Antenna help

[PAFJ]

I'm a newbie to this radio stuff so go easy on me. I want to get this radio from Icom (IC-121 VHF/FM)...

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/produc...fications.aspx

but I'm lost when it comes to finding the right antenna. Any suggestions are appreciated?

TIA

[FJ40_owner]

Originally Posted by PAFJ

I'm a newbie to this radio stuff so go easy on me. I want to get this radio from Icom (IC-121 VHF/FM)...

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/produc...fications.aspx

but I'm lost when it comes to finding the right antenna. Any suggestions are appreciated?

TIA

What type of vehicle will the antenna be mounted on and where on the vehicle?

[Cruiserdrew]

Not sure that's the right radio. Why that particular one? It doesn't look like a ham radio, but I don't know the Icom line very well. That one has "channels" not a broad band tuner. If you for sure want Icom dual band, this looks more like it:

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/produc...h/default.aspx


Lots of antenna options. Are you willing to drill a hole in your roof?

[PAFJ]

The antenna will be mounted on my 60. How about this one:


http://shop.talleycom.com/store/prod...pn=MXRMWV1322S

[PAFJ]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Not sure that's the right radio. Why that particular one? It doesn't look like a ham radio, but I don't know the Icom line very well. If you for sure want Icom dual band, this looks more like it:

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/produc...h/default.aspx


Lots of antenna options. Are you willing to drill a hole in your roof?

I don't think it is a HAM either. I like it though for the wider range of transmitting freqs. I believe I will be able pick-up marine bands with this as well.

[Cruiserdrew]

Originally Posted by PAFJ

The antenna will be mounted on my 60. How about this one:


http://shop.talleycom.com/store/prod...pn=MXRMWV1322S

Not a good choice. You are looking at a dual band radio, you need a dual band antenna. Decide on the mount style first, then buy the antenna.

"Best" = NMO mount in the center of your roof.
""Excellent" = Lip mount on the lift gate.
"OK" = Mag mount on roof
"Marginal" = mounted on bullbar.

[PAFJ]

It's not a dual band radio. The Icom page is a little confusing because it list the FC-121 and the 221 on the same page.... the FC-221 being a UHF radio operates in 400mhz range, and the one I want the FC-121 radio operates in the 136–174MHz range.

About the mounts though, I definitely am leaning towards the lip style mount on either the hood or the lift gate.

[Cruiserdrew]

Originally Posted by PAFJ

It's not a dual band radio. The Icom page is a little confusing because it list the FC-121 and the 221 on the same page.... the FC-221 being a UHF radio operates in 400mhz range, and the one I want the FC-121 radio operates in the 136–174MHz range.

About the mounts though, I definitely am leaning towards the lip style mount on either the hood or the lift gate.

Right, but I don't think it's where you want to be on their page. Why would you want a channelized radio? The one you are looking at, looks more like a marine radio, where it has descrete and pre assigned channels.

On the ICOM page, click on "amateur" first, then click on "mobile" which will get you to where you want to be. There are two mono band 2m radios.

[PAFJ]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Right, but I don't think it's where you want to be on their page. Why would you want a channelized radio? The one you are looking at, looks more like a marine radio, where it has descrete and pre assigned channels.

On the ICOM page, click on "amateur" first, then click on "mobile" which will get you to where you want to be. There are two mono band 2m radios.

Yeah, I guess it makes more sense to get a 2m radio.

[FJ40_owner]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

Not sure that's the right radio. Why that particular one? It doesn't look like a ham radio, but I don't know the Icom line very well. That one has "channels" not a broad band tuner. If you for sure want Icom dual band, this looks more like it:

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/produc...h/default.aspx


Lots of antenna options. Are you willing to drill a hole in your roof?

Andy the radio he has linked is a Ham radio. It does not incorporate the usual VFO tune up knob rather it uses the up down buttons. It depends on what you are used to.

One thing I like about Icoms is some of them continue to have a real squelch knob. The Yaesus require several button pushes and various annoying time consuming tasks all the while you are trying to drive and listen to some weak signal. Give me a squelch knob anyday. But what do I know I am just some old guy hanging around.

[FJ40_owner]

Originally Posted by PAFJ

I don't think it is a HAM either. I like it though for the wider range of transmitting freqs. I believe I will be able pick-up marine bands with this as well.

Come on all you new hams. The Ham band is roughly 144-148 MHZ. So the radio he is considering covers 136-174. So the Icom covers the ham band. The fact that it also covers other spectrum users such as SAR, Taxi Co's and other types of public service is a plus.

Go look at the specs on your Yaesus. I'll bet money they will all receive nearly the same as the Icom he plans to purchase.

I can send you to a web that will show you how easy it is to mod the radio for out of HAM band Xmitting. have a legal reason to transmit? No problem. No reason = Trouble. But for example all Calstar helocopters use a frequency in the 154MHZ range. It might be necessary to talk to the helo some day. How about CHP, same deal 154.xxx. I have talked to them many times, legally.

I doubt if the Icom will transmit out of the box on the out of band freq's.

Virtually all the radios you guys have recently purchased will TRANSMIT out of band with a simple mod. The radios are not FCC compliant to do so but in a pinch who cares.

73's de N6KML

[PAFJ]

Originally Posted by FJ40_owner

Come on all you new hams. The Ham band is roughly 144-148 MHZ. So the radio he is considering covers 136-174. So the Icom covers the ham band. The fact that it also covers other spectrum users such as SAR, Taxi Co's and other types of public service is a plus.

Go look at the specs on your Yaesus. I'll bet money they will all receive nearly the same as the Icom he plans to purchase.

I can send you to a web that will show you how easy it is to mod the radio for out of HAM band Xmitting. have a legal reason to transmit? No problem. No reason = Trouble. But for example all Calstar helocopters use a frequency in the 154MHZ range. It might be necessary to talk to the helo some day. How about CHP, same deal 154.xxx. I have talked to them many times, legally.

I doubt if the Icom will transmit out of the box on the out of band freq's.

Virtually all the radios you guys have recently purchased will TRANSMIT out of band with a simple mod. The radios are not FCC compliant to do so but in a pinch who cares.

73's de N6KML

Nice... I like how you think! I was thinking along the same lines. Why limit myself to just the few HAM freqs.

[Cruiserdrew]

Originally Posted by FJ40_owner

Come on all you new hams. The Ham band is roughly 144-148 MHZ. So the radio he is considering covers 136-174. So the Icom covers the ham band. The fact that it also covers other spectrum users such as SAR, Taxi Co's and other types of public service is a plus.

Go look at the specs on your Yaesus. I'll bet money they will all receive nearly the same as the Icom he plans to purchase.

I can send you to a web that will show you how easy it is to mod the radio for out of HAM band Xmitting. have a legal reason to transmit? No problem. No reason = Trouble. But for example all Calstar helocopters use a frequency in the 154MHZ range. It might be necessary to talk to the helo some day. How about CHP, same deal 154.xxx. I have talked to them many times, legally.

I doubt if the Icom will transmit out of the box on the out of band freq's.

Virtually all the radios you guys have recently purchased will TRANSMIT out of band with a simple mod. The radios are not FCC compliant to do so but in a pinch who cares.

73's de N6KML

Jim-I understand all of that. The issue is that that radio he originally referenced is not targeted at a ham audience. Why would you want to just specify a few "channels". It looks like a radio targeted to a specific club or whatever. Or like a marine radio targeted at specific frequencies. Look at the channel steps--12.5 kHz. That not standard at all, either 5 or numbers divisable by 15 would be more standard. I didn't see anything about built in repeater offsets and the like. So while it uses ham frequencies, it isn't the radio most hams would want. The Icom V8000 on the other hand is.

BTW-Not all Yaesu's use the menu squelch thing. The HTs do, but to my knowledge the mobile units still have a squelch knob. I agree, knobs are much better and more intuitive.

This is from Icom's site, regarding the "land Mobile" radios that PAFJ was referencing:

Land Mobile Products
Land Mobile products are designed for government, industry, and business use. They provide two-way radio communications for police, fire, and other public safety agencies, as well as for security, construction, retail, manufacturing, and other industries. Products range from small hand-held radios, to vehicle-mounted mobile radios, base station equipment, and complete communications systems.


PAFJ wants instead a radio from the "Amateur" group from Icom (or any other manufacturer). It is a much more satisfactory radio for ham use like we are talking about here. Regarding "opening up" a radio to extend the transmit frequencies. For me, I don't see a pressing need for that at this time, but obviously it's something you can do.

[Kofoed]

Originally Posted by Cruiserdrew

That one has "channels" not a broad band tuner. :

http://www.icomamerica.com/en/produc...h/default.aspx


Lots of antenna options. Are you willing to drill a hole in your roof?

Yes, it does not tune the smaller freq steps. Bad. Very bad. You really need a 5khz tuning "step."