VHF/UHF Transceivers

[kmac]

Anyone have experience using either a handheld or box aviation radio? I'm looking to get one (for official use only) and am not sure where to begin. I've tried Sporty's a few other places, but nothing seems to come up that's adequate. I'd prefer a radio with range over that with gucci bells and whistles. Thanks gang.

 

[Brett327]

I can talk to Prowlers over HF with the CB in my Jeep

Your U/VHF range for what sounds like a base station is going to be dictated by antenna type/location and output power which will be limited for a hand held. Can you offer any more details as to what the intended use is? My experience with the standard "brick" type radio is that its TX range on the ground is only a few miles LOS. If you're looking for more of your standard RR SDO radio, that is going to involve permits and licences to buy/operate as a civilian, although there are ways around that as well. More data please.

Brett

 

[kmac]

Brett,
Looking for a mobile type radio that can be used at a forward det site to communicate between a Cod at the airfield and the SDO. So yes, an SDO (RR) radio. Right now we only have cell phones and that doesn't work too well with the engines running. Something that is easily movable yet has decent enough range to contact a bird when they're on the opposite side of the field ready for takeoff. Does that help?

 

[Brett327]

Brett,
Looking for a mobile type radio that can be used at a forward det site to communicate between a Cod at the airfield and the SDO. So yes, an SDO (RR) radio. Right now we only have cell phones and that doesn't work too well with the engines running. Something that is easily movable yet has decent enough range to contact a bird when they're on the opposite side of the field ready for takeoff. Does that help?

We used to get this briefcase sized portable from ground electronics that we would use when doing stadium fly-overs. You'd send one guy to the stadium with this thing to coordinate timing with the fly-over aircraft. It basically had the same range as your standard issue SDO radio in a fairly portable form. I'm sure NASNI GE can cough up something like that for you to det with. Barring that, there are all kinds of small rack-mounted units you can check out that have HQ and COMSEC capes as well. GE is your friend!

Brett

 

[ChuckMK23]

You can't beat the Vertex Standard line of portable VHF Aviation radios:

http://www.vertexstandard.com/?cmd=DivisionHome&DivisionID=2

Bullet proof, great displays, back-lighting, power, waterproof, voice clarity, VHF NAV capability..

 

[Crowbar]

I can talk to Prowlers over HF with the CB in my Jeep

What do the truckers think when the Prowlers force 150+ watts of HF down their throats?

 

[Brett327]

What do the truckers think when the Prowlers force 150+ watts of HF down their throats?

Hell, most of those guys are running HUGE linear amps on their CBs. Probably out does your standard MK1 Mod 0 airborne HF set, but the real question is what are they gonna do about it?

Brett

 

[Crowbar]

Yeah, I knew most of those good buddies had amps but I never thought they could outmuscle a 94 or 174. What with 4W being the legal limit and airborne weighing in close to 200W sometimes. I guess, though, being airborne the aircraft has a definite range advantage over a little ol' truck...

 

[Piperpilot2004]

I recently bought a reciever..you know they dont work well unless you live close to an airport right?? Mine doesnt even work unless I am actually AT the airport. Sometimes I might get lucky and hear some traffic(once in an hour??). If I where you, I would save your money. Just my opinion..

 

[Crowbar]

I recently bought a reciever..I would save your money.

The original poster was actually looking for a 2-way radio to talk back and forth to a/c (for official purposes), not just a receiver/scanner.

As far as a rcvr working, it depends on a whole lot of factors. Transmit power, range, weather, line of sight, rcvr sensitivity and selectivity, all of those and more can affect how well your system works. If you have an air only (118-136MHz) VHF rcvr, yeah, there's not much else it can do. But if you have some sort of scanner, there's a lot more to listen to (and a lot more interesting radio traffic) than aviation. And no I don't mean cell phones. However, if you just want to hear air traffic in general, look for some center freqs. Unless you live near a repeater, you'll probably only hear one side of the conversations, but those freqs (almost) never stop.

 

[Brett327]

The original poster was actually looking for a 2-way radio to talk back and forth to a/c (for official purposes), not just a receiver/scanner.

As far as a rcvr working, it depends on a whole lot of factors. Transmit power, range, weather, line of sight, rcvr sensitivity and selectivity, all of those and more can affect how well your system works. If you have an air only (118-136MHz) VHF rcvr, yeah, there's not much else it can do. But if you have some sort of scanner, there's a lot more to listen to (and a lot more interesting radio traffic) than aviation. And no I don't mean cell phones. However, if you just want to hear air traffic in general, look for some center freqs. Unless you live near a repeater, you'll probably only hear one side of the conversations, but those freqs (almost) never stop.

Or, skip OTA all together and use the information super-highway:

www.liveatc.net/feedindex.php

I've actually used this as SDO to hear inbound guys before they check in over base freq.

Good times,

Brett

 

[T-man]

Or, skip OTA all together and use the information super-highway:

www.liveatc.net/feedindex.php

I've actually used this as SDO to hear inbound guys before they check in over base freq.

Good times,

Brett

Will we be able to here A4s on approach with one of these?

 

[SteveG75]

Back to the original post.

There are portable V/UHF transmitters in the supply system. I know the Marines have them for the FAC's and we used them as a base radio at El Centro and 29 Palms. Your SK's may have to so some digging but they definitely are available.

 

[ChuckMK23]

Back to the original post.

There are portable V/UHF transmitters in the supply system. I know the Marines have them for the FAC's and we used them as a base radio at El Centro and 29 Palms. Your SK's may have to so some digging but they definitely are available.

If I remember th eterminoilogy correctly I thin kthe model number we used was called a PRC-113. Cool radio. Did Aviation VHF and UHF. Nice backlit LED displays, batteries really last and recharchable. We kept one in the tower for VHF comms that the black shoes could not monitor. Nice piece of gear. I believe we stole ours from the HMM squadron ... the message traffic when they realized we had it was hilariouls - all sorts of escalation, lol

Of course we claimed possession being 9/10th's of the law. HMM-264 never got their radio back, lol.

 

[SteveG75]

If I remember th eterminoilogy correctly I thin kthe model number we used was called a PRC-113. Cool radio. Did Aviation VHF and UHF. Nice backlit LED displays, batteries really last and recharchable. We kept one in the tower for VHF comms that the black shoes could not monitor. Nice piece of gear. I believe we stole ours from the HMM squadron ... the message traffic when they realized we had it was hilariouls - all sorts of escalation, lol

Of course we claimed possession being 9/10th's of the law. HMM-264 never got their radio back, lol.

Yup, that it, PRC-113. Good toy. 10W's so it will reach pretty good.

Couple of links (courtesy of Google):

http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/pmcomm/prc113.asp
http://www.columbiaelectronics.com/an_prc_113_v__radio_set.htm
http://www.romad.com/npequipment/PRC113/AN-PRC-113 NSN_1 Dec 99.pdf (This one has the NSN's. Good way to spend 7F funds)