Previous owner left IC-2720 in there

[gethin]

I know nothing about radios, previous owner left a IC-2720 ICOM in there. Do I need a amateur license to use it or can it be used with other frequencies? Can I use it on the FRS/GMRS channels? The hand mic is missing but I can get it on ebay for $20

Cheers,

Gethin.

[rattle]

http://www.icomamerica.com/products/amateur/2720h/default.asp

It is a dual band amateur radio. Legally you do required a license to transmit on ham frequencies.

[gethin]

Ok. It's all in there, I found the mic yesterday tucked behind the glove box.

Will it work with FRS/GMRS as well or amateur radio frequencies only?

Reading through the manual (as much as I can understand) I can operate it like a scanner on other frequencies but can only transmit in the ham frequencies...is that the case?

Sorry for the newbie questions!

[J20]

i think you should take it out........................................and sell it to me:redneck

[gethin]

:beer_cheers:

:redneck

[J20]

so you will sell it to me..........:redneck :confused2 :cwm31:

[Tmax]

thats a nice radio. dont think you need it though. sell it to me.


:redneck :redneck :redneck :redneck

[gethin]

think I need to hang on to it...for now...until I learn more

;)

lol

[sdillen]

think I need to hang on to it...for now...until I learn more

;)

lol

Just saw this post. It will not transmit on frequencies other than ham bands unless it's been modified (and at any rate, it will not legally transmit out of ham frequencies no matter what!). FRS/GMRS is around 467MHz if I recall correctly -- the chances of having an antenna that will tune properly for that as well as amateur VHF and UHF frequencies are slim to nil -- so even if it's been modified to allow transmission out of band, you'd run a high risk of burning out the radio if you did it much. Personally, I've never seen a lot of purpose in modifying a (several hundred dollar) ham radio to allow it to operate like a (30 dollar) FRS radio. Of course anyone who's been on a trail run with me has probably heard half of a conversation as I pick up the wrong mic and talk......

ICOM makes a good radio. Study and get your ham ticket and use the radio! Amateur licenses are good for life and are free (although usually someone will charge you $20 or so to write the exam).

[gethin]

I appreciate your imformative reply.

It's got a mount for an antenna ready to go just need to get one. No idea what type of mount it is or what it's called but the threads are about the size of a toonie or so with a brass nipple :redneck in the middle.

I am really considering studying for the Amateur license, will be very handy on the trails. I was just wondering if it was easy to get it to chat with my other wheeling buddies in the mean time on FRS/GMRS but if it's not designed for that, no worries. I definately agree that it's a nice radio and i'm not going afrotechmods.com on it.

Is there somewhere local I can get a cheap antenna to get it running (I presume I can use it as a scanner in the mean time?).

So amateur license it is.

Cheers.

:beer_cheers:

Gethin.

[sdillen]

I appreciate your imformative reply.

It's got a mount for an antenna ready to go just need to get one. No idea what type of mount it is or what it's called but the threads are about the size of a toonie or so with a brass nipple :redneck in the middle.

most common is NMO mount.



Is there somewhere local I can get a cheap antenna to get it running (I presume I can use it as a scanner in the mean time?).

So amateur license it is.


I think Comm-West or Burnaby Radio will have suitable antennas. Expect somewhere around $50-$100 for a dualband (VHF-UHF) antenna.

There are a lot of amateur radio clubs around who can help you out with the license. yell if you need help finding one!