Ultimate Airsoft Radio

[mopic]

OK, Here is what I consider the best radio for field use.
The Yaesu / Vertex Standard VX177 UHF portable.
This radio is an Amateur tranceiver, however like most other ham radios it is built on the same chasis as some of Vertex's Commercial radios

This can easily be modified to cover FRS / GMRS frequencies by the removal of one surface mount resistor (420 - 470mhz coverages when done)

5 watts of power, submersible to 3 feet for 30 minutes, all ctcss and dcs tone capability, 1000 alphanumeric memories. Clone feature (program one radio clone all others instanlty. Mil Spec 810 certified for dust and vibration.
Magnesium alloy and abs body. Tons of mic options.
For about $200.00, a steal, it blows away any consumer frs radio.

[T_A_N_K]

Hmm may consider it as an upgrade, but Im pretty happy with a Linton 6288 at $75 CDN landed.

What connections does it use?

[FOX_111]

Nice. Is it a chineese made radio?
I got some bad experiences with them.

[Styrak]

Originally Posted by mopic

This radio is an Amateur tranceiver, however like most other ham radios it is built on the same chasis as some of Vertex's Commercial radios

So you'd need a license to use it, which most airsofters don't have.

[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

[FlyGuy]

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

[Blackthorne]

Yaesu FT-60. Had one for about 2 years now it's great. Dropp it onto pavement one day and kicked it about 30 feet trying to pick it up. Magnesium case came through with scratches and nothing else.

Dropped it on a rock at Rattlesnake Ridge, and now the 'keyboard lock" icon on the LCD doesn't show up. Other than that it runs fine.

Same mod. One surface mount diode off and you are good to go.

[mopic]

The reason I suggested the Yaesu models is that the transmitters are almost identical to thier commercial counterparts, therefore the out of band reliabiltity is not an issue. The VSWR is around 1.7 with the provided Duckie, if interested someone can order a commercial SMA style rubber duck for UHF highband, but at 1.7 I would not worry. If you have travelled anywhere outside of North America and Western Europe the use of amateur radios for commercial use is commonplace. Have a look at any video of insurgents, Taliban, Muja Etc. you will see 9 times out of 10 they are using ham gear because commecial radios cost 5 times as much, and any new stuff with encryption capabiltiy cannot be exported. Also field programablity is key (I use my own radio on shoots and field program for any shoots I do)

That being said, yes doing the modification has violated the the Radiocommunications act, however, I think as long as people stay on FRS & GMRS channels, and stay at the half a watt setting I think we can all live with that.

[FlyGuy]

Originally Posted by mopic

... I think as long as people stay on FRS & GMRS channels, and stay at the half a watt setting I think we can all live with that.

Agreed. I don't have any particular problem with this philosophy provided people stick to it and stay out of the 430-450 MHz ham band until they become certified/licensed to operate there.


'Fly

By the way Mopic, at what tx freq. did you measure the VSWR on your radio? If tested on multiple frequencies, was the 1.7:1 with the included antenna the worst case you observed across the entire range or just on the one freq. you happened to test? 1/4-wave duckie antennas are notorious for poor SWR performance which is one of the reasons why the final amp heats up so much...worse if you're transmitting too far off it's resonant frequency(s). You'd probably be better off using a 1/2-wave antenna -- check Diamond, Comet, MaxRad or Larsen's websites, I believe they have some that would fit.

[mopic]

A friend is a radio tech, he did the testing. The SWR was well over 2.0 at the lower end of the band, but about 1.4 on the 440 portion, and 1.7 at 462.5625, 1.9 at the high end of 469.000
I also picked up a half wave commercial duckie with an SMA, way more gain, and an swr of 1.4 on 462-468.

I am sure airsofters will not use the Ham bands, heck most hams arn't even using the band either. In Toronto I can scan 6m-1.2 and never hear a soul. I have had a ticket since 03.

Current gear, ft847, Ft8900, ft90, VX7R, VX3, VX177 (5 of them)

[TriChrome]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't UHF radios suffer from the same problems as their FRS/GMRS counterparts? As in bad for range in hilly terrain? I much prefer VHF.

[Capt.Flan]

Originally Posted by TriChrome

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't UHF radios suffer from the same problems as their FRS/GMRS counterparts? As in bad for range in hilly terrain? I much prefer VHF.

VHF is good but no Future shop 2-way radios (Moto Talk About etc...) use those frequencies...

If you use it on a specific team yea its better but many game are making team on the spot so you need a radio that is compatible whit the most players i guess...

Got myself a UHF Puxing-777. Very happy still.

The price is unbeatable.

[mopic]

VHF is a better choice for outdoors, however UHF is better for indoor use. The distance that we use would not make much of a difference. A commercial radio either VHF / UHF is ideal for us. The difference between a retail FRS/GMRS and a commercial one is night and day. Keep in mind the antennas on most FRS radios is not very effiicient at all.

I am actually thniking of getting a UHF frequency, licencing it and paying for it for airsofters to use. Likely 469.2625 or 469.1125. those frequncies are available, for simplex use throughout Ontario, the only other users are some mall stores and a PI company.

[doublehelix1]

Just for further Reference its not that hard to get your Ham cert in Canada.

Radio Amateurs Canada is body that administers training and writes an excellent book that will help you pass the Industry Canada tests.

Beginner Info from RAC about Radio in Canada.
http://www.rac.ca/regulatory/begin.htm

Also you can get all the information you need from industry Canada for free on their website (as well as old tests). The government docs are a little dry so I would suggest reading the RAC book and if you're serious about using a UHF/VHF radio legally there are lots of hammers out there that would be willing to help you learn (most clubs offer training once or twice a year)

RIC-3 - Information on the Amateur Radio Service
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst...g/sf01008.html

RIC 7 - Question bank
http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst...g/sf01900.html

[Capt.Flan]

Nice infos.

Thanks.