From rec.radio.amateur.homebrew 900
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From: myers@sunspot.West.Sun.COM (Dana Myers )
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.homebrew
Subject: Re: Ramsey 6m
Message-ID: <2f7n5qINN3s1@abyss.West.Sun.COM>
Date: 21 Dec 93 20:43:38 GMT
References: <009774D81F6FFD20.24E058BA@drager.com> <1993Dec21.153105.9958@ke4zv.atl.ga.us>
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In article <1993Dec21.153105.9958@ke4zv.atl.ga.us> gary@ke4zv.atl.ga.us (Gary Coffman) writes:
>In article <009774D81F6FFD20.24E058BA@drager.com> landisj@drager.com (Joe Landis - Systems/Network Mgr. - x2621) writes:
>>
>>Where does one get these Micor radios? I've read several references to them
>>on the net. Never seen them at a hamfest. Also, are there hi band units
>>available? Are they convertable to 2M?
>
>You go to the wrong hamfests. :-)
>
>There are usually *stacks* of Motorola Micors and GE Mastr series radios
>at all the hamfests I attend. Low band units are often dirt cheap, but
>the high band and UHF rigs are starting to command premium prices. Also,
>newer Motorola surplus is now becoming more popular as the supply of Micors 
>being taken out of service begin to run out.

Keep in mind that most commercial radios come in more flavors than
just "VHF Lo-band", "VHF Hi-band" and "UHF".  Each band comes in
"splits", for example, 138-150Mhz, 150-162Mhz and 162-174Mhz.  Usually,
the most critical difference between splits is the tuning range of the
receiver front end filter, but the exciter and power amplifier modules
also can be specified for splits.  Exciters and power amplifiers often
can be easily modified to change splits, but receiver filters are
mechanical helical resonators, and are much harder to reliably change.
At the same time, the 150-162 split will often tune (i.e. peak)
on the 2m amateur band.

Now that many agencies are converting to trunked radio, conventional
VHF, UHF and 800/900 MHz mobiles are showing up more and more.  Anything
built in the 1980s is usually going to be synthesized with a PROM to
select channels, more modern stuff is programmed with a computer.
Don't let this stuff frighten you; I've seen people turn down a
complete Syntor UHF mobile in cherry condition for $50 because it
uses a PROM.  Heck, the PROM can often be had for maybe $50 from an
authorized Motorola dealer, you get sixteen or more channels.  I have
three MCX100 VHF high-band mobiles that I bought and got programmed
for under $100; these particular models are excellent voice/packet
rigs.

Note: just like amateur radios, there are good synthesized commercial
and less good synthesized commercial radios.  For example, my MCX100s
are "Fast-Lok", they lock up in 3mS, where the normal model takes 100mS
to lock up.  Neither radio, by the way, has the annoying 5kHz ring
that most modern amateur radios do.

>
>Gary
>-- 
>Gary Coffman KE4ZV          | I kill you,             | gatech!wa4mei!ke4zv!gary
>Destructive Testing Systems | You kill me,            | uunet!rsiatl!ke4zv!gary
>534 Shannon Way             | We're the Manson Family | emory!kd4nc!ke4zv!gary 
>Lawrenceville, GA 30244     |         -sorry Barney   | 


-- 
 * Dana H. Myers KK6JQ, DoD 466	| Views expressed here are	*
 * (310) 348-6043 		| mine and do not necessarily	*
 * Dana.Myers@West.Sun.Com	| reflect those of my employer	*
 * This Extra supports the abolition of the 13 and 20 WPM tests *