Tactical radio
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You are currently reading a thread in /k/ - Weapons
what is best radio to use for general purpose medium-range shtf/communications/scanner?
I would like radio instead of walkie talkie but do not know much about radio.
LMJ get out, you sucked then and you suck now
>>28848285
what
>>28848270
Get a proper combat-net radio, you faggot.
>>28848291
Old tripfag who never shut up about radios and claimed it was full-on SHTF when a small storm knocked out power in his area for 2 days.
Also for a beginner the UV-5R is best bang for buck you can get.
Uh.
You're looking at it, OP.
Can't beat the UV5R+.
If you're a richfag get a Yaesu.
>>28848314
I don't know why but i think i need this
>>28848314
The horror of having to carry that
>datacable is broken so you had to jury rig it with wire and gum
>settings fucked up so touch screen doesnt work
>squad leader yelling where the fuck his mortars are while you try to change the battery because the piece of shits only hold charge for three hours
>>28848391
>datacable is broken so you had to jury rig it with wire and gum
Why not just swap it at the electronics storage at materiaalikeskus?
>settings fucked up so touch screen doesnt work
You just have to calibrate it, m80. Didn't you have any signalier NCOs in whatever company you were in?
>because the piece of shits only hold charge for three hours
Might've been something faulty with yours. They should last a lotlonger than that.
>>28848476
Our signalers were so good at their job that they brought down the whole network because the computers pinged their location every 5 seconds.
>>28848634
As a signalier NCO I can say that there's no way that should be able to happen. Most you'll do is screw up your own comms, but it won't bother others.
How do I into UV5R? I got one but I'm just lost
>>28848684
This pls
>>28848684
>Choose a channel
>Set a frequency
Talk
>>28848702
So, is not like ham right? You can't get in trouble using it right?
>>28848767
No, it's still full HAM.
If you want to not get in trouble (hint: you won't anyway) set it to lower power and stick to MURS frequencies.
>>28848767
The thing's got like 3km range at its utmost maximum with that short antenna. I don't know what frequencies US gov agencies use, so if you can reach them with that thing, that might of course cause some trouble if you keep hogging the frequency.
That said, there's nothing to be lost about. It's a 30 dollar radio with no fancy features.
>You've got 128 channels.
>You can program each of these channels into certain frequencies, either on the radio or through a computer.
>Channel scan allows you to scan (all or a certain amount) of channels, so that when there's traffic on the channel, it will stop scanning and let you listen in
>Dual watch lets you listen to two frequencies at once
>VOX allows it to transmit on voice, a shitty feature
>Emergency alarm feature that, as should be obvious sends out an emergency message.
That's about all the relevant features it has.
>>28848792
>>28848851
Thanks guys. I don't know that google would have dumbed it down enough for me
>>28849028
Glad to be of help.
Here u go bb
>>28848851
Thanks.
So a channel is basically a saved frequency?
Is there a list online of frequencies in my area that I can listen to?
If I don't hear anyone on a frequency, I can just use that to talk to buddies?
Channel scan only scans preprogrammed frequencies, not all frequencies possible?
How do I scan?
Sorry for being dumb but I don't understand what you're talking about with regard to VOX
>>28849110
This guide is why I bought. I followed all the directions and then I was all "now what?"
>>28849131
>So a channel is basically a saved frequency?
Essentially, but it can also contain additional information.
>Is there a list online of frequencies in my area that I can listen to?
Beats me, I'm Finnish.
>If I don't hear anyone on a frequency, I can just use that to talk to buddies?
Well sure, if they're on the same frequency as you.
>Channel scan only scans preprogrammed frequencies, not all frequencies possible?
I'm afraid I don't know about that. I don't own the radio. I do believe it scans all possible frequencies though.
>How do I scan?
I'd expect you to find it in the menu. As well as the rest of the features. I found a site with a list of them, as well as explanations.
http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/baofeng/uv-5r.aspx
>Sorry for being dumb but I don't understand what you're talking about with regard to VOX
Voice activated transmit. Meaning as soon as it picks up voice, it starts transmitting. Kind of stupid unless you're shut in a quiet room, which the radio isn't designed for.
These radios can cover a lot in VHF/UHF.
To really learn how to use it, get your HAM ticket. Comms is a skill that takes practice, and the best way to practice is with Ham radio.
Keep in mind that the Baofeng is a walkie-talkie with a bunch more features and abilities. Don't expect to talk to the next county with it unless you understand what you are doing.
Find a test session in your area here: http://www.arrl.org/find-an-amateur-radio-license-exam-session
Take practice exams here:
http://hamexam.org/
Study what you don't know here:
http://www.google.com
I also have frequency lists for common VHF/UHF Ham frequencies, Business Band radios, FRS/GMRS Walkie Talkies, Marine radio, MURS radio, NOAA Weather band, and Europe's PMR446. All of these your Baofeng can listen to. Some of these it would be theoretically inter-operable with if you want to risk big fines because illegal if caught. Don't be stupid or cause interference that licensed folks or government might care about.
Another good resource for Baofengs is Miklor.com
Any reason not to get a -F8HP instead?
>>28848314
Can you get on Pornhub with it?
Former Signal Corp here
Does anyone know the name of the model of the equipment (pretty sure it was some kind of signal modulator) that was in the back of those giant green school bus length trucks?
I can't remember
>>28851103
You can shoot the screen and make a hole, if that means anything
I bought a Bow-fang UV-82 I use for volunteer firefighting, since my department was too cheap to buy me a radio when I joined.
Overall a really good experience so far, I can listen and talk to the fire/police/ems in my county and the next county over, very simple to use and understand, and costed like $30 with free shipping.
>>28848314
What am I looking at? What operating modes and frequencies does that support?
>>28848792
This.
Plus get the data cable and download CHIRP to program some frequencies.
>>28848314
lol faggot. I bet you don't even do your own RPAs
>>28848314
you can get better shit as a civvie anon.
>>28848684
This guide was put together by a few of us. It has some user submitted memories that are worth checking out.
https://murdercube.com/radioconfig
>>28851113
Like you're transceiver or what? What year? Signal generators are used for calibrating equipment, and it isn't exactly the kind of thing a sane person would do in the field.
Don't get a cheap Chinese transceiver.
Don't get a cheap Chinese transceiver.
Don't get a cheap Chinese transceiver.
Quanshengs/Baofengs/Tytera, are all radios that are known to emit spurious signals/ desensitize/ and be of inferior quality. I beg of you, if you are going to go cheap, do yourself a favor and get yourself a 2nd hand radio from a reputable manufacturer. Pay once, cry once.
Harmonics(spurious signals) is where a radio transmits on multiples of the frequency other than the one you intend to transmit on.
You can be interfering with repeaters, fire, ambulance, police, first responders, taxis, loggers, and any other users without realizing it. You won't be able to hear them. But they will hear you (And be unable to tell you to shut-up).
Desensitization, is when the radio is unable to clearly receive weaker signals in the presence of other signals and other background noise.
So you got a baoshit, and hook up a good antenna to it, it may get WORSE reception because it can't handle all the extra RF reaching the front end.
Over-deviation, I have metered the deviation on a couple of these radios (baofengshit and quengshit) and they have no overdeviation protection. _Splattering_ on to adjacent frequencies and making the audio quality shit.
For a 25$ radio with free shipping, it _has_ to be made with slave labor.
Those radios likely do not come with an FCC or IC number. They are illegal for use in North America.
Cheap chinese radio shills will be in full force after I post this. Trying to justify their poor purchases. Yes, it _may_ be better then nothing. But not much more.
I'll save this to a copy pasta and expand and repost as needed. Stay safe and have fun anons!
Picture semi related. A 144Mhz 1W NBFM Tx.
>>28853949
>Sgt. Buzzkill
seriously, who cares if you stomp on some fag's radio toes?
>>28853949
>Buy a $300 radio or don't have communications
>Poorfags shouldn't be doing this stuff anyway
>>28853949
>Buy once, cry once
Best fucking thing to say if you want inexperienced people on a budget to completely ignore what you're trying to tell them.
Fucking idiot.
>>28854097
Radios don't need to be expensive to be useful.
>>28854109
And yet the entire argument was "don't buy an inexpensive radio, they're less than useless"
>>28854052
There are plenty of second hand radios from dying off hams. If you don't want to pay more then 300$ for a radio or wait for a 2nd hand one to pop-up. Maybe you shouldn't. 300$ for a quality radio is pretty cheap. You want it to be reliable in what ever situation you get in to.
Stop by a amateur radio meeting. Bunch of friendly cliquey old dudes... but you would get hooked up and maybe learn something. I'm certain they would point you in the right direction.
I'm not implying that poorfags shouldn't be doing this. The more poor people who understood electromagnetic radiation/ electronics/ and electricity the better.
Enjoy being a no communications or sub-par communications operator.
>>28848851
So if you went over to the police band and started screaming shoot the niggers, you would get in trouble right?
>>28848270
You linked it, for the price range nothing comes even remotely close.
If you really are a poor fag. Get your ticket and learn how to homebrew it. VHF is harder but doable.
HF rigs are easier to homebrew and a lot of fun out hiking.
I found this guide well written and immensely helpful.
http://www.wa0itp.com/crystalsetsssb.html
>>28854119
> $300 is a deal!
>If you can't afford it then fuck you
>>28854165
Or wait for something good second hand, visit a hamclub, or build it yourself.
Considering that it's a high sensitivity rx'er and tx'er with a stability in a few ppm. Yes, it's a deal.
>>28854158
The reason I suggest some DIY is because it really helps you understand whats going on. Instead of just being a black box operator.
>9/10 people suggest the $30 radio
>One guy, a tripfag too, is saying you should just buy/build a fucking table top radio instead
>Completely missing the point of a radio for a vehicle or hiking bag
This is why HAMs are universality hated, we're not going to learn fucking Morse Code and buy a $900 basic rig and talk all night every weekend, we just want a portable fucking radio that shares common frequencies for emergency communication. And maybe we get two or three friends with simmilar radios to use innawoods.
We will not be using them enough to justify spending that much on them, some of us don't make a lot of money.
>>28854181
Have you considered maybe people just want a radio that isn't a walmart walkie-talkie for camping and have no interest in your fucking hobby?
>>28854193
No one is talking about learning morse code (Although it is a very operator skill).
Also, I didn't say buy or build a fucking _table top_ radio. Ever. I have been talking about portable operation.
I was talking about building your own portable station(Albiet HF and not VHF). Bouncing your signal off the ionosphere is fairly operator.
No one ever said or suggested to buy a 900$ rig in this whole thread.
You shouldn't be relying on it anyways when SHTF or in an emergency.
You want _reliable_ communications with your buddies.
If you really need it to be frequency agile, pony up the cash OR THE TIME to get a decent radio.
>>28854236
Yes. I'm not saying to participate in the hobby. I'm saying that if you want something better for than a walkie talkie, the real next step up is not a baoquanqshit.
Communications is the reward.
>>28854260
>the real next step up is not a baoquanqshit
Why exactly is the usual amazon radio deal suggested bad for a couple friends out hiking?
>>28853949
>I beg of you, if you are going to go cheap, do yourself a favor and get yourself a 2nd hand radio from a reputable manufacturer.
Okay, got a list or some ebay links? This may suprise you but people looking at a $35 radio don't know shit about this stuff
> Pay once, cry once.
Seriously? Is this ARG now?
>But they will hear you (And be unable to tell you to shut-up).
And there is absolutely no way to stop/fix this?
>Slave labor
Chinks aren't people
You basically just sperged in HAM and didn't say anything that makes me, a poor fucker in bum ass Alaska that just wants a handheld to play operator with other geer queers, see a solution.
What I got from your post was
>Get your license so you're so invested you actually have a reason to het this stuff, or just go blind innawoods because it's shit, it's all shit!
>>28854293
Harmonics(spurious signals) is where a radio transmits on multiples of the frequency other than the one you intend to transmit on.
You can be interfering with repeaters, fire, ambulance, police, first responders, taxis, loggers, and any other users without realizing it. You won't be able to hear them. But they will hear you (And be unable to tell you to shut-up).
Desensitization, is when the radio is unable to clearly receive weaker signals in the presence of other signals and other background noise.
So you got a baoshit, and hook up a good antenna to it, it may get WORSE reception because it can't handle all the extra RF reaching the front end.
Over-deviation, I have metered the deviation on a couple of these radios (baofengshit and quengshit) and they have no overdeviation protection. _Splattering_ on to adjacent frequencies and making the audio quality shit.
Interoperability, Making sure everyone is on frequency is more difficult than on channel. How many of your friends can setup a baofeng if you hand it to them and just tell them the frequency. How many of your friends can setup a walkie talkie if you hand it to them and just tell them the channel?
Reliability, When you need to call for help, will it survive the fall you just took?
>>28854260
So... are you like the guy telling the student making $20k a year before taxes he must buy a 1/8 stainless 18" bull barreled upper with a Gucci reciever and a $200 trigger or he shouldn't bother getting an AR?
Because your post here >>28853949
Came across as "Here is a bunch of technical shit that you won't notice and I had to measure with the power of autism to quantify, nobody ever complains about these problems but if you get this radio you're a pleb"
>>28854338
>>28854338
Sure, go to ebay. Click used. Put in "ham radio portable" Put in your price range.
Just opening up radio world. I found this new (under 120 in burger dollars):
http://radioworld.ca/handheld-amateur-radios-c-184_75.html?filter_id=55
It even comes with a super tacticool mic!
The pay once, cry once certainly applies. This is a radio made of hundreds of components. Using a capacitor that isn't np0 rated or a silver mica cap when required can result in drift while TX/RX/ temperature change or aging.
An Icom every 3-6+ years, or a kenwood every 5-20+ years. Yes, they can and do last that long (with the exception of the batteries)
Yes, there are two ways to stop this. Get a radio with better filtering already in it. Or install a low pass filter in line (More $, more loss of signal, and another thing to go wrong)
>>28849131
>>28849142
>>How do I scan?
It has a button that literally says "SCAN" on it
>>28854383
No? That metaphor does not relate.
People do complain about these problems.
Picture related, a stock ant. with a dry solder joint(sloppy). It may not work/ will bust with no fault of your own. Why gamble your money away like that?
>>28854423
kek I never noticed that
>Want to get a good radio for SHTF
>Need to practice for it to be any use
>HAMs are elitist fucks and none of my friends are interested
Fucking sucks.
>>28854673
Also, what the fuck is the point of HAM hobbyists? You are basically just a handful of people talking to eachother about... what exactly? On a machine a half a step ahead of the Telegraph and written letters.
For a little more you can get a Baofeng GT-3 mark II, with 8 Watt output (course, for that you need a better antenna, like a 40 cm, or a 1 meter long (foldable) but the area of reach will grow dramatically
>>28854688
I just got a Yaesu and it's literally 60-year-old guys talking about HAM radios while driving to the grocery store. I've never heard them talk about anything else. I think that's all you can do because it's for "amateur radio expirements" or some b.s.
>>28854688
Say what you will about it... its quick/realtime... relatively simple to manufacture and operate
And its a primary method of comms for police, fire, ems, military, aircraft, etc
>>28854734
That's fucking retarded.
>>28853949
Are you sure you're not making mountains out of mole hills?
https://hamgear.wordpress.com/2012/04/05/review-baofeng-uv-5r-part-ii/
>>28854735
>>28854688
Also, think about how much effort goes into getting a letter to someone...pickup, driving, sorting, loading, driving, unloading, more sorting, load again, drive some more... maybe deliver
telegraph wires need to be maintained, need very specific equipment, and skilled operators on both sides
all you need is a radio and a frequency and you can get shit going
>granted you need to know how to use it, and some basic radio etiquette... but my point still stands
>>28854775
Not that guy but, my main issue is HAMs online all seem to be arrogant elitist assholes. If those are the only people I can talk to why would I use a HAM radio?
If a friend and I could get them and chat that would be cool, but you gotta jump through all these hoops, and then you apperantly can't just have a conversation because you gotta use call signs every time you call out? Fuck that, I use radios in my work and if I had to talk like that to communicate I might just send the letter.
>>28854845
If you and your friends stick to an unlisted frequency and only talk amongst yourselves literally no one will ever know.
Even if they did, they wouldn't be able to find you. Those retards that drive around trying to triangulate illegal TXs (hint: they're almost nonexistent anyway) are inept retards
>>28854868
The impression I got was a lot of HAM operators are either FUDDs, or >>28853949
Also, all the research I have done on the OP radio basically says the issues buzzkill was harping on are totally blown out of proportion and it's basically "It's cheap crap because it fails guidelines by a meaninglessness margin and it's not powerful enough to cause interface anyway.
The only valid argument seems to be they are low power and fragile.
>>28854899
They're neither. Ignore the radio autist.
>>28848351
Don't trust the baofengs. Get a Yaesu instead. Buy once, cry once.
>>28854903
Can you directly refute his bullshit?
Also, if a couple friends and I were innawoods could we use those radio's on a USFS repeater without stepping on anyone's toes? The LAST thing I want to do is transmit on a frequency used by others, especially for work, but it would be cool to have use of those fuckers from camp to the hilltop.
>>28854923
The blog post by that old dude demonstrates that the UV5R has transmit and receive capabilities quite similar to more expensive commercial radios. The evidence says that there are no serious problems with the radio. The issues buzzkill describes apply to earlier revisions of the UV3R, which is a $15 radio.
It's low power compared to a mobile or base unit, but those have large power sources and the most important thing is line of sight anyway. You can transmit further with a 4W radio than a 40W radio if you placed the 4W in the right place.
The UV5R is in no way fragile. It's made of the same plastic as the Yaesu and I've dropped mine tons of times. I've broken bubble pack radios before and my UV5R is still going strong.
Yes, a Yaesu is better but considering you can get 3 Pofung radios for the price of 1 Yaesu, it's really not worth getting the better radio unless it's your hobby. Consider it to be the difference between a $400 S&W Smegma and a $1200 Sig Sauer.
>>28848270
I just ordered that, OP. I'm studying for my tech radio license right now and just wanted something cheap and simple to learn with.
After I pass my tech class and learn the ins and outs of the UV-5R and begin to study for the general and extra class licensing, then I'll look more into better home and mobile radios.
For $25, you can't beat it though.
>>28848270
Step up and pay for the Anytone NSTIG-8R or OBLTR-8R
Better radios without having to pay for Japanese names.
If you really want to have a worldwide method of communication, try the Tytera MD-880. Its a DMR that can talk around the planet as well as a 70cm analog.
>>28853949
Tytera MD-380 are the best option for DMR without spending a grand on a new radio.
Better than Connect Systems.
>>28855079
Meant MD-380
>>28853949
>Those radios likely do not come with an FCC or IC number. They are illegal for use in North America.
You don't know what you are talking about, do you?
>>28855087
Why even spend that much on your first radio when you don't even have your tech license?
People should just get something cheap that they can learn on and then upgrade if they continue with it. I don't see the point in spending $150+ on a radio when you are so limited to certain frequencies.
>>28855127
Then don't get the MD-380 as a first radio.
Get the NSTIG-8R
>>28855140
I already have a UV-5R, once I get my tech license then I'll upgrade to something nicer.
Once I get my general class license, then I'll start setting up a nice home system for when I get through the extra class test.
I have no problem with spending more for quality when it's worth it. It was just hard to pass up an entry into ham radio for $25 with free shipping.
Here's a better question.
Why bother investing in a radio to begin with, let alone a retardedly expensive setup?
>>28855173
Because it's interesting?
Are you asking me to convince you to find something interesting that you have no interest in?
Why?
>>28855176
Is that the only reason you have?
>>28855180
No, I have lots.
But if you are not interested in radios, why would you care?
>>28855215
Because a handheld would be a damn good addition to a BOB or car kit but apparently you need to buy a fancy ass radio and get a license to use them.
Sorry, I'm new here. I am of having difficulty understanding.
Do I press this to receive of the virgins?
>>28855225
You don't need a fancy radio, but you do need a license. They aren't hard to get though.
Do you have the time or the interest to study and become licensed? Are you familiar with electronics and electronic components?
I'm currently reading "The No-Nonsense Technician Class License Study Guide."
It's actually pretty easy to read it's interesting, at least to me. Plus the exam is only 35 questions and it's pretty cheap. Just do it.
>>28855225
Thats your reason for caring about why I like radios?
Because the Gov'ment makes you do some book learnin?
I'm not sure if I understand your point.
>>28855245
Or you can just go to hamstudy.org and do it for free...
Fucking potatofeng faggots.
>>28855256
>not using multiple resources
I've got some time to kill before the next exam in my area so I plan on reading a couple of books in addition to using hamstudy
>>28849131
Common freqs card for anyone interested.
>>28855022
>The blog post by that old dude
Thanks for the information
Can I use this radio to call in mortar strikes on Kurdish positions?
I promise I will import a crate of MP44s when its all over.
>>28853949
>You can be interfering with repeaters, fire, ambulance, police, first responders, taxis, loggers, and any other users without realizing it.
And this is why everyone hates HAMs, they're the biggest fucking white knights out there.
>>28854457
Your pic is crappy and that solder joint looks shiney and thus fine. I'm guessing you broke it when removing the cover. Take a better pic faget
>>28855215
Less overly defensive backpedaling, more concrete reasons please.
>>28849142
It's like a porn movie. You'll know it when it starts.
>>28855893
I'm not backpedalling, you moron.
I'm asking you why you care what other people like something, and why you would ask for someone to convince you to like something you have no interest in.
Can you answer those?
>>28856285
>keeps spouting retardation
>has yet to give a valid reason other than "it's interesting"
>>28856295
>thinks people have to justify their hobbies to someone who doesn't care about them.
>>28856315
Cool, so you have no legitimate reasoning. Good to know.
>>28856295
1) I enjoy the science behind it
2) I enjoy the challenge of using natural phenomena to make contact with people long distances away.
3) I enjoy helping community events (marathons, parades, etc)
4) I like experimenting with digital modes (phone patches, email, RTTY)
5) I like using SDR for amature radio astronomy
>>28856323
>I think there is only two people on the internet.
>>28848270
I have one. It won't pick up police because they have all switched to digital and those radios cost $200. The only thing this POS is good for is HAM and weather radio. And you get in trouble if you use it for HAM without a license.
>>28855180
>>28855251
>>28855893
Contrarian faggot.
No one needs to give you concrete reasons for enjoying a hobby. This isn't a debate or argument, you aren't beating anyone by virtue of them being unable to convince you to enjoy the same things they do.
Either spend a little money and tiptoe into comms with a baogook, spend a little more for higher quality, or don't do any of that and just fuck off. Literally all three are equally viable options.
Kill yourself my man
>So if you went over to the police band and started screaming shoot the niggers, you would get in trouble right?
>>28854123
Depending on the city they might not notice.
But most major and minor cities use a thing called trunking, it uses less channels, but your radio has to be program to work with the base set.
>>28848270
Came across an infographic a day or two ago regarding the Baofengs, it was comparing various models and their specs, which one is best for which role etc, sadly I forgot to save but does anyone have the source?
I think the Anon that posted it was saying that Baofeng no longer make the UV5R and all those being sold atm are more than likely copies, dunno how legit that is
>>28854734
Try other repeaters or something. Around here, people talk about anything from radios to politics to what they're making for dinner.
You can do experiments if you want, but you don't have to.
