I hope members of this group can help me. I am in the Army National Guard
and I am charged with setting up emergency communications for my unit. I
need a transceiver that has a wide frequency range that can be issued to
our civilian emergency responders for commo with our land mobile units (we
cannot issue our military radios). I am looking for approximately 60 MHZ
thru 500 MHZ.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

"Rude Dog" wrote
...... I am in the Army National Guard ..... I
need a transceiver that has a wide frequency range that can be issued to
our civilian emergency responders for commo with our land mobile units (we
cannot issue our military radios). I am looking for approximately 60 MHZ
thru 500 MHZ.

There are a number of rigs, such as Icom's IC-706 Mk 2G that'll work with
very minor mods (see http://www.mods.dk/) but you'll run into legal
complications. Your frequencies are assigned by DOD but Ham and civilian
emergency teams get theirs from FCC. We have the same problem working with
a base in my county - Our RACES Team cannot legally transmit on local
Gummymint frequencies (rigs not type accepted by FCC) nor on the bases
military frequencies and nobody'll say "sure, go ahead" cuz it's easier and
safer to say "NO!". The base fire and rescue folks can't talk to the local
sheriff, fire or EMT squads. AFAIK nobody's gone to the can for doing it yet
but ???.

"Rude Dog" wrote
...... I am in the Army National Guard ..... I
need a transceiver that has a wide frequency range that can be issued to
our civilian emergency responders for commo with our land mobile units (we
cannot issue our military radios). I am looking for approximately 60 MHZ
thru 500 MHZ.

There are a number of rigs, such as Icom's IC-706 Mk 2G that'll work with
very minor mods (see http://www.mods.dk/) but you'll run into legal
complications. Your frequencies are assigned by DOD but Ham and civilian
emergency teams get theirs from FCC. We have the same problem working with
a base in my county - Our RACES Team cannot legally transmit on local
Gummymint frequencies (rigs not type accepted by FCC) nor on the bases
military frequencies and nobody'll say "sure, go ahead" cuz it's easier and
safer to say "NO!". The base fire and rescue folks can't talk to the local
sheriff, fire or EMT squads. AFAIK nobody's gone to the can for doing it yet
but ???.

I
need a transceiver that has a wide frequency range that can be issued to
our civilian emergency responders for commo with our land mobile units

SNJR-

I think you will never find a non-military radio that covers the range of your
radios. Radios such as the Icom 706 do it in pieces, not continuously.
(Chances are you could buy a house for the price of one of the military
radios!)

I suggest you pick a "standard" frequency range and mode, and go from there.
The Army can go to the emergency responder's frequency when needed.

For example, you might choose military frequencies in the 135 to 150 MHz range.
There are commercial NBFM radios available for use there, although they are
likely to be on a different sub-band than those for civilian (non-Amateur)
communications.

There is another government band in the 400 to 450 MHz range. In either case,
the radios may not be as common as the versions for other civilian use, but if
you are paying the bill, you can get what you need.

Now, take the situation where you want to communicate with someone NOT on a
military frequency. The local Civil Defense may be on U.S. Government
frequencies, but the Sherriff and Highway Patrol won't, and are not likely to
want another radio to carry along. In these cases, you need to ask them!

73, Fred, K4DII

I
need a transceiver that has a wide frequency range that can be issued to
our civilian emergency responders for commo with our land mobile units

SNJR-

I think you will never find a non-military radio that covers the range of your
radios. Radios such as the Icom 706 do it in pieces, not continuously.
(Chances are you could buy a house for the price of one of the military
radios!)

I suggest you pick a "standard" frequency range and mode, and go from there.
The Army can go to the emergency responder's frequency when needed.

For example, you might choose military frequencies in the 135 to 150 MHz range.
There are commercial NBFM radios available for use there, although they are
likely to be on a different sub-band than those for civilian (non-Amateur)
communications.

There is another government band in the 400 to 450 MHz range. In either case,
the radios may not be as common as the versions for other civilian use, but if
you are paying the bill, you can get what you need.

Now, take the situation where you want to communicate with someone NOT on a
military frequency. The local Civil Defense may be on U.S. Government
frequencies, but the Sherriff and Highway Patrol won't, and are not likely to
want another radio to carry along. In these cases, you need to ask them!

73, Fred, K4DII