I bought an MT-2000 radio for CAP use, and was looking through the NTC compliant equipment listings.
I came upon the column for the 2000 and it listed this:
MT-2000 Portable Yes Yes No J/F-12: 07130
Now I understand it's NB compliant without P25 encryption, but I'm having trouble figuring out what that last chuck means, the J/F-12: 07130. Does anyone know what it means?
Quote from: HGjunkie on August 29, 2011, 01:32:10 AM
I bought an MT-2000 radio for CAP use, and was looking through the NTC compliant equipment listings.
I came upon the column for the 2000 and it listed this:
MT-2000 Portable Yes Yes No J/F-12: 07130
Now I understand it's NB compliant without P25 encryption, but I'm having trouble figuring out what that last chuck means, the J/F-12: 07130. Does anyone know what it means?
When DOD came out with the policy of narrow band/P25 radio system transition, the equipment basically had to get DOD approved (meet specific criteria) before it could be purchased. Somewhere in DOD there's a data base list and that the number that is assigned to it. Apparently before someone did some research at CAP NTC, members were depending upon a voluntary team to look at equipment specifications and approve it for the list. Why reinvent the wheel IF it was already approved. Great job by NTC :clap:
RM
so in other words your radio in compliant for analog use only, no P25 and no encryption. I would not have wasted my money.
Quote from: HGjunkie on August 29, 2011, 01:32:10 AM
I bought an MT-2000 radio for CAP use, and was looking through the NTC compliant equipment listings.
I came upon the column for the 2000 and it listed this:
MT-2000 | Portable | Yes | Yes | No | J/F-12: 07130 |
Now I understand it's NB compliant without P25 encryption, but I'm having trouble figuring out what that last chuck means, the J/F-12: 07130. Does anyone know what it means?
"Notice: Radios with a "YES" highlighted in YELLOW in the "Narrowband Pre 1/06", but failing to meet the "Narrowband Post 1/06" standards may continue to be used until the end of their life cycle, if they were acquired and placed in service prior to Jan 2006 (Ref: 47 CFR 300 5.3.5.2, Effective Dates)."
Since you have acquired, and are attempting to place into service a radio in the above category, you can't. I don't recall what the info in the last column means. I think something to do with model numbers.
Depending on the source, you might be able to use it. Might.
Some DC's interpret that as the member putting it in service, personally, some more liberally as being in-service "somewhere" in CAP.
If you bought it from a source that was CAP related, there might be a record of it being used in a wing somewhere. If it is from an outside
source unrelated to CAP, you might be SOL (at least for CAP).
https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_Detail.cfm?rec_id=215&standard=nb06
He's good.
Quote from: N Harmon on August 29, 2011, 04:12:03 AM
https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_Detail.cfm?rec_id=215&standard=nb06 (https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_Detail.cfm?rec_id=215&standard=nb06)
He's good.
Really? This page (https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_list.cfm) says different.
Which is correct?
Quote from: SarDragon on August 29, 2011, 04:21:52 AM
Quote from: N Harmon on August 29, 2011, 04:12:03 AM
https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_Detail.cfm?rec_id=215&standard=nb06 (https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_Detail.cfm?rec_id=215&standard=nb06)
He's good.
Really? This page (https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_list.cfm) says different.
Which is correct?
Uh, no it doesn't
Quote from: SarDragon on August 29, 2011, 04:21:52 AM
Quote from: N Harmon on August 29, 2011, 04:12:03 AM
https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_Detail.cfm?rec_id=215&standard=nb06 (https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_Detail.cfm?rec_id=215&standard=nb06)
He's good.
Really? This page (https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_list.cfm) says different.
Which is correct?
This line is the key:
QuoteNotice: Radios with a "YES" highlighted in YELLOW in the "Narrowband Pre 1/06", but failing to meet the "Narrowband Post 1/06" standards may continue to be used until the end of their life cycle, if they were acquired and placed in service prior to Jan 2006 (Ref: 47 CFR 300 5.3.5.2, Effective Dates).
That radio is also listed as post 1/06 compliant.
OK, the table is confusing. I'll take your word for it. AKAIK, my wing would not issue a license.
Quote from: SarDragon on August 29, 2011, 04:21:52 AM
Really? This page (https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_list.cfm) says different.
Which is correct?
I don't think that page exists any more.
Quote from: N Harmon on August 29, 2011, 12:39:14 PM
Quote from: SarDragon on August 29, 2011, 04:21:52 AM
Really? This page (https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_list.cfm) says different.
Which is correct?
I don't think that page exists any more.
The link works for me. But, to my alarm, the list of "approved" radios looks smaller than it used to be.
Quote from: wuzafuzz on August 29, 2011, 01:07:01 PMThe link works for me. But, to my alarm, the list of "approved" radios looks smaller than it used to be.
The link is to: https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/vhf_list.cfm
Which redirects me to: https://ntc.cap.af.mil/comm/equipment/equipment.cfm
Is it doing the same to you?
Quote from: HGjunkie on August 29, 2011, 01:32:10 AM
Now I understand it's NB compliant without P25 encryption, but I'm having trouble figuring out what that last chuck means, the J/F-12: 07130. Does anyone know what it means?
IIRC, someone found the DOD compliance list for radios. The J/F ones were radios that were extracted from the DOD's list and added to CAP's compliant equipment list.
Quote from: cap235629 on August 29, 2011, 02:27:55 AM
so in other words your radio in compliant for analog use only, no P25 and no encryption. I would not have wasted my money.
Concur.
VHF Astro Sabers with P25 are selling as low as $100 on Fleabay, there's one there right now with a Buy-it-now price of $250, and these are the perfect radio for CAP use.
I picked the Motorola because I've had a good amount of exposure to using them, and have found they're pretty rock solid. I figured it would be a good idea to use a platform I'm already familiar with. SARKID, thanks for the info.
Quote from: HGjunkie on August 30, 2011, 02:11:39 AM
I picked the Motorola because I've had a good amount of exposure to using them, and have found they're pretty rock solid.
There's a saying, "Nobody ever got fired for buying Motorola."
The thing to keep in mind is that Ma Batwings makes many different kinds of radio, and some are more suitable than others.
You bought a good radio, but it's not the most suitable radio for the intended purpose.
Hello.
THE radio to get, if you are getting the Motorola Astro Sabre, is the DOD special (SP) that allows front panel programming.
This will allow direct frequency entry.
Depending on the hardware support, some models can be updated to P-25, this takes a smart RIB and dongle.
But, the batteries tend to run on the high side.
I have some batteries that have been modded to accept replaceable rechargeable cells for this reason.
Be sure you get the correct "split", some are 136 to 152MHz, this is what you want, but so do the hams.
You can "Push" a mid band split, but it will produce very little power in the 143MHz repeater input range, if at all.
The high side split that is common with the FBI and the like is really only useful for parts for CAP.
Needless to say, a UHF radio, whatever the split, is a no go.
Quote from: Cowthief on September 02, 2011, 04:50:17 AM
Hello.
THE radio to get, if you are getting the Motorola Astro Sabre, is the DOD special (SP) that allows front panel programming.
This will allow direct frequency entry.
Depending on the hardware support, some models can be updated to P-25, this takes a smart RIB and dongle.
But, the batteries tend to run on the high side.
I have some batteries that have been modded to accept replaceable rechargeable cells for this reason.
Be sure you get the correct "split", some are 136 to 152MHz, this is what you want, but so do the hams.
You can "Push" a mid band split, but it will produce very little power in the 143MHz repeater input range, if at all.
The high side split that is common with the FBI and the like is really only useful for parts for CAP.
Needless to say, a UHF radio, whatever the split, is a no go.
Where in the numbers would you find that SP code?
Quote from: Cowthief on September 02, 2011, 04:50:17 AM
THE radio to get, if you are getting the Motorola Astro Sabre, is the DOD special (SP) that allows front panel programming.
This will allow direct frequency entry.
. . .which isn't any more good for CAP use than the regular Astro, so why spend hundreds of dollars extra (if you can even find one) for a feature which won't be used?
All anyone needs for CAP use is an Astro Saber (or Astro Spectra) programmed one time -- the thing has 255 channels, you can load a single codeplug that will cover every simplex and repeater combination we use NATIONWIDE, and still have plenty of room.
For myself, I have the programming interface ("RIB") and the software for both the Saber (my former standard) and Astro Saber, but I use my radios for more than CAP service. When I go into a new area that I haven't got plugged in, it's a matter of a few minutes with the Toughbook to swap out one bank for another, and I never have to touch the CAP banks.
The Astro Spectra is a waste of money for CAP use. The overwhelming majority, if not all, Astro Spectra mobiles for sale are 146-174 MHz split. These radios can be tuned down to 136-174 by hex editing the software and force loading a codeplug, but because there is no tuning data below 146 MHz, P25 operation between 136 and 146 will be impossible.
Supposedly there is a company in Canada that has logic boards and VCOs for the 136 split Astro Spectras, but why go through all that trouble when there are other P25 radios available that come in 136-174 splits?