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> Everyone grumbles about Baofeng people, but I've had some contact with rural police and fire departments and you would be amazed at the things their "radio te

> Everyone grumbles about Baofeng people, but I've had some contact with rural police and fire departments and you would be amazed at the things their "radio technician" (chief's nephew) thinks are a good idea. @jcrawfordor, what kind of bad ideas have you heard of here?

Animats 5y ago
He's talking about these: [1] They're cheap VHF FM analog handheld radios. Prices start around US$30. They can emit on the 462 MHz and 467 MHz Family Radio Service and General Mobile Radio Service bands, usable by anyone in the US and. That's fine. They can also emit in amateur radio bands, at higher power (8 watts claimed), which requires a ham license. The device controls do not make much of a distinction between the two modes. They're often used in the ham bands by non-hams, mostly preppers, hunters, militias, and people who own too much camo. This annoys radio hams. [1] https://baofengradio.us/ https://baofengradio.us/
- sbierwagen 5y ago
  GMRS is not unlicensed. A license currently costs $70, is good for ten years, and can only be used by you and your immediate family. Baofengs are not type certified for FRS or GMRS, since their transmission power is too high and the antennas are not permanently attached. It is illegal to use them on those frequencies, even if you have a ham or GMRS license, though enforcement is nonexistent.
- fortran77 5y ago
  It's not legal to use a Baofeng on GMRS and FRS because they're not "type accepted" for this purpose though there's little chance you'll get caught.
- usrn 5y ago
  They're specifically for HAMs. You should not be transmitting on FRS with those even if the software lets you do it, that's why there's no distinction: the user is expected to know what they're doing. RE: Preppers Most of the preppers I know that bother with these get their HAM license (They usually get General class actually, so they can use HF.) Maybe you live near some poorly behaved nut cases but I have yet to meet those.
jcrawfordor 5y ago
In my experience it used to be common for rural PDs and FDs to just have every frequency someone could think of, within band, programmed into their radios regardless of authorization. I've even seen a rural PD distribute amateur radios to unlicensed officers as part of very half-thought-out emcomm plan. This is getting less common these days as more and more rural public safety organizations transition to state-run trunking networks.

Animats 5y ago

He's talking about these: [1] They're cheap VHF FM analog handheld radios. Prices start around US$30. They can emit on the 462 MHz and 467 MHz Family Radio Service and General Mobile Radio Service bands, usable by anyone in the US and. That's fine. They can also emit in amateur radio bands, at higher power (8 watts claimed), which requires a ham license. The device controls do not make much of a distinction between the two modes. They're often used in the ham bands by non-hams, mostly preppers, hunters, militias, and people who own too much camo. This annoys radio hams. [1] https://baofengradio.us/ https://baofengradio.us/

sbierwagen 5y ago
GMRS is not unlicensed. A license currently costs $70, is good for ten years, and can only be used by you and your immediate family. Baofengs are not type certified for FRS or GMRS, since their transmission power is too high and the antennas are not permanently attached. It is illegal to use them on those frequencies, even if you have a ham or GMRS license, though enforcement is nonexistent.
fortran77 5y ago
It's not legal to use a Baofeng on GMRS and FRS because they're not "type accepted" for this purpose though there's little chance you'll get caught.
usrn 5y ago
They're specifically for HAMs. You should not be transmitting on FRS with those even if the software lets you do it, that's why there's no distinction: the user is expected to know what they're doing. RE: Preppers Most of the preppers I know that bother with these get their HAM license (They usually get General class actually, so they can use HF.) Maybe you live near some poorly behaved nut cases but I have yet to meet those.

jcrawfordor 5y ago

In my experience it used to be common for rural PDs and FDs to just have every frequency someone could think of, within band, programmed into their radios regardless of authorization. I've even seen a rural PD distribute amateur radios to unlicensed officers as part of very half-thought-out emcomm plan. This is getting less common these days as more and more rural public safety organizations transition to state-run trunking networks.