my 8900 only does FM, so I've got the 10m calling freq..

For 6m, there are 3 repeaters in my area, so I've got those loaded up, as well as the 6m FM calling freq.

I personally don't like having call signs as the names, so I get creative with my display

10m-cal
6m-cal
6m-1 (repeater)
6m-2 (repeater)


and so on.    I got some 2m calling freq traffic over the weekend, which is pretty rare but picking up in my area of Texas.

I've got an 8900 in my car. I've got all the local repeaters, calling freqs for 10m/6m/2m/70cm  frs, gmrs, murs programmed in. I've got my radio on medium power, EXCEPT for the 6 calling frequencies, which are on full power. I figure if I had to use those, I'd need the help.   By chance, I've also got several repeaters for outlying areas programmed in. I'm in Austin Tx. I happened to be on a road trip to Dallas when i got caught in a hail storm. I pulled under an overpass and flipped my radio on and hit a repeater up the road that was the NOAA  OEM  node for the area. We were able to trade info back and forth on the storm


So to recap, I'd suggest
the calling freqs for your area
local repeaters and repeaters from outlining areas you may be traveling to (I keep the pocket repeater guide in my car and in my go bag just in case)
'common' channels, meaning CB, FRS, GMRS, MURS, etc.  The yaesu 7r was my first radio just for this reason, it's got a wide band rx (and tx) and can cover all of those things

that's what i was afraid of.  Teaches me to do some more research before I buy anything. 

So I've probably got an MH36 for sale if anyone is interested LOL


I appreciate everyone's replies on this!

tried that.

I don't know where else to post this, so I'm trying the Misc

I just got the mh-36 dtmf mic for my 817  and it's not detecting the keypad. I checked the manual and there isn't a setting I'm missing.  What am I not doing here? 


I'm trying to use the keypad for direct V/m VFO entry like on my 8900.  The up/down buttons on the top do work though

I deal with this sort of issue for work on an almost daily basis


the 1550 has a panel frame ring as others have mentioned

www.frontpanelexpress.com is a website that will allow you to download a free autocad type program, design a panel to fit that frame ring, then order it (approx $100 typically)

Put the body of the radios inside the case, then put the remote head on top of the panel frame designed above.  You can also have holes cut for fuse holders, on off switches, etc.   You can end up with something pretty slick if you take the time and spend the money on it

As was mentioned, you could put a piece of MDF or other wood along the bottom, glue that down and then screw into it to maintain waterproofness. Or, you can just bolt through the bottom and glue over the screw bolts. 



Also as was mentioned, the question is how happy you will be with something like this as opposed to just using the pelican case to transport the gear then take it out.

if anyone would like more information or pictures, email me  at  ric0123   at h0tmail dot com.    I'm not on this forum much but I'll share as much information as I can