Best SHTF Radio?

[TLRMADE]

Ive read the radio thread and it didnt really cover what i was wanting. I am wanting a radio that can monitor ham radio stations and local radio stations. Also be able to communicate back with others. I realize that i cannot transmit without a license. But if i were in an emergency it really would not matter. Would this radio fit my needs? http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-136-174-400-480-Dual-Band/dp/B007H4VT7A

 

Could i get two of these radios and be able to communicate with each other during an emergency over a long distance? Also could i program this radio for local police/fire/emergency ch? I am new at all the radio lingo so please dumb it down on my behalf.

[R_Bert]

Ive read the radio thread and it didnt really cover what i was wanting. I am wanting a radio that can monitor ham radio stations and local radio stations. Also be able to communicate back with others. I realize that i cannot transmit without a license. But if i were in an emergency it really would not matter. Would this radio fit my needs? http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-136-174-400-480-Dual-Band/dp/B007H4VT7A

 

Could i get two of these radios and be able to communicate with each other during an emergency over a long distance? Also could i program this radio for local police/fire/emergency ch? I am new at all the radio lingo so please dumb it down on my behalf.
 

 

Long distance?  In a word, no, especially unassisted, point-to-point. However, this radio would have its uses.

 

Opinions will vary, but you would might have reliable comms from 1-5 miles, depending on terrain.  With other factors, techniques, and equipment, the range could be extended. As for the brand and reliability...well....short answer is look for stuff advertised in ham radio or commercial industry magazines - Icom, Kenwood, Motorola, Yaesu/Vertex, Wuoxun (??), etc.

 

 

I am working towards a more suitable answer in this Radio Basics thread, but still have a ways to go (I am adding info every week).  Keep checking back over the next month or so, and you will see equipment suggested for scenarios of 5 miles or less, 5-50 miles, and over 50 miles.

Edited February 21, 2013 by R_Bert

[TLRMADE]

Would this be a good option for the price though? And just in general what I'm looking for?

[R_Bert]

Would this be a good option for the price though? And just in general what I'm looking for?

 

no,

 

I suggest that you search for a pair of FRS radios on Amazon.  Look for good user reviews in your price range.

 

And you will be able to actually use the radios without risking/ incurring a $10K/day FCC fine.

[Miltech]

The Baofeng radio you show is a good wide coverage radio for the price. I have two of them and am surprised at what they do. They cover vhf/uhf ham and commercial frequencies including the frs and murs  frequencies that do not require a license. They are however not very user friendly either to use or to program. Programming can be done from the front panel but programming cables and software is available that makes the task easier.

 

I would only recommend them if you are willing to spend some time researching the radio. Lots of information on the internet if you search.  They also receive commercial FM radio and have a built in flashlight.

 

This radio will transmit and receive on any frequency in its range so someone can get into trouble if not used properly. I can be programmed with receive only channels with no problem to solve this issue.

 

I hope this helps.

[TLRMADE]

The Baofeng radio you show is a good wide coverage radio for the price. I have two of them and am surprised at what they do. They cover vhf/uhf ham and commercial frequencies including the frs and murs frequencies that do not require a license. They are however not very user friendly either to use or to program. Programming can be done from the front panel but programming cables and software is available that makes the task easier.

I would only recommend them if you are willing to spend some time researching the radio. Lots of information on the internet if you search. They also receive commercial FM radio and have a built in flashlight.

This radio will transmit and receive on any frequency in its range so someone can get into trouble if not used properly. I can be programmed with receive only channels with no problem to solve this issue.

I hope this helps.

Yea I've been watching videos and reading about it for the past few hours.

[TLRMADE]

no,

I suggest that you search for a pair of FRS radios on Amazon. Look for good user reviews in your price range.

And you will be able to actually use the radios without risking/ incurring a $10K/day FCC fine.

Haha when I typed in best FRS radios the Beofangs popped up on Amazon.

[R_Bert]

Miltech, on the one he linked, I would advise against using it for FRS.

 

It is not rated nor certified for anything other than the ham bands (and it requires a license for that). 

 

Any other use, well...to relate it to firearms..sort of like using NFA devices without the stamp.   Go ahead if you want to assume the risk.

 

I guess thats about I have to say on this.  I gave sage and proper advice, and that's the best I can do. Y'all carry on.

Edited February 21, 2013 by R_Bert

[Miltech]

Miltech, on the one he linked, I would advise against using it for FRS.

 

It is not rated nor certified for anything other than the ham bands (and it requires a license for that). 

 

Any other use, well...to relate it to firearms..sort of like using NFA devices without the stamp.   Go ahead if you want to assume the risk.

 

I guess thats about I have to say on this.  I gave sage and proper advice, and that's the best I can do. Y'all carry on.

Actually it is part 90 accepted and  the most common interpretation of the rules is that it is ok for part 95 requirements since the part 90 requirements exceed those of 95, technically not legal for FRS only (I believe) due to the removable antenna. Power levels are adjustable. Licenses required for most (not all) frequencies.

 

I agree with your statement on FRS legality because it does not meet all of the requirements.

[enfield]

California man fined $24k for unlicensed radio usage.

 

[url]http://www.arrl.org/news/view/fcc-upholds-california-man-s-24-000-fine-for-unlicensed-radio-operations-refusing-inspection-of-radi[/url]

 

Your mileage probably won't vary.

 

=====================

 

There's a cheap, easy and legal way to get on the air.  Why do it the hard way?

Edited February 21, 2013 by enfield

[2.ooohhh]

In an actual emergency or SHTF situation and you are calling for or rendering assistance - it's OK to operate a ham radio without a license.

 

 

That said, if you want to learn how to use that radio on HAM bands before you or someone else is in life threatening peril, you will need a license. They are not hard to aquire nor expensive. I will say that I'm on the radio all the time when SHTF but I volunteer for the red cross and if your stepping on our freqs. and not in immediate danger you will be recorded and reported to the FCC and likely fined after the fact.

 

So if you don't have a license think of the radio as more of a secondary way to dial 911. If you wouldn't be calling 911 for assistance in the same situation then you aren't authorized to be on the airwaves.

 

You may even get the radio and listen and find a bunch of clear frequencies right now and think it's NBD but as soon as the local cell site infrastructure is overwelmed in a disaster you'll be amazed how fast almost all of the different bands fill up with HAMs communicating.

Edited February 21, 2013 by 2.ooohhh

[Wingshooter]

Let's assume a person was willing to get or has a license... Is this radio any good as a starter/practice or emergency radio to keep in the bug out bag? At that price, one could afford a few. Or, is it significantly inferior to higher priced models? Edited February 21, 2013 by Batman

[2.ooohhh]

Let's assume a person was willing to get or has a license... Is this radio any good as a starter/practice or emergency radio to keep in the bug out bag? At that price, one could afford a few. Or, is it significantly inferior to higher priced models?

I might keep it in a bug out bag as a spare, but I have a Yaesu VX-8R that has proven itself very dependable when SHTF several times already and works on all 3 bands we typically use in a disaster.

 

Mine is much more expensive, but it's very reliable, works across 4 bands, and is submersable which is why I have it. My last handheld before this bit the dust during the Nashville flood. Water incursion and electronics don't get along and I knew that but if you need your radio and it's raining putting it away or keeping it dry isn't always a viable option.

 

I would probably get the $40 radio and get my license, use it a little bit and see if I thought HAM was something I would want to use in a disaster. It's much more complicated than a cell phone once you step away from simple GRMS radios, but much more capable if you take the time to learn it. Once you know your way around it's much easier to pick out a radio that best suits your needs. I know I wish I had purchased a submersible radio my first go round. :2cents:

Edited February 21, 2013 by 2.ooohhh

[TLRMADE]

Let's assume a person was willing to get or has a license... Is this radio any good as a starter/practice or emergency radio to keep in the bug out bag? At that price, one could afford a few. Or, is it significantly inferior to higher priced models?

Read my mind. That's what I'm trying to ask haha

[2.ooohhh]

Read my mind. That's what I'm trying to ask haha

Price wise for the features it is a great handheld for starting out. It will likely not be the easiest to start with but you could do it if you put your mind to it. What's hard to get across about some radios is that the more features they offer, the more complicated they are to get operational. 

 

These are not devises that you will unbox when you need them and pick through the menus intuitively setting up the radio on the fly. You will need to put several hours into reading the manual, choosing what frequencies to program into it based on your local services/repeaters, setting up the software and programming in the channels you want as well as selecting antenneas that will optomize the transmitter for the frequencies you want to be able to transmit on.

 

Keep in mind that this radio only posesses 5w max on TX, to put that in perspective my 2m(same band) mobile in our responder's vehicles is a 65w transmitter, our radio room utilizes a 100w transmitter.

 

 

That 5w radio will get word out great on the salt flats, but around Nashville unless your on top of a hill or have a large stationary antennea to attach it to it's not going to be too much better than an off the shelf FRS radio save for the fact you can put a more efficient antennea on it.

 

 

Most radio communications are line of sight, so often antennea placement or height is much more important than watts. Having both makes communicating as consistant as possible which is why our radio trucks(ECRV) have 60ft masts with our antenneas on them. 

 

 

 

So while your 5w radios may work fine to call out to us, and we'll have the power to respond back that the message was recieved a pair of 5w radios will not have anywhere near that range from one to the other.

 

 

 

I just wanted to add that R_bert's thread is an outstanding resource if your trying to get a grasp on all this stuff. I didn't know much about it until I got involved with the Red Cross a few years back and it's really opened my eyes to how useful that information has been and made me wish I had found a thread like his years ago.

 

I can give you lots of real world experience using radios for communication when SHTF but I'm far from an expert on HAM. I operated sans license(not required if rendering aid in a disaster) for my first 2 years with the Red Cross now I'm studying to "upgrade" so I can use my radios all the time. :)

Edited February 22, 2013 by 2.ooohhh

[Guest uofmeet]

Not all Radio Communications is line of sight. Maybe most, but not all.

 

 

 

 

 

As far as UHF/VHF, that is def line of sight 99% of the time. There is always an exception that disproves the rule. When it comes to RF, there are many exceptions.

[2.ooohhh]

Not all Radio Communications is line of sight. Maybe most, but not all.

 

 

 

 

 

As far as UHF/VHF, that is def line of sight 99% of the time. There is always an exception that disproves the rule. When it comes to RF, there are many exceptions.

 

Good catch, I meant to put a most in there. :)  Still studying for my test so I fully appreciate any corrections any current HAMs have to offer.

Edited February 23, 2013 by 2.ooohhh

[Backon4]

What about just a regular handheld cb? Worth the cost or effort?

[enfield]

I've owned a couple of them.  They were just toys, regardless of cost.  Good for short distances, line-of-sight.  Not enough power to be heard over the idiots, though.