FCC coming into your house is because you have a complaint from your neighbors for interfering (spurious emissions) and you have a HAM Shack with lots of power. 5000 watts . FCC can come in and check your radiation for interference. I use a Yausu FT-818. It is a battery powered HF/UHF/VHF radio that runs on batteries and I can use it with grid down. 6 watts and I can talk around the world. Grid down. They all work off of 13 volts DC. FCC can not come into your house without a search warrant which they can not get because spurious emissions are like jaywalking. A Baufang will set off the FCC more than anything because they are so out of calibration that they can violate FCC rules. Get your Technicians license so you can talk simplex and through a repeater. Get your General so you cal talk (or listen) around the world. Get HF if you want to get around the world. Bounce off the moon, talk to the ISS, talk to Australia or Texas on a car battery. BSC, I do believe sir you have this one wrong. 73s. K04MUM
To all the HAM snobs, if freaking ISIS and the other folks could give our troops fits with these damn things and some f&@*#%g Soviet antiques, they'll work for you too. Buy cheap, buy a bunch. Just having comms for everybody is key, not having a $30000 setup
@@SpookyLurker - most civilian HAM aren't going to have nato wiring. You can get a converter OR just use the standard audio jack that is in the PTT for Baofengs. It will link to most headsets/ear pro/etc.
Recommend having an boating air horn if you have a neighborhood defense force and a single entrance. That way everyone in the neighborhood regardless of having comms will know trouble is imminent and whoever is on duty needs back up immediately
Excellent suggestion. I've never seen that mentioned before. Lots of farms have a large bell outside. It signals dinner time and emergencies to everyone on site.
I've spent a fortune on high end Yaesu gear, legit Ops-Core AMPs, etc. but most folks aren't going to be in that budget range. It's awesome that you did this for folks who need a setup, including links. You're an asset to the community.
@@Michael-Mulcahy sadly, the support for end users and availability of actual AES-256 for regular folks in the Moto lineup sucks. Hytera is a better option for most or even the Chinese setups like Anytone or Radioddity are quite good. I sold my Moto DMR gear a few years ago for that reason.
@@jhalscott Same here. I went with the Anytone AT-D878UVII. It does everything including ARPS, GPS, and AES256. The battery life is also huge at 3100 MaH. It seems well built, and heavy, for it's size.
I have the Baofeng radios and I wouldn't go tossing the book that it comes with. It's a very capable radio. The scanner portion is fantastic. When the power went out the other night I was able to determine what it was and what it wasn't so I was able to get a time frame on when the power might be restored in real time👍
I can't get any of my 2A friends interested in comms for any reason... even the former military guys who were drilled with shoot/ move/ communicate. Civilians and ex military are only interested in 'shooting' and even that only as far as bragging on the range or posting Gucci gear online. Getting people interested in ACTUALLY being ready trained or functionally organized is like pulling teeth.
I think most of them don't want feds to get the idea that they like to shoot AND are into HAM radio. It's too easy to cross reference those two lists and start knocking on doors!
I love the fact that you are so calm, plus you are the real deal. You have great leadership qualities. Thank you for your videos. I appreciate what you do.
@@jasonnelson460 MURS FRS and GMRS frequencies to start. You can also try some of the business band frequencies not in use in your area. Marine channels if you are not near a body of water. Now be advised transmitting on most of these frequencies is against FCC rules without the proper license . Also be advised that transmitting on these frequencies without the proper license is an extremely frequent occurrence. Stay away from 144-148 and 420-450 Mhz. These are amateur radio frequencies. You will be more likely to draw attention to yourself if you operate there than say an FRS frequency.
@@paultoth7853 I just want to be able to use it as a 2way mostly but cant seem to get the frequency I need to do it. Anyone know what frequency code I need for 2 way operation?
@@jasonnelson460 Have a local amateur radio operator put in 146.52 Mhz. Then he can call another amateur radio operator as this is the 2m FM calling frequency. There are a bunch of guides on You Tube that show how to set up your radio. Just stick to the frequencies I mentioned and be advised that you need a license to transmit.
Because the time to try to figure out how to use radios is during an emergency. And no emergency gives you the authority to interfere with communications used by first responders... only an idiot would plan to use amateur radios without a licenses and expect a court to accept that they had the radios purchased, configured, and available... coincidentally.
@@EverettVinzant you are allowed to buy them and set them up without a license, you can listen all you want. You just aren't allowed to transmit unless its an emergency.
@@jdlflagstone6980 having said exactly that multiple times elsewhere, I wonder why you feel the need to mention it? It doesn’t change what I said above, in that yes, you can set up receivers and listen, but the wrong time to figure out how to transmit is during an emergency. And if you’re going to spend the extra money to buy transmitters, why not get licensed? What’s the excuse? You can get licensed for free from many organizations right now…
@@EverettVinzant "and expect a court to. .. blah blah" The court would never be involved because no laws are being broken if its an emergency.. Yes, I agree that now is the time to practice and why not get a license, but your point about courts is moot
That is correct, but the law says that your life or property has to be in immediate danger. If you are lost in the woods that would not classify as an emergency unless you are injured. If some crazy man is running up and down your street with a knife or gun, that would not classify as an emergency unless he is breaking into your house directly. Also, there are proper procedures to use when on the radio to specify whether it is an emergency. If you go on the radio and say, "I have an emergency", people would not be as keen to take it seriously unless you used the proper phrasing and procedures. It is good to know that stuff. 73 my friend.
@bruce maxwell wow, thanks for your advice brother, I bought a uv-5r as well and like you said its ok. I haven't learned enough about how to setup/use repeaters so thats definitely on my need to learn list.
yea they work well get 15 miles even with a mountain in the way I have 2 of them. I hit the repeater from in the house which is 20 miles away it is up 8000 ft.
The cheep radios don’t transmit your voice over the air waves a great distance but they will receive higher wattage transmission very well. They are great listening devices for intel like you said.
Yea I actually have two.I have heard transmission from 800 miles. No kidding. I only get about two miles between my two. But am about to buy a amp and pole to make a cheap mobile home base.
@@benjybronk7718 yea my brother got the 3 ft antenna and I got the 12 inch. I was able to broadcast to him about three miles away but I could hear his broadcast from 9. Rough terrain between us tho
Always right on Jack , we appreciate the awareness you provide. Our family all have the Baeofang radios and they seem to work well if you are on a repeater. Thanks again. Rick
I love getting like a $45 sdr dongle and listening to like 80% of the stuff out there. The cheap ones won’t transit but you can listen in a shtf scenario and might get info to avoid areas or whatever.
@@fordloyalist2791 as long as they are NATO wired. I know so many people who bought a pair of TACSky headset and try to use a NEXUS PTT and not realize it isn't compatible. You're stuck with the cheap amazon PTTs that break and get wet.
In nine minutes and 44 seconds, I was able to get so much more information from you than I was able to get from hours worth of so-called experts from all these other channels,thank you very much.
I have had the more expensive with base unit and keyed up mics you look like policeman carrying. And I have gotten the cheaper 20 mile range communicators. I would rather have the cheaper ones, like you said especially if your group is larger. 20 mile range is not shabby in my kneck of the woods. Key people in my group have the communicators in their bug out things and we keep to two channels. They know how to reach one another at meet up points and we all use code handle when using them. This system seams to work well for our little hand full. Thank you for the vid sir.
Yes, when SHTF happens, getting (or having) a HAM radio license will be irrelevant, but there is so much to know regarding interferences, frequency use, wave propagation, electrical circuits, repeater use, and procedures that it is good to get your license now and start practicing and using the radios now. If you wait until SHTF scenario and then pick up a HAM radio (either portable like a Baofeng, or stationary like an ICOM 7300) and try to tie into a repeater, figure out what the squelch button does, how to prevent your signal from interfering with another person's radio, or set up an antenna right then...it won't turn out so well. There is a lot to know about radio waves and radios. People think that they are like Walmart walkie talkies that they just pick them up, turn to a channel and start talking. That is not how HAM radio works.
@@bxflaps5150No, you cannot. Ham radio needs to be PRACTICED. It’s not that different than going to the range on a regular basis. Calling oneself a prepper and stuffing a UV5R for “comms” in a “bug out” bag is poseur.
Awesome video. I've watched several videos on these type of systems. It would be a good thing for everyone in your family to keep in their car. If the cell tower grid goes down, you can still contact your family members using repeaters. I don't know enough about that to do it myself, but I do need to buy a radio and learn how they work. Thanks for the video. These need to be talked about much more in the survival/prepper community.
Well we've gotten our license and joined a local ham club . I'm learning so much about comms and the difference radios . I was talking to a gentleman in Florida the other evening and we live in north west PA
Yeah don't use these Radios with the random frequencies they are set at, learn what is used in your area and don't be rude by upsetting the Hams. The usb dongle is a must to program these
If he had his ham license, (Which the fcc can come enter your house if you have any fcc related devices without a license anyway) He’d know that you an digitally encode your coms over ham radio. But, he doesn’t, and he doesn’t. Lol
I would highly recommend the Baofeng UV82HP, higher power which means better range...our group of patriots use these and they work great and still super affordable. BTW I have my HAM licence because I wanted to learn more about the radios in general and be able to use more frequencies, you never know what kind of knowledge you will need.
How do you feel about the requirement to have your name and address tied to your license posted publicly? My folks and I have all hesitated to get our licenses because we have someone who's threatened the family before and they would love to know where to find us. Don't wanna make it easier for them so we've stuck to listening only and figure in a SHTF situation a license won't make much difference anyway
@@geologick The feds RARELY in. my experience have the time, nor give a schit uf you're just a casual chat, yacker, as kids we used cb's at home to chat at nite in bed etc, no one ever made any contact with any of us in town, just keep language CLEAN, and don't LIVE ON IT, and you'll likely never have annisdue, at worst heh git a modest fine etc. But you're not who they're concerned with. It's the power blaster Ham's they monitor, because of their outta state, country ability, Smugglers, Spies, etc using those channels is what they watch, not avg chatty cathy's🤨⚖️🦅🇺🇸😎😉, Mac'Chaughleh, WWG1WGA&QA's, 2, Ayuh
I run the uv82hp have several of them. I'm with our volunteer fire dept and they communicate great with the county mobile rigs and handhelds. I can reach other volunteers or units several miles away to relay information if I'm first on scene. I recently upgraded to the anytone 878UVII plus. I'm really liking that radio. I can easily talk to our county dispatch center and all our tactical bands.
That is a misguided excuse. The same rule that says they can inspect your HAM equipment applies to all electronics. In other words the FCC can use the same excuse to come in your house to inspect your microwave or more likely your WIFI or cell phone.
I’m going to a GMRS system. We are setting up a base station . The goal is to be able to cover our area the woods etc. then when I’m done with the base station we should be able to communicate to and in the small town that is close to our property
Stevedore Jones... Maybe I'm wrong, but I've always been under the impression that GMRS is licensed just like ham radios are licensed. CB and FMRS are not licensed... PS... Licensed or not GMRS is a great to go, as it doesn't have near as much traffic a ham or CB...
Went this route, BF make GMRS radios that can listen to all the frequencies but only key on GMRS frequencies. License doesn’t require a test and is good for 10 years, whole family can use on one license, can use higher wattage than FRS, and legal to transmit in something less than TEOTWAWKI situation. Key to these open systems is developing a standardized protocol for your team that doesn’t give away all your intel, if you know what I mean. If I understand correctly, using code isn’t legal on these frequencies, but there’s a lot of gray area there.
@@uncletom-e4461 Yes, GMRS is licensed, but it differs from HAM Radio licensing in which you don't have to take an exam to receive a license. You still get a call sign from the FCC just like in HAM radio, and GMRS and HAM both use repeaters in the VHF/UHF frequencies. HAM also differs from GMRS because even with a license, GMRS is limited to 5 Watts of power, when HAM (using most frequencies) is limited to 1500 Watts of power. More power = longer range. HAM radio also has HF (long distance communication where you can communicate with people in other states and countries) which GMRS does not have. Also, most people who use GMRS right now, don't bother with getting a license.
If you have a speaker mic (shoulder mic), most have a 3.5mm plug that will allow you to run a 3.5mm cord to your walker razors and the audio will come in on one side of your ear pro and you just talk into the speaker mic. I run the same setup with some Howard Leights and it works well
@@chawnslopoke2619 A shoulder mic connects directly to your radio and allows you to hear incoming audio and talk directly into the mic instead of the radio. You wear the speaker mic on your shoulder (cops typically have them). Code Red makes a great speaker mic for around $50, though you can find one on Amazon for $20 that will get the job done. You also need to buy the speaker mic that has a connector specific to your radio (pin connection type).
What a snob. I'm glad he didn't make this a video about a PRC-66 linked into a high back Humvee with whip antennas. That's probably in your top tier budget for personal security. Dumb thing to say.
FYI. FCC can inspect ANY equipment that is broadcasting. Cell phone, WiFi system, microwave putting out radio waves. Not just ham licensed individuals.
I went with some $80 midlands for my set up. On channels 7-14, which no license required, I get about a mile in the city with trees and two story buildings, on 15-22 which operates on a 5watt frequency as opposed to the 2w I can get significantly more range. However those channels do require a license. I like how small they are, don’t take up a lot of space on the plate carrier. Do independent research on wavelengths and wattage and such when setting up your comms. Stay frosty y’all
This is where GMRS really shines. Uses FRS frequencies, simple no-test licensing, and ability to use higher powered mobile units and repeaters. HAM is cool for talking across the country or the globe in some applications, but GMRS is more ideal for communication with a group where everyone doesn't have HAM licenses.
You should. I have a base unit and a handheld unit both in my truck. I can walk a few miles away from my truck and still talk to my truck with crystal clarity even on a rainy day. Worth their price in gold for good communication. 👍
GMRS do typically put out a higher wattage, but still limited by terrain. There will be no repeaters in a SHTF situation. The beauty of HF is you don’t need a repeater.
@@culpepper7665 depends on where you're at. GMRS works good here for me. CB works good as well but yes, you're correct about no repeaters in a SHTF scenario but it also depends on what type/kind of scenario that is. I'll take a CB and a GMRS over nothing for sure. I don't have my HAM license as I'll be honest, don't have the aptitude for it. Have studied for it for several years and still cannot pass it. I have a couple of them laying around and just listen to what goes on out there. Another item that would come in handy would be a short wave radio. Looking at getting one here soon. Be safe out there...
I have this radio on my Mollle rig set up with my hearing protection. Works great . If you put up a repeater you can set up an entire town or county to be able to communicate with a handheld
I have to specify that it has to be "an IMMEDIATE harzard to life of property" in order for it to be classified as an emergency. Someone getting lost in the wilderness (while unharmed physically) would not be classified as an emergency by the FCC, and if you were caught, you would get fined thousands of dollars. If someone dangerous was walking up and down your street but not actively breaking into your house, that would not be an emergency.
I modified my midlands antenna socket so I can use longer antennas. Big increase in range. The mobile gmrs radios have greater wattage and antenna options. Bofeng is a great option.
Congratulations! I feel like a Lost Wolf out here where no one even gives Comms a second thought. Of course they've got all the kit anyone could want and really high end gear but, no means of communications whatsoever! I just had a conversation with a fellow HAM Radio Operator who was almost 8mi away and I'm sitting on my couch with a Baofeng UV-5RX3 Tri-Band on Simplex Frequency 146.520 !!! That's why I have a number of the Very Inexpensive Baofeng Radios
Been a CBer since teen 76' always had radios ever since in my vehicles even to this day. Saved me a few times, still monitor on a base 24/7 along with FRS and GMRS now. Never felt the need to join nose in the air, stuffed shirt ham community, with FCC on speed dial. Happy radioing !!
Im a ham radio operator, and its highly illegal to set up a ham radio to operate on FRS/GRMS frequencies. But in an emergency, its every man for himself. Just be aware.
You can have secure comms. You set up a schedule where you TX/RX for your group. You don’t turn a radio on until you need to TX. Set up listening 5min before and after a scheduled time.
I love my Baofeng BF-F8HP. I run the extended battery, tactical earpiece/mic, and 24" folding antenna. I keep it in my go bag. I like it for the FM tuner, and weather radio so I know what's going on in my AO. I have 30 or so frequencies programmed.
“Secure coms” can be achieved by building your own radios capable of transmitting and receiving outside any normal radio bands. Not FCC approved but finding a band where nobody is looking for radio communication is cheap “security”.
You can get digital radios that can run AES. However it is not legal to use them on Ham bands. If you have business band radios and a business account and you can run secure comms.
also morris code/numeric voice to a encrypted context also illegal but when SHTF Middle finger goes to the FCC its not about whether you can be heard sure thats important but on a budget its about can they understand your context and are you talking long enough to be triangulated
“Security by obscurity” is not security at all. There are $20 consumer grade software defined scanners (RTL-SDR) that plug into your laptop and have continuous coverage from shortwave to millimeter. And because they use an entire PC as back-end processing, they are capable decoding numerous data protocols in common use. They can also scan entire bands for activity in seconds. Just get some cheap DMR handhelds that can accept privacy codes. They’ll do fine and save you a huge headache.
I've been in Ham radio since 1979,I've owned about every handie talkie , I just purchased a TYT UV88 for general comms, 5 watt very easy dual banner also has a scrambler for $34.00, better than a boafang In my opinion all the bofang accessories fit.
That model has bands that can be used by anyone. FRS and MURS are good for training, and many tasks. A step up in capability is the Baofeng Digital/analog radios. Antennas make a big difference. It depends on your philosophy of use , but I prefer the Disco32 antenna that you weave into your MOLLE.
Same here Brother . Just my lady and I . Well prepared for a crisis , BUT who knows what can happen . When the hounds get upset , we're at ready . One way in , no way out . No one will take away our freedoms . NO ONE . God Bless .
Buy a tube radio. Learn it like the back of your hand. Circuits and everything. You need to know what every wire is responsible for in the damn thing. Everything. Train with it like it’s your pistol. Learn how to construct an antenna. Buy a rugged reliable power supply and a solar panel to match, among other recharging technologies. Have feed lines and wire on hand. Throw ALL of it in a faraday cage. Do the exact same with as many radios as you can. Find reliable radios for every frequency. Modify them for EVERY frequency. It’s only illegal if you transmit on them, but when SHTF, you need every single frequency. Main points: learn the radio, not just how to press buttons. Power it in non ideal conditions. Learn how to build antennas that won’t blow your shit up. Make sure it’s protected for EMPs. Have spare parts on hand. That means tubes, antenna wire, solder, feed lines, chokes, circuits, everything. Don’t half step this. Communication will be key in finding like minded people and building a community when SHTF. I absolutely may have missed something here. But this is a good start. Don’t F around, be prepared.
Every small community / team needs a few people like you, but not everyone needs to have the same skill set. Just the basics is good enough for most people, having a good general knowledge, and actually routine training at those skills. Each person should have their own set of particular skills, that they specialize in. If they don’t contribute in some way to the group, then they are a liability, not an asset, until trained.
When 9/11 happened we couldn't reach anyone in NY or NJ due to comms being down. When that dock exploded in Beirut, comms were immediately down. If you're a prepper, you should have comms.
I am in Search and Rescue and have used a ton of different type radios, I do have a HAM license. The Beofeng work just fine with a caveat, pay the extra $30 bucks and get a waterproof model, they usually have WP in the model number. The regular ones will die in the first bad rain. If your using a mic they will die regardless in a heavy rain, if you have the money and desire just get a PTT hooked into a headset or if not just go without a mic in heavy rain. The Japanese Yaesu is better but waterproof Baofeng is fine. There is a way to make their comms secure but it is illegal. You do not need a HAM license for things like Search and Rescue or if you just carry it for an emergency. Those little midway radios are worthless outside a couple hundred yards in my experience in the woods. You also can set up mobile repeaters, we do it all the time, that way you can talk to units on the other side of the mountain.
I liked and subscribed to this because you are spot on about registering equipment you own. So refreshing to hear an American sounding like an American. Thank you sir. Great Channel. Spot on video.
we actually use the smaller cheaper version with the PTT lie you showed with secrete service looking ear pieces, for our church security team, and we put the short stubby antennae on them, they have worked out great just around the church campus, inside and out on the metal buildings. but i also have a pair of the 5R that are programmed to the same channels as the smaller radios, and have a ten pack of the small ones at home brand new, in case we have to use them. hoping to integrate that into some training with a small group, but for neighborhod security, thought, for 120 bucks i have ten radios, i can distribute if necessary....thanks for the videos and your time,
Great video, we’ve had them for a while. Learn the repeaters in your AO and you can communicate for great distances. Since most of us run battery powered everything, from radio, optics, to NODs, a video on solar setups might be well received. As always Semper Fi brother. Keep up the great work!
Are we talking Radio Frequency? That's everything wireless. Nothing works without electricity. Maybe we should go back to using pigeons. You want privacy? The mail still works.
Excellent video. I may 74 but my skills are still there. Willing to do whatever is necessary for the Republic! Can't turn my back on my father and grandfathers,..etc!!!
My brother and I have homes 15 miles apart and we keep old school handheld CB’s. We have them wired up for our trucks too so we can communicate on the fly. They work great and allow us to stay connected in our rural zone right outside of a major city in case cell services go down. These things work harder than an ugly stripper and the gov can’t boot your door because of it lol
Had these radios for around 6 years and they still work. I recommend changing the antenna to a better one(Nagoya Brand) you'll reach far distances for sure than the stock one, and some extra long batteries.
But also get a really bad antenna and learn how to change your radio from higher to lower power. The further you can reach the more random people can hear you. Also every time you key up you are sending out a tracable signal. Keep your signal as small as possible.
Having the cheaper, Walmart type radios with very limited range are good to have also. Specifically because they don't transmit as far. If your team is going to be close together, there's no need to use long range radios. Though, you should still maintain long range capabilities. Especially if you're communicating with another team farther away or like Jack said, just listening in, collecting intelligence.
Just another reason a ham license is a must. A real radio operator that has training and experience can limit exactly how far they transmit and can modulate it at will.
@@ryany4326 I think some people aren't trusting of the government and would rather train on their own. I know people with a HAM license hate the thought of that for some reason. As for your point about training and ability to make the radio work for you, I agree.
Honestly, the only radio I recommend to anyone by now is the TYT MD-UV390. Look into it. Especially for the price and the fact that they’re totally unlocked (unlike a lot of Motorola units) makes them worth every penny.
@@maxdoom3521 It’s all the digital capabilities I’m referring to. And I highly recommend you start doing some research on comms in general. Ham Radio Crash Course on here is a great content creator for learning, and Google is definitely your friend for any questions you may have about the subject. It’s a super in-depth topic, so you’re looking at a deep dive of self-education, but one that will make your knowledge and skill set that much more valuable in the long run.
Solid video. The Boafang is cool because you can listen to the fire department/ ems but also has other features to use during an emergency all for $25-$30.
As a currently licensed ham, these skills are highly perishable. If I don't mess with my radios for a few weeks, I forget small things that make a big difference. For example changing frequencies, programing offsets, etc. Just something I notice people fail to recognize. But it is very useful for my preps. I have comms and intel literally locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Well worth it. and in SHTF, just don't use your call sign. Nearly impossible to figure out who you are or find you.
Impossible to figure out who you are, check. Impossible to find you...no. Direction finding, also called DFing, foxhunting, or rabbit hunting, is a sport among hams. Somebody programs a VHF (usually) radio to transmit briefly at unpredictable intervals, then hides it in a bush somewhere. At a signal, a bunch of (usually young and spry) hams are released from a distant location with their go boxes and DF antennas, and the first one to find the transmitter wins. It doesn't take long. If you want to be hard to find, you'll need to do things like have a frequency-hopping plan where after every transmission everybody hops to the next frequency in the list (a major pain in the tuchas, because even if you program the plan into every radio's memories, somebody will miss a transmission or click the knob one click too far, and you'll have instant shambles) or moving to a different location after every transmission and leaving no trace (also a pain, especially for things like surveillance, because that will require you to transmit frequently and there'll be a limited number of good vantage points). Your worst nightmare will be someone who is both a DF hobbyist and a hunter. I'd be tempted to build a network consisting of a group of sacrificial, unattended cross-band repeaters jammed into tree crotches or window boxes or on roofs. The terminals would be handhelds transmitting in the milliwatt range to make them hard to DF, and listening on VHF. One repeater would be active, listening for terminals on the UHF band and retransmitting on VHF at maybe 1 to 5 watts, and also transmitting an every-few-seconds heartbeat on another UHF frequency. One repeater would be on deck, silent but listening to the active repeater's heartbeat. If it missed more than two or three heartbeats in a row, it would go active, taking over the functions of the compromised repeater and beginning to transmit its own heartbeat. The rest of the repeaters would be on standby, each one silent but listening for the heartbeat of the one before it. If it heard the heartbeat, it would switch itself to on-deck. That way the terminals would be hard to find, and the bad guys would have to find all the repeaters one after another to shut down comms. Couple that with an automated broadcast message from a repeater when it first goes active ("[warble] Charlie taking over [warble]"), and you'd know exactly A) where the bad guys were (repeater Bravo), and B) where they were going next (repeater Charlie).
@@dnwiebe I probably shouldn’t have used impossible but highly highly unlikely if one moves or does short transmissions and doesn’t transmit for more then a short period of time. I’m. Not saying they exist, but I have never met a government official, an LEO, DF hobbyist and a hunter all in one in my life, let alone one in my area. Let along one that would find me on say 70 cm simplex with a say 25 watts power.
I agree 100%. Commo needs to become a routine part of any training regimen if you expect it to be a useful tool when you need it. Guys that simply chuck a couple of Baofengs in an ammo can and forget about them might as well not even bother.
Man just ordered my first setup and am on here excited and trying to make sure all my stuff would work together(was excited to see Jack from BSS pop up). Long time subscriber here
I ordered 2, they shipoed to the wrong address so got my money back. Ordered 2 more and goofed and ended up with 4. Then the guy that got the original 2 dropoed them off tome so now i got 6!
I recommend the Kenwood NX series over the UV5R. They support a digital text mode, so if noise or eavesdropping is a concern, that's an available option. Some also have things such as frequency inversion scrambling or even encryption. Much more poerful, sensitive and durable as well
Frequency inversion or scrambling is easily defeated by anyone with the right equipment. And it's not just government agencies that have it. And you'd better know what encryption standard it uses. If it uses an old, weak cipher like RC4 your stream will get cracked quick.
Straightforward. Honest. Good info. Hope for the best - support those trying to get the government back on track - but prep for the worst. BE CAREFUL talking on any amatuer frequencies - the friendly ham radio club guys might just be the ones to turn you in for the reward, so to speak.
Could you provide me the law that dictates you have to have a license to OWN a two way radio, and the evidence that said ownership places you on a watch list?
@@EverettVinzant did you watch the video? He makes it clear in this video that you have to have a liscence to use them and that you absolutely end up on a list.
It used to be that you had to have a licence to have a CB radio. After Smokey and the Bandit, the amount of applications forced them to give up on it. You can still get a licence, if you want to, and they'll give you a "call sign" to recite when you sign off of the conversation.
I have four of these uv-5r's, and I find them to be adequate. On a plate carrier, I run a remote antenna on the back to keep it out of my way. Also, for emergencies, you can get back up battery packs that take AA's: just in case the power is out or you cannot get to a charger. As well, you can run the wall charger off a separately purchased USB A port cable, to charge the stock battery from a vehicle or portable charger.
Check out Ham Radio Crash Course's channel he's pretty knowledgeable especially on the Beofeng radios. Great video and as always keep em coming. God bless and keep you and yours safe.
Some channels here teach the full info needed for a license. It should pop up if you search "ham radio" . I was really into HAM radio for like 11-17 before adulting happened, lol. I had no idea they were making you sign off on a 4th amendment violation, though. (Or I just never thought about it as an adult lol) All of the licenses? That's crazy-good info, as always.
Unfortunately that same rule applies to any piece of electronic, especially transmitting electronics like your cell phone or WIFI router. Getting the license is not what opens you up to the 4th ammendment violation. The entire rule is a violation and it applies to everyone.
Wrong!! The Supreme Court has said that the government can't make warrantless entries into homes for administrative inspections," Kerr said via e-mail, refering to a 1967 Supreme Court ruling that housing inspectors needed warrants to force their way into private residences. If they did it would be a gigantic lawsuit. However signing a piece of paper for a card to talk on walkie talkies does give them that right.
Actually the FCC state on their website that they can inspect any radio that requires a ham license to use. So, if you have a Baofeng radio and operate without a license you are subject to the same inspections.
To my knowledge, the FCC can enter your house to inspect your wireless router if they wanted to. Or your son's rc car. Or your car key fob. They can inspect anything that emits RF energy. Idt getting your ham license gives them any additional power in terms of warrantless search of your house
I have a friend who moved from the city to a rural area in Wisconsin with the thought of "getting away." That was about 5 yrs ago. Now, he said, you wouldn't believe how many city people are renting or trying to establish footing in his area. (no cell service in his area!) Many are claiming hardship of some kind and start off by going to a local church to "get to know" their kind neighbors. The net result is that he's seen those people taking advantage of the homesteaders already there. They look for sympathy and wind up being entwined within the once quiet community. Moral of the story: if you think you're going to "bug-out" to a remote location and be safe you're wrong. It will only be a matter of time until you're surrounded or infiltrated. They won't storm your property, they go in another way...
I started looking for coms last year... well because, you know. Here's what I settled on. Instead of HAM radios, I chose GMRS. GMRS doesn't require a test to get a license, you pay the FCC $70 ( like a fishing license) but it's good for 10 years. Not only that, but your call sign is good for you and your immediate family members. No need to have them take a test either for a HAM license. Also the FCC announced that sometime this year (2021) they'll be reducing the cost down to $35, good for 10 years. GMRS is a LOT easier to use than HAM as well. No need to look up your local repeaters, fiddle with a brand new radio you just bought, and figure out how to enter frequencies and offsets. GMRS is set of frequencies in the high 400mhz range and acts like a bubble pack radio. Channels 1-7 are 5w. channels 8-14 are 0.5w and can talk to FRS radios (bubble pack from walmart.) Then channels 15-22 are repeater channels and can transmit at a max of 50w. There's also radios now that allow you to program and RECEIVE repeater channels like HAM frequencies, or the the NOAA. Notice I said RECEIVE, not TRANSMIT. You can listen to these channels, but you can't talk to them. (Whatever, that's fine by me for what I need em for) GMRS has recently started to take off too, and tons of new radios seem to be popping up this year. Here's some radios to consider, Wouxun UV9G Wouxun 905G Wouxun 805G Raddiodity GM-30 BTech GMRS V-1 Retevis RT76P and probably a shit ton more that I don't care to look up. Every new model seems to sell out right away. So there's definitely a demand for these. Keep your eyes peeled out for new ones, do your own research. Maybe GMRS is right for you.
All that is true, but there are not as many repeaters that exist for GMRS right now (though people are putting up GMRS repeaters now), and GMRS is limited to 5 Watts of power and HAM radio is limited to 1500 Watts of power and you have the ability to use HF and talk to people in other states and countries.
Thanks for this info. I'm trying to find a good radio for urban. Seems most radios can maybe get a mile in urban areas so, looking for something stronger but dont need a liscence.
Im a ham radio guy and I have to correct black scout survial on one thing about the FCC inspection of equipment. If you have FRS and CB not just ham radio gear. If you cause harmful interference to any other radio service, TV, or electronic devices and someone turns it in and a investasagation starts the free service equipment is still subject to in home inspections. Just a PSA and they will use directional finding equipment to locate the source. The free services are still coved under the regulations as a station and are subject to inspection. Just wanted to put that out there. De K3CRJ / WRFC532
The walkie-talkie frequencies are FRS and GMRS and some of the frequencies overlap. I don't remember, but one is free and the other requires a fee for a license. No testing like a ham license.
Secure comms, as far as the average person not being able to listen in, aren't expensive. LEGAL secure comms are expensive but not because of the radios. There are plenty of digital radios with built in encryption from 8 bit up to 128 bit or more for around $200. The hitch is, none of those radios are legal for use on FRS/GMRS/MURS or even ham bands. They can only be used on LMR(business and emergency response) frequencies which require an FCC license that will only be issued to someone/a group with a legit business need. It's not even the license itself that is expensive, but rather the repeater needed to get any decent range out of HT's. Even that is cheap compared to buying property and erecting a tower or renting tower space for a repeater antenna. Then you have to add some form of backup power at the repeater site as well as maintenance. But, that applies to using any HT's beyond a short distance. Now some will say to just buy encrypted digital radios and not use them until SHTF. If you have never used them, and more importantly you believe you're just going to throw together a DMR codeplug that's never been tested... You're in for a world of hurt.
Baofeng Radio:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVG726G/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=blacscousurv-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=6efc3f7774bad91ab82788f69fc757e0&creativeASIN=B07VVG726G
Earpiece:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07VXRRCC2/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=blacscousurv-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=60903d2e1bd96e24e6ed9401b67d3d80&creativeASIN=B07VXRRCC2
Antenna:
www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=blacscousurv-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=663f2991cf8b4b66f456b396975c7237&creativeASIN=B00KC4PWQQ
Headset:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07DBT8736/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=blacscousurv-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=996fcf58b4c5b9a5a85a86ddf057aa4b&creativeASIN=B07DBT8736
Headset for helmet:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07DBV54WQ/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=blacscousurv-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=aa3d0562fbec8d39ef03828ad3597085&creativeASIN=B07DBV54WQ
Push-to-talk for headset:
www.amazon.com/dp/B07DBVBXLH/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=blacscousurv-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=aeedac9191d7cd76b42acb3e3476d4e7&creativeASIN=B07DBVBXLH
PAM RADIO flashcards:
pam-radio.com
FCC coming into your house is because you have a complaint from your neighbors for interfering (spurious emissions) and you have a HAM Shack with lots of power. 5000 watts . FCC can come in and check your radiation for interference. I use a Yausu FT-818. It is a battery powered HF/UHF/VHF radio that runs on batteries and I can use it with grid down. 6 watts and I can talk around the world. Grid down. They all work off of 13 volts DC. FCC can not come into your house without a search warrant which they can not get because spurious emissions are like jaywalking. A Baufang will set off the FCC more than anything because they are so out of calibration that they can violate FCC rules. Get your Technicians license so you can talk simplex and through a repeater. Get your General so you cal talk (or listen) around the world. Get HF if you want to get around the world. Bounce off the moon, talk to the ISS, talk to Australia or Texas on a car battery. BSC, I do believe sir you have this one wrong. 73s. K04MUM
To all the HAM snobs, if freaking ISIS and the other folks could give our troops fits with these damn things and some f&@*#%g Soviet antiques, they'll work for you too. Buy cheap, buy a bunch. Just having comms for everybody is key, not having a $30000 setup
Where is the link to the NATO wired PTT?
@@SpookyLurker - most civilian HAM aren't going to have nato wiring. You can get a converter OR just use the standard audio jack that is in the PTT for Baofengs. It will link to most headsets/ear pro/etc.
@@alexketteman5202 I didn't hear him say it wouldn't work.. *shrug*
If things go twisted, I’m not going to worry about the FCC.
In an emergency situation it is legal to use ham without a license, if you're the kind of guy who cares about such things...
That would be if I believed the government has a right to regulate the air and everything in it.
Its good to be able to legally use your gear and practice with it before an emergency though
I'm not worried about them now
I got my gmrs it’s pretty fun and no ones looking at my shit it’s a handheld I’ll take it outside
Recommend having an boating air horn if you have a neighborhood defense force and a single entrance. That way everyone in the neighborhood regardless of having comms will know trouble is imminent and whoever is on duty needs back up immediately
great idea!
great idea
Man on duty must eat bean burrito = natural blast alert system .
Excellent suggestion. I've never seen that mentioned before. Lots of farms have a large bell outside. It signals dinner time and emergencies to everyone on site.
I will see your boating horn and raise you a "train horn". 😎
I've spent a fortune on high end Yaesu gear, legit Ops-Core AMPs, etc. but most folks aren't going to be in that budget range. It's awesome that you did this for folks who need a setup, including links. You're an asset to the community.
You mind listing what you looked at/settled on?
I went into Motorola DMR and use MotoTrbo feature set. Mostly 7550E's with a couple mobiles and base station.
@@Michael-Mulcahy sadly, the support for end users and availability of actual AES-256 for regular folks in the Moto lineup sucks. Hytera is a better option for most or even the Chinese setups like Anytone or Radioddity are quite good. I sold my Moto DMR gear a few years ago for that reason.
@@jhalscott Same here. I went with the Anytone AT-D878UVII. It does everything including ARPS, GPS, and AES256. The battery life is also huge at 3100 MaH. It seems well built, and heavy, for it's size.
You are smart like me.
I'm a ham radio operator I've been one for the past 10 years and yes I hate being on a government list.
They created a list just for me. The funny thing is, I haven't done squat to earn it...lol !
Have good cheer Zach, you are in good company!
Pretty sure everyone is on a list
Been a ham for nearly 60 years. Never had the fcc pay a visit. It comes down to “play stupid games: win stupid prizes.” I bugged out years ago.
FB OM, GL N TEST, 73
I have the Baofeng radios and I wouldn't go tossing the book that it comes with. It's a very capable radio. The scanner portion is fantastic. When the power went out the other night I was able to determine what it was and what it wasn't so I was able to get a time frame on when the power might be restored in real time👍
I have a couple of the AUBREE antennas, folding and extend up to about 3ft. They work well, height is king in the radio world.
2m/77cm is ok for local stuff, you really start pushing for distance when you get into HF
So you're saying size matters 🧐
That's awesome.
Go Blue!! Makes me happy when I see my Michigan brothers and sisters in these types of videos.
O-H I-O
I can't get any of my 2A friends interested in comms for any reason... even the former military guys who were drilled with shoot/ move/ communicate. Civilians and ex military are only interested in 'shooting' and even that only as far as bragging on the range or posting Gucci gear online. Getting people interested in ACTUALLY being ready trained or functionally organized is like pulling teeth.
Yes, comms can make you a far superior force, but nobody think it is worth it. I am an amateur extra, and will be comms should shtf.
😂🤣
Nice to know that ya'll exist. Lone wolf here. How do we find each other after SHTF, let alone, trust one another!
Lone wolf here also. I love my friends but honestly they'd be more of a hindrance in a SHTF scenario.
I think most of them don't want feds to get the idea that they like to shoot AND are into HAM radio. It's too easy to cross reference those two lists and start knocking on doors!
I love the fact that you are so calm, plus you are the real deal. You have great leadership qualities. Thank you for your videos. I appreciate what you do.
Baofeng Radios, I’m equipping people here on my mountain.
I have a baofeng uv5r and cant seem to get any proper frequencies to communicate. Any ideas or recommendations?
@ this.
just FYI get only the legit baofeng chords. nothing else will show on chirp.
@@jasonnelson460 MURS FRS and GMRS frequencies to start. You can also try some of the business band frequencies not in use in your area. Marine channels if you are not near a body of water. Now be advised transmitting on most of these frequencies is against FCC rules without the proper license . Also be advised that transmitting on these frequencies without the proper license is an extremely frequent occurrence. Stay away from 144-148 and 420-450 Mhz. These are amateur radio frequencies. You will be more likely to draw attention to yourself if you operate there than say an FRS frequency.
@@paultoth7853 I just want to be able to use it as a 2way mostly but cant seem to get the frequency I need to do it. Anyone know what frequency code I need for 2 way operation?
@@jasonnelson460 Have a local amateur radio operator put in 146.52 Mhz. Then he can call another amateur radio operator as this is the 2m FM calling frequency. There are a bunch of guides on You Tube that show how to set up your radio. Just stick to the frequencies I mentioned and be advised that you need a license to transmit.
During times of disaster or if your life is in danger you can use ham without a license
Because the time to try to figure out how to use radios is during an emergency. And no emergency gives you the authority to interfere with communications used by first responders... only an idiot would plan to use amateur radios without a licenses and expect a court to accept that they had the radios purchased, configured, and available... coincidentally.
@@EverettVinzant you are allowed to buy them and set them up without a license, you can listen all you want. You just aren't allowed to transmit unless its an emergency.
@@jdlflagstone6980 having said exactly that multiple times elsewhere, I wonder why you feel the need to mention it? It doesn’t change what I said above, in that yes, you can set up receivers and listen, but the wrong time to figure out how to transmit is during an emergency. And if you’re going to spend the extra money to buy transmitters, why not get licensed? What’s the excuse? You can get licensed for free from many organizations right now…
@@EverettVinzant "and expect a court to. .. blah blah"
The court would never be involved because no laws are being broken if its an emergency..
Yes, I agree that now is the time to practice and why not get a license, but your point about courts is moot
That is correct, but the law says that your life or property has to be in immediate danger. If you are lost in the woods that would not classify as an emergency unless you are injured. If some crazy man is running up and down your street with a knife or gun, that would not classify as an emergency unless he is breaking into your house directly. Also, there are proper procedures to use when on the radio to specify whether it is an emergency. If you go on the radio and say, "I have an emergency", people would not be as keen to take it seriously unless you used the proper phrasing and procedures. It is good to know that stuff.
73 my friend.
I appreciate the comparison of the super HAM radio guys to anime nerds a little too much. It's so accurate though. 😂
Hahahahaha
"Mom... what time is dinner?"😅🤣😂
@bruce maxwell wow, thanks for your advice brother, I bought a uv-5r as well and like you said its ok. I haven't learned enough about how to setup/use repeaters so thats definitely on my need to learn list.
@@getoutside2854 lol
yea they work well get 15 miles even with a mountain in the way I have 2 of them. I hit the repeater from in the house which is 20 miles away it is up 8000 ft.
Com’s is going to be my next investment for the GOOD bag.
Love the name. CODY J!
Dude, someone else using it!!! Siiick! Is your d for dodge? Mine is 💪🇺🇲
@@madmaxprepping8036 Hell yeah, glad you get it.
@@hansblitz7770 sounds like you need it
What's a GOOD bag?
The cheep radios don’t transmit your voice over the air waves a great distance but they will receive higher wattage transmission very well. They are great listening devices for intel like you said.
Exactly what I've found on the baofangs. Great for receiving pretty crappy for broadcasting.
@@wholeass83 I got the 12 inch antenna 📡 and it helped greatly,,, Got 7 mile range in my neighborhood!
Yea I actually have two.I have heard transmission from 800 miles. No kidding. I only get about two miles between my two. But am about to buy a amp and pole to make a cheap mobile home base.
@@benjybronk7718 yea my brother got the 3 ft antenna and I got the 12 inch. I was able to broadcast to him about three miles away but I could hear his broadcast from 9. Rough terrain between us tho
If you want intel grab an RTL-SDR for your laptop and download sdr#. WAY more capability for he same price.
Just like a lot of us gun guys are snobby about guns. They’re in every crowd
@George Washington na man I got an eotech and wrist brace mines is way better
@George Washington 😆 my preferred rifle is actually my mod94 with Iron sites.
Always right on Jack , we appreciate the awareness you provide. Our family all have the Baeofang radios and they seem to work well if you are on a repeater. Thanks again. Rick
I love getting like a $45 sdr dongle and listening to like 80% of the stuff out there. The cheap ones won’t transit but you can listen in a shtf scenario and might get info to avoid areas or whatever.
I think this is a great idea.
You can also connect it to your phone.
@@nagaviper1169 iphone; smh.
@@MR-nl8xr mh?
@@nagaviper1169 stupid autocorrect.
Reread it now.
$650 ComTac... $110 Nexus PTT... $25 Baofeng lol
Agree it is silly but those PTT’s are nice even with cheaper radios
@@fordloyalist2791 as long as they are NATO wired. I know so many people who bought a pair of TACSky headset and try to use a NEXUS PTT and not realize it isn't compatible. You're stuck with the cheap amazon PTTs that break and get wet.
In nine minutes and 44 seconds, I was able to get so much more information from you than I was able to get from hours worth of so-called experts from all these other channels,thank you very much.
Untrained "experts" line the gutters.
-- Henry Ford
I have had the more expensive with base unit and keyed up mics you look like policeman carrying. And I have gotten the cheaper 20 mile range communicators. I would rather have the cheaper ones, like you said especially if your group is larger. 20 mile range is not shabby in my kneck of the woods. Key people in my group have the communicators in their bug out things and we keep to two channels. They know how to reach one another at meet up points and we all use code handle when using them. This system seams to work well for our little hand full. Thank you for the vid sir.
I’ll use the cheap ones to get the good ones off of those that will no longer need them. Lol
I was born to be a raider, it's my calling.
Thanks for doing this video and mentioning my PAM Radio flashcards for getting your mutual assistance group up to speed on comms.
Yes, when SHTF happens, getting (or having) a HAM radio license will be irrelevant, but there is so much to know regarding interferences, frequency use, wave propagation, electrical circuits, repeater use, and procedures that it is good to get your license now and start practicing and using the radios now. If you wait until SHTF scenario and then pick up a HAM radio (either portable like a Baofeng, or stationary like an ICOM 7300) and try to tie into a repeater, figure out what the squelch button does, how to prevent your signal from interfering with another person's radio, or set up an antenna right then...it won't turn out so well. There is a lot to know about radio waves and radios. People think that they are like Walmart walkie talkies that they just pick them up, turn to a channel and start talking. That is not how HAM radio works.
you can learn that on youtube for free
@@bxflaps5150 Not after the world collapses and the internet goes down.
@@bxflaps5150No, you cannot. Ham radio needs to be PRACTICED. It’s not that different than going to the range on a regular basis. Calling oneself a prepper and stuffing a UV5R for “comms” in a “bug out” bag is poseur.
@@garrettstephens91 then ya better get to learnin
Awesome video. I've watched several videos on these type of systems. It would be a good thing for everyone in your family to keep in their car. If the cell tower grid goes down, you can still contact your family members using repeaters. I don't know enough about that to do it myself, but I do need to buy a radio and learn how they work. Thanks for the video. These need to be talked about much more in the survival/prepper community.
Well we've gotten our license and joined a local ham club . I'm learning so much about comms and the difference radios . I was talking to a gentleman in Florida the other evening and we live in north west PA
Pa here too
Yeah don't use these Radios with the random frequencies they are set at, learn what is used in your area and don't be rude by upsetting the Hams. The usb dongle is a must to program these
My friend just moved here to florida from PA
You want secure, just make a code book for the team. Basically doing the opposite of what is transmitted. Practice.
100% you can even make your own direction grid.
@@colecole3352 Im sorry... What do you mean by "direction grid"
Opsec and infosec is always key
If he had his ham license,
(Which the fcc can come enter your house if you have any fcc related devices without a license anyway)
He’d know that you an digitally encode your coms over ham radio. But, he doesn’t, and he doesn’t. Lol
Yep, its all secure if you want it to be. Set up a few teams for clear and coded, just takes practice. 👍
I would highly recommend the Baofeng UV82HP, higher power which means better range...our group of patriots use these and they work great and still super affordable. BTW I have my HAM licence because I wanted to learn more about the radios in general and be able to use more frequencies, you never know what kind of knowledge you will need.
How do you feel about the requirement to have your name and address tied to your license posted publicly? My folks and I have all hesitated to get our licenses because we have someone who's threatened the family before and they would love to know where to find us. Don't wanna make it easier for them so we've stuck to listening only and figure in a SHTF situation a license won't make much difference anyway
@@geologick The feds RARELY in. my experience have the time, nor give a schit uf you're just a casual chat, yacker, as kids we used cb's at home to chat at nite in bed etc, no one ever made any contact with any of us in town, just keep language CLEAN, and don't LIVE ON IT, and you'll likely never have annisdue, at worst heh git a modest fine etc. But you're not who they're concerned with. It's the power blaster Ham's they monitor, because of their outta state, country ability, Smugglers, Spies, etc using those channels is what they watch, not avg chatty cathy's🤨⚖️🦅🇺🇸😎😉, Mac'Chaughleh, WWG1WGA&QA's, 2, Ayuh
If you like the blade antenna and want to relocate it to a plate carrier.
I show how to mount it with out high SWR on my channel.
You don't need a license to get smarter. Think about it.
I run the uv82hp have several of them. I'm with our volunteer fire dept and they communicate great with the county mobile rigs and handhelds. I can reach other volunteers or units several miles away to relay information if I'm first on scene.
I recently upgraded to the anytone 878UVII plus. I'm really liking that radio. I can easily talk to our county dispatch center and all our tactical bands.
Only reason I haven't got a license is exactly that. Not inviting possible visitors on their whenever they want schedules.
That is a misguided excuse. The same rule that says they can inspect your HAM equipment applies to all electronics. In other words the FCC can use the same excuse to come in your house to inspect your microwave or more likely your WIFI or cell phone.
In a police state you don't need warrants, you need to look up how they hide and used radios hidden from the Stasi and Gestapo
@@WarpedSpeed - Now THAT is being downright paranoid!
@@MrCrumb34 i guess I'm good then. I don't have that kind of stuff, don't even have electricity. If I need to use my baofeng, I will.
Yeah like not wearing a mask is illegal. Or like when they ban AR15s? Doing something illegal changes like the wind.
Love your channel man. This is exactly what I wanted to watch!!
I’m going to a GMRS system. We are setting up a base station . The goal is to be able to cover our area the woods etc. then when I’m done with the base station we should be able to communicate to and in the small town that is close to our property
Until They block it.
Or worse, listen in to ambush you ...
Stevedore Jones... Maybe I'm wrong, but I've always been under the impression that GMRS is licensed just like ham radios are licensed. CB and FMRS are not licensed...
PS... Licensed or not GMRS is a great to go, as it doesn't have near as much traffic a ham or CB...
Went this route, BF make GMRS radios that can listen to all the frequencies but only key on GMRS frequencies. License doesn’t require a test and is good for 10 years, whole family can use on one license, can use higher wattage than FRS, and legal to transmit in something less than TEOTWAWKI situation.
Key to these open systems is developing a standardized protocol for your team that doesn’t give away all your intel, if you know what I mean. If I understand correctly, using code isn’t legal on these frequencies, but there’s a lot of gray area there.
You should look into setting up a GMRS repeater. There are also some high powered mobile radios.
@@uncletom-e4461 Yes, GMRS is licensed, but it differs from HAM Radio licensing in which you don't have to take an exam to receive a license. You still get a call sign from the FCC just like in HAM radio, and GMRS and HAM both use repeaters in the VHF/UHF frequencies. HAM also differs from GMRS because even with a license, GMRS is limited to 5 Watts of power, when HAM (using most frequencies) is limited to 1500 Watts of power. More power = longer range. HAM radio also has HF (long distance communication where you can communicate with people in other states and countries) which GMRS does not have. Also, most people who use GMRS right now, don't bother with getting a license.
"Mom, what's for dinner..." he's aware of who his audience is. lol
Tendies
MOM MEAT LOAF!!!!
That clear secret service style fits under ear muffs too so those with a pair of walker razors works pretty good
If you have a speaker mic (shoulder mic), most have a 3.5mm plug that will allow you to run a 3.5mm cord to your walker razors and the audio will come in on one side of your ear pro and you just talk into the speaker mic. I run the same setup with some Howard Leights and it works well
@@greasamar3326 what is that?
@@chawnslopoke2619 What is what specifically?
@@greasamar3326 a shoulder mic. I've never heard of one and I can't picture it in my head, but I'd like to check em out
@@chawnslopoke2619 A shoulder mic connects directly to your radio and allows you to hear incoming audio and talk directly into the mic instead of the radio. You wear the speaker mic on your shoulder (cops typically have them). Code Red makes a great speaker mic for around $50, though you can find one on Amazon for $20 that will get the job done. You also need to buy the speaker mic that has a connector specific to your radio (pin connection type).
If you can afford a $500 rainjacket you can afford a better radio
What a snob. I'm glad he didn't make this a video about a PRC-66 linked into a high back Humvee with whip antennas. That's probably in your top tier budget for personal security. Dumb thing to say.
Big oof
Dude you're on point with every purchase I'm researching
FYI. FCC can inspect ANY equipment that is broadcasting. Cell phone, WiFi system, microwave putting out radio waves. Not just ham licensed individuals.
Not true. Supreme Court ruled against it.
@@BlackScoutSurvival😮
@@BlackScoutSurvivalwhat was the case??
I went with some $80 midlands for my set up. On channels 7-14, which no license required, I get about a mile in the city with trees and two story buildings, on 15-22 which operates on a 5watt frequency as opposed to the 2w I can get significantly more range. However those channels do require a license. I like how small they are, don’t take up a lot of space on the plate carrier. Do independent research on wavelengths and wattage and such when setting up your comms. Stay frosty y’all
This is where GMRS really shines. Uses FRS frequencies, simple no-test licensing, and ability to use higher powered mobile units and repeaters. HAM is cool for talking across the country or the globe in some applications, but GMRS is more ideal for communication with a group where everyone doesn't have HAM licenses.
I’ve never heard of GMRS till recently and I find it interesting. Probably gonna look into it.
@@AidanShourds notaRubicon on RUclips
You should. I have a base unit and a handheld unit both in my truck. I can walk a few miles away from my truck and still talk to my truck with crystal clarity even on a rainy day. Worth their price in gold for good communication. 👍
GMRS do typically put out a higher wattage, but still limited by terrain. There will be no repeaters in a SHTF situation. The beauty of HF is you don’t need a repeater.
@@culpepper7665 depends on where you're at. GMRS works good here for me. CB works good as well but yes, you're correct about no repeaters in a SHTF scenario but it also depends on what type/kind of scenario that is.
I'll take a CB and a GMRS over nothing for sure. I don't have my HAM license as I'll be honest, don't have the aptitude for it. Have studied for it for several years and still cannot pass it. I have a couple of them laying around and just listen to what goes on out there.
Another item that would come in handy would be a short wave radio. Looking at getting one here soon.
Be safe out there...
I have this radio on my Mollle rig set up with my hearing protection. Works great . If you put up a repeater you can set up an entire town or county to be able to communicate with a handheld
Repeaters can be direction located.
Then a mere .22 round can destroy it.
Can't transmit w/o a license unless it's an emergency...well brother were just about there!
USA has been under emergency since the 911 ritual.
Sheeple only believe otherwise.
I have to specify that it has to be "an IMMEDIATE harzard to life of property" in order for it to be classified as an emergency. Someone getting lost in the wilderness (while unharmed physically) would not be classified as an emergency by the FCC, and if you were caught, you would get fined thousands of dollars. If someone dangerous was walking up and down your street but not actively breaking into your house, that would not be an emergency.
@@garrettstephens91no one in ten years has been prosecuted.
@@gordylillyhamerstockjenson2470 so what? What's your point?
I modified my midlands antenna socket so I can use longer antennas. Big increase in range. The mobile gmrs radios have greater wattage and antenna options. Bofeng is a great option.
My crew is already set up with all this and we practice drills using them . Works great , awesome force multiplier
Must be nice
Do you operate on MERS frequencies?
Congratulations! I feel like a Lost Wolf out here where no one even gives Comms a second thought. Of course they've got all the kit anyone could want and really high end gear but, no means of communications whatsoever! I just had a conversation with a fellow HAM Radio Operator who was almost 8mi away and I'm sitting on my couch with a Baofeng UV-5RX3 Tri-Band on Simplex Frequency 146.520 !!! That's why I have a number of the Very Inexpensive Baofeng Radios
@@dr.benjaminbennettth.d.7304 agreed
Where can I find practice drills? I'd like to get some gear and train my kids.
Priceless information as usual Jack thank you. God bless
Been a CBer since teen 76' always had radios ever since in my vehicles even to this day. Saved me a few times, still monitor on a base 24/7 along with FRS and GMRS now. Never felt the need to join nose in the air, stuffed shirt ham community, with FCC on speed dial. Happy radioing !!
"FCC on speed dial". Thats funny.
When you use chirp, you can download frequencies and upload them to your radios. It saved me so much time for my radios.
Im a ham radio operator, and its highly illegal to set up a ham radio to operate on FRS/GRMS frequencies. But in an emergency, its every man for himself. Just be aware.
I can’t afford night vision so I’ll never be able to get a secured comms 😭
Build a team put $ in every week , everyone agree and make a team purchase 👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
You can have secure comms. You set up a schedule where you TX/RX for your group. You don’t turn a radio on until you need to TX. Set up listening 5min before and after a scheduled time.
Be like General O. Bradley. Be exceptional @ innovation!👍😊🇺🇸
I love my Baofeng BF-F8HP. I run the extended battery, tactical earpiece/mic, and 24" folding antenna. I keep it in my go bag. I like it for the FM tuner, and weather radio so I know what's going on in my AO. I have 30 or so frequencies programmed.
“Secure coms” can be achieved by building your own radios capable of transmitting and receiving outside any normal radio bands. Not FCC approved but finding a band where nobody is looking for radio communication is cheap “security”.
You can get digital radios that can run AES. However it is not legal to use them on Ham bands. If you have business band radios and a business account and you can run secure comms.
@@mathew75100 he is just talking about security by obscurity. prolly gud enuf
also morris code/numeric voice to a encrypted context also illegal but when SHTF Middle finger goes to the FCC its not about whether you can be heard sure thats important but on a budget its about can they understand your context and are you talking long enough to be triangulated
“Security by obscurity” is not security at all. There are $20 consumer grade software defined scanners (RTL-SDR) that plug into your laptop and have continuous coverage from shortwave to millimeter. And because they use an entire PC as back-end processing, they are capable decoding numerous data protocols in common use. They can also scan entire bands for activity in seconds. Just get some cheap DMR handhelds that can accept privacy codes. They’ll do fine and save you a huge headache.
Pretty easy.
I've been in Ham radio since 1979,I've owned about every handie talkie , I just purchased a TYT UV88 for general comms, 5 watt very easy dual banner also has a scrambler for $34.00, better than a boafang In my opinion all the bofang accessories fit.
Ah yes, the tried and true, good ol' Bubba Finder radio
Great video...getting down to brass tacks and the bottom line...Thank you! Happy Easter. He is risen!
Yes he has. God bless
That model has bands that can be used by anyone. FRS and MURS are good for training, and many tasks. A step up in capability is the Baofeng Digital/analog radios. Antennas make a big difference. It depends on your philosophy of use , but I prefer the Disco32 antenna that you weave into your MOLLE.
I wish I had cooler neighbors! It would just be me and my wife...but that would still be better than nothing. Great info as always!
Same here Brother . Just my lady and I . Well prepared for a crisis , BUT who knows what can happen . When the hounds get upset , we're at ready . One way in , no way out . No one will take away our freedoms . NO ONE . God Bless .
Thanks Jack, more good advice as always
MARANATHA BRO.
Black Scout thank you so much for all your insight and tips.
I'm from Vermont and most people I know feel the same way you do.
Keep up the good fight
VT you say? Sounds like we need to be trading encryption keys brother
Buy a tube radio. Learn it like the back of your hand. Circuits and everything. You need to know what every wire is responsible for in the damn thing. Everything. Train with it like it’s your pistol. Learn how to construct an antenna. Buy a rugged reliable power supply and a solar panel to match, among other recharging technologies. Have feed lines and wire on hand. Throw ALL of it in a faraday cage. Do the exact same with as many radios as you can. Find reliable radios for every frequency. Modify them for EVERY frequency. It’s only illegal if you transmit on them, but when SHTF, you need every single frequency. Main points: learn the radio, not just how to press buttons. Power it in non ideal conditions. Learn how to build antennas that won’t blow your shit up. Make sure it’s protected for EMPs. Have spare parts on hand. That means tubes, antenna wire, solder, feed lines, chokes, circuits, everything. Don’t half step this. Communication will be key in finding like minded people and building a community when SHTF. I absolutely may have missed something here. But this is a good start. Don’t F around, be prepared.
Make a video
Every small community / team needs a few people like you, but not everyone needs to have the same skill set. Just the basics is good enough for most people, having a good general knowledge, and actually routine training at those skills. Each person should have their own set of particular skills, that they specialize in. If they don’t contribute in some way to the group, then they are a liability, not an asset, until trained.
@@nmhvactech5474 hey man that’s a good point. I won’t lie.
When 9/11 happened we couldn't reach anyone in NY or NJ due to comms being down. When that dock exploded in Beirut, comms were immediately down. If you're a prepper, you should have comms.
I am in Search and Rescue and have used a ton of different type radios, I do have a HAM license. The Beofeng work just fine with a caveat, pay the extra $30 bucks and get a waterproof model, they usually have WP in the model number. The regular ones will die in the first bad rain. If your using a mic they will die regardless in a heavy rain, if you have the money and desire just get a PTT hooked into a headset or if not just go without a mic in heavy rain. The Japanese Yaesu is better but waterproof Baofeng is fine. There is a way to make their comms secure but it is illegal. You do not need a HAM license for things like Search and Rescue or if you just carry it for an emergency. Those little midway radios are worthless outside a couple hundred yards in my experience in the woods. You also can set up mobile repeaters, we do it all the time, that way you can talk to units on the other side of the mountain.
I liked and subscribed to this because you are spot on about registering equipment you own. So refreshing to hear an American sounding like an American. Thank you sir. Great Channel. Spot on video.
we actually use the smaller cheaper version with the PTT lie you showed with secrete service looking ear pieces, for our church security team, and we put the short stubby antennae on them, they have worked out great just around the church campus, inside and out on the metal buildings. but i also have a pair of the 5R that are programmed to the same channels as the smaller radios, and have a ten pack of the small ones at home brand new, in case we have to use them. hoping to integrate that into some training with a small group, but for neighborhod security, thought, for 120 bucks i have ten radios, i can distribute if necessary....thanks for the videos and your time,
Great video, we’ve had them for a while. Learn the repeaters in your AO and you can communicate for great distances.
Since most of us run battery powered everything, from radio, optics, to NODs, a video on solar setups might be well received.
As always Semper Fi brother. Keep up the great work!
Are we talking Radio Frequency? That's everything wireless. Nothing works without electricity. Maybe we should go back to using pigeons. You want privacy? The mail still works.
Excellent video. I may 74 but my skills are still there. Willing to do whatever is necessary for the Republic! Can't turn my back on my father and grandfathers,..etc!!!
My brother and I have homes 15 miles apart and we keep old school handheld CB’s. We have them wired up for our trucks too so we can communicate on the fly. They work great and allow us to stay connected in our rural zone right outside of a major city in case cell services go down. These things work harder than an ugly stripper and the gov can’t boot your door because of it lol
Cb is hf, good stuff. Just limited to like 15 channels right?
@@skm9420 man we get 40 channels on ours
@@knowledgeisslavery4139 as far as I am concerned, everyone is a fed🤣
@@knowledgeisslavery4139 so by your evaluation, anyone who served in the military is a fed....
@@cptmilly8994 Yes sir! Glad to see someone else on here shared my level of caution
Had these radios for around 6 years and they still work. I recommend changing the antenna to a better one(Nagoya Brand) you'll reach far distances for sure than the stock one, and some extra long batteries.
But also get a really bad antenna and learn how to change your radio from higher to lower power. The further you can reach the more random people can hear you. Also every time you key up you are sending out a tracable signal. Keep your signal as small as possible.
Having the cheaper, Walmart type radios with very limited range are good to have also. Specifically because they don't transmit as far. If your team is going to be close together, there's no need to use long range radios. Though, you should still maintain long range capabilities. Especially if you're communicating with another team farther away or like Jack said, just listening in, collecting intelligence.
Agree! Very smart! can also switch these radios to LOW power and use a stubby antenna
Just another reason a ham license is a must. A real radio operator that has training and experience can limit exactly how far they transmit and can modulate it at will.
@@ryany4326 I think some people aren't trusting of the government and would rather train on their own. I know people with a HAM license hate the thought of that for some reason. As for your point about training and ability to make the radio work for you, I agree.
@@bewbew0016 The government doesn't train you to use HAM radios, amateur radio is a technical hobby.
@@fordloyalist2791 Always look for MTG and her "space lasers" !!
At the introduction of this video, I thought he was going to say, MOM, when will my milk and cookies will be done? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Honestly, the only radio I recommend to anyone by now is the TYT MD-UV390. Look into it. Especially for the price and the fact that they’re totally unlocked (unlike a lot of Motorola units) makes them worth every penny.
Im not super familiar with comms, what exactly do you mean by “totally unlocked”?
@@maxdoom3521 It’s all the digital capabilities I’m referring to.
And I highly recommend you start doing some research on comms in general. Ham Radio Crash Course on here is a great content creator for learning, and Google is definitely your friend for any questions you may have about the subject. It’s a super in-depth topic, so you’re looking at a deep dive of self-education, but one that will make your knowledge and skill set that much more valuable in the long run.
Solid video. The Boafang is cool because you can listen to the fire department/ ems but also has other features to use during an emergency all for $25-$30.
As a currently licensed ham, these skills are highly perishable. If I don't mess with my radios for a few weeks, I forget small things that make a big difference. For example changing frequencies, programing offsets, etc. Just something I notice people fail to recognize. But it is very useful for my preps. I have comms and intel literally locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Well worth it. and in SHTF, just don't use your call sign. Nearly impossible to figure out who you are or find you.
Impossible to figure out who you are, check. Impossible to find you...no.
Direction finding, also called DFing, foxhunting, or rabbit hunting, is a sport among hams. Somebody programs a VHF (usually) radio to transmit briefly at unpredictable intervals, then hides it in a bush somewhere. At a signal, a bunch of (usually young and spry) hams are released from a distant location with their go boxes and DF antennas, and the first one to find the transmitter wins. It doesn't take long.
If you want to be hard to find, you'll need to do things like have a frequency-hopping plan where after every transmission everybody hops to the next frequency in the list (a major pain in the tuchas, because even if you program the plan into every radio's memories, somebody will miss a transmission or click the knob one click too far, and you'll have instant shambles) or moving to a different location after every transmission and leaving no trace (also a pain, especially for things like surveillance, because that will require you to transmit frequently and there'll be a limited number of good vantage points).
Your worst nightmare will be someone who is both a DF hobbyist and a hunter.
I'd be tempted to build a network consisting of a group of sacrificial, unattended cross-band repeaters jammed into tree crotches or window boxes or on roofs. The terminals would be handhelds transmitting in the milliwatt range to make them hard to DF, and listening on VHF. One repeater would be active, listening for terminals on the UHF band and retransmitting on VHF at maybe 1 to 5 watts, and also transmitting an every-few-seconds heartbeat on another UHF frequency. One repeater would be on deck, silent but listening to the active repeater's heartbeat. If it missed more than two or three heartbeats in a row, it would go active, taking over the functions of the compromised repeater and beginning to transmit its own heartbeat. The rest of the repeaters would be on standby, each one silent but listening for the heartbeat of the one before it. If it heard the heartbeat, it would switch itself to on-deck.
That way the terminals would be hard to find, and the bad guys would have to find all the repeaters one after another to shut down comms. Couple that with an automated broadcast message from a repeater when it first goes active ("[warble] Charlie taking over [warble]"), and you'd know exactly A) where the bad guys were (repeater Bravo), and B) where they were going next (repeater Charlie).
@@dnwiebe I probably shouldn’t have used impossible but highly highly unlikely if one moves or does short transmissions and doesn’t transmit for more then a short period of time. I’m. Not saying they exist, but I have never met a government official, an LEO, DF hobbyist and a hunter all in one in my life, let alone one in my area. Let along one that would find me on say 70 cm simplex with a say 25 watts power.
I agree 100%. Commo needs to become a routine part of any training regimen if you expect it to be a useful tool when you need it. Guys that simply chuck a couple of Baofengs in an ammo can and forget about them might as well not even bother.
Man just ordered my first setup and am on here excited and trying to make sure all my stuff would work together(was excited to see Jack from BSS pop up). Long time subscriber here
They're getting very popular, I've even started making baofeng Kydex holsters
Need this link!
I ordered 2, they shipoed to the wrong address so got my money back. Ordered 2 more and goofed and ended up with 4. Then the guy that got the original 2 dropoed them off tome so now i got 6!
How do I buy some?
Hey me too. Made a ton for 5r and uv82 👌
Sauce for the baofeng holsters?
I have a trunking scanner, that can pick up absolutely everything from CB, HAM, MERS, great purchase
I use the “air tube” systems and just run the ear piece up under my regular ear protection.
I have been considering that Earmor setup to get started. Thanks for the info, captain
I recommend the Kenwood NX series over the UV5R. They support a digital text mode, so if noise or eavesdropping is a concern, that's an available option. Some also have things such as frequency inversion scrambling or even encryption. Much more poerful, sensitive and durable as well
Frequency inversion or scrambling is easily defeated by anyone with the right equipment. And it's not just government agencies that have it. And you'd better know what encryption standard it uses. If it uses an old, weak cipher like RC4 your stream will get cracked quick.
Straightforward. Honest. Good info. Hope for the best - support those trying to get the government back on track - but prep for the worst. BE CAREFUL talking on any amatuer frequencies - the friendly ham radio club guys might just be the ones to turn you in for the reward, so to speak.
"Is the government really too big?"
"You have to have a license to own a two way radio.... and you'll be on a watch list"
Could you provide me the law that dictates you have to have a license to OWN a two way radio, and the evidence that said ownership places you on a watch list?
@@EverettVinzant did you watch the video? He makes it clear in this video that you have to have a liscence to use them and that you absolutely end up on a list.
ghehe sharp.
It used to be that you had to have a licence to have a CB radio.
After Smokey and the Bandit, the amount of applications forced them to give up on it.
You can still get a licence, if you want to, and they'll give you a "call sign" to recite when you sign off of the conversation.
And a permit to pack. It's already in our Constitution!!!
I have four of these uv-5r's, and I find them to be adequate. On a plate carrier, I run a remote antenna on the back to keep it out of my way. Also, for emergencies, you can get back up battery packs that take AA's: just in case the power is out or you cannot get to a charger. As well, you can run the wall charger off a separately purchased USB A port cable, to charge the stock battery from a vehicle or portable charger.
Check out Ham Radio Crash Course's channel he's pretty knowledgeable especially on the Beofeng radios. Great video and as always keep em coming. God bless and keep you and yours safe.
Have many baofengs. Bro and I use for hunting. We both run throat mics for simplicity
Some channels here teach the full info needed for a license. It should pop up if you search "ham radio" . I was really into HAM radio for like 11-17 before adulting happened, lol. I had no idea they were making you sign off on a 4th amendment violation, though. (Or I just never thought about it as an adult lol) All of the licenses? That's crazy-good info, as always.
@Heather Croan yeah , you’d think people would mention that you’re giving up some rights .... just a tiny lil detail huh?
Unfortunately that same rule applies to any piece of electronic, especially transmitting electronics like your cell phone or WIFI router. Getting the license is not what opens you up to the 4th ammendment violation. The entire rule is a violation and it applies to everyone.
@@MrCrumb34 Do you know the legislation name offhand? I'd love to read that.
Wrong!! The Supreme Court has said that the government can't make warrantless entries into homes for administrative inspections," Kerr said via e-mail, refering to a 1967 Supreme Court ruling that housing inspectors needed warrants to force their way into private residences. If they did it would be a gigantic lawsuit. However signing a piece of paper for a card to talk on walkie talkies does give them that right.
Actually the FCC state on their website that they can inspect any radio that requires a ham license to use. So, if you have a Baofeng radio and operate without a license you are subject to the same inspections.
To my knowledge, the FCC can enter your house to inspect your wireless router if they wanted to. Or your son's rc car. Or your car key fob. They can inspect anything that emits RF energy. Idt getting your ham license gives them any additional power in terms of warrantless search of your house
I recommend Ham Crash Course.
I have a friend who moved from the city to a rural area in Wisconsin with the thought of "getting away." That was about 5 yrs ago. Now, he said, you wouldn't believe how many city people are renting or trying to establish footing in his area. (no cell service in his area!) Many are claiming hardship of some kind and start off by going to a local church to "get to know" their kind neighbors. The net result is that he's seen those people taking advantage of the homesteaders already there. They look for sympathy and wind up being entwined within the once quiet community. Moral of the story: if you think you're going to "bug-out" to a remote location and be safe you're wrong. It will only be a matter of time until you're surrounded or infiltrated. They won't storm your property, they go in another way...
I started looking for coms last year... well because, you know. Here's what I settled on.
Instead of HAM radios, I chose GMRS.
GMRS doesn't require a test to get a license, you pay the FCC $70 ( like a fishing license) but it's good for 10 years. Not only that, but your call sign is good for you and your immediate family members. No need to have them take a test either for a HAM license. Also the FCC announced that sometime this year (2021) they'll be reducing the cost down to $35, good for 10 years.
GMRS is a LOT easier to use than HAM as well. No need to look up your local repeaters, fiddle with a brand new radio you just bought, and figure out how to enter frequencies and offsets.
GMRS is set of frequencies in the high 400mhz range and acts like a bubble pack radio. Channels 1-7 are 5w. channels 8-14 are 0.5w and can talk to FRS radios (bubble pack from walmart.) Then channels 15-22 are repeater channels and can transmit at a max of 50w. There's also radios now that allow you to program and RECEIVE repeater channels like HAM frequencies, or the the NOAA. Notice I said RECEIVE, not TRANSMIT. You can listen to these channels, but you can't talk to them. (Whatever, that's fine by me for what I need em for)
GMRS has recently started to take off too, and tons of new radios seem to be popping up this year. Here's some radios to consider,
Wouxun UV9G
Wouxun 905G
Wouxun 805G
Raddiodity GM-30
BTech GMRS V-1
Retevis RT76P
and probably a shit ton more that I don't care to look up.
Every new model seems to sell out right away. So there's definitely a demand for these. Keep your eyes peeled out for new ones, do your own research. Maybe GMRS is right for you.
All that is true, but there are not as many repeaters that exist for GMRS right now (though people are putting up GMRS repeaters now), and GMRS is limited to 5 Watts of power and HAM radio is limited to 1500 Watts of power and you have the ability to use HF and talk to people in other states and countries.
Thanks for this info. I'm trying to find a good radio for urban. Seems most radios can maybe get a mile in urban areas so, looking for something stronger but dont need a liscence.
So you choose GMRS because you couldn’t pass a test that CHILDREN pass?
Just picked up my contingency walkies recently. I love the commo talk.
Disco 32 makes some good coms accessories.
Im a ham radio guy and I have to correct black scout survial on one thing about the FCC inspection of equipment.
If you have FRS and CB not just ham radio gear. If you cause harmful interference to any other radio service, TV, or electronic devices and someone turns it in and a investasagation starts the free service equipment is still subject to in home inspections. Just a PSA and they will use directional finding equipment to locate the source. The free services are still coved under the regulations as a station and are subject to inspection.
Just wanted to put that out there.
De K3CRJ / WRFC532
Your not listening to what I’m saying. As most HAMs are so nerdy about being HAMs they say the same thing.
I will recommend to study and learn how to use the radio
The walkie-talkie frequencies are FRS and GMRS and some of the frequencies overlap. I don't remember, but one is free and the other requires a fee for a license. No testing like a ham license.
MERS needs no license.
"Hey Grandma, how 'bout some grape soda?" 🤣
Well, you really triggered the nerds suggesting you can use a HAM with GMRS. haha.
The UV-5R can be unlocked to use GMRS frequencies. You hold down a few buttons and turn it on. I forgot which buttons.
A very timely needed video for many. Great video BSS. Appreciate all your vids.
Gotta get them chicken tendies on lock from the airsoft field boys!
Nuggies and cochy milk!
Secure comms, as far as the average person not being able to listen in, aren't expensive. LEGAL secure comms are expensive but not because of the radios. There are plenty of digital radios with built in encryption from 8 bit up to 128 bit or more for around $200. The hitch is, none of those radios are legal for use on FRS/GMRS/MURS or even ham bands. They can only be used on LMR(business and emergency response) frequencies which require an FCC license that will only be issued to someone/a group with a legit business need.
It's not even the license itself that is expensive, but rather the repeater needed to get any decent range out of HT's. Even that is cheap compared to buying property and erecting a tower or renting tower space for a repeater antenna. Then you have to add some form of backup power at the repeater site as well as maintenance. But, that applies to using any HT's beyond a short distance.
Now some will say to just buy encrypted digital radios and not use them until SHTF. If you have never used them, and more importantly you believe you're just going to throw together a DMR codeplug that's never been tested... You're in for a world of hurt.
Great, now Xiden knows what momma's cooking for dinner.
He probably has already forgotten
Wow it’s been along time uncle jack! You make our brothers proud keep doing the great work you do !
Thanks Again For Sharing