Uhf radio?

[country_boy]

I've been watching YouTube videos with shtf training, weapons and, tactical training etc. All have a Motorola or the China made hand held radios in their chest rigs or in a back pack.

What's the purpose? Only radio I've used is cb or two way hand held. I do know you have to have a license to operate the higher frequency radios.

I hope I posted in the right area.


Only sigs,toyota, and ak's allowed.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

Those are probably portable HAM radios.

 

[motorcarman]

I bought a Baofeng UV-5RA on eBay for around $40. I just listen to the County Sheriff in my area but there are hundreds of channels and things on the frequencies supported.

It is mostly EARS for me as I don't have a license so I never pushed the TRANSMIT button.

I guess a CB and the Baofeng UV-5RA would cover a good bit of common frequencies so I have both.

The high frequencies are mostly 'short-range' radios but in a SHTF situation, you will want to know what is going on in your local area. There are 'repeaters' for these low power radios and also enthusiasts that really get into communication.

Back in the early 1970s I learned Morse Code and got to 5 words per minute to take my Novice test but I spent my radio money on a Fender Band Master Amp and Univox guitar (never was really good at guitar playing). Then I sold all that and got into CARS!!!!! when I turned 17 or 18. Then I got into firearms so the money was divided between cars and guns. I have too many of BOTH!!!!

bob

 

[oohrah]

You can buy UV-5R radios brand new for less than $40, but programming them is a bitch unless you also get a PC interface cable, download software, etc., and yes you have to have a Ham license to legally transmit. But they do have a broad frequency coverage.

There are also two-way sets that use public use freqs that run about $60. Those are good for two way comms in the boonies, but their reception is restricted to the assigned channels.

 

[matefrio]

FRS and GMRS radios that you can buy off the shelf are in the UHF band.

FRS doesn't require a license. It's a great frequency for line of sight or near field communication. It has rules that limit off the shelf radios power and antennas.

GMRS requires a license but very few bother. It's a $75 dollar one that covers your immediate family as well. You get extended range and a few more channels that should be less crowded in theory. Licensing also allows set-up of fun stuff like repeaters that can help extend range.

Anything outside these frequencies requires a HAM or business license in UHF. Getting those licenses will teach you how to use them.

Channel	Type	Frequency
1	FRS / GMRS	462.5625
2	FRS / GMRS	462.5875
3	FRS / GMRS	462.6125
4	FRS / GMRS	462.6375
5	FRS / GMRS	462.6625
6	FRS / GMRS	462.6875
7	FRS / GMRS	462.7125
8	FRS	467.5625
9	FRS	467.5875
10	FRS	467.6125
11	FRS	467.6375
12	FRS	467.6625
13	FRS	467.6875
14	FRS	467.7125
15	GMRS	462.5500
16	GMRS	462.5750
17	GMRS	462.6000
18	GMRS	462.6250
19	GMRS	462.6500
20	GMRS	462.6750
21	GMRS	462.7000
22	GMRS	462.7250

 

[London]

Portable HAMs can be used legally without a license in emergencies. If I wear hiking deep into the woods I'd definitely dial into the forest ranger's radio band first.

 

[Vaquero]

Good info.

 

[matefrio]

Portable HAMs can be used legally without a license in emergencies. If I wear hiking deep into the woods I'd definitely dial into the forest ranger's radio band first.

Most radios block the frequencies they shouldn't transmit on. That ranger, or even marine band radio distress call won't go anywhere on a ham radio unless it's hacked.

 

[ROGER4314]

The very high frequencies are straight line transmissions so the curvature of the earth limits their range. That's why we see their antennas on tall towers. The tower increases range of the straight line transmission by letting the transmissions peek over the curvature of the Earth.

FM radio and TV transmissions are examples of straight line transmissions.

Lower frequencies "skip" off of the charged layer of the Ionosphere and can circumnavigate the globe. I'm a life long shortwave radio listener and when TV gets beyond my ability to cope, I fire up the short wave and listen in to the world.

Flash

 

[oohrah]

BTW, it's not "HAM", it is just Ham. There is no acronym, and the origin stories are anecdotal.