) writes:
I believe my original post was very vague. What I was meaning to ask
was if there are less expensive options than the usual hand-held radios
made for TXing in the 137-174. I.E. Motorola. I see numerous Ham
rigs on the market capable of programming from the keyboard, or a
cable. Where there's a will, there's a way to mod some of these. I.E.
Alinco, Yaesu, etc. I have reviewed several hand helds on eBay from
makers such as Linton, Weierwe, and I am not convinced that they would
but quality.

Actually, the vagueness hinted at what you really wanted to do.

The radios are expensive because they meet certain specs. And that
includes the type approval or whatever the current equivalent is, that
is required for radios that are used in the public service bands.

Nobody requires 137 to 174MHz transmit. I can't remember what's down at
137MHz, but whoever uses it is not going to be using the band up at 148 to
174MHz. And neither users are going to be transmitting in the 2meter ham
band at 144 to 148MHz.

There is no way that you can use a ham transceiver for the public service
bands. They aren't type approved for the 148 to 174MHz band. It doesn't
matter even if the specs match, without that type approval it's illegal
to use there. And what people often forget is that it's a two way thing,
if firemen can use amateur transceivers, then what's to keep them off
the 2meter band? After all, the units will tune across there with no
problem.

Michael