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Question for the HAM gurus that aren't opposed to using a marine band radio on land. I know this is illegal, but where I bear hunt in Idaho every hound guy around uses a 25 watt marine band radio. My question is, if a 2m ham radio were modified to transmit on the marine band, how would the transmission compare to an actual marine radio, as far as strength, quality, antennas, ect. goes? The idea behind this is to combine a mobile 2m HAM radio, marine radio and scanner into one unit on a side by side. Thanks

I think with modern radios it might be tougher to modify but I know there are plenty of people out there on the net with instructions on how to do so. I know the older 2 meters were a lot easier to mod. Modifying radios to transmit out of their design range can cause some to die an early death. I think it would be difficult without a lot of math to say how the transmission quality and strength would be on a modded radio like that. Why not just use a marine band with an external amplifier and a good antenna.

No ham guru here but to me it doesn't make any sense to me to use a marine radio. You can get 2 meter radios with 65+ watts of transmitting power. Using the marine band on land is illegal, using a 2 meter without a license is illegal, what's the difference. Plus operating a modded radio is illegal all on it's own.

I know there are some more knowledgeable hamers on here, hopefully they'll chime in for you.

We use ours on the marine band when hunting just look up on Line for the cross reference number we have never had a problem the 2m work great on new and old radios we run channel 68 witch is 156.425 on the 2m and 69 is 156.475


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I agree with you on using a 2 meter radio, but I would be the only hound hunter using that radio making communication quite difficult, thats why I want it to be marine band capable. I won't be "hunting" with these other guys but bear and dogs always cross paths and its nice to be able to talk with them. I would be licensed for using a 2 meter radio.

Hey Beardawgs, I just ran across this on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/TYT-TYT-TH-9000D ... +ham+radio

The specs say it covers marine band and there are comments talking about 2-meter and marine band usage. It looks like a good price too.

as far as 2m vs marine radios. the 2m can be modified to work on marine band. 2 m will put out about 1/2 of what watts it is designed to put out on marine band frequencies. you can see a difference in the transmision distance of the 2m. you just have to remember your radio is only as good as the radio you are talking to.

We use the Yeasu 2900. Have it modified to talk on marine band. Works great, can switch between 5-75 watt's. Gotta be careful though, 5 watts won't hurt your gps stuff but higher watts will fry your collars and gps.