Does anyone manufacture a permanent-mount mobile GMRS radio for
installation in vehicles? While walkie-talkies are inexpensive and
reasonably effective, I'd prefer a radio for which I didn't have to
recharge the batteries. Thanks in advance.
r.a.parks jr.
(Not to be confused with the r.a.parks known in software-defined ham
radio circles.)
No, no one makes a "pre-programmed" GMRS mobile radio.
There are, however, many commercial grade UHF mobile radios that meet the FCC Part 95 specifications for GMRS. You would need to pick one of those, and either have it programmed, or program it yourself. Since they are commercial grade radios, they do not always have all the flexibility to do things like change PL or DCS tones on the fly in the manner that the consumer grade hand held radios let you change their "interference eliminator" tones. Prices are considerably more than the consumer grade hand held radios. Expect to spend $300 or more per mobile radio, in addition to the antenna and antenna mount which can run $40-$100 depending one what you choose.
Be aware that none of the currently available Icom mobiles have the part 95 certification. Kenwood does, some Motorolas do also. You can often find decent stuff on E-bay, but buyer beware. Way too often sellers on there mis-represent radios as being "GMRS" ready, when they are not. Any and ALL modified "ham" or "amateur" radios are NOT legal to transmit on GMRS, no matter what the seller claims. Also, not all commercial UHF radios will work on the GMRS frequencies, some have frequency splits that do not cover the 462.550 to 467.725MHz segment of the band. Also, if you are not really familiar with commercial radio gear, stay away from e-Bay as it is really easy to get hosed. Also, if you are not really familiar with programming radios, it is much better to buy them from a shop that can program them as part of the sale.
Good luck, and I hope you find what you are looking for.
r.a.parks jr. wrote: > Does anyone manufacture a permanent-mount mobile GMRS radio for > installation in vehicles? While walkie-talkies are inexpensive and > reasonably effective, I'd prefer a radio for which I didn't have to > recharge the batteries. Thanks in advance.
> r.a.parks jr.
> (Not to be confused with the r.a.parks known in software-defined ham > radio circles.)
Actually, Motorola DID make a mobile/base that was preprogrammed for GMRS. SportBase. Basically a preprogrammed SM50.
Seems to me I saw at least one of the japanese radio companies with one a few years ago.
Personally, I've got 50 watt Motorola Syntor x9000's as my mobiles. I put my agency's channels in it too. I bought them for about $100 each. HUGE, but public safety grade equipment.
Walter
On 7/20/08, Matthew J. McKenna <mmcke...@ucsc.edu> wrote:
> No, no one makes a "pre-programmed" GMRS mobile radio.
> There are, however, many commercial grade UHF mobile radios that meet > the FCC Part 95 specifications for GMRS. You would need to pick one of > those, and either have it programmed, or program it yourself. Since > they are commercial grade radios, they do not always have all the > flexibility to do things like change PL or DCS tones on the fly in the > manner that the consumer grade hand held radios let you change their > "interference eliminator" tones. Prices are considerably more than the > consumer grade hand held radios. Expect to spend $300 or more per > mobile radio, in addition to the antenna and antenna mount which can run > $40-$100 depending one what you choose.
> Be aware that none of the currently available Icom mobiles have the part > 95 certification. Kenwood does, some Motorolas do also. You can often > find decent stuff on E-bay, but buyer beware. Way too often sellers on > there mis-represent radios as being "GMRS" ready, when they are not. > Any and ALL modified "ham" or "amateur" radios are NOT legal to transmit > on GMRS, no matter what the seller claims. Also, not all commercial UHF > radios will work on the GMRS frequencies, some have frequency splits > that do not cover the 462.550 to 467.725MHz segment of the band. Also, > if you are not really familiar with commercial radio gear, stay away > from e-Bay as it is really easy to get hosed. Also, if you are not > really familiar with programming radios, it is much better to buy them > from a shop that can program them as part of the sale.
> Good luck, and I hope you find what you are looking for.
> r.a.parks jr. wrote: > > Does anyone manufacture a permanent-mount mobile GMRS radio for > > installation in vehicles? While walkie-talkies are inexpensive and > > reasonably effective, I'd prefer a radio for which I didn't have to > > recharge the batteries. Thanks in advance.
> > r.a.parks jr.
> > (Not to be confused with the r.a.parks known in software-defined ham > > radio circles.)
Right, that is why I said "makes" and not "made". The SportBase was a pretty decent unit for it's time, however it hasn't been sold in a while, neither has the SM50 mobile it is based off of. They are occasionally on E-Bay, but few and far between. Personally, I think there are better radios out there now on the used market. While I do own a SM50 also, I'm much happier with the extra capabilities of some of my other mobiles. However, the SM50 is a good radio for what it is, basic, easy to use and durable.
Walter Howard wrote: > Actually, Motorola DID make a mobile/base that was preprogrammed for GMRS. > SportBase. Basically a preprogrammed SM50.
> Seems to me I saw at least one of the japanese radio companies with > one a few years ago.
> Personally, I've got 50 watt Motorola Syntor x9000's as my mobiles. > I put my agency's channels in it too. > I bought them for about $100 each. > HUGE, but public safety grade equipment.
> Walter
> On 7/20/08, *Matthew J. McKenna* <mmcke...@ucsc.edu > <mailto:mmcke...@ucsc.edu>> wrote:
> R,
> No, no one makes a "pre-programmed" GMRS mobile radio.