Hi all, we purchased a dozen Dewalt DXFRS800 FRP radios for use around our 23 acre campus during emergencies to supplement and replace our older Retevis and Baofeng radios.
Unbeknownst to me, my predecessor licensed a couple of channels for our use and programmed the two existing systems with them. I’d like to continue to use our licensed bandwidth since we’re in an area full of other chatter on the default frequencies.
Unfortunately Dewalt Customer Service says these can not be programmed to different channels. These appear to be actually manufactured by Altis Global so might just be rebranded Cobra. I have tried to connect via USB in CHIRP, using Cobra as the option, but no go.
Has anyone successfully been able to reprogram one of these?
I am familiar with the DeWalt DXFRS800 and we used to carry them, so I think there may be some confusion regarding the radios.
Unbeknownst to me, my predecessor licensed a couple of channels for our use and programmed the two existing systems with them. I’d like to continue to use our licensed bandwidth since we’re in an area full of other chatter on the default frequencies.
First, a couple of questions. When you mentioned your predecessor licensed a couple of channels, I assume this is for a business and you are inheriting the responsibilities of managing the radios from someone else. Is this correct?
When you mentioned that this individual “licensed a couple of channels” were these business frequencies licensed to the company or organization?
The reason I’m asking is because the DXFRS800 is an FRS (Family Radio Service) radio that operates on channels that are assigned to the 22 FRS frequencies on that service. The Dewalt Customer Service representative is correct. the FRS channels are fixed and the frequencies cannot be programmed to different channels. Here is a chart of the FRS and GMRS frequencies along with their channel assignments.
Although the DXFRS800 does have a USB port, it is only for charging the radio, not programming it. Also, CHIRP does not support this radio. It is primarily intended for programming amateur and some business radios used for amateur (ham) radio operation.
FRS is a license-free service that anyone can use and those frequencies are not licensed to any specific individual or company. This is why you hear a lot of chatter on those channels.
Your company or organization is likely licensed for a couple of frequencies on the business band. If so, they require FCC type accepted business radios. These are not compatible with FRS radios.
It is confusing because the RT22 used to be a Part 90 (business) radio. Newer models are now Part 95 and locked to the FRS bands.
Before you do anything else, I would check your licence and make sure it is current. Depending on what country you are in, the licence might be for a certain radius of operation and/or a certain number of radios. If it is expired, you may want to decide to renew, or to just use the FRS channels.
If the licence is or can be made current, personally I would sell your FRS radios and get some good quality business radios. They are a bit more expensive, but they will eliminate any interference from every kid and drive-through in a 10 block radius.
If security or emergency use is an issue, the failure of your radios might be critical and the use of public frequencies for private or emergency information just to save a few dollars may be frowned upon.
Another issue that is rarely recognized is that emergency radios on a location such as a campus should not only be professional but should look professional. If I was a parent and my kid was in a life-threatening situation, I would not want to roll up and see someone using public bands and FRS radios.
With business radios, you get less interference (but can still be monitored by others) and often better receivers. The components are made to last years and not get thrown away every year when pieces like the PTT or headset socket begin to fail. You also can get radios that are less easy for users to change the settings.
Our forum hosts at buytwowayradios have some good choices in good quality and less expensive business radios for organizations that are not power users. I have been using two way radios almost every day for 35 years, and the ones we use now - and rely upon for critical short-range communication - are the Wouxun KG-824B radios.
We are not gentle with our radios and get used summer and winter, so trust me when I say they will last longer and will be more reliable if end users cannot change the settings.
I sell lots of RT22, and they’re very reliable and here in the UK, fine licencing wise. When your FCC introduced the new rules, i assume legacy equipment already in use was allowed, just new sales banned? Second hand ones could be a solution if thats allowed?
What are the specific frequencies? You keep mentioning they are licensed to you, but if you are using FRS radios, they are licensed by rule, which means anyone can use them freely, as no license is required.
Most importantly, are you in the US? That also makes a huge difference, as the licensing rules vary between countries.
We’re assigned 467.5125 and 467.1875, call sign WQVV907. Yes, we are in the US. These two frequencies are programmed into our RT22s that I inherited along with a couple of Baofengs
Those are land mobile business frequencies. FRS radios do not support these frequencies, or at least they shouldn’t because they would be out of band and out of FCC compliance. As Chickenhawk said, these are intended for Part 90 business radios, and many popular models such as the Motorola CLS, CLP, and RM series have these two frequencies pre-programmed by default. So do other business radios such as Kenwood ProTalk TK-Series, Wouxun KG Series and Midland BR Series models. In most cases, little to no programming is needed.
I understand the desire to go with the cheapest radios on the market, but again, as others have said, if it’s for a business, organization or facility of any sort, you really want to stick with something that is going to stick with you. Some of these manufacturers offer 2 and 3 year warranties, and all of them offer support that you aren’t going to find from after market manufacturers or retailers of radios that aren’t FCC approved for business use. Just something to consider.
Again, the DeWalt radios aren’t going to be programmable to your land mobile business frequencies. That’s not what they were built for. You really need a business radio that is specifically designed for that service.
Thank you for the advice everyone, I will work new radios into the budget or try to find a grant to buy some. In the meantime I’ll need to rely on what we have for our emergency communications.