Quote:
Originally Posted by mopic
No, a ham radio licence is required for use on amateur radio frequencies, we are using it on FRS and GMRS frequncies. It is made in Japan, flawless quality
|
This goes without saying...and since YOU have now (illegally) modified an amateur radio; which by the fact that it's sold strictly for hams means that it doesn't require certification against RSS-119, into a radio that now transmits outside the ham bands and therefore
does require certification as well as licensing (exceeds RSS-210 license-exempt transmit power spec so RSS-119 applies), you do so with full knowledge that what you've done is completely illegal.
That being said, the Vertex Standard radios are as good as any current hand held from the other manufacturers such as Kenwood, Motorola, Icom, etc.. In fact, I keep one of their aeronautical versions in my flight bag as a spare just in case the aircraft radios vent all their smoke and no longer work. You see, every electronic device has a finite amount of smoke installed at the factory. Once all the smoke has been let out of it, the electronic device becomes a paper weight because you just can't put the smoke back in...sadly.
Getting back to Vertex radios though, my own personal experience is that some of their keyboards aren't exceptionally rugged (soft rubber). I've had to replace the keyboard membrane on my aero handheld because a button sheared off of it. Surprised the hell out of me but I was able to locate a replacement part easily enough. Besides, I don't
really need a new ham radio (before you ask, yes I do have a ham ticket) and if I did there's the awesome tri-band VX-8R instead.
However, $200.00 is still a bit pricey for my liking for merely a single-band radio. And depending upon its design, you may run into heat problems (VSWR) with it if you key-up for extended periods on frequencies outside of the design range (430-450 MHz amateur band) for the
tuned circuits in the transmitter section. The radio's specifications are only guaranteed within the amateur bands so operation outside those bands is at your own risk naturally.
Ready...FIRE...Aim!
'Fly