Race Radio Question - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

*justsomeguy* · 09-28-2009, 10:57 PM

OK, before anyone freaks out.. I am not asking to modify anything...just a question. How can race teams use race radios? They are in the 2 meter range and have up to 110 watts of power. Do you need a licenses to use these? It seems to me they are using VHF similar to HAM? The big question why can't you use a HAM type radio for this purpose? I am reading about radios and plan to join a club when I get home.... just sitting in Afghan now so no one else to ask. Please do not tell me it's illeagle, FFC will impound, ETC, I am looking for an explaination why it is.

**rizzjc** · 09-28-2009, 11:23 PM

Not really familiar with it, but it looks like there are defined channels (i.e. frequencies) that are around the same place as the 2m ham band. I looked up "race radio" and didn't see anything that said it was capable of 110 watts, so I don't really know what might be allowed on those bands. Would have to poke around the FCC website a bit. Do you have a link with more information, or a particular radio you are looking at?

*justsomeguy* · 09-28-2009, 11:42 PM

http://www.pciraceradios.com/Categor...Radios:Kenwood
PCI race radios and this Kenwoood TK 790H. I saw an ad on E-bay that said depending on what you wanted it for he would program for 50$ i.e. ham or loacl emergency (PC program I asume). So if that is the case does the race promoter pay a fee to allow usage at the event?

*n2epv* · 09-29-2009, 06:56 AM

Depends on who you want to talk to... I'd recommend finding out what frequency or radio band the club uses. You have to be on the same frequency as they are to talk to them. And just guessing - they probably use CB radios, which are a LOT cheaper than 'race radios' (and no license required either). Although there are license-free frequencies near the 2-meter band as well, but they aren't used much (look up "multi-use radio service" or MURS).

To be legal on either CB or MURS, you can only run a few watts (not 110 watts). That will still give you a range of 5 to 10 miles. Installing a 100 watt radio is more complicated - like installing a high-power audio-amp. It's large, gives off heat and needs heavy wire direct to the battery.

*justsomeguy* · 09-29-2009, 12:11 PM

yeah I was reading about MURS today in a book. I am sure they do use CB's at smaller events, but in a desert race, distances can get long. I think a 50 watt radio would be nice; I use 5, 30 and 50 watt radios all day long. I got an idea of what type of range you can get out of them. A race course can easly spread 40 miles and that is not always LOS. I will continue to look around. Thanks for you imput though I always trying to learn.

*CobraMountaineer* · 10-06-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

http://www.pciraceradios.com/Categor...Radios:Kenwood
PCI race radios and this Kenwoood TK 790H. I saw an ad on E-bay that said depending on what you wanted it for he would program for 50$ i.e. ham or loacl emergency (PC program I asume). So if that is the case does the race promoter pay a fee to allow usage at the event?

I work for a kenwood dealer, and the tk-790 is 136-174 MHz programmable radio. Hams use commercial radios for the purpose of hamming. I work for a radio service shop, so I use my Yeasu VX-6 for work and ham, and you can do that as long as it is type FCC accepted, unlike most Chinese radios you find on Ebay. I know personally more than a dozen hams in my area that use Kenwood, Vertex Standard (Yeasu), and Motorola radios daily for ham use. You can do it, and most if not all hams love to see what radios that they can play with....do...

Spin

*CobraMountaineer* · 10-06-2009, 09:20 PM

The MURS transmitter channel frequencies are 151.820 MHz, 151.880 MHz, 151.940 MHz,154.570 MHz, 154.600 MHz. Maximum Transmitter Power Output(TPO) is limited to 2 Watts - the latest MURS rules no longer specify an ERP (Effective Radiated Power) restriction of 2 watts - so it is now possible to build a base station with up to about 10W ERP using omni antennas, or up to about 50W ERP using directional antennas.

*justsomeguy* · 10-07-2009, 06:56 PM

Cool thank you, for the Freqs. I have been looking around over on Priate, but really have not come up with much either, guess it'll have to wait till I get home! I should have specified what race promoters I was looking for, BITD, Score, MORE, and KOH type events. But, I get a little smarter each day on the whole subject so it's all good.

09-28-2009, 10:57 PM	#1
justsomeguy Elite Explorer Las Vegas 94 XL Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Vehicle Specs	Race Radio Question OK, before anyone freaks out.. I am not asking to modify anything...just a question. How can race teams use race radios? They are in the 2 meter range and have up to 110 watts of power. Do you need a licenses to use these? It seems to me they are using VHF similar to HAM? The big question why can't you use a HAM type radio for this purpose? I am reading about radios and plan to join a club when I get home.... just sitting in Afghan now so no one else to ask. Please do not tell me it's illeagle, FFC will impound, ETC, I am looking for an explaination why it is. __________________ just some guy http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3183801

09-28-2009, 11:23 PM	#2
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	Not really familiar with it, but it looks like there are defined channels (i.e. frequencies) that are around the same place as the 2m ham band. I looked up "race radio" and didn't see anything that said it was capable of 110 watts, so I don't really know what might be allowed on those bands. Would have to poke around the FCC website a bit. Do you have a link with more information, or a particular radio you are looking at? __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

09-28-2009, 11:42 PM	#3
justsomeguy Elite Explorer Las Vegas 94 XL Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Vehicle Specs	http://www.pciraceradios.com/Categor...Radios:Kenwood PCI race radios and this Kenwoood TK 790H. I saw an ad on E-bay that said depending on what you wanted it for he would program for 50$ i.e. ham or loacl emergency (PC program I asume). So if that is the case does the race promoter pay a fee to allow usage at the event? __________________ just some guy http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3183801

09-29-2009, 12:11 PM	#5
justsomeguy Elite Explorer Las Vegas 94 XL Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Vehicle Specs	yeah I was reading about MURS today in a book. I am sure they do use CB's at smaller events, but in a desert race, distances can get long. I think a 50 watt radio would be nice; I use 5, 30 and 50 watt radios all day long. I got an idea of what type of range you can get out of them. A race course can easly spread 40 miles and that is not always LOS. I will continue to look around. Thanks for you imput though I always trying to learn. __________________ just some guy http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3183801

10-06-2009, 09:20 PM	#7
CobraMountaineer Gotta Love It... Salisbury, MD 1998 Merc Mountaineer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 108 Vehicle Specs	The MURS transmitter channel frequencies are 151.820 MHz, 151.880 MHz, 151.940 MHz,154.570 MHz, 154.600 MHz. Maximum Transmitter Power Output(TPO) is limited to 2 Watts - the latest MURS rules no longer specify an ERP (Effective Radiated Power) restriction of 2 watts - so it is now possible to build a base station with up to about 10W ERP using omni antennas, or up to about 50W ERP using directional antennas. __________________ 1998 Mercury Mounty OBD1 303E Engine, BBK 70mm TB 3" Cat Back Flowmaster Stock Lift(for now) Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Vehicle MEMA RACES/ARES SKYWARN Spotter/Chaser

09-29-2009, 06:56 AM	#4
n2epv Elite Explorer Pittsfield, MA 04 XLT 4.6, 97 Mounty 5.0 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 77 Vehicle Specs	Depends on who you want to talk to... I'd recommend finding out what frequency or radio band the club uses. You have to be on the same frequency as they are to talk to them. And just guessing - they probably use CB radios, which are a LOT cheaper than 'race radios' (and no license required either). Although there are license-free frequencies near the 2-meter band as well, but they aren't used much (look up "multi-use radio service" or MURS). To be legal on either CB or MURS, you can only run a few watts (not 110 watts). That will still give you a range of 5 to 10 miles. Installing a 100 watt radio is more complicated - like installing a high-power audio-amp. It's large, gives off heat and needs heavy wire direct to the battery.

10-07-2009, 06:56 PM	#8
justsomeguy Elite Explorer Las Vegas 94 XL Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 82 Vehicle Specs	Cool thank you, for the Freqs. I have been looking around over on Priate, but really have not come up with much either, guess it'll have to wait till I get home! I should have specified what race promoters I was looking for, BITD, Score, MORE, and KOH type events. But, I get a little smarter each day on the whole subject so it's all good. __________________ just some guy http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3183801