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Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/06/17 in Posts

  1. berkinet

    Radio advice needed

    @Dahwg, Exactly. That is why I specified non-programmable from the radio itself. The idea is to program each channel for a power level appropriate for the service (GMRS or FRS). @mdomsch, In our area (San Francisco Bay area)most CERT planning is for only one type of emergency, an earthquake. As such, CERT teams tend to be very localized (1 to 4 blocks). FRS radios work in this scenario, as bourne out by many exercises. Individual Fire, Rescue and Medical teams are able to effectively remain in contact with a local neighborhood command post. The problem occurs when neighborhoods try to contact each other, for example to offer or ask for spare resources. As to the legality of non-compliant radios on Part 95(a) frequencies. The radios I am looking for would only be used for monthly exercises and in the event of a real emergency. So, while there is certainly legal liability, I feel that as long as we comply with all other Part 95(a) requirements, the benefits exceed the risk. And, regarding the repeater. We have a Motorola GR1225 we are in the process of deploying. @SteveC7010, Great suggestion. I had found the Poxun PX-2R and the TYT-th-2R (which appear to be the same radio). But, the CP200XLS looks like it meets our needs exactly. In particular, because of the requirement for Motorola software, there would pretty much be no user access to the programming. I think I will pick one up.
    1 point
  2. SteveC7010

    Radio advice needed

    The Motorola CP200XLS can be programmed for high (4 watts) or low (1 watt) power on a per channel basis. I'm pretty sure that the 1 watt setting on an FRS channel would cause adjacent channel interference unless you were sitting right next to the repeater antenna. It pretty much meets all of your requirements. While the radio was recently discontinued from production, depot service is available for several more years plus many repair shops can work on them. They're widely available on the used market at very reasonable prices. I manage an inventory of 20 of these radios for our ambulance squad. We're quite pleased with them.
    1 point
  3. mdomsch

    Radio advice needed

    @berkinet, you're trying to be sure the field volunteers and the command posts can communicate, right? FRS is limited to 1/2 watt and no repeaters, so that right there limits the effectiveness of the solution to a very short line-of-sight distance. The bubble pack radios that your volunteers carry become your minimum functional design point, and those will all have 95a (GMRS) and 95b(FRS) type acceptance to have been sold in the US in the first place. Dropping FRS leaves you with repeater-capable GMRS units, of which someone posted a nice PDF in these forums just a few days ago listing all the type-accepted ones based on the FCC database. Plus if you don't care about GMRS type acceptance (not sure how you can skirt this legally in the US), the Baofeng, Yaesu, and similar HTs which can be programmed (or un-neutered) to use the GMRS frequencies. Curious also what repeaters you're looking into.
    1 point
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