The Rover-Landers of BC

If you have been considering retiring your old CB and moving up to a VHF radio, this maybe the time to make your move! We have been discussing a group buy option with a local supplier and they have offered us a great discounted price on the new ICOM- 2300H. This is the radio of choice for a lot of off-road users and is a very useful tool to have in your Land Rover (it may even save yours, or someones life one day!).
It should be noted that to transmit using a VHF radio you are legally required to have a licence which involves a short training course.
This group buy is open to Rover-Lander members and we will have a sign up sheet at Founders Day. Stop by the Merchandise Table to sign up or just to find out more information. The price for this unit will be in the $300 to $350 area depending on numbers. The complete Antenna, cable. bracket kit is also being offered at a discount price of around $95.
Some information on the IC-2300H 144MHz FM Transceiver;
65 watts of RF output, 4.5W Audio out put, Powerful, Smaller and Simple to Use. - Icom introduces the new IC-2300H, 144MHz mobile transceiver. The IC-2300H is the update model of the popular IC-2200H. The IC-2300H retains the same basic features from the IC-2200H; powerful 65W output power, simple-to-use user interface, built-in CTCSS and DTCS encoder/decoder.....

The TX freq range on that unit is 2M, correct ?

So it won't cover the BC logging freq's without the MARS/CAP mod..... making it not quite legal to use as it's front panel programmable for business band radio.... so I understand.

Sounds cool. I won't be able to make it to flounders day this year, so is there anyway I can get in on the action?

Andy, Thanks for the info. I will check into it to be sure. I believe there are different versions avaialable.
Frequency range :
Transmit range 144–148 MHz
Receiver range 136–174 MHz


E.prevost - I will let you know once we have our list going ... stand by

That's the NA 2m spec, EU & ROW are different. The MARS/CAP mode opens the TX up to the same as RX. You'll be able to use the trucking (LADD 1,2,3 & 4) and logging freq's then. LADD 1 is 154.100, 2 is 158.940, 3 is 154.325 and 4 is 173.370. Logging freq's as posted on the FSR's

Does anyone have information on the training course?

Bruce

P.S. Great Founder's Day by the way. My first one!

Delta Amateur Radio Club offers a course in April, see:

http://deltaamateurradio.wordpress.com/ ... e-details/

A lot of 4x4 folks have gone thru this course, myself included.

Have any questions feel free to drop me an email.
Cheers
ted

Thanks for the info Ted!

Update - we currently have 8 people signed up for the group buy, if we can get it up to 10 that would be perfect.
Once ready to roll I will need to collect deposits to seal the deal.

As mentioned above, this radio does not transmit on the logging channels above 148 but does cover them for listening into them.
There is a simple mod that it appears many get done to increase the TX range to cover higher channels but because this is not totally legal, the club does not recommend this.

This VHF radio is a best seller among the off-road groups, if you want in with the group buy, let me know asap???

Cheers,
Andy

Doing the mod to the radio not only puts Amateur radio operators in a poor light it also puts the operator in a poor legal position should it be discovered. With the new changes made to the Radio Act law enforcement and other agencies have even more powers to not only fine the driver but can confiscate the radio and/or your vehicle. More enforcement is expected in areas were active logging is taking place and Forest Service road entrances and exits in the future.
Cheers
ted
PS Carry a copy of your Radio Amateur license in the vehicle with you..

Ted buddy, thanks for the excessive warnings, give it a rest or your gonna give yourself a jammer. I'm sure these eight potential criminals will file this good advice in the file with "never jay walk" and "never exceed the speed limit" :mi5:

I've been looking around the net looking at the IC-2300H. It looks like a pretty neat radio. I found a link to Burnaby Radio Communications Ltd who is advertising these radios for $269.95.

http://burnabyradio.com/product_info.ph ... ucts_id=35

Thanks for link, I have a feeling that is a typo (maybe for the old 2200) but I will call them today to confirm, that price would be nice!

ANDYD wrote:Thanks for link, I have a feeling that is a typo (maybe for the old 2200) but I will call them today to confirm, that price would be nice!

All the internet radio dealers back east (Durham Radio, Universal Radio and Radioworld) all list the Icom 2300H for $260 CAD. Just an FYI...

Update - I confirmed that the group buy will be $249 each for the ICOM 2300H (maybe less with more numbers!) the antenna kit which includes the cable, connectors, mounting brackets etc.. is $95. So if you need both then we are talking about $345 each set up. (some people may already have an antenna?).

I will be contacting you shortly if you had you name on the list ....

Cheers,
Andy

Thanks for the update Andy.

Besides arranging to take the course....I've to find somewhere to bolt it on!

Look forward to hearing more details.

Cheers,

Hey Andy,

Please add me to the list.....mine is getting a little outdated and it would be nice to all have the same radio so I can ask you guy how to work it...

Cheers,

Update - for all those that have shown interest in getting in on the group buy of VHF radios (10 so far) I have sent out more info in a email / PM's.
If you haven't received the email its probably because I have the wrong email for you, so if you didn't hear from me, send me a message ....
Cheers,
Andy

Picked up my radio today... Antennae look kind of fragile... I was hoping for a whip type but the proprietor told me that that was the only type that would work... Where is everyone planning on mounting their antennae?

Finally got mine this morning. :D

Yes, just need to figure where to put the antenna, and the wiring, and the radio! :shock:

Gentlemen,

I put my antenna temporatily on the drivers side wing through the plastic non-working vent which has turned out to be a good place and I am leaving it there. It's easy to thread the wire through to the inside to attach to the radio.

Before deciding on your antenna location its a good idea to look into how you are going to get the cable to the antenna first. No point in installing the antenna then realizing its almost impossible to get the cable there.
The antenna should be as high as possible without making it a target for branches and low ceiling parking lots. A lot of people like it on the front so they can keep an eye on it through the bushes, it is also normally easier to get the cable to the front of the vehicle.
The antenna kit I picked up was very "whippy", not sure how it could be much more flexible? We're you thinking of something that would be spring mounted?

Craig, I can give you a hand with your install next week, email me so we can figure out what day works?
Cheers, Andy

When I said whip style I was using terminology from my days on a military portable.. They were rubber encased and very flexible ( also about fifteen feet long)... I guess I was expecting something more like this...

I was noticing today that GPSCentral is starting to carry radios since they merged with Radioworld.

$215 for the 2300H.
http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/icom/ic-2300H.html

I know they always have the best prices on GPS and might be a place to check out for radios as well when shopping around.