4 ms·

Anyone remember the cybiko? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybiko https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybiko

Daegalus 5y ago
Oh man, I either had one, or something similar. Or at least wanting one. I thought it would be cool to have dedicated messaging devices.
- jhgb 5y ago
  > I thought it would be cool to have dedicated messaging devices. You mean something like phones?
  - nine_k 5y ago
    Like walkie-talkies. Phones only work as communication devices in vicinity of the network towers.
    - jhgb 5y ago
      Perhaps, but that doesn't mean phones are not "dedicated", though.
      - ALittleLight 5y ago
        My phone is more of a portable web browser that can send messages.
        jhgb 5y ago
        I was talking more about those that used to be decent self-defense weapons.
    - vel0city 5y ago
      Amateur radio can kind do this. In fact there are text message digital modes like APRS. With digipeaters in the area I can send messages from a 5W handheld around the city. You can also then see APRS data online through sites like aprs.fi The only thing is there's no encryption on amateur radio.
      - rsync 5y ago
        The other "only thing is ..." is that there aren't any devices. Whatever (text messaging on a HAM band) you want to use, there is not a qwerty (or touchscreen) device that you can use to compose those messages. You either need to connect a computer to such a device or (I think) there are one or two handheld radios that you can type out messages using multi-tap.[1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-tap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-tap
        vel0city 5y ago
        Yeah I agree it's somewhat frustrating there isn't an all in one device with a QWERTY keyboard but I usually Bluetooth pair my phone to my radio and use APRSDroid for a better messaging experience.
        markzzerella 5y ago
        I like my th-d74 quite a bit. I even use the aprs to sms bridge when I'm out of cell service and in a pinch.
        deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
    - cbeley 5y ago
      Why not a satalite messenger? I'm doing a lot of solo travel in remote areas with limited to no cell service. My Inreach Mini pairs to my phone and then I can text whomever I want and turn on location tracking when I want people to know where I am. It's worked really well and I've abused the unlimited plan chatting with a few close people while lonely in the woods.
GlassOwAter 5y ago
I loved mine!
f38zf5vdt 5y ago
I had one!
barbs 5y ago
LGR did a pretty good review/retrospective on that recently: https://youtu.be/38VEBOseAzM https://youtu.be/38VEBOseAzM
- andai 5y ago
  Someone in the comments mentioned that the range is significantly lower in the US version due to FCC regulations. Someone replied "but you can flash the UK version to get better range. (...to which someone replied, "but that would be illegal" :)

Oh man, I either had one, or something similar. Or at least wanting one. I thought it would be cool to have dedicated messaging devices.

jhgb 5y ago
> I thought it would be cool to have dedicated messaging devices. You mean something like phones?
- nine_k 5y ago
  Like walkie-talkies. Phones only work as communication devices in vicinity of the network towers.
  - jhgb 5y ago
    Perhaps, but that doesn't mean phones are not "dedicated", though.
    - ALittleLight 5y ago
      My phone is more of a portable web browser that can send messages.
      - jhgb 5y ago
        I was talking more about those that used to be decent self-defense weapons.
  - vel0city 5y ago
    Amateur radio can kind do this. In fact there are text message digital modes like APRS. With digipeaters in the area I can send messages from a 5W handheld around the city. You can also then see APRS data online through sites like aprs.fi The only thing is there's no encryption on amateur radio.
    - rsync 5y ago
      The other "only thing is ..." is that there aren't any devices. Whatever (text messaging on a HAM band) you want to use, there is not a qwerty (or touchscreen) device that you can use to compose those messages. You either need to connect a computer to such a device or (I think) there are one or two handheld radios that you can type out messages using multi-tap.[1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-tap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-tap
      - vel0city 5y ago
        Yeah I agree it's somewhat frustrating there isn't an all in one device with a QWERTY keyboard but I usually Bluetooth pair my phone to my radio and use APRSDroid for a better messaging experience.
      - markzzerella 5y ago
        I like my th-d74 quite a bit. I even use the aprs to sms bridge when I'm out of cell service and in a pinch.
      - deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
  - cbeley 5y ago
    Why not a satalite messenger? I'm doing a lot of solo travel in remote areas with limited to no cell service. My Inreach Mini pairs to my phone and then I can text whomever I want and turn on location tracking when I want people to know where I am. It's worked really well and I've abused the unlimited plan chatting with a few close people while lonely in the woods.

GlassOwAter 5y ago

I loved mine!

f38zf5vdt 5y ago

I had one!

barbs 5y ago

LGR did a pretty good review/retrospective on that recently: https://youtu.be/38VEBOseAzM https://youtu.be/38VEBOseAzM

andai 5y ago
Someone in the comments mentioned that the range is significantly lower in the US version due to FCC regulations. Someone replied "but you can flash the UK version to get better range. (...to which someone replied, "but that would be illegal" :)