I have a 4watt UHF/5watt VHF 2way radio which transmitts at 410-480Mhz, with an FM radio. i am looking for an antenna which will recieve the radio and also send and recieve messages from another radio. i want the best type of antenna for my radio and was wondering what i should be looking for. also is there any way that the antenna can be too powerful for the radio and 'burn it out'?

The IC-T8E is the Icom VHF / UHF Amateur (or "Ham") transceiver capable of wide-band AM & FM receive and 6 meter (50Mhz - 54Mhz) , 2 (144Mhz - 148Mhz) meter and 70 centimeter (430Mhz - 450Mhz) FM only transmit - when appropriately licensed by your country's communications authority.



RigPix Database Icom IC T8E



Any FM transmitter operating in those frequency ranges will be received and played thru the speaker - unless they are encoded with a squelch decode sub-audible tone or digitally encoded squelch control that does not match the one set to the IC-T8E. Program the squelch to be open or to match that of the transmitter so that the radio will play only when that particular transmitter is transmitting.



An FM transmitter operating in APCO25, DSTAR, etc. will not be decoded as these are digital signals that the ICT82 is not capable of decoding.



I was unable to locate any "BP200" radio you mentioned, so I can't comment on their capabilities or if they have an incompatibility in encoding, frequency, etc.

That sounds like the description of a broadband amplifier. It likely has "F" type (cable-coax) connectors and a power cord.
Commonly used to increase the signal level of TV cable to compensate for inserting a signal splitter, or in some cases to increase the signal level from an antenna, typically outdoor TV or FM radio antenna, so it is connected between the signal source (antenna, or cable) and receiver with antenna as input and receiver connected to the output of this little box. The gain (amplification) it provides is 12 dB, so the output is more than 3 times the input.

The VX 160's may have bad oscillators. It is not user repairable. The simple thing to check are the antennas. Vertex radios are very susceptible to broken antennas and will not transmit. This is true of Uhf and Vhf. Replace one and try it on all the radios. Never transmit without a antenna. It can cause the PA in the radios to fail.

Yes, this antenna will receive VHF and UHF signals. If you install it properly outside and point it towards your local transmitters, it will work nicely (use tvfool.com for the directions to your transmitters). The "HD" label is something of a marketing gimmick; the tuner on the TV will pull in the signal and interpret ito display on your TV.

However, make sure that you have an ATSC tuner for your TV. Only a few low power NTSC stations are still broadcasting.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

The model number for the UHF begins with AAH03R, and VHF begins with AAH03K.

Also, a quick indicator would be the antenna, if it starts out thick at the base and tapers to thinner than an ink pen, it is UHF. If the antenna is thick like a kindergartener's pencil, it is likely VHF. (Exceptions to this would be if you are using a 3" stubby antenna, and in that case they are all thick.)

Best regards.

If you're talking about a digital trunked system with multiple towers or a simulcast system, then 'welcome to the club'. I have the same problem, but that only applies to digital trunked multisite P25 9600 baud systems. Everything else should be clear. What band are you trying to listen to: VHF Lo, VHF Hi, UHF, 800MHz, analog or digital? RS's more expensive antenna will give you better reception on VHF over the 'stock' rubber antenna that they give you. Let me know what you're trying to hear, and I can help more on this issue. Okay?

I have a similar issue. When the digital switch happened here some of the local TV stations changed frequencies from UHF to VHF. I do not have a VHF antenna so I am unable to receive these channels. I do have a great UHF antenna, but it will not receive VHF. The fix is of course is a new UHF/VHF antenna. I am 50 miles away from the TV transmitters.

This may or may not be your problem. I hope this is helpful to you.

Bob

You will have to have a vehiclular repeater that is in another band than the mobile so if your portable hand held radios are on UHF then I would advise a VHF high band repeater set up.
It will have to be a cross band setup meaning it will recieve UHF and transmit on VHF and also the opposite direction.
It will have to be programmed with CTCSS or PL of some kind to avoid interference and don't forget it will need to be FCC licensed for those frequencies if it is in the Business band.
Some mobile radios can be wired up through a mini controller and run that way if it is compatible.

Hi kb

That is an odd encounter, and most probably one of the R.F.I. kind. Radio Frequency Inference can be caused by many things. Sometimes it can be a nearby piece of equipment creating that much interference, that the mics could not operate. It may have been a spurious mobile radio transmitter as used with two way radio for the cops, ambo's, firies,or even a nearby Cab!! Some times faulty light dimmers can also spray RF.
To what ever end, the fact that 4 mics went down together is indicative of an external problem, and being radio mics, it would have been radio interference.
The only other thing to check is that they are UHF. there are many VHF mic systems still about, but these frequencies are now being used as part of the soon to be introduced digital TV transmission. Best check that they are UHF, The VHF type have actually been illegal for a number of years Hope this info has helped you understand your problem. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. Cheers

regards
robotek

There was a black wire included (with a metal "cap" to insert in the FM center connector) that served as the FM antenna, but in a pinch any wire can do, preferably about 33" long and with the insulation stripped from the last inch or so (or get creative and sand the last inch of varnish off a properly sized untwisted clothes hanger and gently bend to suit). Bare stranded wire should be twisted or folded until it's thick enough to firmly fit the middle "hole" of the FM antenna connector. Be careful that no strands of wire short to the metal ground "ring" surrounding the hole or the antenna won't work (although it won't burn out your amp like shorting the speaker wires would, it just won't work). Orient the wire horizontally or vertically for best reception. This unit also doesn't pick up FM very well if you're in a steel-framed building or away from windows in the general direction of the local transmitters, so moving the unit closer to a window may help dramatically. In bad reception areas you can get an external FM "rabbit ears" type antenna but you'll need the "European" style of 300 ohm to 75 ohm transformer to plug it into the unit's FM connector (one that has a bigger central connector "plug" than the usual US units). Some cable systems also still support FM, if yours does, a VHF/UHF/FM signal splitter and either the above mentioned transformer attached to flat 300 ohm cable or a plain  "European" style connector attached to the end of the 75 ohm round black cable will do the trick. Some Radio Shacks have them. Good luck!