Converting old business band radios for amateur use

[Turbo T]

Thought I'd get your 2 cents on this.

I've heard of people taking old business band radios and converting them for amateur use. So far the only two radios I am aware of are the Kenwood TK-730 and the Kenwood TK-705.

I like this idea because I want to install an inexpensive amateur radio in my beater pick up truck that I can use for repeater use. My understanding is either of the models I mentioned (TK-705/TK-730) are good for 2M use. I do want to find one for 70 CM use as well.

Now if I may ask, would you say converting a used business band radio is a cost effective way to have a mobile amateur radio in my truck? Or should i just pony up and buy an actual amateur radio?

Also I read on radios such as the TK-730, you must program it for what repeater to use it on....I take it you do this thru your PC?

What other kinds of radios are good for converting for 2M or 70CM use?

Thanks in advance.

 

[n0zna]

i get them all the time,

the midlands and motorola radios also,and ge radios...they are gone soon as i get them...i had 22 midland hts and 5 mbl...will post next time i get them,73 de JW

 

[BJ radionut]

All depends on what you have to pay to get them....better be cheap...
Searching around for the little info I found, it states it might be easy to convert...simple jumpers moved...operation of the dials to set RX/TX frequencies...reinstall jumpers....
However:
http://store.rlham.com/shop/catalog/bro/yaesu/ft2900r.pdf

For $154.00 NIB....

Those 8 to 10 year old Kenmore's better be cheap and well cared for...not Taxi or service truck beat to hell waiting to die radios....(as most Biz radios are after that time)
GL...Hope it works out
All the Best
BJ

 

[Turbo T]

Small world BJ Radionut...you're in E-SE Indy? Where at? I used to live in the SE corner of Indy outside of a town called Acton.

I see you posted a link to the FT2900....I actually own the older model of it (FT-2800). It's a good radio (gets hot if you get long winded on 65 watts).

I did read someone one persons opinion on converting business band radios....as to how they felt the cost between that and an actual amateur radio was not that much of a difference.

My thing is this....since my truck is a beater and has no a/c, I tend to leave the windows down all the time in the summer, such as what we had today. I didn't want to have an expensive radio for someone to reach in and get themselves a 5 finger discount. I guess I figured maybe since the business bands were used radios, maybe they were being sold for cheap, and perhaps to convert one over for amateur radio use and hopefully no one would think it would be worth stealing, and even if they did, it wouldn't be but a few dollars to replace it.

But....not the case?

Thanks for the responses. Keep 'em coming.

 

[BJ radionut]

Turbo: I am between Greenfield and Rushville....little hole in the wall near Carthage....in the Blue River Valley...
All the Best
BJ

 

[n0zna]

next time i get some

will post on here,had 4 110 wtt midlands,and all 4 looked new and worked great...easy to program...73 de n0zna late note,most midland and kenwoods are software programed like motorlas...

 

[doctor]

Get yourself a maxon uhf , I have one 4 chnls, but programming had to be by some commercial equipment with the software for MAXON cost was $45 for 4 chnls, up by SEYMOUR INDIANA a two way shop, cost of radio was $25 off e-bay, power 25 watts, gets into wide band 440 frequency from INDI South 100 miles and North the same.
Go to the INDI hamfest you might find one..
DOCTOR 795

 

[binrat]

I got an old Motorola that I have set up as an APRS radio. Works great for that.

 

[Turbo T]

Well....I did find a guy locally with some Kenwoods for sale. Aside from a TK-705D w/o a mic, he also has a TK-762HG-1 and a TK-760H. Would the TK-762HG-1 or the TK-760H be good for 2M conversion? Or maybe one of these has a mic to fit the 705D?