golf.

Yeah, in my A2 Golf (1992) I was lucky to find ONE spot my FT2600M would go, in the console in front of the gear shift. There is no other place for it, and it "just" fit. Any other place and I would be blocking a vent, a dial, or vent control, or on top of the dash (bad). It's actually wedged in, and bungee corded in. Go in and out in a jiffy, and has never come loose on the backroads.

Make sure your fan never croaks when you're pumping 75W. Yaesu models have gone to fanless cooling, which I prefer.

Have fun with the new toy Dave! Does it have a built in TNC?

C

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by DaveC on 01/10/5 at 00:28:11

C. Hamm wrote on 01/09/5 at 17:20:17:

I am thinking of putting it in passenger footwell, on the console, mounted vertically.

Newbie question - What is TNC?

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by Craig_Hamm on 01/10/5 at 23:18:27

Terminal Node Controller. I haven't got one or used one, but if it was built in you can do some APRS stuff with it using a GPS. http://www.canaprs.net/ This would be a very cool way for organisers to track course cars real-time. It allows you to send and receive data packets that have "real-time" positional information.

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by dtompsett on 01/11/5 at 12:56:28

no craig... no TNC option on the V8000. :(

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by AnthonyT on 01/11/5 at 18:51:57

Dave,
Be careful where you install that radio. My car was broken into the night after I installed mine - the night of the January Jaunt to be exact when I was parked on Dufferin at Bloor. Luckily I had taken the the remote head in with me that night and the actual radio is hidden... But the thought of it disappearing already is making me wonder if I should have it insured (ick!).

Anyway don't make it too easy to remove. On my CD player I run some framing wire from the player base to the firewall - the radio doesn't go anywhere until you dive under the dash and cut it.

Anthony

Title: Re: WTB: 2m band mobile radio
Post by DaveC on 01/11/5 at 21:14:53

Thanks Anthony, good point :-*