So how about a SigForum emergency radio community?
January 30, 2024, 01:05 PM
thumperfbc
I’ve got 6 of them in my house… first pair was purchased several years back. I also got my siblings and parents to buy a couple each and then I programmed them all (manually… should have bought the cable) so they all match. I also programmed all the FRS (I think that’s the term) bands that are used in commercial recreational walnut talkies. To stay under the radar we mostly only use those channels when we are caravanning or camping or whatnot… but other options are programmed to.
January 30, 2024, 02:43 PM
dking271
Well, I just bought two of these and will get my tech license in the next few weeks. It’s been on my list of things to do for about 20 years.
_________________________ "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last” - Winston Churchil
January 30, 2024, 03:48 PM
oddball
quote:
Originally posted by 911Boss: The Tidradio TD-H8 is a legitimate 10w vs. the (advertised) 5w or 8w BF models. I say “legitimate” as the ones I received transmit a measured 9.4/9.6 watts on my power meter. The “5w” BF models I’ve had never put out more than 4 watts and the “8w” model I had (briefly) only put out 5.5 watts.
The TD-H8 seems has a higher build quality with more stout case and seemingly heavier duty buttons. It also has a much nicer and larger display, strong audio output, built in BT programming via phone app, USB-C charging and/or drop in cradle, is FCC type accepted and user configurable as a dual band (VHF/UHF) HAM or GMRS radio.
I picked up a set recently and have been pretty impressed with them so far. Programming via the app is pretty slick and easy to do.
I got a pair of these, black ones, late last year, my friend talked me out of the Baofengs because I was naive enough to think we could use them as GMRS radios to start with, and he instructed me to get these. My plan was to get my one GMRS license (no exam) for both me and my wife, and have at it, but he said the Baofengs were not legally signed off by the FCC for this purpose, plus he heard they were not easy to program to GMRS anyways. But he came up with the Tipradio Gen 2, which is both FCC approved ham and GMRS.
They're still in the box, I have only futz'd around with one of them receiving and not transmitting. I have been procrastinating on filling out the FCC stuff online and paying the $65 for a family license, but I think I'll get it this week. Then once I get comfortable with them, get my technician ticket, and hopefully my wife may be interested in getting hers.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
January 30, 2024, 03:57 PM
bronicabill
Just one more question... Is Para getting commission on the sale of these things?
If so, I just ordered a pair also, plus the programming cable and reference book...
____________________________ Bill R. North Alabama
_____________________________ I just can't quit grinnin' from all of this winnin'!
January 30, 2024, 04:15 PM
SigSentry
quote:
Originally posted by Mustang-PaPa: So how about a SigForum emergency radio community?
We're gonna need some big ass antennas and lots of repeaters but the thought also crossed my mind. I thought this video was funny from HRCC.
CQ, CQ, W9GFO here . Wonder where she is now, MIT?
Still in Long Beach I see. Someone mentioned you are probably doxed as a HAM.
Originally posted by 911Boss: The Tidradio TD-H8 is a legitimate 10w vs. the (advertised) 5w or 8w BF models. I say “legitimate” as the ones I received transmit a measured 9.4/9.6 watts on my power meter. The “5w” BF models I’ve had never put out more than 4 watts and the “8w” model I had (briefly) only put out 5.5 watts.
The TD-H8 seems has a higher build quality with more stout case and seemingly heavier duty buttons. It also has a much nicer and larger display, strong audio output, built in BT programming via phone app, USB-C charging and/or drop in cradle, is FCC type accepted and user configurable as a dual band (VHF/UHF) HAM or GMRS radio.
I picked up a set recently and have been pretty impressed with them so far. Programming via the app is pretty slick and easy to do.
I got a pair of these, black ones, late last year, my friend talked me out of the Baofengs because I was naive enough to think we could use them as GMRS radios to start with, and he instructed me to get these. My plan was to get my one GMRS license (no exam) for both me and my wife, and have at it, but he said the Baofengs were not legally signed off by the FCC for this purpose, plus he heard they were not easy to program to GMRS anyways. But he came up with the Tipradio Gen 2, which is both FCC approved ham and GMRS.
They're still in the box, I have only futz'd around with one of them receiving and not transmitting. I have been procrastinating on filling out the FCC stuff online and paying the $65 for a family license, but I think I'll get it this week. Then once I get comfortable with them, get my technician ticket, and hopefully my wife may be interested in getting hers.
Well, looks like procrastination may have paid off for you. A GMRS license is now $35 for 10 years!
"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people." "Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy." "I did," said Ford, "it is." "So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?" "It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want." "You mean they actually vote for the lizards." "Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course." "But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?" "Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in."
January 30, 2024, 04:25 PM
oddball
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Wow, thanks for the info, I had no idea!
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
January 30, 2024, 04:59 PM
trapper189
quote:
Originally posted by parabellum: BweeFang: RECEIVED
Lookin' for the FCCs
There’s a button on the side of the radio. You press it and tell them you are looking for them. They will come to you, especially if you use colorful language for F, C, C.
January 30, 2024, 05:32 PM
Chowser
I actually bought a pair last month. I haven't gotten around to setting them up yet. My son (17) lives with his mother which is 3.5 miles from my house. I'm pretty sure the range will be fine.
Not minority enough!
January 30, 2024, 05:41 PM
911Boss
quote:
Originally posted by mark60: I already have an 8 watt Baofeng. If I want to add a second radio is the 8 watt worth the extra money over the pair of 5 watt radio's that Para bought?
Just beware - I’ve never seen a BF hit advertised power.
Admittedly I’ve only tested a handful, but most of the other folks I’ve talked with experience the same. The 5w models tend to transmit about 3.5-4w and the 8w models 6-6.5w.
The way radio and power works is to double the range, you need to QUADRUPLE the power output.
If you are truly set on a BF, I wouldn’t spend the extra money for an “8w” model.
What part of "...Shall not be infringed" don't you understand???
January 30, 2024, 05:59 PM
stoic-one
Just in case anyone was wondering why the price on these dropped, according to their website UV-5R, these are - Category: Discontinued Handheld Products.
Not that it matters from a functionality standpoint.
These are NOT easy to program, nor do they have a very read-able display. But, ICOM.
Get your amateur license, and join the community of ham radio!
------- Trying to simplify my life...
January 30, 2024, 08:18 PM
Jraz
XYL (Wife) aced the test not sure she can change a light bulb. Some times I think I have more radios than sense. Take the tech test and buy a GMRS license and be done with it. Fun hobby.
January 31, 2024, 05:56 AM
trapper189
Just for fun, I took a practice test and scored one question shy of passing.
Then I read maybe the first 80 pages of KB6NU’s free PDF study guide and scored 30 out of 35 on the next practice test. I spent about an hour and a half total between the two tests and reading.
It helped that I’m familiar with a multimeter, Ohm’s law, circuit schematics, from car, boat, and homeownership. It also helped that I’m familiar with some radio and antenna terminology from monkeying around TV, AM/FM, CB, Marine VHF, and GMRS. A little basic physics and knowing unit conversions, like knowing the speed of light and being able to convert it to m/s.
January 31, 2024, 06:11 AM
Bassamatic
Well, you can add me to the growing list of purchasing a pair of these. Ordered mine yesterday and Amazon says I will get it Thursday... pretty damn impressive shipping.
Looking forward to going down this rabbit hole.
.....never marry a woman who is mean to your waitress.
____________________________ NRA Life Member, Annual Member GOA, MGO Annual Member
January 31, 2024, 08:17 AM
LouieH
Dave Casler has a huge number of videos on you tube and breaks down both the Tech and General study guides by chapter. easy to watch and concise for those interested in getting licensed. for the Extra exam, I would recommend a series of videos, also on youtube by W4EEY.
January 31, 2024, 08:38 AM
220-9er
I finally couldn't resist. Just looked again and they're now $35.09 with free Prime shipping.
Losing internet for an hour now shows me that most of us have much less ability to communicate than I did as a child. We don't have any sort of landline phones anymore in my home and that becomes a problem when any sort of communications outage happens. That includes losing electrical power to operate the router. A serious storm or natural disaster, anything slightly less than the apocalypse that many think of with this type of system, shows why they could be essential at some point.
Originally posted by Chowser: I actually bought a pair last month. I haven't gotten around to setting them up yet. My son (17) lives with his mother which is 3.5 miles from my house. I'm pretty sure the range will be fine.
Maybe, maybe not. If not though, when it comes to VHF and UHF frequencies, height is might. Clear line of sight from one antenna to the other is a far bigger factor than power output of the radios when it comes to range. The higher you can mount the antenna the clearer that line of sight will be.
You probably can't do much about the situation at your son's mother's house, but at yours a good antenna mounted as high as you can get it at yours can give you a whole lot more reach.
"The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people." "Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy." "I did," said Ford, "it is." "So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?" "It honestly doesn't occur to them. They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates the government they want." "You mean they actually vote for the lizards." "Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course." "But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?" "Because if they didn't vote for a lizard, then the wrong lizard might get in."
. Wonder where she is now, MIT?
