Maggie’s Hand Held Radio Receiver/Transmitter
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I *think* this fits your description. Baofeng BF-F8HP It's a dual power(8w, 4w or 1W) radio and can tx/rx on UHF and VHF bands.
Theres a dual pronged USB cable that you can buy for the radio and you can upload freqs directly in to your radio via a free downloadable program called CHIRP. Heres some video's on how it all works. Im still trying to figure mine out. Baofeng radio programming Accessing FM radio
Theres a dual pronged USB cable that you can buy for the radio and you can upload freqs directly in to your radio via a free downloadable program called CHIRP. Heres some video's on how it all works. Im still trying to figure mine out. Baofeng radio programming Accessing FM radio
I keep a YAESU FR-4XR, on standby for shtf stuff (will receive LEO/Emer. Responder traffic up to 7-10 mi. away). Haven't had to use it yet, but, I'll drag it along if I'm out in the woods and I feel there's a chance of losing cell reception.
Still need to get my "General" license, so I will be all legal and keep the Black Helo's from swooping in. Mac
Still need to get my "General" license, so I will be all legal and keep the Black Helo's from swooping in. Mac
"Receiving" may not be a problem. Many handheld Ham radios can be used as a police scanner if:
"Sending" is another issue altogether. They are very restricted frequencies and even if you can hear them you likely need to have programmed in an identifying code or your transmission won't ever be received. Even if you can send, odds are it's a BIG legal problem if you hit the talk button and interrupt them in ANY way. I recall reading about a guy that got heavily fined for trying to help spot for planes dropping fire retardant. He seemed to be doing a better job than the professional spotter on the ground, but they didn't like him tying up their frequencies. Piss them off enough and they WILL find you.
- It's programmed to receive frequencies beyond the allocated Amateur frequency bands.
- It can receive and interpret analog and digital signals, because odds are your local public safety agencies have all gone digital.
- The radiocommunications used by your local public safety agencies aren’t encrypted. And odds are they're encrypted.
"Sending" is another issue altogether. They are very restricted frequencies and even if you can hear them you likely need to have programmed in an identifying code or your transmission won't ever be received. Even if you can send, odds are it's a BIG legal problem if you hit the talk button and interrupt them in ANY way. I recall reading about a guy that got heavily fined for trying to help spot for planes dropping fire retardant. He seemed to be doing a better job than the professional spotter on the ground, but they didn't like him tying up their frequencies. Piss them off enough and they WILL find you.
Only thing that I can add is a lot of the medium to large agencies are going digital, possibly frequency hopping, DMR, trunking, MotoTrbo. This could vastly complicate your efforts.
I've read a little about a license and that may not be out of the question. Still non-licensed individuals can't participate on the radio waves (this would not be for entertainment likely more emergency use)? Let's just assume that I'm not ordinarily going to transmit except for emergency scenarios. Looking for devices that can receive UHF VHF AM FM and transmit (emergency). Good info so far.
per fcc regulations you are allowed to transmit on any ham frequency during an emergency.
Sorry @ColinW but friends don't tell friends to get Baofengs.
This thread was more asking about being a ham and transmitting but has good info.
www.snipershide.com
This thread was more asking about being a ham and transmitting but has good info.
inexpensive comms (baofeng)
Without filling this up with whys, Just whats. Working with something is better than nothing. Having the ability to communicate if things get shifty and need to be able to talk to in a area. Or hunting buddies. Nice to have it work with walker razors too. Is the baofengs the better inexpensive...
www.snipershide.com
Full disclosure, I'm not an expert and I'm still reading up on all this stuff so lmk if I'm mistaken on any of this.
Lot of LEOs use digital or trunked systems and some are using encryption as well despite local legislation that is supposed to prohibit them from doing so. You can get a scanner or an SDR (software defined radio) that may allow you to listen in on them. I don't know enough about trunked systems to tell you how to go about scanning for those. SDR's need to be hooked up to a computer with the appropriate program so its a bit more cumbersome than just a handheld scanner but SDRs can scan across all bands and decode digital transmissions.
As far as radios go, you will likely need a digital radio, probably a P25 radio, to receive and decode digital transmissions. There are multiple digital transmission modes and they are not compatible with each other. P25 is one of them and was developed for public safety use. It is standardized so any radios transmitting on P25 can talk to each other. This is not always the case with other digital modes like DMR (digital mobile radio) which is another common mode. If you can find out what frequency your local agencies operate at, you can pick up a single or multiband radio tuned for those frequencies and program it to listen in. The 700-800 mhz band is reserved for public safety transmissions so theres a good chance LEO/EMS will be using those. You can get a motorola XTS2500 on ebay in the 700-800mhz band for maybe $50. Might cost you another couple hundred to get it flashed with the right software and programming them is a bit of PITA but they are very capable. The XTS2500 is a single band radio so it can only transmit/receive on one range of frequencies. If you want a multiband P25 radio, maybe look into the PRC152. I don't know much about it but it operates on 30-500mhz. I think theres a variant that also operates on the 700-800 band.
My local EMS and fire use UHF so I can get away with a single band radio and use FRS, GMRS and ham bands. Thats pretty handy.
Lot of LEOs use digital or trunked systems and some are using encryption as well despite local legislation that is supposed to prohibit them from doing so. You can get a scanner or an SDR (software defined radio) that may allow you to listen in on them. I don't know enough about trunked systems to tell you how to go about scanning for those. SDR's need to be hooked up to a computer with the appropriate program so its a bit more cumbersome than just a handheld scanner but SDRs can scan across all bands and decode digital transmissions.
As far as radios go, you will likely need a digital radio, probably a P25 radio, to receive and decode digital transmissions. There are multiple digital transmission modes and they are not compatible with each other. P25 is one of them and was developed for public safety use. It is standardized so any radios transmitting on P25 can talk to each other. This is not always the case with other digital modes like DMR (digital mobile radio) which is another common mode. If you can find out what frequency your local agencies operate at, you can pick up a single or multiband radio tuned for those frequencies and program it to listen in. The 700-800 mhz band is reserved for public safety transmissions so theres a good chance LEO/EMS will be using those. You can get a motorola XTS2500 on ebay in the 700-800mhz band for maybe $50. Might cost you another couple hundred to get it flashed with the right software and programming them is a bit of PITA but they are very capable. The XTS2500 is a single band radio so it can only transmit/receive on one range of frequencies. If you want a multiband P25 radio, maybe look into the PRC152. I don't know much about it but it operates on 30-500mhz. I think theres a variant that also operates on the 700-800 band.
My local EMS and fire use UHF so I can get away with a single band radio and use FRS, GMRS and ham bands. Thats pretty handy.
Find out what your local fire and EMS services use before you do anything else. Radioreference is a good source for this.
There are not many handheld 2 way radios that can receive and transmit on vhf, uhf, AND CB - CB is in the HF band.
There are not many handheld 2 way radios that can receive and transmit on vhf, uhf, AND CB - CB is in the HF band.
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Check out a local HAM Radio store. The locals in your area should be able to set you up. Yes this stuff exists. Used equipment doesn't = bad. Just my .02
Not trying to start a fight, but please point us at the HT that meets the OP's original request: "hand held is made that can send/receive local short band (CB/EMT/Fire/Police, ETC) as well as receive AM and FM?"
Most of the HAMish handhelds are going to be FM only, although many of them now will do some of the digital HAM modes.
I dont know of any that will receive HF, or AM (CB). You can buy a handheld CB, but thats all it will do.
Even if you buy a quality HAM "shack in a box" base station such as a Yaesu FT991, it still wont receive any of the digital/trunking stuff that a lot of fire, medical, and law enforcement use now adays. There are scanners that will receive these trunking and digital systems, but no transmit capability.
So again, you should firmly identify exactly what frequencies and modes you want to send/receive before you buy anything.
There are probably no radios (especially handhelds) that will both send and receive everything you are asking about.
I dont know of any that will receive HF, or AM (CB). You can buy a handheld CB, but thats all it will do.
Even if you buy a quality HAM "shack in a box" base station such as a Yaesu FT991, it still wont receive any of the digital/trunking stuff that a lot of fire, medical, and law enforcement use now adays. There are scanners that will receive these trunking and digital systems, but no transmit capability.
So again, you should firmly identify exactly what frequencies and modes you want to send/receive before you buy anything.
There are probably no radios (especially handhelds) that will both send and receive everything you are asking about.
You can receive EMT/Fire/Police but you most certainly can NOT transmit on those frequencies and have never been allowed to. Many of these services have gone digital now also, along with aforementioned trunking systems.
Taken from ARRL FCC rules and regulations rlh8 pdf.
Distress Calls
If you should require immediate emergency help, and you’re using a voice
(telephony) mode, call MAYDAY. Use whatever frequency works best to get an answer.
“MAYDAY” is from the French language: m’aidez means help me.
On CW (telegraphy), use SOS to call for help. Repeat this call a few times, and
pause for any station to answer. Identify the transmission with your call sign. Repeat this
until you receive an answer. In a life or property-threatening emergency, you may send a
distress call on any frequency -- even outside of your license privileges. Even outside the
amateur bands. But only if you think doing this will bring help faster.
Be ready give information:
• The location of the emergency, with enough detail to permit rescuers to
locate it.
• The nature of the distress.
• The type of assistance required (medical, evacuation, food, clothing or
other aid).
• Any other information to help locate the emergency area.
If you receive a distress signal, you are also allowed to transmit on any frequency to
provide assistance.
From https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau...dio-service/amateur-communications-operations
Q:
Is it correct that my station must not transmit analog voice emissions on the HF band digital emission segments even during an emergency?
A:
Yes. The Rules, including the analog/digital emission exclusive segments, are carefully designed to provide an amateur radio service in the United States that has certain fundamental purposes. Section 97.1 declares that the foremost purpose is expressed in the principle of recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary, noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications. It would be illogical to abandon these Rules -- which are carefully developed through the rule making process with the input of amateur operators and organizations experienced in providing emergency communications -- during an event of the very type for which the Rules were intended.
Q:
Are there exceptions?
A:
Yes. There are two exceptions. In summary:
- Section 97.403 states that no provision of the Rules prevents the use by an amateur station of any means of radiocommunication at its disposal to provide essential communications in connection with the immediate safety of human life and immediate protection of property when normal communication systems are not available.
- Section 97.405 states that no provision of the Rules prevents the use by an amateur station in distress of any means at its disposal to attract attention, make known its condition and location, and obtain assistance. A sinking ship is a good example. It further states that no provision of the Rules prevents the use by a station, in that exceptional circumstance, of any means of radiocommunications at its disposal to assist a station in distress.
Speaking to @ignortbuttrainable s point in distress type emergencies(immediate danger to life) there are no limits if there is no other means of comms.
In terms of "emergency type communication" as in post hurricane or other natural disasters where there isn't normal communications, there are limits where you have to stay in the rules to @plong point. In the amateur world "emergency" has a specific meaning that is separate from distress situations.
Tldr: immediate danger to life or distress/mayday situation no limits.
Normal emergency/ disaster or anytime distress exception doesn't apply, stay within the rules.
Ive been an amateur General for 10 years. Dad also has been an Ares (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) trainer in the Houston area for years.
Edit: sounds like @plong probably has more amateur experience than me. Just sounded like a misinterpretation of meanings.
Fine. Here you go.
APX 7000 XE MULTI-BAND P25 PORTABLE NEW GREEN RADIO PLOICE / FIRE / EMS / HAM | eBay
THIS HARD TO FIND FACTORY-NEW OPEN BOX MOTOROLA MODEL H49TGD9PW1AN OEM PUBLIC SAFTEY GREEN APX 7000XE MODEL 3.5 DUAL BAND RADIO. THIS IS A CURRENT MODEL OEM MOTOROLA APX 7000 XE PUBLIC SAFTEY GREEN RADIO.
www.ebay.com
Um... No... 700 MHz - 800 MHz, VHF, and UHF... No HF (CB), receive or transmit... No Shortwave (he called it "short band"). Direct from Motorola: "can operate in any 2 of the following frequency bands: 700/800 MHz ,VHF, UHF Range 1, and UHF Range 2"Fine. Here you go.
APX 7000 XE MULTI-BAND P25 PORTABLE NEW GREEN RADIO PLOICE / FIRE / EMS / HAM | eBay
THIS HARD TO FIND FACTORY-NEW OPEN BOX MOTOROLA MODEL H49TGD9PW1AN OEM PUBLIC SAFTEY GREEN APX 7000XE MODEL 3.5 DUAL BAND RADIO. THIS IS A CURRENT MODEL OEM MOTOROLA APX 7000 XE PUBLIC SAFTEY GREEN RADIO.www.ebay.com
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