Important

[MKR5150]

On vacation, posting from the supper clean portojohns at MIOBI Memorial Day weekend event. Didn't get the buggy done but it's only 2 -3 solid day away from completion so I'm wheeling the red 2dr. Been about 8 months since I've last wheeled.

Enjoy and remember why Memorial Day is a holiday, thank a vet or active anu chance you get. THANKS!

 

[Smash Hole]

Working on my honey-do list today. I've been neglecting the projects that T has had for me, partially because of the broken wrist, which I was released back to work without restrictions yesterday.

Old, ugly, electricity sucking light..

New, sleek, electricity sipping led light..

I just converted my house over to LED. Menard's had a deal going with some sort of clean energy subsidy thingy with the local powerplant and I was able to get bulbs for 70% off. Very impressed with them so far. On top of that I get a rebate through Holland BPW, so essentially I get paid $2 per bulb

 

[scoobyxj]

What's the scoop on these things? From what I've gathered they're around $30 on Amazon. You can program the FRS channels into them plus they will transmit/receive on other channels (like fire police ect.). You're supposed to have a license to transmit, but staying on the FRS channels is unlikely to get you into trouble. Worth buying, or are they no better than just using a regular FRS only radio for FRS communication?

 

[87manche]

FRS radios are limited to half a watt.
This will do 5.
Fixed FRS antennas suck.
A real 70cm antenna makes your reception much improved.

I picked up the local municipal radio repeater from 15 miles away the other day on my drive home, with it sitting in my cup holder playing FM radio.

You can lock out the other channels from the ability to transmit using the software. That will let you listen to the HAM bands and whatever else you can pick up, but not possibly transmit.

edit:
It also has a real battery and charger. I've been using mine to play the radio and generally been playing with it constantly for the last 3 days, I haven't charged it yet. battery life is pretty good if you're not broadcasting.

 

[macgyvr]

Most of the public safety in our area are on a digital band trunk system.

Our system is on an encrypted chip...even scanner land can't listen.

A few years ago the FCC made all public service move off the 800 band to 700...we've moved since then and I'm not even sure we are still in the 700. I would doubt these radios could transmit on a public safety channel.

mac 'but I've been wrong before' gyvr

 

[w_howey]

Most of the public safety in our area are on a digital band trunk system.

Our system is on an encrypted chip...even scanner land can't listen.

A few years ago the FCC made all public service move off the 800 band to 700...we've moved since then and I'm not even sure we are still in the 700. I would doubt these radios could transmit on a public safety channel.

mac 'but I've been wrong before' gyvr

Our local FDs are on 154 still and most of the small PDs are still in the 450s. You city boys got the big money from the Patriot Act to move first to 800. Then the telecoms gave the FCC even more money to get you out of there and into the old military 700 band.

 

[w_howey]

FRS radios are limited to half a watt.
This will do 5.
Fixed FRS antennas suck.
A real 70cm antenna makes your reception much improved.

I picked up the local municipal radio repeater from 15 miles away the other day on my drive home, with it sitting in my cup holder playing FM radio.

You can lock out the other channels from the ability to transmit using the software. That will let you listen to the HAM bands and whatever else you can pick up, but not possibly transmit.

edit:
It also has a real battery and charger. I've been using mine to play the radio and generally been playing with it constantly for the last 3 days, I haven't charged it yet. battery life is pretty good if you're not broadcasting.

It missed your comment about type acceptance. But you answered what my question was going to be without knowing it. Being able to lockout transmitting is how it gets certified.

 

[terrehautian]

Anyone got a link to everything? I was going to do this but haven't had time to look for it yet.

 

[87manche]

Most of the public safety in our area are on a digital band trunk system.

Our system is on an encrypted chip...even scanner land can't listen.

A few years ago the FCC made all public service move off the 800 band to 700...we've moved since then and I'm not even sure we are still in the 700. I would doubt these radios could transmit on a public safety channel.

mac 'but I've been wrong before' gyvr

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=694

encrypted P25.

Still in the 85x mhz range according to the database, last updated about a year ago.
P25 encryption has been broken, it has a flawed implementation, and it was only 40bit RC4 to begin with (assuming moto radios). Anyone can listen if they've got half a brain, can solder a discriminator into a radio and compile some code.

If my county were doing P25 I'd be breaking it, but we didn't get on that bandwagon, and now the state is funding the move to NXDN.
NXDN encryption is for serious. AES based and likely in the 128-156 bit range.
Currently no one has broken it with a shortcut, and it would take a consumer level PC decades to run through the possible key set. You might shorten that to a year if you cluster computed it with a basement full of i7's.

With the exception of law enforcement all of my county/city agencies are regular FM VHF, and this radio is fully capable of transmitting and receiving. The sheriff maintains a regular VHF channel as well for inter agency communications. I've not heard anything on it though.
I have picked up the fire/EMS radios, and the municipal departments.
The potential exists for interference though, so while you can't listen to a trunked system with it, you could still interfere if you broadcasted on their frequencies.

Don't be dumb and transmit in realms you're not licensed for.

 

[macgyvr]

Our local FDs are on 154 still and most of the small PDs are still in the 450s. You city boys got the big money from the Patriot Act to move first to 800. Then the telecoms gave the FCC even more money to get you out of there and into the old military 700 band.

In 2000 Delaware County, IN...where Muncie, IN is located was on a trunk based 800 system...

pre Patriot act, not that big of a city...

mac 'left there in 2002, so I don't know what they are on now' gyvr

 

[87manche]

It missed your comment about type acceptance. But you answered what my question was going to be without knowing it. Being able to lockout transmitting is how it gets certified.

it is only part 90 certified.

It has no certification to operate in the FRS bands.

the p25 stuff was added into the gnuradio project a while ago.
Using a $20 usb DVB tuner to turn an old junk PC into a P25 radio.

 

[87manche]

if you're super interested in it's guts

http://www.elazary.com/index.php?op...-baofeng-uv5r&catid=14:baofeng-uv5r&Itemid=17

it's pretty cool that you can remove it's main cpu, interface it with an arduino and then use it to transmit digital packets.

 

[seanR]

Our local FDs are on 154 still and most of the small PDs are still in the 450s. You city boys got the big money from the Patriot Act to move first to 800. Then the telecoms gave the FCC even more money to get you out of there and into the old military 700 band.

I think even Rockford Fire, County Fire, the City PD and the county PD are still in the 154-155 area aren't they?
But this is Illinois, we only have money for round-a-bouts and governor's bail.

 

[w_howey]

I think even Rockford Fire, County Fire, the City PD and the county PD are still in the 154-155 area aren't they?
But this is Illinois, we only have money for round-a-bouts and governor's bail.

The county would be to interface with Ogle county and the individual VFDs. City police were supposed to go P25 and Startac. But... It being Illinois, who knows for sure. Ogle County has some P25 capability, but IEMA is responsible for that.

 

[w_howey]

it is only part 90 certified.

It has no certification to operate in the FRS bands.

the p25 stuff was added into the gnuradio project a while ago.
Using a $20 usb DVB tuner to turn an old junk PC into a P25 radio.

Almost none of the available FRS radios are certified beyond part 90. Manufactures don't want to make a radio that only has 8 channels and .5w. Especially when trying to market against the readily available FRS/GMRS radios.

 

[87manche]

Almost none of the available FRS radios are certified beyond part 90. Manufactures don't want to make a radio that only has 8 channels and .5w. Especially when trying to market against the readily available FRS/GMRS radios.

FRS is part 95.

land radio is 90.

they can't be part 95 because of the removable antenna.

95.194 (FRS Rule 4) FRS units.
(a) You may only use an FCC certified FRS unit. (You can identify an FCC certified FRS unit by the label placed on it by the manufacturer.)
(b) You must not make, or have made, any internal modification to an FRS unit. Any internal modification cancels the FCC certification and voids your authority to operate the unit in the FRS.
(c) You may not attach any antenna, power amplifier, or other apparatus to an FRS unit that has not been FCC certified as part of that FRS unit. There are no exceptions to this rule and attaching any such apparatus to a FRS unit cancels the FCC certification and voids everyone's authority to operate the unit in the FRS.
(d) FRS units are prohibited from transmitting data in store-and-forward packet operation mode.

so while you can limit the power and make them conform to the 95 spec, they can't actually, legally, broadcast because of their configuration.

Like I said 20 posts ago. Legal? meh, if you adhere to the rules I don't see why not. Is someone gonna hassle you? probably not. not unless you go full stupid and start playing in the HAM bands, cause those guys hunt pirate transmitters for fun.

I go to take my test in 3 weeks. Then I can key into the local repeater and broadcast my very first amateur radio after the FCC gets my shit.
As a nerd I'm very excited.

 

[w_howey]

FRS is part 95.

land radio is 90.

they can't be part 95 because of the removable antenna.


so while you can limit the power and make them conform to the 95 spec, they can't actually, legally, broadcast because of their configuration.

Like I said 20 posts ago. Legal? meh, if you adhere to the rules I don't see why not. Is someone gonna hassle you? probably not. not unless you go full stupid and start playing in the HAM bands, cause those guys hunt pirate transmitters for fun.

I go to take my test in 3 weeks. Then I can key into the local repeater and broadcast my very first amateur radio after the FCC gets my shit.
As a nerd I'm very excited.

I understand with the China radios the antenna is another issue to get it certified for FRS. My point was that radio manufacturers don't make certified FRS units anymore as 99.9999% of users couldn't give two shits about the actual rules when they can buy a "combo" radio that advertises more power/range/channels.
Good luck on your test. I just filed my renewal for my 20th year.

 

[seanR]

I need to take my test.

 

[w_howey]

I need to take my test.

They offer them every month in Ghettoford. It used to be at St. Anthony's

 

[macgyvr]

Chocolate martinis are good.

mac 'burp' gyvr