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Comms advice request

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PieterCoetzee

Master Class
Anyone here using radios or factoring them in their planning? I know next to nothing and whats worse, Im not even sure what I dont know. I could operate comms in the military and as a cop; but Im pretty clueless with modern civilian gear. I played with CBs back in the "Teddy Bear" days. I even used FRS/GMRS on a couple airsoft games with my kids.

My "problem" is most of the folks Id want to talk with in an emergency are outside the GRMS range. I know(?) there are GMRS repeators but dont have a clue how to use them or even if theres one in my area.

I see a lot of guys suggesting Baofeng radios as they are cheap enough to have spares; but I wonder if better equipment, (ICOM, Yesu, etc) isnt better money spent
 
I have an Extra Class Ham Radio license, but also there really aren’t too many people worth talking to on Ham Radio anymore, lol. I’ve done damage reports after a tornado though, so it was useful there. The ARES/RACES group in my area was nepotism city and CERT meetings are just too far away, though they’re cool.
 
GMRS/FRS/CB here.

Hard to beat Baofeg/Btech radios are good and economical & have a good variety of models, with Yaesu, Midland, etc. as options.

There are websites that show the nationwide availability of GNRS Repeaters, their accessibility (open or permission required) and frequencies.

RepeaterBook.com: Quick Search for GMRS Repeaters

GMRS repeater database for the US and territories.
www.repeaterbook.com www.repeaterbook.com

mygmrs.com

myGMRS.com: GMRS Repeater Directory and Community

myGMRS.com is a General Mobile Radio Service community where users can search for and submit repeaters in their area.
mygmrs.com mygmrs.com

Past threads on the subject.

jmcd

Thread 'Anyone use Ham radio, GMRS or another type of "alternate" communication?'

With recent word events in mind, what would you do if cell service went down? Could you communicate out? Would you want to? Could you reach family members, etc.? Landline phones are falling by the wayside and some of these other methods could have serious line of sight obstacles. Curious if anyone else has thoughts about a this type of scenario?
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Talyn

Thread 'When Modern Communications Infrastructure Fails Us After A Disaster'

Post-Helene Update and the Importance of Radio After a Natural Disaster
It’s often said that modern communications infrastructure fails us after a disaster.

Mobile phone networks can go offline and even when restored can remain unreliable dropping calls and/or only supporting basic voice calls and text messaging, without data or media attachments.

Internet services like cable, fiber, and DSL can go out with satellite internet having connection, but there's no guarantee that that won't go out depending on the scope & Scale of an event...
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It was the post Helene thread that prompted my to start this one. I was surprised no one suggested radios.

Regarding no one to talk to, I envision my needs as primarily for a small group. My fear is FRS/GMRS is too open for security, as the radios Walmart items. IDK maybe its over thinking; but I figure most folks are like me and wont know how to run 2m or 6m or 10m or or or radio gear.

I toyed with running old Nextel phones as short range walkies. They are fairly secure in that mode; but really short range. Nextel's proprietary jack system makes using them difficult
 
There are GMRS Privacy Codes: You can use CTCSS/DCS tones to keep your radio silent until a matching signal is received, but anyone with a scanner can still hear your conversation.

The FCC prohibits encryption on FRS, GMRS, and MURS frequencies. Under GMRS rules, the service is defined as "A mobile two-way voice communication service, with limited data applications, for facilitating activities of individual licensees and their family members, including, but not limited to, voluntary provision of assistance to the public during emergencies and natural disasters." GMRS licenses are required and those licenses are only available to individuals, not corporations, businesses, or organizations. Some non-individual persons (i.e., a partnership, corporation, association or governmental unit) that were licensed to use GMRS frequencies prior to July 31, 1987 are allowed to continue to operate under those old licenses, but there are strict limits on what they can do.

Transmitters used in GMRS must be certified by the FCC for GMRS (Part 95E). These certified transmitters can only use FM voice, though location data or brief text messages may be transmitted. There are no provisions in the GMRS rules for "encrypted" voice transmissions.

Anything other than analog FM voice and certain kinds of signaling (DTMF, etc.) violates FCC rules for GMRS.
 
Talyn said:
There are GMRS Privacy Codes: You can use CTCSS/DCS tones to keep your radio silent until a matching signal is received, but anyone with a scanner can still hear your conversation.
Click to expand...
Thanks. My concern is for general and tactical use during "troubled times" that GMRS has a pretty good chance of being intercepted. I keep a few GMRS radios just for that reason. My feeling is CB is probably more secure as there just arent that many CB radios still in use. Ultimately the Ham bands seem the most secure, just from the point that less are in use. Im not looking for burst transmission or frequency hopping just something a little less "everyday use" than dropping batteries in a FRS/GMRS radio purchased in a bubble pack from KMART.

Thats about where my radio knowledge ends
 
Talyn said:
If things do go south I plan on listening much more than communicating, and when that need arises to have a code system to use.
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Yes EXACTLY. It has to be a prearranged code that everyone understands and I think with frequencies/channels changed often (daily).
 
Decent hand-held if you don't want to start out with Baofeng's or BTech.

GXT67 5-Watt GMRS Radio | Midland Radio

Experience unbeatable range with the GXT GMRS 5-Watt Two-Way Radio - GXT67 PRO. Get 5 Watts of power, repeater capability, 16-hour battery life, and more.
midlandusa.com midlandusa.com

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I have/use both BTech's and Baofeng's based on the capability I want.

baofengtech.com

BaoFeng Tech ‣ BTECH Radios Homepage

03 December 2024 ‣ Purchase, Software, and Support for BaoFeng and BTECH Radios
baofengtech.com baofengtech.com

www.radioddity.com

Radioddity | Choose Connectivity, Choose Radioddity

Radioddity is the place to go for all your amateur, business and free-license radio needs. Shop Now with exclusive discount. 18 Months Manufacturer's Warranty. Authorized Baofeng, TYT, Xiegu, QYT Distributor.
www.radioddity.com www.radioddity.com

baofengtech.com

Choosing Your Ideal Two-Way Radio: A Comprehensive Guide to Selecting the Right Service ‣ BaoFeng Tech & BTECH Radios

October 7, 2020 Choosing the right two-way radio can be confusing. You can’t just buy a pair of radios and start talking on them. Most two-way radio services require licensing of some sort, and radios designed to be used in those radio services must be certified by the FCC. The most popular...
baofengtech.com baofengtech.com

BTW - A lot of OEM handhelds skimp on the antennas, or use fake Nagoya Antennas. Best to replace them with the real thing for best performance. Real Nagoyas have silver lettering whereas fakes don't.
BTech gets their radios made by Baofeng to BTech design specs.
 
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We have Motorola TLK110s for me and my family as we're spread out from Illinois to Colorado. I installed TLK150s in my cars. They use the cellular network for 2-Way comms and the HHs use WiFi as well. We have 1 Sat phone per household. I keep a shortwave receiver tuned up and ready to go as well as HAM HF, VHF, and UHF radios. I keep an old Realistic CB base station with a 250 Watt linear amplifier at the ready as well. This all, by the way, was accumulated over time for various purposes. But these days I think it is a good idea to have multiple means to communicate with family whether close by or abroad.
 
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Model 457 said:
We have Motorola TLK110s for me and my family as we're spread out from Illinois to Colorado. I installed TLK150s in my cars. They use the cellular network for 2-Way comms and the HHs use WiFi as well. We have 1 Sat phone per household. I keep a shortwave receiver tuned up and ready to go as well as HAM HF, VHF, and UHF radios. I keep an old Realistic CB base station with a 250 Watt linear amplifier at the ready as well. This all, by the way, was accumulated over time for various purposes. But these days I think it is a good idea to have multiple means to communicate with family whether close by or abroad.
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Agreed.

I have SW, GMRS, FRS and CB gear (new stuff vs. old)
 
Talyn said:
If things do go south I plan on listening much more than communicating, and when that need arises to have a code system to use.
Click to expand...
Agree!!!! I'm a HAM, 10 meters was my thing using a Kenwood TS 2000, full coverage base station. I chased tornados back in the day, and worked with the Red Cross as a volunteer passing messages, I worked the Joplin Tornado with an Icom 706 transceiver. The 706 is a mobile rig, full coverage, but I used a 12v power supply to work with it in the shack. ("radio shack" not the store, is HAM speak for the designated room where you operate).

I would highly recommend the Icom 706 for an inexpensive full coverage rig, 100 watts on HF and 6 meters, 10W on 2 meters. Get a used rig off EBay. I worked all 50 states on that 706, (Hawaii was hit from San Deiago on 10 meters!)

I'm not a silent key yet (dead) but no longer active, I have never been on 70 cm, it wasn't very active and it's limited to short ranges. I keep my rigs just in case.

In an emergency you might be like Penny on Sky King, get on the radio and say HELP! But let's get legal, the General isn't that hard to get, but you can go for the Extra class.

I'm rag chewing again, (just talking away).

In a SHTF period, you might not want to transmit unless you really must, you just need to listen to stay informed.

Your radio is going to be your biggest expense but don't forget the antennas. Best mobile I used was a Hustler/Hamstick on HF, Comet for 2 meters. At home I used a dipole, random long wire with a tuner, I also built a 4 element beam, homebrew that worked well.

I'd suggest you stay with a quality hand held (HT) Icom, Kenwood, Yesu, they are Mil Spec, These are good comms for 2 meters, FM simplex, not using a repeater, one person might have a Kenwood HT and talk directly with someone that has a 706, remember that you can't count on repeater operation to relay your signal.
 
PieterCoetzee said:
Talk to me about these? Is there a fee to use? Can you add extra units? Im assuming they dont work if cell towers are down? Are they secure/can anyone else listen in?

YES I agree comms should have a layered approach.
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You need a Motorola Wave PTX account. The rates are much like the old cellular days where your service is less expensive if you go on contract and essentially rent the radio. You're better off paying full price for the radio and going month to month on the cellular network access. Without the cellular network, the radios work over WiFi. In the house I use mine on WiFi to save cellular network airtime. You can add as many units as you want. Radio to radio is encrypted and private in as much as it can be "private". It isn't like walkie talkies that share common public frequencies.
 
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