BEARTOOTH allows Cell Phone use when the SHTF ?

[CaseHardened]

Beartooth


I find this intriguing.

 

[Phazer]

I've used FRS walkie talkies on cruises in the past (before smartphones).

This is something that I'd consider in the future when the price becomes more reasonable.

 

[CaseHardened]

I've used FRS walkie talkies on cruises in the past (before smartphones).

This is something that I'd consider in the future when the price becomes more reasonable.

Aye.

$50 each would be my price point.

 

[Marine Cpl]

FRS is low powered. You are better off with a 30 dollar Baofeng that you can program to any frequency with a range of about 5 miles.

 

[freddy]

FRS is low powered. You are better off with a 30 dollar Baofeng that you can program to any frequency with a range of about 5 miles.

100%

Baofengs are such an amazing value. How many Baofengs can you buy for the price of one single smartphone? Every serious prepared group of citizens should have plenty of Baofengs. I'll wager that Baofengs might just be the iphone of the future!

 

[freddy]

Fuck smartphones!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E4KLY34/

$28 delivered!

 

[Podmonkey]

How much was this? Seems like it could be a powerful tool for team based SHTF antics. What with the landnav feature in addition to comms. Seems like a pretty low profile comms setup too, as opposed to radios in pouches and helmet mounted accoutrements. What kind of security can be run with this? Can it be encrypted?
@Willjr75's comms thread awhile back had me facinated, I don't have all that much knowledge of radio comms and communication in any sort of situation is vital.

 

[Marine Cpl]

How much was this? Seems like it could be a powerful tool for team based SHTF antics. What with the landnav feature in addition to comms. Seems like a pretty low profile comms setup too, as opposed to radios in pouches and helmet mounted accoutrements. What kind of security can be run with this? Can it be encrypted?
@Willjr75's comms thread awhile back had me facinated, I don't have all that much knowledge of radio comms and communication in any sort of situation is vital.

It's the range that's the problem. They can now only legally make the FRS frequencies 2 Watts. You can get about 2 miles out of them but that's in a flat desert. Once you add mountains, trees, and structures, it's basically line of sight. If you can see them, you can hear them.

With handhelds, you get 1 and half times the wattage with a 5 watt and 3 times the wattage with an 8 watt.

You need a license but none of that matters when laws don't matter.

 

[Podmonkey]

It's the range that's the problem. They can now only legally make the FRS frequencies 2 Watts. You can get about 2 miles out of them but that's in a flat desert. Once you add mountains, trees, and structures, it's basically line of sight. If you can see them, you can hear them.

With handhelds, you get 1 and half times the wattage with a 5 watt and 3 times the wattage with an 8 watt.

You need a license but none of that matters when laws don't matter.

Hmnn, I see. If I had actual freinds I might go out and get a radio. But I don't. I don't even like talking on my CB, keep it shut off most of the time.

 

[FrankenCub]

There's been good reviews on these antennas that can be had for the Baofengs and are super flexible. Lifetime guarantee and cheap.
Antennas

 

[Marine Cpl]

Hmnn, I see. If I had actual freinds I might go out and get a radio. But I don't. I don't even like talking on my CB, keep it shut off most of the time.

I have them mostly for family. My wife's family is 4 miles down the road. If things ever got bad were normal communications went down, I'd give them a radio. These radios would reach them with no problem.

I even have the local fire, EMS, and police set to monitor only their frequencies. Every once in a while I'll monitor them to see what's doing and to keep up on their lingo.

CB's are good too. You can't monitor police but you can communicate about a mile or so legally. Many trucks have illegal antennas and boosters that'll get them many miles depending on the weather conditions.

 

[Phazer]

FRS is low powered. You are better off with a 30 dollar Baofeng that you can program to any frequency with a range of about 5 miles.

I've got those (acquired years after the FRS radios) and programmed them with the Chirp PC application.

One of them has a crappy squelch and frequently blurts out loud static when it should be silent.

 

[freddy]

I've got those (acquired years after the DRS radios) and programmed them with the Chirp PC application.

One of them has a crappy squelch and frequently blurts out loud static when it should be silent.

What did you expect for only $28?

 

[Podmonkey]

I have them mostly for family. My wife's family is 4 miles down the road. If things ever got bad were normal communications went down, I'd give them a radio. These radios would reach them with no problem.

I even have the local fire, EMS, and police set to monitor only their frequencies. Every once in a while I'll monitor them to see what's doing and to keep up on their lingo.

CB's are good too. You can't monitor police but you can communicate about a mile or so legally. Many trucks have illegal antennas and boosters that'll get them many miles depending on the weather conditions.

Many? They sell that shit with the radio and'll install it for you to boot. I get the impression that enforcement of these radio laws aren't particularly well enforced.

 

[Phazer]

What did you expect for only $28?

Pretty much what I got.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Many? They sell that shit with the radio and'll install it for you to boot. I get the impression that enforcement of these radio laws aren't particularly well enforced.

You have to cause problems for them to enforce those laws. On CB, they've pretty much gave up unless you are stationary and cause interference with something important. Most everyone has illegal high powered wattage.

On ham radio, you have to interfere with other ham operators. Once that happens they'll report you. It's rare though from what I've read.

If you stay on MURS or FRS frequencies on your handheld ham radio, you are pretty much left alone. There is no way to really enforce those frequencies since they are unlicensed ones and they'll really never know if you use extra wattage or a prohibited radio.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I've got those (acquired years after the DRS radios) and programmed them with the Chirp PC application.

One of them has a crappy squelch and frequently blurts out loud static when it should be silent.

Get a new one. They are so damned cheap. I use Chirp too.

 

[FrankenCub]

I bought a GT-3TP last year and have been using to monitor the local police, haven't messed with to transmit yet. I don't have any squelch issues with this one but it's a bit different than the others. Still cheap at $40 or so but I wasn't ready to spend the money on a Yaesu HT. But on the same hand if I break this one I won't feel so bad, not so if I broke a $150+ Yaesu.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I bought a GT-3TP last year and have been using to monitor the local police, haven't messed with to transmit yet. I don't have any squelch issues with this one but it's a bit different than the others. Still cheap at $40 or so but I wasn't ready to spend the money on a Yaesu HT. But on the same hand if I break this one I won't feel so bad, not so if I broke a $150+ Yaesu.

Baofengs are so cheap they are disposable. With that said, I've had one for 3 years now and it works fine. It always stays in my bag. The numbers on the key pads are wearing off now.

I don't have a squelch problem on any of the 4 I have. Perhaps it's because I set it to only open the channel if the right tone comes in via TSQL.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

I bought a GT-3TP last year and have been using to monitor the local police, haven't messed with to transmit yet. I don't have any squelch issues with this one but it's a bit different than the others. Still cheap at $40 or so but I wasn't ready to spend the money on a Yaesu HT. But on the same hand if I break this one I won't feel so bad, not so if I broke a $150+ Yaesu.

I am a radio dummy. What kind of range do you get with the one you mentioned? Sending and receiving.

Thx

 

[freddy]

It's the range that's the problem. They can now only legally make the FRS frequencies 2 Watts. You can get about 2 miles out of them but that's in a flat desert. Once you add mountains, trees, and structures, it's basically line of sight. If you can see them, you can hear them.

With handhelds, you get 1 and half times the wattage with a 5 watt and 3 times the wattage with an 8 watt.

You need a license but none of that matters when laws don't matter.

Am I missing something? Is this the new math?

2 x 1.5 = 5 ???

2 x 3 = 8 ???​

Aren't you too old to be a product of common core math?

 

[thegatman]

WTF

 

[Marine Cpl]

Am I missing something? Is this the new math?

2 x 1.5 = 5 ???

2 x 3 = 8 ???​

Aren't you too old to be a product of common core math?

If you already have 2 watts and you add another 3 watts, you've increased the wattage by 1.5 times as much.

Example

2 watts (1 radio) + 2 watts (1 radio) +1 watt (half a radio)

 

[FrankenCub]

I am a radio dummy. What kind of range do you get with the one you mentioned? Sending and receiving.

Thx

I haven't tried to see how far it'll transmit yet, need to get together with my nephew and my truck, his Baofeng is a 5w. The radio I have is tri-power, I think it's 2-5-8 watts. It seems to receive well, I listen to the Sheriff Dept a lot and pick up their cars from all over the county really clear and I'm at the northern boarder of Broome/Cortland Co. Transmit will be much different seems the mobile LEO rigs probably have 30-50w, maybe more.

 

[Redshirt]

Wattage only tells part of the story. In fact, the most important consideration is line of sight. On top of Bear Mountain I can easily hear and be heard on Long Island using 5 watts. But any sort of mountain or ridge between you and the other station will put an end to your communication even if you are putting out more wattage.

Get a good location for your antenna. That’s more important than wattage.