Communication

[Unimog]

Why is it illegal to run on the cb frequencies?

Each radio must be certified or type-rated by the FCC for the frequencies that it transmits on to be sure that it doesn't create noise or bleed over into other frequencies. Nobody certifies a radio for both Ham and general consumer use. The FCC treats public, commercial, and amateur (ham) frequencies completely different. My guess is that they would not allow a rig to be certified for multiple uses. I don't know if a company has ever tried.

 

[Greg]

Speaking of illegal, Rugged for fined by the FCC over radios that operate outside their guidelines. - https://thedesk.matthewkeys.net/2020/12/rugged-radios-fcc-citation-unauthorized-frequency/

 

[Kevin B.]

Speaking of illegal, Rugged for fined by the FCC over radios that operate outside their guidelines. - https://thedesk.matthewkeys.net/2020/12/rugged-radios-fcc-citation-unauthorized-frequency/

Do you have access to the rest of that article? The image shows a UV5R. I'm curious if they got fined just because they were reselling them, or if they marketed them as able to transmit on the GMRS and ham frequencies.

 

[Greg]

Do you have access to the rest of that article? The image shows a UV5R. I'm curious if they got fined just because they were reselling them, or if they marketed them as able to transmit on the GMRS and ham frequencies.

I don't, but a Google search will bring up more info.

 

[Kevin B.]

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-20-1395A1.pdf

Sorta made my eyes glaze over, but that reads like they were marketing and selling them with preprogrammed frequencies outside of ham band, and then gave the FCC info for a different radio when they got called on it.

 

[jeeper]

Is there a car charger for the Boefeng radios? All I can find is a 12v plug that goes into the regular charging base.. but that wont be very helpful while bouncing around a trail.

 

[Herzog]

Is there a car charger for the Boefeng radios? All I can find is a 12v plug that goes into the regular charging base.. but that wont be very helpful while bouncing around a trail.

I picked up a pair of larger batteries for the radios and they have a port for external charging on them. So I found a usb charge cable for them that works quite well.

Batteries:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MNTFD4P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

USB charge cable:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074H4TV3Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[bryson]

I have an adapter that replaces the battery pack with a 12 volt cord.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Adapter-Eliminator-Baofeng-Uv-5re/dp/B00MK350N2/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=baofeng+12v+adapter&qid=1623949999&sr=8-5

Works great.

 

[jeeper]

I picked up a pair of larger batteries for the radios and they have a port for external charging on them. So I found a usb charge cable for them that works quite well.

Batteries:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MNTFD4P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

USB charge cable:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074H4TV3Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is what I was also looking at. But it cost the same as 2 new radios. 🤦‍♂️

Purchased anyway.

 

[jeeper]

I have an adapter that replaces the battery pack with a 12 volt cord on it.

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Adapter-Eliminator-Baofeng-Uv-5re/dp/B00MK350N2/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=baofeng+12v+adapter&qid=1623949999&sr=8-5

Works great.

I've also got that in my Ebay cart

 

[spaggyroe]

@Herzog, @mbryson, @jeeper, and others... What model of Boefeng did you get, and is there anything you dislike about that model?

 

[Herzog]

@Herzog, @mbryson, @jeeper, and others... What model of Boefeng did you get, and is there anything you dislike about that model?

I got this exact set but it was cheaper when I got it over a year ago:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VD9NY6N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've been pretty happy with them. I've upgraded the antennas and got extra batteries. It's nice having an extra to hand out to friends.

I recently just ordered another that I'm going to setup as a loaner as well:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074XPB313/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I just used CHIRP to program it to match the other two I have so I can just hand over the radio on the same channel(s).

For the price, they work pretty amazing. They don't get nearly the range that a nice higher powered vehicle mounted unit will get but they are worlds better than using a CB. I was able to head up a trail and get a hold of Blacksheep and find where he was camping. We figured he didn't hear my tranmission until I was about a mile out but the terrain up there isn't exactly ideal. Pretty handy and awesome.

I have a dash mount that I made so I can just hang it and plug a mic in for the tacoma. I'll get some photos of that next time I jump in it.

 

[Herzog]

This is the best mic I've found for these radios so far:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MX4J3W8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The boefeng branded mic is junk and you can't hear crap on it.

 

[Mouse]

x2 on CHIRP

 

[Unimog]

I've got a few BF-8HP models. Seem to be competent. I'll third the advice to use CHIRP. My only complaint is that the BF-8HP battery goes dead over a week or two if left in them. I've also programmed several UV5R models for friends. Virtually the same device, with a little less power. I actually also have a couple of UV3R models for extreme portability, but they have far less power than the 8HP or UV5R.

 

[Herzog]

I wonder if we should have a CHIRP thread where we can share our channel layouts. That'd be neat. I'm still in diapers with this stuff but I find it interesting and fun.

 

[mbryson]

@Herzog, @mbryson, @jeeper, and others... What model of Boefeng did you get, and is there anything you dislike about that model?

i have a Yaesu and an Icom. No Baoefang for me so far

 

[jeeper]

I just have the Uv5r's. They are quite a bit cheaper on Ebay than Amazon.

 

[spaggyroe]

For those who have received your ham license, where did you test?

 

[Jinx]

Its been a while but my wife and I took it at the Salt Lake County Building on 21st and state