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Best bang for buck prepper radio????

This is interesting. Have you tried one out? (If that video is your video, that answers that question 😄 )
 
Do the 2m hack for us to see if it works then! :ROFLMAO:

I don't want to brick my own!
 
All of the yellow radios in the video Tx from 100mhz to 999mhz. It definitely works. I have only tested 144mhz 220mhz and 440mhz. No issues as long as you have a proper antenna. But tx at 999mhz with no filtering? Maybe not good for the radio
 
Pretty cool
I did order one.

I don't know anything about DMR or any other digital mode. I haven't really had much of a desire. But that's a topic for another discussion though.
 
titanNV said:
Pretty cool
I did order one.

I don't know anything about DMR or any other digital mode. I haven't really had much of a desire. But that's a topic for another discussion though.
Click to expand...
Right on, if you need help getting it going lmk
 
It is supposedly 5watts. I will put it on the meter tonight.

Keep in mind, for small unit comms, you want to keep power as low as possible to avoid direction finding adversaries.

Also keep in mind, a DMR protocol signal can be heard with full clarity almost to the very limit of it's range. That is to say, a DMR signal will not degrade over distance like analog fm.

Additionally, power has almost no affect on range when compared to antenna efficiency and height. This is why you can hear satellites from space in full clarity despite weak yet efficient power transmitters on board the space craft. It is because they have direct Line of Sight to the radio.
Tait-DMR-vs-Analog.png
 
titanNV said:
Pretty cool
I did order one.

I don't know anything about DMR or any other digital mode. I haven't really had much of a desire. But that's a topic for another discussion though.
Click to expand...
I am darned sure NOT an authority/expert on the matter, but from what I'm learning the Yaesu Fusion system is the way to go (instead of DMR) these days.

I can say I have a Yaesu Fusion handheld and it is great.
 
varminter22 said:
I am darned sure NOT an authority/expert on the matter, but from what I'm learning the Yaesu Fusion system is the way to go (instead of DMR) these days.

I can say I have a Yaesu Fusion handheld and it is great.
Click to expand...
I love the simplicity and function of fusion radios. I have quite a few. But their functionality shines in the above ground amateur world, not necessarily the tactical world.

To be sure, using C4FM digital radios in a grey man, non nefarious way, does have tactical applications. And the ability to send photos and data is great, but none of it is encrypted, and the "server " functions that DMR offers is really stand out in the SHTF scenario.

For 35 dollars, I have never seen a better value for a radio. Even while owning EF Johnsons, Motorola, Yaesu, Anytine, wouxun, tyt, icom, kenwood baofeng and so on.
 
varminter22 said:
I am darned sure NOT an authority/expert on the matter, but from what I'm learning the Yaesu Fusion system is the way to go (instead of DMR) these days.

I can say I have a Yaesu Fusion handheld and it is great.
Click to expand...

I would love to see the Fusion system, especially C4FM, used more around here. It isn't. I can't even find an open C4FM repeater on Potosi!
 
We should break off and do a tutorial thread on this Cotre radio.

Or multiples.

Starting with how to open it up, recommended antennas

Another about how to specifically to program for DMR repeaters in Vegas; another for Reno/Carson.

This could be of great service to our members.
 
Two questions...out of the box will they tx on gmrs frequencies? And to clarify to use the dmr features you need ham license to get dmr id correct?
 
They will TX on gmrs freq without modification. To use DMR repeaters you do need a DMR ID associated with your ham callsign.

However, for simplex dmr operation you can arbitrarily assign a unique radio number to each radio and realize the full dmr functions of the radio such as txt, remote monitor, encryption etc etc

I may be posting more on this soon, because you are not the 1st person to ask.

Here is a good video describing how you might do this...
DMR programming for concerned citizens
 
Golgo13 said:
They will TX on gmrs freq without modification. To use DMR repeaters you do need a DMR ID associated with your ham callsign.

However, for simplex dmr operation you can arbitrarily assign a unique radio number to each radio and realize the full dmr functions of the radio such as txt, remote monitor, encryption etc etc

I may be posting more on this soon, because you are not the 1st person to ask.

Here is a good video describing how you might do this...
DMR programming for concerned citizens
Click to expand...

See the can of worms you opened?? 😀
 
titanNV said:
I've never been able to make any contacts on that repeater, unfortunately. C4FM or analog. I do hit other repeaters on that site marginally so maybe that's why. 🤷
Click to expand...
As I understand, that Angel Peak fusion repeater does NOT cover all of Vegas. Maybe that is why?

And it seems that Fusion just doesn't (yet) have widespead popularity in Vegas?
 
I am not in Vegas. But I hit some repeaters on AP.
 
titanNV said:
I am not in Vegas. But I hit some repeaters on AP.
Click to expand...
Hmm, I see anger management classes in your future, boss, not good to go around hitting poor little repeaters, what did they ever do to you?
Garble a message or two, refused to transmit your traffic just because you got the CTCSS PL wrong?
 
Just an fyi radios are now mia on Amazon...
 
Golgo13 said:
Yeah, they will be back though👌
Click to expand...
I wonder when or if that's true!


If nothing else, this should be an inexpensive way to communicate via hot spot.
 
titanNV said:
I've never been able to make any contacts on that repeater, unfortunately. C4FM or analog. I do hit other repeaters on that site marginally so maybe that's why. 🤷
Click to expand...
You may want to give it a try again, the repeater owner replaced the K5BLS Angel Peak Fusion capable repeater last month, same frequency (449.550-, C4FM, no PL). Receive seems a bit more sensitive now. I believe there's plans for a new antenna as well once the weather breaks.
 
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tremors834 said:
You may want to give it a try again, the repeater owner replaced the K5BLS Angel Peak Fusion capable repeater last month, same frequency (449.550-, C4FM, no PL). Receive seems a bit more sensitive now. I believe there's plans for a new antenna as well once the weather breaks.
Click to expand...

Clear as a sunny day now! I think part of it was forcing my radio to stay in C4FM instead of AMS.
 
I was able to set my Cotre up with a hotspot today. Talked to a gentleman off Red Mountain with his DMR radio. Neat little radio to get into hotspots with.

If they had more I'd get another.
 
Nice! We are lucky to have so many DMR repeaters around. And yeah, they are unbeatable for 35 bux. I don't know how they are doing it. But I did reach out to the OEM manufacturer rep about a bulk buy. I met him at IWCE. The OEM radio is called "Mount Tai."

Also, the auctus chips that drive them are used by Hytera, Motorola and multiple others.
 
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