Question about Yaesu VX-5R

[KC8UYJ]

I recently purchased a Yaesu VX-5R hand-held transciever and ran in to a problem. In the manual, it says that the VX-5R can transmit on the 50mhz, 144mhz, and 430mhz bands. While looking in the back of the manual I read up on the frequency ranges for each band. 50mhz(48-59mhz), 144mhz(137-174mhz), and 430mhz(420-470mhz). When trying to get up to 467mhz, I found that "tx error" has popped up on my LCD. Now to my question, am I not permitted to operate on this frequency, as it is for FRS use. It seems that with the other bands, certain restrictions were also applied. Is there more limited use on this than I originally thought?

Thanks in advance for any help,
Chris KC8UYJ

[KD5UJZ]

I belive it to be unlawfull to transmit on frs bands with anything other then an fcc approved frs radio due to power limitations, that being said, look in the manual/online for the mars/cap mod. that should unlock those frequencies. also check that those are the tx frequencies. I noticed it transmit from 137 to 174, that is a large range that includes fire/ambulance/police frequencies. you can not usualy transmit on those freq's without a semi-complicated mod. the mars/cap mode should just be holding down a sequence of buttons when you turn it on.

[kg6nus]

no you cant operate an amatuer radio on frs bands. the transmit power, as well as antenna on an amatuer radio more than exceed the limits for frs equipment. i dont rememebr the power restriction but i think it's 1 w, and the antenna has to be fixed and you cant use an external antenna like you can obviously do with the vx-5r

the 6m amatuer band is from 50-54mhz(50-50.1 being cw only
2m is from 144-148(144.0-144.1 being cw only)
and the 70cm band is from 420-450mhz.

the frs band is obviously outside this range. if you want to use that band, get an frs radio. i see them frequently on sale in packs of 2 for 50 dollars.

even if you passed the tech test with a cram class, you should still be able to remember what the bands are at least...

go here http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/bands.html download one of the file listing the bands, and keep it on hand so you dont ask something like this again

and yes there are modifications to illegally allow you to operate on frequencies outside of what your'e suppsoed to on the vx-5 but they dont work on every one, and well, it's illegal to do it

[KD5UJZ]

I know that on all the radios I have seen, the mars, caps mod will unlock these, but as you and I have stated, that is illegal. I cant remember the power output but it is somwhere around 500mw. I had not heard that you had to have a fixed antenna, but I have not seen any models that have removable antennas. You are right about them being cheap. I have seen motorolas go for $14 apeice. motorolas are nice in sound quality for their price. #as for the crash course remark, I wish that you could not pass this way but it is so. you can study for 3 hours and still pull off a 90.

-BTW, the mars/cap mods are not illegal, assuming you are affiliated with civial air patrol, or military amature radio service. and all of the 2m radios I have seen sport this feature.

[kg6nus]

no, they're not illegal if you actuaklly have an affiliation with MARS or CAP. but do you really think this guy does/ i mean come on...

and i rememebr reading an article about 3 weeks ago about a newer revision of the vx-5r not allowing the same freeband mods.

and yea, im pretty sure there's an antenna restriction. the whole point of only allowing a little ducky is to keep the range on them short, and even at half a watt if you get a good antenna up high enough you can get out a lot farther than the 2 miles or so that they're claimed range is. same deal with cordless phones and kids walkie talkies. otherwise im sure you'd be seeing people with frs radios and half wave whips

[KD5UJZ]

hehe, im tearing into my talabout as we speak, just kidding. I have used them to talk about 4 miles off of moro rock in sequoia national forest. I just did not under stand limiting range. I can understand limiting power due to safety concerns and interfearance issues, but not antenna restrictions. I need to read up on it some. I will have to agree with you untill then. you have a good point and I can not remember seeing an frs radio with a removable antenna, although my uniden gmrs radio has a removable antenna. but it is gmrs/frs, not strictly frs.

[K9STH]

There are no federal antenna restrictions on any amateur equipment except for the 200 foot tall (and taller) towers that have to be registered both with the FCC and FAA (less under certain circumstances if you are near an airport).

For land-mobile service the same height limits apply, although you do have to license any base stations with an antenna height specified, no matter what it is.

For FRS, MUS, and GMRS the regulations vary, although with FRS and MUS the antenna is normally considered part of the type-acceptance of the individual radio. GMRS is much more like the commercial two-way service in these terms.

As for using non-type accepted equipment for anything but MARS and amateur, it is a big "no no"! The FCC has been handing out fines as well as confiscation of equipment (and possible loss of your amateur license if you happen to be a licensed amateur - often for life!) for persons who have been caught using non type-accepted equipment on the land mobile, FRS, MUS, GMRS, etc. frequencies. Just take a look at the FCC enforcement letters on the ARRL website. CAP technical requirements used to allow the use of amateur equipment. But, those that have come into effect over the past couple of years severely restrict the equipment that can be used (frequency tolerance is MUCH tighter than before).

Glen, K9STH

[KD5UJZ]

Just found this at http://wireless.fcc.gov/prs/famrad.html

Rule 4, Section C.
"You may not attach any antenna, power amplifier, or other apparatus to an FRS unit that has not been FCC certified as part of that FRS unit. There are no exceptions to this rule and attaching any such apparatus to a FRS unit cancels the FCC certification and voids everyone's authority to operate the unit in the FRS. "

KG6NUS,you were right

I have heard that the recent radio shack ht's do not meet the mars/cap recomendations but the claim they do in their advertising. any knowlege of this?

[kg6nus]

heh, well radio shack claims a lot of things for a lot of products

[KC8UYJ]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. For some reason I had the misconception that one could transmit on the FRS freqs. with a unit such as the VX-5R. Oh well, guess I'll just have to stick with the Bell South when talking to friends on the FRS freqs.

thanks,
Chris KC8UYJ

[W5ATX]

To recap what Glen said . . .

The ONLY frequencies you may transmit on with any ham transmitter or those in the ham bands. #And MARS if you have a MARS authourisation. #That's it. #No CB, no GMRS, no FRS, no nothing else. #All other radio services require that transmitters be type accepted for that particular service, and NO ham transmitter is.

Yes, that means even if you are the County Sheriff, you cannot mod your ham rig to use on the Sheriff frequency. And if you think the FCC doesn't care, you've got a tough lesson coming. Local governments have paid plenty of fines to FCC for their cops and firefighters who elected to do just that.

As Glen said, leave it alone. # If you have an authourised use for other services, buy the legal radio for it. #Type accepted radios are available even on Ebay for just about everything, and very economical. #Far less $$$ than the FCC will be looking for.

73,

Chris

[KD7LDH]

PLEASE NOTE:

THE YAESU VX-5R BY ORDER OF THE NTIA IS ILLIGAL TO USE IN CAP (CIVIL AIR PATROL)! DO NOT USE IT IN CIVIL AIR PATROL!





-KD7LDH

(CADET Vinay Gidwani, CAP)

[KD7LDH]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KD5UJZ @ Nov. 20 2002,21:49)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I have heard that the recent radio shack ht's do not meet the mars/cap recomendations but the claim they do in their advertising. any knowlege of this?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
This is proboly true for CAP. The NTIA is now wanting us to use a commecial radio - If you are a CAP Member and want to use a radio check with your comm officer to see if it is approved.









-KD7LDH