FHP HT radio question

[ImEvil1]

No prob...

I just found some footage from West Palm (1994) that shows what I think is an MT500 (definitely has the metal switches, antenna on the right side). I can't get this DVC90 deal to work with Vista, so I can't post up a screen capture right now of it.

[w4ata]

Originally Posted by ImEvil1

No prob...

I just found some footage from West Palm (1994) that shows what I think is an MT500 (definitely has the metal switches, antenna on the right side). I can't get this DVC90 deal to work with Vista, so I can't post up a screen capture right now of it.

The MT500 was a tuff radio and is about the size of the opening on the converta coms I've seen. Very close in size to the HT90/HT440. I've got a vhf one here and they are readily available on ebay. I'm waiting on a call from another ret FHP trooper I know to see if he can shed some light on it.

[ImEvil1]

Low-tech pic, but you can definitely see the metal buttons.

I don't think there were many convertacoms in use. I'm sure that they were more prevalent in some areas as opposed to others, but a good portion of the footage from FHP shows the Troopers wearing lapel mics. Most of the Troopers I ever worked with had lapel mics also, and I never saw any of the units in use in my area (1991-on). Most of the officers in S. FL I saw with the convertacoms didn't use them with lapel mics, as they were constantly off and on of their duty belts as they got in and out of their cars. I can't see them leaving the lapel mics attached and putting the radio across their body (or behind them) to charge.

I'll put a few calls in and see what new info I can come up with.

[w4ata]

Mike, You're right about the lapel mikes not being popular with convertacom use as they were either on their belts or in the convertacom and a speaker mic would get in the way. I just got of the phone with a friend of mine and he said during that time they used the HT90 and not an MT500. He said to look for mounting holes under the glove box for the convertacom and that the two holes I have above the right knee under the speedometer bezel were where they mounted the Jss control. The control was set up for the left and right alley lights and the take down lights on the split rocker on the right with the rotors and flashers on the single rocker on the left with the center toggle as the front cut out. Got lots of info and possible other contacts.

[ImEvil1]

Good info.....I have a used JSS box set up with that exact configuration (down to the correct switches, per the in-service pics).

I have seen 3 different radios while looking at the footage (I won't count the 800 MHz one, as it was S. FL only in 1994), so I'm beginning to think it could have been any of the ones we've already listed.

My '93 definitely did not have one...but the '85 may have. I've got a switch for the PAC for the '93, and I'll probably end up using the convertacom with the built-in switch on the '85 (especially if I can find evidence of it being mounted in there).