Per emails I exchanged today with BridgeCom Systems sales staff, the BridgeCom Systems BCM-220 222-225 MHz mobile / base radio, and the BCR-220 222-225 MHz repeater is now back in production at Bridgecom Systems.
The BCM-220 seems a good data radio because it has a “flat audio” connection that would allow it to run higher speed data communications. BridgeCom had discontinued the BCM-220 and BCR-220 because it required a unique part that BridgeCom ran out of. As I discussed in Zero Retries 0028, BridgeCom reversed its decision to discontinue the BCM-220 and BCR-220 and ordered a quantity of the unique part, but it would take some time to receive the part and begin manufacturing them (as it turns out, a year).
In my email exchange, BridgeCom sales staff indicated that they only have a few BCM-220s and a few BCR-220s in stock at the moment. The BCM-220 isn’t currently listed for sale on their website, but the BCR-220 is listed on their website.
Thus, if you want a 222-225 MHz data radio, I suggest you put in your order in as soon as possible to either buy one (or two) or get in the queue. I suspect the BCM-220 may well sell out.
Steve Stroh N8GNJ Editor, Zero Retries Newsletter 2023-01-14
I'm sorry but after discontinuing the custom battery pack for the BCH-220 handheld I bought from them I'm hesitant to send any more money their way. Which sucks because I like the radio and think we need more US companies in the radio market.
I'm sorry but after discontinuing the custom battery pack for the BCH-220 handheld I bought from them I'm hesitant to send any more money their way. Which sucks because I like the radio and think we need more US companies in the radio market.