UHF/VHF transceiver needed

[Huggyu2]

I can't find any handheld radios that can send and receive on both the standard VHF freqs, as well as the UHF freqs used by military aircraft (roughly 240.00-330.0). Please respond if you know of any brands, and where to find them.

Additionally, even if you don't know of any with UHF capability, what's the best VHF handheld transceiver you know of? I need the best power/range I can get.

 

[flyguybri]

Allegedly in high school I may or may not have been a ham radio geek. Some of the two meter handhelds I know can be modified to receive the air bands and someone was showing me one recently that they said could also transmit on the airbands. I've been out of it for awhile so I don't know any specific models but you may want to check out a dual band ham radio.

 

[Say Again Over]

Icom IC-901A/E dual band VHF/UHF Transceiver

I can recommend ICOM.

 

[Huggyu2]

Thanks, but it's got to be a handheld model.

 

[tathepilot]

Another Hamster huh?? Ditto the 2 meter. If you have your license, a simple chip can upgrade most 2 meter ht's to allow uhf(70 cm's). And vice/versa on uhf(70 cm) ht's allowing the 2meter(vhf) freq's

 

[Say Again Over]

Whoops, didn't look at it, just assumed it was a hand held.

 

[tathepilot]

http://www.hamcity.com/detail.aspx?ID=327

You need the mod to tx on the aviation freqs..

 

[Berkut]

Modifying an amateur radio handheld isn't going to do any good since they use frequency modulation for VHF/UHF. Aircraft radios use amplitude modulation.

Commercial handhelds might be a different story. Try asking these guys: http://forums.hamsexy.com/viewforum.php?f=17

Any solution you find that involves modification of a radio will almost certainly be illegal. Good luck.

 

[tathepilot]

Modifying an amateur radio handheld isn't going to do any good since they use frequency modulation for VHF/UHF. Aircraft radios use amplitude modulation.

Commercial handhelds might be a different story. Try asking these guys: http://forums.hamsexy.com/viewforum.php?f=17

Any solution you find that involves modification of a radio will almost certainly be illegal. Good luck.

Not a modification. Well by definition yes, but these ht's come with the ability to tx on those freqs but are not enabled by default. It's as simple as showing a license and getting it enabled..

p.s the rest of your statements are very incorrect..

 

[Berkut]

Not a modification. Well by definition yes, but these ht's come with the ability to tx on those freqs but are not enabled by default. It's as simple as showing a license and getting it enabled..

The purpose of modifying an amateur radio for extended transmit is for use in Military Affiliate Radio System. The fact that such a MARS mod opens a radio up to more frequencies than just MARS does not mean that you may legally operate on those frequencies. Radios operated in the aircraft band must be certified for such use by the FCC, which modified amateur radios are not. None of that matters in this conversation anyway, because...

p.s the rest of your statements are very incorrect..

...99.99% of VHF/UHF amateur handhelds use FM on transmit. VHF/UHF aircraft use AM. If there was a radio communications kindergarten, that would be taught on the first day of class.

 

[tathepilot]

...99.99% of VHF/UHF amateur handhelds use FM on transmit. VHF/UHF aircraft use AM. If there was a radio communications kindergarten, that would be taught on the first day of class.

Well thank you for making me feel low, and clearing the air.. :smash:

 

[flyguybri]

I was wondering about that. I knew they could receive the airbands but the person who showed me his new HT swore up and down that it would also transmit on the airbands. He's involved in SAR and wanted to use it both for ham frequencies as well as air to ground. It was a Yaesu but I don't remember which model.

 

[TWA]

...99.99% of VHF/UHF amateur handhelds use FM on transmit. VHF/UHF aircraft use AM. If there was a radio communications kindergarten, that would be taught on the first day of class.

In Radio Communications Kindergarten they would also teach you that many Amateur radios can change from FM to AM by pushing a few buttons or flipping a switch.

 

[Berkut]

In Radio Communications Kindergarten they would also teach you that many Amateur radios can change from FM to AM by pushing a few buttons or flipping a switch.

I think you missed the "VHF/UHF handhelds" part.

 

[tathepilot]

I didn't want to bring it up in an effort to avoid being derailed by BERKUT, but back in the day I had a 'Standard' brand HT, that if I remember correctly can switch between am and fm modulation.

 

[Berkut]

I didn't want to bring it up in an effort to avoid being derailed by BERKUT, but back in the day I had a 'Standard' brand HT, that if I remember correctly can switch between am and fm modulation.

I'm not trying to be rude. I'm only trying to keep the guy from wasting hundreds of dollars on a radio that isn't going to do what he wants.

The radio you are probably thinking of is the Vertex Standard VXA-700, which is a combination air band/ two meter handheld. It is capable of AM, since it's an airband radio. However, it cannot be modified to work on UHF.

The Yeasu VX-7R handheld is capable of AM only on six meters, even with the extended transmit mod.

Leaving all that aside, if there does happen to be some VHF/UHF handheld ham radio that can be suitably modified (I doubt one exists), it would still be illegal to transmit on a band for which that radio isn't certified. The FCC could yank any of your licenses that they've issued, including your restricted radiotelephone operator. Try explaining that one in an interview.

 

[TWA]

It doesn't matter what your radio can do, it's how you use is that gets you in trouble. If he has a valid reason to be able to transmit in the military UHF band, then he has nothing to worry about. If it's some kid that thinks it would be cool to talk to an F16 pilot, then you have trouble.

 

[tathepilot]

it would still be illegal to transmit on a band for which that radio isn't certified.

I don't remember this being a regulation.. Transmitting on a band you're licensed for yes, but not specifically a radio..

 

[Berkut]

It doesn't matter what your radio can do, it's how you use is that gets you in trouble. If he has a valid reason to be able to transmit in the military UHF band, then he has nothing to worry about.

I don't remember this being a regulation.. Transmitting on a band you're licensed for yes, but not specifically a radio..

TWA and tathepilot, here is the applicable regulation:

[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 47, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2006]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 47CFR87.145]

[Page 199-200]

TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION

CHAPTER I--FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED)

PART 87_AVIATION SERVICES--Table of Contents

Subpart D_Technical Requirements

Sec. 87.145 Acceptability of transmitters for licensing.

(a) Each transmitter must be certificated for use in these services,

except as listed in paragraph (c) of this section.

The exemptions listed in paragraph (c) are for test equipment and the like, and do not apply in this case. You can also reference 87.147, which specifies the technical requirements that a transmitter must meet before it can be approved for use in the aviation service.

This is what the FCC used to call "Type Acceptance." Where the confusion comes in is there are no type acceptance requirements for operating in the amateur radio service. If you can cobble together a transmitter from a stolen iPod using an empty can of hair gel for an antenna, you can use it legally on the amateur bands. However, that does not mean that you may use an amateur radio transmitter (which requires no type acceptance on its own band) to operate in the aviation service (which does have a requirement for type acceptance).

Clear as mud, no?