Race/Pit Radio Questions

[az_amsoil]

Is the mod to make the 2900 tx on the freq's I need the same as the mod for the 2800?

http://www.kb2ljj.com/data/yaesu/FT-2900.htm

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[x9racer]

I had a 2800 that was modified and it worked good when I was not next to other teams transmitting . When another radio would transmit in the next pit my radio would silent and not receive . I then got a icom f-121 and have never had the problem again . I was told that amateur radios that are modified do not have the signal rejection for hi power radios transmitting close .

[pwerwagn]

Awesome, thanks for all the helpful info guys. Looks like I just need to decide between the kenwood 281 and the yaesu 2900.

Thanks again!

--Jeff

[Waldo]

Awesome, thanks for all the helpful info guys. Looks like I just need to decide between the kenwood 281 and the yaesu 2900.

Thanks again!

--Jeff

Please educate yourself (& crew) about Radio etiquette when using ANY radio (mod or not) during events. There are plenty of resources between RDC, UTV-U, DR, PCI, etc... to rummage through regarding proper usage & installation of your radio package(s). Makes a HUGE difference when needing to communicate effectively!!! Thanks in advance...

BTW ~ Both radios you have listed are good... As a HRO, I favor Yaesu.

[pwerwagn]

Please educate yourself (& crew) about Radio etiquette when using ANY radio (mod or not) during events. There are plenty of resources between RDC, UTV-U, DR, PCI, etc... to rummage through regarding proper usage & installation of your radio package(s). Makes a HUGE difference when needing to communicate effectively!!! Thanks in advance...

BTW ~ Both radios you have listed are good... As a HRO, I favor Yaesu.

Will do Waldo. Thanks for the advice.

I think Im going to get a Yaesu and not mod it. Now I understand I can RX w/o any mods...so that will work fine. If the pit radio can hear the race truck...thats my main concern. Thanks guys.

If I ever need the Yaesu to TX on that freq, is it legal if a HRO mods it? Or is there no legal way to do it w/o buying one thats setup that way? Id prefer to stay legal...

[Broncodawg]

Not legal no matter who does it, but you won't get caught unless you pull some dumass move and continue transmitting on some company freq in the city. Almost never hear business radio uses at the races, so don't sweat modding it. Only being able to hear your racer and not transmit back will drive you nuts in no time....haha Google FT2900 mod and simple desolder probably identical to 2800, but don't quote me.

[Weatherman]

I had a 2800 that was modified and it worked good when I was not next to other teams transmitting . When another radio would transmit in the next pit my radio would silent and not receive . I then got a icom f-121 and have never had the problem again . I was told that amateur radios that are modified do not have the signal rejection for hi power radios transmitting close .

You are spot on! The cheap amature band radios lack the expensive reciever parts that filter out cross channel interference and inter-modulation. In other words, all the unwanted signals entering a cheap unfiltered radio. The proliferation of these cheap radios has cut down everyones range due to the amount of re-broadcast messages as the cheap reciever can't hear near as well as a comercial band radio in any high radio frequency enviorment, such as any crowded pit area.

If you don't believe me take the covers off any cheap radio and compare the amount of parts against a commercial ICOM or KENWOOD radio. These are the more expensive reciever filters. Also read the fine print the FCC requires on cheap recievers, "this device must accept any interference recieved, including interference that may cause undesired operation". And finally IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE TO MODIFY THESE RADIOS FOR USE IN THE COMMERCIAL BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pwerwagn]

You are spot on! The cheap amature band radios lack the expensive reciever parts that filter out cross channel interference and inter-modulation. In other words, all the unwanted signals entering a cheap unfiltered radio. The proliferation of these cheap radios has cut down everyones range due to the amount of re-broadcast messages as the cheap reciever can't hear near as well as a comercial band radio in any high radio frequency enviorment, such as any crowded pit area.

If you don't believe me take the covers off any cheap radio and compare the amount of parts against a commercial ICOM or KENWOOD radio. These are the more expensive reciever filters. Also read the fine print the FCC requires on cheap recievers, "this device must accept any interference recieved, including interference that may cause undesired operation". And finally IT IS ILLEGAL FOR ANYONE TO MODIFY THESE RADIOS FOR USE IN THE COMMERCIAL BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awesome!! Thanks Weatherman, and happy belated bday!!

Im curious...how can PCI/Rugged/etc sell radios that can tx on those freq's without requiring me to have a hamm license? Or am I missing something totally, and the radio I bought doesnt?

[Weatherman]

Awesome!! Thanks Weatherman, and happy belated bday!!

Im curious...how can PCI/Rugged/etc sell radios that can tx on those freq's without requiring me to have a hamm license? Or am I missing something totally, and the radio I bought doesnt?

Ham / amature licenses are for amature radios. A commercial radio needs a commercial license and there are a variety of frequencies that you could qualify for and there is no test. Call Scott at P C I - 800-869-5636.

[SoCalRally]

While I am sure the receive selectivity & receive sensitivity of commercial business band radios is better than that of amateur ham radios for business band frequencies, I have found that amateur ham radios (most of which have extended frequency receive capability, at the expense of some narrowband performance tradeoff) work acceptably for business band _receive only_ applications, e.g. just monitoring Weatherman, _when used with a properly selected, tuned & installed antenna_.

However, things become much more complicated when one introduces the desire to transmit into the equation. Legalities aside, the transmit section of amateur ham radios are not optimized for business band frequencies. All the internal components e.g. bandpass filters etc. in the TX section are optimized for the narrow range of ham radio frequencies (144 - 148 MHz), rather than business band frequencies (150 - 174 MHz). While those frequencies may seem close, a ham radio opened up to transmit on business band frequencies will likely exhibit severely degraded performance vs. a commercial business band radio purpose-designed for that specific application. This will impact effective TX range, as well as potentially causing interference with other radios operating on the same & nearby frequencies due to operation outside of design spec, something witnessed by PCI in both lab & practical applications.

While PCI, and other vendors, do have a vested interest in trying to sell business band radios, this is also a matter of using the right tool for the right job, as well as being friendly neighbors (i.e. not dirtying up the airwaves for everyone else). The customer service & support provided by PCI is unrivalled in the offroad racing industry, and the often thankless hours of service provided by Weatherman, especially at the Baja races, should encourage anyone considering a business band radio for offroad racing applications to strongly consider PCI for equipment purchases (and the accompanying support for equipment purchased from them).