HHCH Products

[HarrisonRHW]

Because I chose to go with a Japanese vehicle (4Runner) that has a console, I am double screwed when it comes to placed to mount things. Now I need to consider mounting a VHF mobile because my HT1250's 5W can't cut it sometimes. I wouldn't need that much power to replace it with (25-45) neighborhood, but 100W+ would be nice.

I am looking to do a mobile install, one of the first ideas I came up with was a CDM remote head because of the fact that the speaker is mounted on the control head, I would need to just run CAT5 type cable to install so it would mount nicely with my overhead console. I considered a spectra, but people keep scaring me away from them because they are not narrow band compliant (although the channels I am talking on aren't yet, they are very close though), and the Spectra control head has some large cables.

So the next solution I came up with was a HHCH. I wanted to know what was out there, and what I am looking at in the way of the cost. As I understand it the only Motorola products are Astro Spectras with W3 heads and XTL5000's, both of which would need to be flashed for conventional operation only. Can anyone provide suggestions? The other option is I have a BCT15 mounted in the dash in a spare DIN area, so if you know of something that would go there, the help would be appreciated.

Thanks again for the help.

[tvsjr]

My personal choice on a Camry is two XTL5000 O3s for TX and a BCD996T (digital version of the BCT15) in a DIN mount. I wouldn't go Spectra, due to the narrowband issue.

O3s are pretty spendy, but there have been a few W3s starting to show up on eBay for not-too-hideous amounts of money. Make sure to get a 2.5KHz-compatible radio (splinter channels). It doesn't have to be flashed conventional only... if it's got Smartzone or something, just don't program anything trunking. I'd go ahead and look for an IMBE unit, so you have digital capabilities for future expansion.

[john9912]

The BCT15 and the BCD996T have a remote head option available for space restricted installs. HHCHs for XTL/XTS are nice, but a bit expensive and they also have a thick cable. There is a DIN mount adapter available for CDMs also. Just curious what you need the BCT15 for.. Do you need to monitor UHF? trunking? 800? If you just need it to monitor conventional UHF, can you get away with VHF/UHF dual radio with a single remote head like Kenwood TK-790/TK-890? Good luck

[tvsjr]

Beware, the Uniden BC-RH96 remote head for the 996 and T15 has been cancelled... if you want one, you better get it quick. Order fulfillment is limited to quantities on hand.

[HarrisonRHW]

Thanks for the help guys... already snatched a RH-95 when my dealer had them on sale for $100

I use the BCT-15 to monitor quite a lot... if I had a dual bander, that would be good because 90% of the stuff I monitor with the BCT-15 are conventional VHF/UHF, and if they are not there are simulcasts that exist for them. I listen to a couple trunked radio systems for fire dispatch, all have simulcasts on VHF except one of them seems to be quirky, but since I have listened lately, they seem to be fixed.

I haven't checked out Kenwood in a while, the only issue is on the VHF channel I need to talk on has to have an MDC PTT ID. I would actually take advantage of be able to TX on UHF band if I had it, but it isn't necessary because in this case the HT does fine.

I have considered the 03 but I am sure it is expensive - what should I expect for one of them $1500 in the used market?

[HarrisonRHW]

2 other things though... I never understood why I would want to spend the money to make sure a VHF will be digital ready if it is likely that if a public safety organization goes digitial, they will use 800MHz

What other options for DIN mounting are there other than Motorola (or HHCH)? Does Kenwood or Icom have anything

[Tom in D.C.]

Your assumption that a public safety digital license will only be on 800 mHz is
incorrect. There are more and more VHF and UHF trunked digital systems in
use or planned throughout the US. The new statewide Virginia system is
trunked digital and it's VHF, including state police, conservation wardens, etc.
etc. etc. District of Columbia runs its police on trunked digital simultaneous
UHF and 800 mHz systems.

[HarrisonRHW]

If it came across as only, that is untrue, I was just saying it is more likely. APCO-25 standards do not specify 800MHz but that seems to be the trend for systems withing one town/village/county - I can see VHF systems being designed for state troopers, and systems such as Ohio's MARCS, but right now the trend seems to be 800MHz. Plus the FD I work for is on VHF, but because the PD is on 800MHz Conventional, I could see them wanting to move that way, especially because we have to carry around mobile repeaters for departments with work with in mutual aid situations across the state.

[HarrisonRHW]

So went to my local Motorola dealer today. I guess HHCH are out of the question seeing as the only option currently available is almost $5000 (XTL5000 + O3) so that is kind of out of the question since I am only conventional. I have a good area to mount a remote head product, so I may look towards that, the Kenwood Dual Band options are kind of nice, but my Motorolas have stood up to the test of time (even though I only have Mintors and my trusty HT1250 kicking around) so I would kind of like to stick up to them.

Thanks again for the help, and if anyone has any other ideas for installs in cramped vehicles for reasonable prices (under $1000) please feel free to post them.