esb

Yeah I was just about to ask about the VCOs. Given that I: (1) don't really have any money into the radio -- it basically came along for the ride in a trade for the microphone (2) probably won't easily be able to sell a T-band radio Is this a decent project for a learning experience in terms of realigning a radio? Or am I opening a whole can of worms here? Am I wrong to think that if 880-1's can get down below 440mhz with a VCO tweak (read somewhere they ca get close to 430), the 880-2 should be able to get to 462? Probably worth noting here that I do not have a service monitor, and I don't really have a local ham shop either (in the greater NYC metro area)

OK -- seems like the radio wants to follow the rules. Using KPG-49D, I tried to feed it GMRS channels. They'll take, but when I try to transmit the radio just beeps. Won't receive either. Going to keep playing around with it, but I think this might be a parts-bin offering.

Forgive my ignorance -- T-band was public safety before '21, right? What's the deal with it now?

Do you notice any functional difference in tx or rx ability on a radio you've "forced" vs. one that's native to that frequency range? Might be fun to try that out between my 880-1 and this 880-2, if it'll let me program it that way.

I got a few radios in trade, including a Kenwood TK-880-2 -- meaning the 485-512 MHz model. I have an 880-1 (which covers the GMRS frequencies) and I love it. Forgive what I'm sure is a whole lot of misunderstanding in the request that follows, I'm still relatively new to amateur radio: Is there an easy way to modify the 880-2 to cover a lower frequency range -- swap crystals/semiconductors? I'm likely going to sell the 880-2, but if there's an easy (I'm handy with a soldering iron) way to get it working on a frequency range I'm licensed for, that would be fun too.