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Author Topic: Squared away?  (Read 11470 times)

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Offline Mark 79

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Squared away?
« on: December 16, 2024, 07:50:17 PM »
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    • Have you got your comms squared away?

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    Offline Incredulous

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #1 on: December 17, 2024, 09:02:59 PM »
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    • Mark,

    Please tell us again, the name of the short-range radio that you once described.

    It wasn't a HAM radio, but something better than a walkie talkie.

    Thanks.
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    "Some preachers will keep silence about the truth, and others will trample it underfoot and deny it. Sanctity of life will be held in derision even by those who outwardly profess it, for in those days Our Lord Jesus Christ will send them not a true Pastor but a destroyer."  St. Francis of Assisi

    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #2 on: December 18, 2024, 04:06:39 PM »
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    • The best inexpensive "non-ham" radio is actually a ham radio, Baofeng UV5R (or BF-F8HP).

    Inherently those radios are poor quality when compared to ICOM, Yaesu, or Kenwood handhelds, but they are dirt cheap (I saw Black Friday prices of $35).

    Older versions of those radios could receive and transmit across the VHF/UHF bands, but about 7 years ago the FCC forced Baofeng to lock out the non-ham segments (e.g., FRS, GMRS, aviation, marine, commercial, military). I understand that it is possible to "jailbreak" the newer models, but we have the original models without the lockout, so I never had to jailbreak our Baofengs.

    It's easy to jailbreak most ham radios by removing the lockout diodes. As with most jobs, it's a cinch using the right tools. There are online videos and .pdf files explaining which diodes to remove.  If you remove or damage adjacent diodes or the motherboard, you will lose functionality or even have a dead radio, so be careful.

    Caveat:

    No license is required for the FRS bands.
    A station license is required for GMRS, but no operator-specific license is necessary.
    You are required to operate within the legal power limitations for the band.
    It is illegal to operate outside of the allowed bands.

    Many licensed hams are as annoying as Homeowner Associations and will "nark" violators to the FCC.

    There are other options. If you had a different radio in mind let me know.
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    Offline Incredulous

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #3 on: December 18, 2024, 07:12:31 PM »
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    • Thank you Mark! 
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    "Some preachers will keep silence about the truth, and others will trample it underfoot and deny it. Sanctity of life will be held in derision even by those who outwardly profess it, for in those days Our Lord Jesus Christ will send them not a true Pastor but a destroyer."  St. Francis of Assisi

    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #4 on: December 18, 2024, 07:28:33 PM »
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    • Youbetcha!
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    Offline Ladislaus

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #5 on: December 19, 2024, 10:30:31 AM »
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    • Thanks, Mark.

    If you look here, I see two different-looking UV-5R.  Is the difference mostly in the battery capacity?

    https://tinyurl.com/ry44ctzp
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    Offline SimpleMan

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #6 on: December 19, 2024, 10:40:04 AM »
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    • Quote from: Mark 79 on December 18, 2024, 04:06:39 PM
    The best inexpensive "non-ham" radio is actually a ham radio, Baofeng UV5R (or BF-F8HP).

    Inherently those radios are poor quality when compared to ICOM, Yaesu, or Kenwood handhelds, but they are dirt cheap (I saw Black Friday prices of $35).
    I have a Baofeng UV-5R, and for what it is, it's all right.

    They are going for $16.89 on Amazon right now.  That's cheap.  (Edited to add, that's the same radio as in the tinyurl link above.  I didn't catch that.)

    Anybody know, if I were to get a second one of these, and give it to my son, could he use my ham calls to talk to me, IOW, could we use the same calls for a two-way conversation?  If so, I might get him one for a Christmas stocking stuffer.  He'd be pumped over that.
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #7 on: December 19, 2024, 04:35:41 PM »
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    • Quote from: Ladislaus on December 19, 2024, 10:30:31 AM
    Thanks, Mark.

    If you look here, I see two different-looking UV-5R.  Is the difference mostly in the battery capacity?

    https://tinyurl.com/ry44ctzp
    Yes, that appears to be the case.  3800mAh v. 1800 mAh batteries.  When we bought our Baofengs over a decade ago, the UV5R was $45 and the BF-F8HP was $65. That compared to 10 to almost 20 times that price for the high-end handhelds.

    My favorite two HTs (Handheld Tranceivers) are the Yaesu VX-8DR and the ICOM 51 series.

    Yaesu no longer makes the VX-8DR series. It is truly a "do it all" analog (no digital) HT because it receives the HF bands as well as the VHF and UHF bands. It transmits on all the allowed HF, VHF, and UHF ham bands and can be jailbroken ("modded") to transmit on the non-ham bands. Like everything HF, performance is limited more by "antenna" than anything "radio." I suspect that Yaesu dropped the VX-8DR from their line because of the price. With all the accessories (GPS, earpiece and VOX mike for sniper/spotter use with a ballistic helmet, and upgraded antenna) the price topped out at about $750. Here's a used one (without accessories) on eBay, current bid at $380: https://www.ebay.com/itm/326370980344?_skw=Yaesu+VX-8&itmmeta=01JFGGD1W9NM2FEW1277X8Y77Y&hash=item4bfd39f1f8:g:6LAAAOSwOYJnXHW1&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnFfGXG1r0NfgKx2hy3tqJojWoWgXKvVB1634iyb1%2FmY5UGltZfUUQzEMaf%2Fv4N6qHKM%2FtDnNYa4R%2B5qD8KV9qK2qjLXWIA3nR4HDHNSvBr74616Q6nhsYm9xCPitrG7rFPXjLEuD8VLN4WvqJNXLEyh0rJ31oilXj5zbyiW1d%2Bx9AnSOvf5nn0xsrLA5XjkW7HHlV7trR7u5lRVZqFSKNTLP349tOx2QVbAnYxjNqBNjtPwCI%2BMbDvP9NygfGeu9zPsWA17lZTPlrV3dowkGOe1%2B8g50HYV7HsiUlMeUFicg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5yetJD8ZA

    I like the ICOM 51 series because it transceives (transmit and receive) analog on the VHF (except 220cm) and UHF bands (no HF!) and also incorporates D-STAR, a digital mode that utilizes the internet to connect with repeaters worldwide. The signal quality is superb. You can speak to someone on any continent and it is as if they are sitting next to you. Even the best analog HF cannot achieve that signal quality.  The caveat: no internet = no D-STAR. The current model is the ICOM ID52A PLUS 60th anniversary edition at $730. https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-018815

    As with guns and optics, "buy once, cry once."
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #8 on: December 19, 2024, 04:47:14 PM »
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    • Quote from: SimpleMan on December 19, 2024, 10:40:04 AM
    I have a Baofeng UV-5R, and for what it is, it's all right.

    They are going for $16.89 on Amazon right now.  That's cheap.  (Edited to add, that's the same radio as in the tinyurl link above.  I didn't catch that.)

    Anybody know, if I were to get a second one of these, and give it to my son, could he use my ham calls to talk to me, IOW, could we use the same calls for a two-way conversation?  If so, I might get him one for a Christmas stocking stuffer.  He'd be pumped over that.
    What you propose is illegal and there is no shortage of prissy ass ham snobs who will DF you, dox you, and rat you out to the FCC.

    You could use the radios at legal power levels on the FRS bands without any license

    …BUT… it is so easy to get the Technician level ham license!

    Buy this book: https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-017935

    Read it in one night, highlight only the correct answers. Do not read the incorrect answers.

    The night before taking the Tech test, re-read the questions and ONLY the correct answers you highlighted.

    Doing the above, investing about 6 hours of your time, anyone (except PV) can pass the test. You will not understand or master the material, but you will be licensed.

    If you want to understand the basic ham material, read and understand this book: https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2003373064

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    Offline SimpleMan

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #9 on: December 19, 2024, 05:09:19 PM »
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    • Quote from: Mark 79 on December 19, 2024, 04:47:14 PM
    What you propose is illegal and there is no shortage of prissy ass ham snobs who will DF you, dox you, and rat you out to the FCC.

    You could use the radios at legal power levels on the FRS bands without any license

    …BUT… it is so easy to get the Technician level ham license!

    Buy this book: https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-017935

    Read it in one night, highlight only the correct answers. Do not read the incorrect answers.

    The night before taking the Tech test, re-read the questions and ONLY the correct answers you highlighted.

    Doing the above, investing about 6 hours of your time, anyone (except PV) can pass the test. You will not understand or master the material, but you will be licensed.

    If you want to understand the basic ham material, read and understand this book: https://home.arrl.org/action/Store/Product-Details/productId/2003373064

    I was just going on the thought that, correct me if I'm mistaken, you can authorize someone (in your presence?) to use your radio, and your call sign, but I can see (and it already occurred to me) that using the same call for both sides of the conversation would be pushing things beyond what is allowed.

    What you describe is basically how I studied for my Technician license.  It is indeed pretty easy.
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #10 on: December 20, 2024, 12:18:26 AM »
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    • Definitely "beyond" FCC interpretations (and enforcement).
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #11 on: December 21, 2024, 09:42:30 PM »
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    Offline Mark 79

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    Re: Squared away?
    « Reply #12 on: December 21, 2024, 09:51:33 PM »
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    • Grigori
    Grigori

    If your new UV5R’s are locked in to transmit only on ham radio frequencies and you wish to use them on FRS, GMRS, MURS, or other frequencies, here is how to unlock or “jailbreak” your new radios. Yeah, the FCC frowns upon such, but the guy who produced this video has some interesting thoughts on that, too. Also, in a WROL situation, who cares?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sg3RJf1ZEA
    Oh what the heck. I will include Randy’s thoughts on use of non-type accepted radios and save anyone that is interested, the trouble of looking it up.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQc02jc_uPI
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