I am just starting out in Ham and was wondering if the 2M mobile units can recieve NOAA weather radio broadcasts?
2M Radio Question
- Thread starter kirkendol
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Some can. Here is a powerful and somewhat inexpensive 2m that might be of interest to you....
FT-2800
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Most all of them can be programmed to receive the NOAA frequencies. I have them programmed into my Yaesu FT-8800R, there are lots of places on the 'net to get the frequency numbers. My FT-60R handheld came with them already programmed. For obvious reasons, the radio will not transmit on those frequencies, it will only receive.
He asked for a 2m with Weather band.....if I recall a 7800 is 2m/70 CM!
IIRC the weather channels are around 162 so that would fall within the purview of a wide receiving range for a 2m, no?
the 1802 goes to 174 or so, has 10 channels preprogd
the 2800 also has the channels IIRC
NOAA is usually around 162.5++ Mhz. I would bet all new 2m of any manufacturer offer NOAA and or extended receive.
JB
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks guys for all the suggestions on the radios. I have been looking at the Icom V8000. It has the NOAA bands and 75w Tx power. Do you guys have any experience with this one?
The weather frequencies are:
162.400 MHz : 162.425 MHz : 162.450 MHz : 162.475 MHz : 162.500 MHz : 162.525 MHz : 162.550 MHz
They are usually 100 watt stations so you will have to check each one to find the best station for your area.
Some areas with lots of mountains have no coverage so if you are in a canyon move your position to a higher point to get a good signal.
162.400 MHz : 162.425 MHz : 162.450 MHz : 162.475 MHz : 162.500 MHz : 162.525 MHz : 162.550 MHz
They are usually 100 watt stations so you will have to check each one to find the best station for your area.
Some areas with lots of mountains have no coverage so if you are in a canyon move your position to a higher point to get a good signal.
Kofoed
SILVER Star
I have one. The mic recently developed and intermittant problem, now it appears terminal. It would not key the transmitter when pressing the push-to-talk button. A little research indicates that the switch can be problematic.
There are also reports of other circuitry problems. The major problem is that buying a new mic runs upwards of 90 bucks depending on your source (over half what I paid for the dang radio). People have also made due getting the 154 mic for less, with out all the frills of controlling the radio from the mic, which sounds like the underlying problem. Food for thought. Don't be seduced by the 75 watts versus a Yaesu/Kenwood with 65. It ain't that big of a deal.
15-20 years ago, most 2M rigs could be modified to go out of band. These Mods, as they were called, were public information and many could be done by people with limited electronic skills. Sometimes it was as simple as programing your radio with a couple of secret keypad entries. Other times, you would have to cut a jumper or diode, or solder in a jumper wire.
I still have a couple of 50watt Icom mobile units and a 7 watt Icom hand held that I modified and could TX/RX outside of the ham bands. This gave me marine band (154-156 mHz) and Wx band (162 mHz). As an added benefit, the local sheriff was on 152-154 mHz, so I got to listen to quite a few activities on one radio. (I can also get the upper spectrum of the aviation band 125+ mHz)
I suspect most HT's today come with wx freqs., if not, do a google search for radio mods and I bet you can find some stuff to modify many rigs.
I still have a couple of 50watt Icom mobile units and a 7 watt Icom hand held that I modified and could TX/RX outside of the ham bands. This gave me marine band (154-156 mHz) and Wx band (162 mHz). As an added benefit, the local sheriff was on 152-154 mHz, so I got to listen to quite a few activities on one radio. (I can also get the upper spectrum of the aviation band 125+ mHz)
I suspect most HT's today come with wx freqs., if not, do a google search for radio mods and I bet you can find some stuff to modify many rigs.
most of the current new radios I looked at recently have extended receiving range. My 7800 goes all the way from 108 to 520 MHz, and 700 to 999.99 MHz (cellular blocked). So no need to do mods for much of that. But, of course, you'd have to mod it to do extended TX.
