PastorGary

Thought that it might be fun to see vintage radio equipment and accessories that members here still use or have in storage. This would include older equipment or accessories for GMRS, Amateur, Business, Commercial, CB Class A, CB Class D, SWL and any other unique equipment not falling into these categories. The photo below is one of 3 of my 1963-64 model year E F Johnson Messenger 215, low band VHF, AM, 15 watt base/mobile business radios that is still fully operational and still type accepted. We use these as backup on occasion where temporary base to base station interoperability between two command posts is required without tying up a VHF high band or UHF frequency. The E F Johnson 250-888-2 "Dispatcher" desk mic is original to this radio and has a crystal voice element that provides 85 to 90 percent modulation at one foot from the mic without a preamp. This radio shares some common chassis components and case with the vintage Johnson Messenger I and Messenger II CB radios from the early 1960's. However, the transmitter section uses a 7868 output tube. http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q584/PaducahLuke/1963EFJohnsonMessenger215andDispatchMic_zps86b3e8ec.jpg

SSB would potentially increase the simplex coverage distance but is significantly more prone to ambient noise - negating the increased potential distance. But as you said, it might be cool to experiment with and if Part 95 Certified AM/SSB equipment could ever be found... John E - Do you know of any such equipment out there these days?

Jerry - Thanks for the reminder about range and dead spots. If Bill would choose commercial UHF, there are good ITINERANT frequencies on 464.5000 and 464.5500 narrowband that are pretty much clear channel once you move out of urban areas. I am also licensed for these and have also used these successfully in the past - not quite the distance of VHF, but not bad.

Hi, Bill and Welcome to MyGMRS... There is another option for you. I'll just mention this and then others will have suggestions for you regarding all of the options... You can get licensed as an individual for a business radio service (IG) VHF ITINERANT frequency such as 151.6250 Mhz and use 5 watt portables. License yourself for the max number of portables that you would ever need and everyone under your supervision can operate under YOUR license as authorized persons. In similar conditions to those that you face while on disaster responses, I have had reliable comm out to about 6 to 6-1/2 miles portable to portable at 5 watts with Kenwood TK-280G units.

Colin - Thanks for registering here at the Forum and Welcome.

Thanks for the info - very interesting concept.... please let us know how things go with this.

Spotted these locally on sale and picked up a set. Full featured simplex radios with nice battery life and good ergonomics. Range on GMRS frequencies is just over 3-1/2 miles in town, outdoors... not bad at all. Got these as backup for our Chaplain team responses into post-disaster areas.

Rules Section 95.631a mentions in part >>> Not listing the CTCSS and DPS protocols - just voice (telephony): A3E = Single channel double sideband amplitude modulation, analog, telephony F3E = Single channel frequency modulation telephony G3E = Single channel phase modulation telephony H3E = Single channel single sideband full carrier telephony J3E = Single channel single sidebane supressed carrier telephony R3E = Single channel, single sideband reduced or variable carrier telephony Most everyone here at the Forum is familiar with the 20K0F3E emission standard - we all use it. However, has anyone here ever experimented with AM or Sideband transmissions on GMRS ? This brings up another RULES issue... Section 95.135a says - but it does not specify if this is raw carrier power in any AM mode or if a single sideband emission would be limited to 50 watt PEP. If a 50 watt AM radio is switched over to SSB, the PEP would be running close to 150 watts. Anyone have any opinions, since the Rules seem to be incomplete?

Thanks, Glenn - and Welcome to MyGMRS. I took the liberty of formatting your youtube link so it would actually show up in your post. Our IP Board forum software takes a little getting used to...

Hi, Mark - and welcome to MyGMRS... There was a discussion about that located in the link below from late last year. Please take a look at it and if any members wish to add to that discussion or to this thread, please go right ahead. With inland weather issues happening each year, we all want our families to be safe... https://forums.mygmrs.com/index.php/topic/28-wx-alerts-on-gmrs/

For anyone who wishes to use the CHIRP software, this is the home site for downloading: http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home *** Please make certain that you read all of the instructions carefully before using the software !!! [*** The staff at MyGMRS is providing this link as a courtesy. We take no responsibility for the proper operation or functionality of software.]

Thanks for the update, John...

Hopefully, that's not a body laying in the brush just below the ladder.....

Thanks, Tim. If anyone has questions about the procedure, check the web link provided first and then, if there are questions, I'm sure that Tim might be able to furnish pointers.

Tim - Thanks for that information and Welcome to MyGMRS Forums. Looks as if we missed your first post back in April. Please check the link that you supplied - it seems that several members here are getting a 404 error message stating that the page as requested does not exist. To be clear, the radios that were listed on the form are the ONLY one's that are certified (???) As we understand it, the manufacturer would have to submit an entire model production run for certification for ALL radios of that model to carry a Part 95 cert. Please clarify and thank you.

Thanks, Jerry - please keep us posted on progress... that would mean a lot to many persons.

Try this link below from the FCC regarding "Amateur radio towers" - because that style is what you are installing.... Look carefully at the section entitled. "Local Ordnances" >>> http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=prb-1&id=amateur&page=1

Don't forget that the 'new and improved' FAA is now collaborating with the ultra liberal EPA for 'environmental impact' on some new tower installations - mainly broadcast, but some communications towers may be affected as well. http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/tower-and-antenna-siting ALSO, there is a form and data to determine if your tower site and height fall under FCC registration and FAA air path reastrictions... http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/towairSearch.jsp

Any time that a government agency is involved, things move very slowly... because bureaucrats love paperwork - otherwise they would be out of a job. We have the model number listing on our watch list for any updating from the company. Hopefully it won't take too long.

Dutch - Welcome to the forum. Thank you for registering and for posting. __________________________________________________________________________________ Disclaimer: The staff at MyGMRS.com and the MyGMRS Forum has the responsibility to mention that according to the manufacturer, as of April 2014, that the radio model listed in this thread carries NO FCC Certification in any radio service. It is currently supplied for Amateur Radio use only, and until such time as the manufacturer applies for and receives certification in Part 90, Part 22, Part 95 or all, it is the radio user's decision alone, with any resulting consequences, to use this model in any US radio service except for Part 97. The review above is being allowed to remain in the forum because there is some obscure and limited internet evidence that the certification process between the manufacturer and the FCC may be starting or even underway. Thank you. ___________________________________________________________________________________ If any member sees an FCC certification release notice for this model, please add to this thread as an update.

Jerry - Thanks for the kind words, but I'm just doing my job here at MyGMRS in helping out with info as called upon and providing members and viewers with links, info and suggestions to make the GMRS radio service something to be proud of. Rich (WQEJ577), William (spd641) and I are always glad to assist, as we can, and if we don't have the info that a member asks about, we will research that topic and provide any helpful information that we can locate. Please keep us posted on the developments in your area and thanks again. P-G =============================

Brian.... PLEASE CHECK YOUR PRIVATE MESSAGING - Info for you there.