RF Services

Specializing in programming and conversion of Motorola (and some GE) radios to the Amateur Radio service.

Blue Feather Technologies is pleased to be a servicer of two-way radio equipment, and a reseller for Motorola two-way radio parts and accessories.

Our specialty is the conversion of commercial radios to amateur service. The big commercial shops are rarely willing to do this. Even if they are, they'll often charge far more than we would. One of the biggest reasons for this is that, with many commercial radios, converting them to amateur frequencies pushes them outside their factory-specifed band limits.

In some cases, hardware modifications or extensive retuning are required to accomplish the task, which is something else the big shops aren't keen on doing. Why risk high prices and weird looks in regards to your desired frequency list when you can come to us?

We can also order parts or accessories for your existing equipment. Please drop us a note with your requirements.

Both our RF communications analyzers, and our other timebase-referenced test equipment, are tied in to a GPS-locked frequency standard with a long-term accuracy of better than 1 x 10E-12. Our work is, therefore, as close to NIST-traceable as it's possible to get without a cesium or similar atomic reference (and spending several thousand $$ for actual NIST certification).

We can sweep-tune Syntor X and X9000 RF decks to cover amateur bands, and still allow the radio to retain much of its commercial frequency coverage.

NOTE: We will not program FRS frequencies into any radio not explicitly designed for FRS operation. Please read the following for an explanation of why.

The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a low-power, no-license-required, short-range radio service. Any radio designed for FRS service must meet (among others) three requirements:

(1) It must be explicitly designed and FCC type-accepted for FRS.

(2) Its output power must not exceed 500 milliwatts (half a watt).

(3) Its antenna must be rigidly attached -- in other words, the antenna must not be removable, and no facility can be provided for attaching an external antenna or amplifier of any kind.

Given these requirements, it is a violation of federal law (CFR/FCC 95.194, paragraphs (a) through (c)) to use any land/mobile radio on FRS frequencies other than those explicitly designed for FRS.

As of 19-May-08, we can program the following conventional Motorola and GE radios (Trunking-only radios will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and will depend upon the availability to us of the system ID and system key file from the trunked system's owner):

Spectra memory module (MLM) rebuilding and upgrading is available on a case-by-case basis.

If your particular radio happens to need a replacement memory device, we can often provide such. New programming capability is added depending on demand, and updates don't always make it into the table in a timely manner. If you don't see your radio family listed, please ask!

Our base labor rate is $40.00/hour with a half-hour ($20.00) minimum. ALL radios we receive for programming or other service get a full inspection for damage, and a full diagnostic performance check.

Basic operational checkout is available at a special flat rate of $10.00 per radio. This does NOT include any alignment or fine-tuning; just basic diagnoses of the unit's condition.

For radios that we don't program, I can suggest two possible alternatives. For Mostars, you can try Brinkley Electronics. For more extensive coverage of GE products, and other related radio services, you can check with Radio Gurus.

PLEASE NOTE: We DO NOT service any sort of consumer electronic radios, such as CB or FRS equipment, nor do we deal with mobile phones or cordless phones. If you have equipment of this nature that needs service, your best bet is your local Yellow Pages under 'Electronic Equipment Service and Repair.'

(Last Update: 19-May-08)