1. Using Commercial Equipment Sometimes you can use commercial two- way radios in amateur service. They have bands very close to the amateur band, so some can be re-tuned to the amateur band. Most 2M FM activity started with modified commercial equipment back in the 60s. Back then it was crystal controlled so it was pretty expensive to have a multi- channel radio.

2. Commercial Equipment cont’d Some of the older radio (mid 80s & 90s) are programmable using eproms and can be modified to work on the ham bands. The most popular are Motorola and GE. Motorola radios are more difficult as it is harder to get the programming software. The GE you just need to change the eprom using the equations etc.

3. Commercial Equipment cont’d Commercial equipment is different than amateur in that it is not capable of changing frequencies. They are programmed in, you will have a license to transmit on a particular frequency only (not a band of frequencies). Most are simple to operate, and are pretty rugged (go in dump trucks, garbage trucks, etc.).

4. Motorola Motorola Maxtrac, GM300, M120, and M10 series are good and usually can be reprogrammed to the Ham bands. They come in VHF and UHF, 2 channel or multi- channel. GM300

5. GE GE has several radios that are used by hams. The Phoenix and the MVS are the most popular. The Phoenix has a old eprom that is not readily available and needs a DOS computer to program it, there is a mod to add a newer type eprom.

6. GE cont’d The MVS is easy to program using Windows and a special cable ($ 40 - $ 50). GE Phoenix GE MVS

7. eBay & Ham Tailgates These radios can be bought for $ 25 to $ 50 depending on model, accessories etc. With shipping and some up front costs you can have a good radio for the house etc. for less than $ 100.

8. A B

9. C D

10. E F Off eBay – 10/13/2010

11. eBay Buying on eBay, you have to set up an account. Usually you have to set up a PayPal account also (most eBay sites will accept PayPal). There are Auctions Items and Buy it Now (fixed price) items (some auctions will have a Buy it Now option).

12. eBay cont’d Some things to look out for: –Read what you are buying – the picture may not be exactly what you are buying –Check the shipping – sometimes the shipping is way too high (eBay has been cracking down on the shipping prices) –Check out the accessories (don’t have a microphone – may cost another $ 20 to get a microphone etc.)

13. eBay cont’d A & B are the same - $ 10 difference C & D have a $4 difference but one doesn’t have a microphone. E is $ 10 cheaper yet F has all the accessories, mike, cables, bracket A, B, C, D, & F are “Buy it Now” – Fixed price E is auction so it may go higher

14. eBay cont’d Probably the best buy is F – just need to get a programming cable and you are up and running for less than $ 100 – next time you won’t need a programming cable. You could use one of these radios to make an IRLP node (don’t need the microphone).