National Interagency Incident Communications Division 

 

June 07, 2023

To: Radio Users 

From: Chief, National Interagency Incident Communications Division 

Subject: Approved Radios 

The following is a consolidated list of Fire Approved Radios for use by all federal 

employees and all personnel under contract with the federal government working 

on wildland fires, as well as Cooperator Aviation Radios and Radios Approved for 

Forest Health Protection. These are the only approved radios for interagency fire 

and Forest Health Protection use. 

1. Fire Approved Radios 

The following radios are currently approved for interagency fire use. No new 

“analog only” radios will be added to this list. 

VHF-AM 

VHF-AM radios do not receive fire approval. Any FCC approved VHF-AM radio 

is acceptable. All VHF-AM radios used in aircraft shall meet the appropriate 

Technical Standard Order (TSO) category. 

VHF-FM 

Analog Portable Radios1, 2

B/K GPH5102X 

Analog Mobile Radios1, 2

B/K GMH 

 
2 

P25 Digital Portable Radios 

BK Technologies (formerly B/K) GPH5102X upgraded to P25 digital3

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) DPH5102X 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) DPHX5102X 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) KNG-P150 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) KNG-P150S 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) KNG2-P150 

BK Technologies BKR5000 

Datron Guardian G25PRV100 

Midland STP105B 

Motorola XTS 25004

Motorola XTS 50004

Motorola VX-P949 

Thales 25 PRC-6894 

P25 Digital Mobile Radios 

BK Technologies (formerly B/K) GMH upgraded to P25 digital3

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) DMH5992 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) DMH5992X HP 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) KNG-M150 

Datron G25RMV100 

Datron G25RMV110 

Datron G25ASU001 

Kenwood TK-5710 

Kenwood TK-5720 

Kenwood NX-5700

Midland STM-1050B 

Midland STM-1055B 

Midland STM-1115B 

Motorola APX6500 

P25 Digital Aeronautical Radios 

Cobham (formerly Northern Airborne Technology) NPX136D-0005 

Cobham (formerly Northern Airborne Technology) NPX136D-070 

Technisonic Industries TDFM-136 

Technisonic Industries TDFM-136NV 

Technisonic Industries TDFM-136A 

Technisonic Industries TDFM-136A/NV 

Technisonic Industries TDFM-136B6

Technisonic Industries TDFM-136B/NV6 
3 
4 

UHF-FM 

P25 Digital Portable Radios 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) KNG-P400 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) KNG-P400S 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) KNG2-P400 

Midland STP404A 

Motorola XTS 25004

Motorola XTS 50004

P25 Digital Mobile Radios 

BK Technologies (formerly Relm Wireless) KNG-M400 

Kenwood TK-5810 

Kenwood TK-5820 

Midland STM-4040A 

Midland STM-4045A 

Multi-band 

P25 Digital Portable Radios Capable of Operating in More Than One Frequency 

Band – 136-174 MHz, 380-520 MHz, 700-800 MHz, trunked 

Thales Liberty 

P25 Digital Aeronautical Radios Capable of Operating in More Than One 

Frequency Band – 136-174 MHz, 380-520 MHz, 700-800 MHz, trunked 

Technisonic Industries TDFM-90007

Technisonic Industries TDFM-91007 

Technisonic Industries TDFM-92007 

Technisonic Industries TDFM-93007 

 

 
5 

2. Cooperator Aviation Radios Accepted for Fire Use 

Aviation is a dynamic environment and aviation radios are generally complex. 

Some basic guidelines are provided below so all parties can effectively 

communicate. These are: 

 Contain at least one conventional P25 digital VHF-FM RF 

module/transceiver operating from 136 to 174 MHz with front panel 

programmability (FPP). 

 Any of the following options are acceptable to meet the Air Guard 

requirement (TX & RX 168.6250 MHz, TX CTCSS 110.9 Hz): 

o A second conventional P25 digital VHF-FM RF module/transceiver 

operating from 136 to 174 MHz with FPP. 

o A non-FPP conventional P25 digital VHF-FM RF module/transceiver 

operating from 136 to 174 MHz with a preset channel dedicated to Air 

Guard. 

o A P25 digital trunked VHF-FM RF module/transceiver operating from 

136 to 174 MHz with a non-trunked preset channel dedicated to Air 

Guard. 

These multiband aeronautical radios are acceptable for Cooperator Aviation Radios 

Accepted for Fire Use. 

Cobham RT-5000/C-50008

Cobham RT-70009

Technisonic Industries TDFM-6000 Series 10, 11

Technisonic Industries TDFM-7000 Series 

Technisonic Industries TDFM-7300 Series 

 
6 

3. Radios Approved for Forest Health Protection 

The following analog aviation radios are currently approved for US Forest Service 

(USFS) Forest Health Protection (FHP). FHP may also utilize approved P25 

Digital Radios listed under Section 1: Fire Approved Radios. The below analog 

radios are not allowed to be used in any aspect of interagency fire (reconnaissance 

or air tactical). 

Analog VHF-FM Aeronautical Radios12

AEM (formerly Northern Airborne Technology) NTX138-050 

Technisonic Industries TFM-138 (serial number 1540 

& up) 

Technisonic Industries TFM-138B/C/D 

Technisonic Industries TFM-500 

Analog-only VHF-FM radios are not approved for DOI use unless a waiver is 

granted to the operating Bureau by the Telecommunications Systems Division 

(TSD) of the DOI Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). 

Questions concerning radios and requirements on this list can be directed to: Bill 

Forsyth (208-387-5720) bill.forsyth@usda.gov (portable and mobile radios) or Ken 

Tillbrook (208-387-5648) frank.smith@usda.gov (aeronautical radios). Radio 

vendors may contact Bill Forsyth to submit products for evaluation for inclusion 

on the Fire Approved Radios list. 

/s/ 

Jason Bruce 

Chief (Detail), NIICD/NIFC 

 
7 

1 Purchases of new analog radios are not recommended. At some point in the future, fire will 

require that only P25 digital radios be used.

2

 Several contracts specify that only P25 digital radios are acceptable. These “analog only” 

radios are not acceptable for contracts requiring P25 digital radios. 

3 When a P25 digital radio is required and a BK GPH/GMH radio with P25 digital upgrade is 

used, the user must provide proof that the radio has been upgraded prior to it being accepted.

4 The Motorola XTS2500 and XTS5000 P25 digital portable radios are fire compliant when 

operating radio software R.15.00.05 or newer. 

5

 The Cobham (formerly Northern Airborne Technology) NPX136D-000 is only acceptable for 

fire when used as a substitute for the AUX-FM provisions and an Air Guard receiver for this 

radio is not contractually required. The NPX136D-000 is not acceptable as a stand-alone 

radio.

6

 The Technisonic Industries TDFM-136B and TDFM-136B/NV are fire compliant when 

operating Radio Info: Main Code 1.1.4 or newer and has Modification #2 installed. 

7

 The Technisonic Industries TDFM-9000/9100/9200/9300 radios are highly dependent upon 

settings in Motorola’s CPS software. CPS software is very complex and settings should only 

be changed by a person trained in CPS use. TDFM-9000/9100/9200/9300 radios are fire 

compliant under the following conditions: 

 Contain at least one conventional P25 digital VHF-FM RF module operating from 136 to 

174 MHz with front panel programmability (FPP) enabled. 

 Any of the following options are acceptable to meet the Air Guard requirement (transmit 

& receive 168.6250 MHz with a transmit CTCSS tone of 110.9 Hz): 

o A second conventional P25 digital VHF-FM RF module operating from 136 to 

174 MHz with FPP enabled. 

o A non-FPP conventional P25 digital VHF-FM RF module operating from 136 to 

174 MHz with a preset channel dedicated to Air Guard. 

o A P25 digital trunked VHF-FM RF module operating from 136 to 174 MHz with 

a non-trunked preset channel dedicated to Air Guard. 

 Soft Keys (in order of use) (CPS = Menu Items): 

o Zone, FPP, Scan, Mute, Info. 

o The Zone containing FPP should be identified as “Zone 1 FPP” or similar. When 

only the Zone having FPP exists then the soft key “Zone” is not required. 

 Function Keys (CPS = Buttons - General): 

o F1 – Set to Monitor. 

 Keypad Keys (CPS = Switches): 

o M UP/M DN – Set as channel select. 

o TSW – Set as Blank (A)/PL Disable (B)/Blank (C). 
8 

 Power Knob: 

o Selections shall include Volume Adjust and Channel Changes. 

 All features on the FPP screen shall be editable and have the ability to be saved to the 

selected channel. 

 Other functions enabled: 

o DTMF operation 

o 90 second time-out-timer 

8 Recommended RT-5000 transceiver versions are only those with MODs 34, 36, or 38 installed 

using a C-5000 controller with Software Identification 12 (SWID 12) loaded.

9

 The Cobham RT-7000 radio, when using Motorola APX modules, is highly dependent upon 

settings in Motorola’s CPS software. CPS software is very complex and settings should only 

be changed by a person trained in CPS use. At a minimum, the following FPP functions 

should be enabled: receive and transmit frequency edit, channel mode edit, receive and 

transmit CTCSS tone edit, receive and transmit network access code and talkgroup edit. 

10 A Technisonic AMS-6000 Audio Panel is highly recommended when using the TDFM-6000 

series radio.

11 The Technisonic TDFM-6148 radio does not meet the basic guidelines for single radio 

installations.

12 This category of approved radios will be removed once the USFS mandates that only P25 

digital radios be used. Mandatory USFS P25 usage is anticipated in 2022.