Say you are at your local Wendy’s and you would like to know what frequency they run the local drive thru on. Well you could sit in Wendy’s parking lot for hours and scan the whole wireless spectrum hoping to hear something. Or you could search the FCC database since the frequencies are available to the public, as long as the place of business or person registers them. These are the links to search for wireless licensees.
Old FCC Search Engine
New FCC Search Engine

Sadly the VX-5R has been discontinued. I learned this after seeing the VX-5 listed for $200, a closeout price in a AES magazine. The cheapest I had see the radio sold for previously was $260, and when I bought mine I paid over $300, so this immediately sounded an alarm. I then went to the AES website to see if the price was for real, but it was too late they had already sold out and noted that it was discontinued. I then checked out Gigaparts, Hamradio Outlet, Texas Towers, and Universal Radio. They all noted that the radio had been discontinued. The recent release of the VX-6R was to replace the VX-5R. With the VX-6R only being out a month there is a beta release of VX-6 Commander but unfortunately you can not use the software to modify it to transmit out of band. Being able to soft mod the VX-5R was crucial to many people purchasing the radio. The only modification for the VX-6R as of right now is a hardware mod. I’m curious how this will impact the success of the the VX-6R. Personally if I were in the market for a new Yaesu Handheld I would probably spend the extra $60 and purchase the VX-7R which includes the 6m band and the ability to soft mod the radio to transmit out of band.

I enjoy finding things on the internet for people. Give me a document or program to find and I will do my damnest to find it. I even thought about starting a searching service to make a little bit of money. Anyway I was reading my friends blog and noticed he was looking for a manual for his new ham radio. It did not come with an instruction manual so he is unable to use it. I found this file a while back when I gave Dan Wakefield had the radio. I called him up to see if he had it and wished him happy turkey day. He wasn’t sure where it was but said he had it. Anyway I did some digging on the web and found the service manual and instruction manual for the DJ-G1. I think I just enjoy helping people out when ever I can. Especially when it comes to a passion that I also have, like ham radio.

DJ-G1 Service Manual

DJ-G1 Instruction Manual

Ever since I got into ham radio I have noticed that it’s hard to find people who work 1.25m or 220mhz. I believe this is partially due to not being able to find cheap equipment that operates on this band since 220 equipment can easily be double the the cost of 2 meter equipment. Another reason I believe many people do not invest in 220 equipment is the lack of hams to talk on this band. So why invest money in 220 the equipment? While these reasons may hinder some peoples’ interest, they fuel mine. I like having radios that may be hard to find and 220 radios are hard to find. I have found only a few radios that are still being manufactured that will transmit on this band. Here is the list, it is by no means complete:
—-Still Being Manufactured—-
Kenwood: TH-F6A (Handie Talkie)

Yaesu : VX-6R, VX-7R (Handie Talkies)

Alinco : DJ-296T (Handie Talkie)
DR-235T (Mobile)

ICOM : NONE KNOWN

ADI : AR-247 (Mobile)

—-No Longer Being Manufactured—-

ICOM : IC-38A (Mobile)
IC-37A (Mobile)
IC-2330A (Mobile)
IC-V21AT (Handie Talkie)
IC-3SAT (Handie Talkie)
IC-03AT (Handie Talkie)

Kenwood: TM-321A (Mobile)
TM-631A (Mobile)
TM-331A (Mobile)
TM-642 (Mobile)
TM-742A (Mobile) *220 Module is a add-on
TM-3530A (Mobile)

Standard: C288A (Handie Talkie)

Yaesu : FT-33R (Handie Talkie)

Alinco : DJ-280T (Handie Talkie)

I had a couple of friends ask me how the FCC allocates amateur radio call signs. For example why would someone receive KC9IHP who lives in Northern Indiana opposed to WD8OLG who lives in Southern Michigan. Here is the answer.

About two years ago I lost my beloved VX-5R in the Chicago Ohare Airport. I was on a trip and I had the radio strapped to my bookbag and it either fell off or someone ganked it. Anyway I was heart broken about losing it and the thought of having to replace it saddened me. Well, my awesome girlfriend at the time, soon to be wife currently, bought me a VX-7R for my birthday to replace it!! It has got to be one of the best handie talkies out on the market at the moment. Right along next to the Kenwood TH-F6A. It does everything the VX-5R did and more!! It also has the capability to transmit 0.3mw on 220/1.25m. It can also be modified with FREE VX7Commander Software to transmit out of band. Anyway here are all my frequencies off of my VX-7R. I have all of the local repeaters, Elkhart County and City Police Freqs, local resturants and many more. The csv file can be opened using any spreadsheet application like Microsoft Excel. The vx7 file has to be opened by VX7 Commander

VX7RFreqs.csv

VX7RFreqs.vx7