So how do you choose.......
the right handheld or mobile radio? As a general rule, we will buy and sell American made products whenever possible. Our second choice is Japan. In our opinion, there are two significant Japanese manufacturers producing quality products at fair prices. One of those (and our choice), is ICOM. Our reason for favoring ICOM is that they actually design and manufacture their own products in their own plants. They take care of their employees and cooperate in developing new technology (the other Japanese company, by the way, is Kenwood).
Outside the USA and Japan, if we had to include a third source of supply, it would be Korea, a long time US trading partner with a worldwide reputation for innovation and quality. Putting it another way, the companies offering the best value and actually giving back something to the USA are Ritron (US), Icom (Japan), and Midland (Korea).
As is the case with any product, the price categories generally fall into good, better and best. We don't offer any inferior products - just good products with features to meet the needs of those we serve. Here is an overview of our recommended choices.
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The Midland PL5000 series is our best economy model. It's very durable construction is resistant to shock and vibration. This is our lowest price radio with an 8 character alphanumeric LCD display and programmable hot keys. It has 32 channel capability, a 1200 mAh memory free battery pack, rapid charger, loud and clear audio, built-in 2-tone signaling (decode) and MIL-SPEC approved, this 9.2 ounce radio is an excellent alternative to a monitor pager. Available in VHF or UHF models, this radio is MIL-SPEC 810E approved! Complete specifications are available by clicking here. Compare with Motorola PR400, Kenwood TK270/370, Relm RP3000, Ritron SLX, and Vertex VX180. With a base price of just $279, nothing else even comes close! |
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The Ritron SLX is a 60
channel credit card sized radio with 25/12.5 kHz Wide/Narrow
Channel Spacing, Scan, Dual Priority, MIL-STD 810 C, D, E, F,
CTCSS/DCS Encode & Decode, 2-Tone Encode/Decode (Up to 10 2-Tone
Combinations), DTMF Encode, DTMF/5 Tone ANI, Emergency Call, 8
Character (14 Segment) Alphanumeric LCD Display, Programmable
hot Keys (Channel UP/Down, Priority Channel, Priority Re-write,
Bank, Scan Start/Stop, Scan Tag, Lock, Monitor, Wide/Narrow
Bandwidth, High/Low Power Level, Talk Around, Emergency Call, DTMF,
Multiple Tone, User Set Mode, Compander for Narrow Band), Over the
Air Stun/Kill, Built in inversion Scrambler
Signaling/Messaging, Time Out Timer, Transmit Inhibit, Busy Channel
Lockout, Power Save Function, Busy Channel Lockout. Complete
specifications are available by clicking here.
Compare with Motorola PR400, Kenwood TK270/370, Relm RP3600, and
Vertex VX800. Priced at just $329 with your choice of VHF or
UHF, this is an excellent value! Call us at 1.800.489.2611 for
special discounts on this model.
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The IC-F50 (VHF) and IC-F60 (UHF) is a fire fighters radio! It is small (REALLY small) measuring under four inches high and weighing less than 10 ounces. It's MIL-SPEC 810 approved and it's waterproof - like REALLY waterproof! This radio is rated for full immersion capability for up to 30 minutes! You get a large easy to read LCD, programmable hot keys, 2-tone paging (encode and decode), extra wide bandwidth (down to 136 MHz in VHF or down to 400 MHz in UHF - even a built in scrambler for private communications! Most importantly, this radio can meet both current and future needs with BIIS 1200 compatibility. You can learn more about BIIS by clicking here. For more information on the F50/F60 series radios, click here. There no comparable models to this radio. It's in a class by itself and at a price of only $399 ($419 for UHF), it is an unbeatable value! |
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The IC-F70 (VHF) and IC-F80 (UHF) are 256 channel radios that can be upgraded to P25 Phase two (digital compatibility when desired. IPX7 waterproof protection, Use the BIIS capability to set up your own talk groups and quiet stand-by when others are talking. Large capacity 1600mAh Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery pack; large high contrast LCD clearly shows a variety of information with a full dot-matrix display; 256 memory channels with 32 memory zones; tactical group function; Built-in voice scrambler; Built-in audio compander; 8 DTMF autodial memories; Powerful 5W/4W (VHF/UHF) output; Normal and priority scans; 2 step power saver; Busy, repeater lockout functions; Wide and narrow (25/12.5kHz) channel spacing is programmable; Power ON password. For more information on the F70 series radios, click here. Compare to BK Radio model GPH51002X-01. For more information of P25 upgrade capability, click here. Your price for this digital upgradeable radio is $675 for the VHF model or $695 for the non-keypad models. A full keypad adds $50 to the price of either model. |
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The Icom IC-F121 (VHF) and IC-F221 (UHF) Mobiles provide up to 128 Channel (8 Memory Banks), 50/45 Watts, 10 Scanning Lists and Normal/Priority Scan Modes, 8 Character Backlit LCD Alphanumeric Display and Keys for Night Time Operation, 6 Programmable PF Keys, CTCSS, DCS, Advance 2-Tone Encode/Decode (Bell Icon Indication, Answer Back Calls, Beep Sounds, Scan Start/Stop, Auto Transmission, Stun/Kill, External Output Option (OPC-617) for Horn, 11 Transmit/11 Receive 2-Tone Codes), DTMF Encoder, DTMF Decoder with ANI (Optional), 25,30/12.5 kHz Wide/Narrow Channel Spacing on a Per Channel Basis, 4 Watt Front Mounted Speaker, Hook Scan Function & Hook Scan ON/OFF Button Assignable, Power On Password, Busy Channel Lockout, Time Out Timer, MIL-STD 810 C, D, E, F. Click here for more information. Compare to Kenwood TK-760, Motorola CM300, Relm RM3000, Vertex VX-4000. Your price is only $329 for the VHF model (Add $10 for UHF). Add just $27 for antenna and mount kit.
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The IC-F1721 (VHF) and the IC-F2721 (UHF) mobiles are APCO Project 25 (P25) Phase One analog 12.5 kHz compliant. This assures interoperability with other manufacturer's P25 digital radios in the analog mode. These radios are P25 digital upgradeable! Detachable front panel. Dot matrix, multi-function LCD. Heavy-duty microphone, HM-148. Rugged construction Use the built-in BIIS capability to set up your own talk groups, and have your radio standby quietly when other groups are talking. 256 memory channels, 32 zones. Tactical group function. Built-in inversion type voice scrambler. Radio stun/kill and Power-on password function. Microphone hanger action programmable (Scan, monitor, priority channel), Optional OPC-617 D-SUB 9 pin connector for dimmer control, modem connection, D-SUB 25 pin connector for future PC connection, Built-in audio compander (Analog mode only), Wide frequency coverage (136–174MHz or 400 to 470 MHz), LTRŪ Trunking system capability optional. , PC programming capability, 7 group IDs, 24-status Messages, Send 8-character SDM (Short Data Message), Receive up to 95 characters of free text. For additional information, click here. Compare to BK Radio GMH599-2X. Your price is only $595 for the VHF model (Add $50 for UHF). Add just $27 for antenna and mount kit. You can also add a full DTMF keypad for $100 more. |
User information. Products sold by Falcon Direct are warranted to be technically compliant with the manufacturers specifications. No other warranty relative to use of the equipment or related service, when applicable, is expressed or implied. Falcon Direct makes no claim for suitability or fitness of users purpose or application. Falcon Direct is not responsible for claims arising from the use of equipment or services provided by or through Falcon Direct in which there are losses attributed to the use or application of equipment and/or related services. User agrees to these terms as a condition of purchase.
Let's look at our selected products in another way. This time, we will do a side by side comparison. This will allow you to choose the model and features best suited to your individual requirements.
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Product Model |
Midland | Ritron SLX | F50/F60 | F70/F80 | F121/F221 | 1721/2721 |
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| Product type/Features | Handheld | Handheld | Handheld | Handheld | Mobile | Mobile |
| VHF Frequency Range | 148-174 MHz | 136-174 MHz | 136-174 MHz | 136-174 MHz | 136-174 MHz | 136-174 MHz |
| UHF Frequency Range | 450-490 MHz | 406-470 MHz | 400-470 MHz | 400-470 MHz | 400-470 MHz | 400-470 MHz |
| System Type | Conventional | Conventional | Conventional | Conventional | Conventional | Conventional |
| Dual Mode
12.5 or 25 KHz |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CTCSS, DCS
& DTMF encode ID |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2-Tone paging (Up to 10 Rx/chan.) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2-tone paging encode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority scan | Yes | Yes (Dual) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of channels | 16/32 | 60 | 128 | 256 | 128 | 256 |
| BIIS 1200 compatible | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Upgradeable to P25 digital | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Alpha LCD display | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes w/icons | Yes | Yes w/icons |
| Water submersible (1 ft., 30 mins.) | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| ANI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Emergency Call | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Scrambler (Inversion) | No | Yes | No (Optional) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LTR trunking | No | No | No | Optional | No | Optional |
| Over the air stun/kill | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Short text messaging capability | No | Yes | No | Yes (8/95) | No | Yes (8/05) |
| Programmable keys | 2 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Compander for 12.5 kHz | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Trunk/Rear mount kit available | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | No | Yes (Optional) |
| MIL-SPEC 810 | C, D,
E and F |
C, D,
E and F |
C, D,
E and F |
C, D,
E and F |
C, D,
E and F |
C, D,
E and F |
| Condensed specifications | PL5000 | Ritron SLX | F50/F60 | F70/F80 | F121/F221 | 1721/2721 |
| Size | 4.78 x 2.25 x 1.25" | 3.93 x 2.2 x 1.33" | 2.20 x 3.82 x 1.43" | 2.31 x 5.98 x 1.5" | 5.91 x 1.57 x 6.59" | 6.89 x 1.77 x 6.69" |
| Weight | 13.6 Oz. | 10.0 Oz. | 9.9 Oz. | 14.1 Oz. | 2.4 lbs. | 3.3 lbs. |
| Power output | 5/4 watts | 5/4 watts | 5/4 watts | 5/4 watts | 50/45 watts | 50/45 watts |
| Audio output | 500 mW | 700 mW | 500 mW | 500 mW | 4 watts | 4 watts |
| Battery capacity/chemistry | 1200 mAh NiMH | 1800 mAh Li-Ion | 1700 mAh Li-Ion | 1600 mAh Li-Ion | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Charger type | Desk rapid | Desk rapid | Desk rapid | Desk rapid | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Pricing Information | PL5000 | Ritron SLX | F50/F60 | F70/F80 | F121/F221 | 1721/2721 |
| Basic Price, VHF | $279 | $249 | $399 | $675 | $329 | $595 |
| UHF adds | Same | Same | $20 | $20 | $10 | $50 |
| Add full keypad | N/A | N/A | N/A | $50 | N/A | $100 |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
| Extend
warranty to 5 years |
N/A | N/A | $57 | $85 | $57 | $85 |
| Add speaker-mic | $59 | $39 | $69 | $69 | N/A | N/A |
| Add carrying case | $39 | $39 | $44 | $44 | N/A | N/A |
| Add programming kit | $74 | $129 | $69 | $69 | N/A | N/A |
| Mobile antenna/mount | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $27 | $27 |
| Purchase on line |  |
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If you have questions, give us a call at 1.800-489-2611.
Thanks for visiting with us!
The Falcon Team
At your Service!
Copyright 2007 - Falcon
Direct, Inc.
This page was last updated on 01/25/2007
