http://cgi.ebay.com/ICOM-F121-128-CHANNEL-VHF-POLICE-RADIO-FIRE-RADIO_W0QQitemZ330151500063QQihZ014QQcategoryZ5698 7QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If I could only convince the guys I wheel with to get one. sooooo much better than a cb

question: do you guys need a license to use that type of radio in the US?

If I could only convince the guys I wheel with to get one. sooooo much better than a cb

That's for sure! I have both a cb and a race radio in my truck, and much prefer using the race radio.

question: do you guys need a license to use that type of radio in the US?

No. This type of radio is for commercial use, it transmits on a different frequency than a ham radio, which you do need a license for.

Cool! I'll be watching that. Thanks Nick.

No. This type of radio is for commercial use, it transmits on a different frequency than a ham radio, which you do need a license for.

While a lot of people don't have a license, I think technically you're supposed to. I plan to get a license just to make it all official-like.

From www.hello-radio.org

Why Do You Need a License?
Although the main purpose of Amateur Radio is fun, it is called the "Amateur Radio Service" because it also has a serious face. The FCC created this "Service" to fill the need for a pool of experts who could provide backup during emergencies. In addition, the FCC acknowledged the ability of the hobby to advance the communication and technical skills of radio, and to enhance international goodwill. This philosophy has paid off. Countless lives have been saved where skilled hobbyists act as emergency communicators to render aid, whether it's during an earthquake in Italy or a hurricane in the U.S.

That's for sure! I have both a cb and a race radio in my truck, and much prefer using the race radio.

What radio are you running?





PS, accept your FOTM nomination.:smilie_slap

No. This type of radio is for commercial use, it transmits on a different frequency than a ham radio, which you do need a license for.

Nope, it is a 2 Meter Radio. Same Freq's. Needs a License.

http://www.icomamerica.com/products/landmobile/f121_series/specs.asp

Per the link above, looks like this radio is 2 meter, with a range of 136–174MHz. Looks like the person did a cut-n-paste from the icom website with no clue as to what they have. I would stay away from it. You can get a brand new radio for a few $$ more then the current list price. You can get a brand new Yaesu FT-1802M for $129 from http://www.hamradio.com or a Icom 2200h for $159 - both will have similar coverage. You'll also need the appropriate license, but that is really easy to get - 35 questions, which are availble online (many free practices tests are available online too).

HAM 2 meter frequency range is 144 - 148 MHz. Anything outside of that is ONLY permitted in the event of an emergency communication where there is a immiment threat or emergency situation where no other forms of communication are available. Anything else and you are facing fines of around $10,000+ from the FCC. You might be able to get away with it if used infrequently, but you are gambling every time you transmit that you are not going to get caught. Keep in mind - they can find you - same way they can find a stolen car using lo-jack.

Ok, i just got off the phone with PCI Raceradios and i am correct. You do not need a ham or amatuer license with that radio as it does transmit on a different freq. You can call for yourselves to check

PCI Race Radios, Inc.
2888 Gundry Avenue
Signal Hill, California 90755
(800) 869-5636
(562) 427-8177
(562) 426-3589 fax

I am running that same radio, and it is the preferred type of radio for offroad racing/chasing and it goes for upwards of $350 from pci or upr, and 136-174 mhz is where it transmits, and recieves from. so i'm not sure where you are getting your info from unixdude

HAM 2 meter frequency range is 144 - 148 MHz. Anything outside of that is ONLY permitted in the event of an emergency communication where there is a immiment threat or emergency situation where no other forms of communication are available.

144-148 MHz for Transmitting. Most 2M radios can recieve 118-174 MHz. Unless you modify it.

Broken, what Freq do you usually run?

Ok, i just got off the phone with PCI Raceradios and i am correct. You do not need a ham or amatuer license with that radio as it does transmit on a different freq. You can call for yourselves to check

Interesting. Maybe this is a dumb question... Do you not need a license for THAT radio or you don't need a license to transmit on 144-148 MHz?

144-148 MHz for Transmitting. Most 2M radios can recieve 118-174 MHz. Unless you modify it.

Broken, what Freq do you usually run?

Most if not all the freq's that i'm on are at 150 and above.

Oh and Steve if you call them, don't tell them that you are running a v8000...they HATE those radios! :toothless

I KNOW you need a Lic. to transmit 144-148 regardless of what radio you are using. But now I am getting confused. A race radio uses the 2M band but dosn't require a Lic.?

150 and above... I get alot of Taxi Traffic on those freq's.

I KNOW you need a Lic. to transmit 144-148 regardless of what radio you are using. But now I am getting confused. A race radio uses the 2M band but dosn't require a Lic.?

150 and above... I get alot of Taxi Traffic on those freq's.

Exactly! we have a winner! It is a commercial band radio.

When I showed my Race Radio V-8000 to my HAM radio operator neighbor he said I needed a license to operate it....My reply: "Not in Baja I Don't"

Ok guys...i'm not the authority on radios and who or who doesn't need a license. I'm going by what i'm told by the experts at pci.

Exactly! we have a winner! It is a commercial band radio.
Still wouldn't you need some kind of commercial Lic. assigning you to a Freq? I think my used radio has been "modified" to transmit on those freq's. I need to open it up and look. Someone could wreak havoc with a company by transmitting over their transmissions. Note: I am VERY new to this whole HAM thing. I am just trying to get my facts straight.

Ok guys...i'm not the authority on radios and who or who doesn't need a license.

LOL, Too late. You have been officially declared the FSB Radio guru. Now get to work and get us the information we need!

:stupid

If you really want to know what's required to transmit of what frequenies within the USA, check out http://www.fcc.gov. The ARRL has a copy of the pertinent regulations that apply to Amateur Radio at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/news/part97/ - I'll warn everyone - it's got to be one of the driest-reads ever.

The ICOM 121 is a commercial radio, NOT a ham radio. They are capable of operating in a similar range. The commercial radios have to be programmed to a group of particular frequencies, whereas the ham radio is what they call "field programmable". The commercial radios are built to a much higher standard and have filters to keep from transmitting errant signal. Read the article "Weatherman Speaks" on the SCORE website. The following is an exerpt that pertains exactly to this discussion.

"I (Bob Steinberger aka Weatherman) personally took apart and examined two ICOM radios. One was the amateur band radio that had been illegally
expanded to work in the commercial band – the model V8000. It had a one-sided printed circuit board. The other
ICOM was a commercial band model IC121. It had a double-sided PC board and almost twice the number of parts,
mostly the more expensive receiver parts that include the filtering of all the intermediary frequencies prior to your
final output frequency. These components are required for sensitivity and selectivity so the radio can distinguish
between wanted and unwanted signals.
One of those radios sells for $189.00 and the other for $359.00. The $189.00 radio is FCC type accepted under part
15 of the rules, i.e. the amateur band. Its manufacturer’s tag specifically states, “This device must accept any
interference received, including interference that might cause undesired operation”. The $359.00 one is type
accepted in the commercial band where a much higher performance is required."

The ham radios have their place in offroad racing mostly to listen to other channels because of the ability to dial into any channel. I have both and I can tell you that the commercial radios perform better. Most people never get to see the difference but when you have both of them side by side in the same vehicle it is apparent.

The ICOM 121 is a commercial radio, NOT a ham radio. They are capable of operating in a similar range. The commercial radios have to be programmed to a group of particular frequencies, whereas the ham radio is what they call "field programmable". The commercial radios are built to a much higher standard and have filters to keep from transmitting errant signal. Read the article "Weatherman Speaks" on the SCORE website. The following is an exerpt that pertains exactly to this discussion.

"I (Bob Steinberger aka Weatherman) personally took apart and examined two ICOM radios. One was the amateur band radio that had been illegally
expanded to work in the commercial band – the model V8000. It had a one-sided printed circuit board. The other
ICOM was a commercial band model IC121. It had a double-sided PC board and almost twice the number of parts,
mostly the more expensive receiver parts that include the filtering of all the intermediary frequencies prior to your
final output frequency. These components are required for sensitivity and selectivity so the radio can distinguish
between wanted and unwanted signals.
One of those radios sells for $189.00 and the other for $359.00. The $189.00 radio is FCC type accepted under part
15 of the rules, i.e. the amateur band. Its manufacturer’s tag specifically states, “This device must accept any
interference received, including interference that might cause undesired operation”. The $359.00 one is type
accepted in the commercial band where a much higher performance is required."

The ham radios have their place in offroad racing mostly to listen to other channels because of the ability to dial into any channel. I have both and I can tell you that the commercial radios perform better. Most people never get to see the difference but when you have both of them side by side in the same vehicle it is apparent.


I think we now have our resident radio expert! Thanks for the info Gunit!

Well not to bring back old posts but.....I am! Are these radio's the ones that operate on the 2 meter band? Im wondering because there is so much info out there on radios and when I type in race radio on e-bay im wondering if they are all the same frequencies or what? SO.....my question is, to those of you who do run "race radios" what frequencies are you operating on?

Thanks

SoCalFSB

The frequencies needed will depend on the sanctioning body and the team or teams you'll be assisting.

Well not to bring back old posts but.....I am! Are these radio's the ones that operate on the 2 meter band? Im wondering because there is so much info out there on radios and when I type in race radio on e-bay im wondering if they are all the same frequencies or what? SO.....my question is, to those of you who do run "race radios" what frequencies are you operating on?

Thanks

SoCalFSB

Honestly, your best bet is to call pci, they will give you the low down on race radios.

PCI Race Radios, Inc.
2888 Gundry Avenue
Signal Hill, California 90755
(800) 869-5636
(562) 427-8177
(562) 426-3589 fax