PHILIPS/ SIMOCO PRM8020

2M or (70cm) FM mobile on the cheap

Radio amateurs have a history of getting a hold of decommissioned commercial gear and modifying it for the amateur radio bands. The PRM80 series of radio is no different. Philips supplied these radio's to the commercial market; police, fire, ambulance that sort of thing. They came in either VHF or UHF and were pre-programmed with fixed frequencies, selective calling, CTCSS and various other add-ons from the dealer.

As these radios were superseded they began to appear on the surplus market very cheaply. Modification to the amateur radio bands is cheap and easy with the right equipment, and this has made the radios a favourite for radio amateurs just starting out.

Being a single band radio they have excellent rejection to pager interference and the like. With an added benefit that they have a ruggedly built PA stage producing 25 watts output. The radio's are an excellent choice for 2m (or 70cm) FM mobile operation. Often you can pick these radios up from HAMfests for as little as $50 in modified form (less if they are unmodified). So if some light fingered individual steals it, you wont cry as much as if it was an Icom or Yaesu

With a patch cord, a pair of PRM80's can be pressing into service as a repeater, one as a receiver and the other as a transmitter. Many clubs have started out this way and the PRM80 serves well, tolerating high duty cycles and hot dusty conditions.

Although I no longer have this radio I would not hesitate in recommending it to anyone on a tight budget or for someone just wanting a cheap radio for a casual chat on the local repeater. Just burn the EPROM with the frequencies you want add CTCSS tone(s) (assuming the radio has that add-on installed) and away you go.

BCNU