BaoFengs: amazing, or a sham?

[2NC995]

I'm not sure I'd be to terribly concerned about the FRS/MURS Police showing up, lol.

 

[w9cll]

I'm not sure I'd be to terribly concerned about the FRS/MURS Police showing up, lol.

No but if you have integrity you will follow the rules.

 

[2NC995]

That's funny.

 

[w9cll]

That's funny.

Some how I knew you would find it funny.

 

[2NC995]

Some how I knew you would find it funny.

You knew because you are very inconsistent in your views on the regulations:

If you are 100% interested in SSB base thr bit the bullet and get a ham rig and have it modded for 11.

​

 

[w9cll]

Yes your're correct 100% except the only time I promote using ham gear on 11 meters is when there is not decent gear for the band. Case in point 11 meters there is no quality gear being produced and the only decent option is old gear or ham rigs. For MURS, GMRS and FRS there is decent gear being made today and using ham gear there is not needed.

 

[2NC995]

Yes your're correct 100% except the only time I promote using ham gear on 11 meters is when there is not decent gear for the band. Case in point 11 meters there is no quality gear being produced and the only decent option is old gear or ham rigs. For MURS, GMRS and FRS there is decent gear being made today and using ham gear there is not needed.

I’m not worried about it in the least. I’m just saying that it’s not anymore right than running a Baofeng on MURS or FRS.

I’m also pretty certain that I’ve not known a single person to have a fully compliant CB station in the past decade or more. Virtually everyone I talk to is on a ham rig...and I mean not a whack packed “10 meter” radio, but actual HF ham rig from Icom, Yaesu and etc.

I actually don’t have the slightest interest in FRS, GMRS, or MURS for that matter either, but I could see having a couple of those radios tucked away in a drawer for an emergency.

All I was saying in the initial post is that I think you’d have to be seriously misbehaving on FRS/MURS (referring to operating the Baofeng on those bands) to draw the ire of the FCC. I tend to doubt they give a wink unless you’re making problems for others.

 

[sunbulls]

For nearby UHF or FRS I prefer the WLN KD-C1. Amazing loud and clear receive audio in such a small HT. They’re almost indestructible and they will accept a BL-5C cell phone battery besides the KB-5C battery they come with. They’re very simple to use once they’re programmed. No special keys on the front to mess with. This is why I have given away several sets of these to a few neighbors and relatives in need that didn’t have any radio experience. One of my neighbors is blind and my sister-in-law has early stage Alzheimer's. These have helped them stay in contact with their spouse (within 2 or 3 miles) vs. having the difficulty of fumbling with an all purpose cell phone. The on-off volume knob and the PTT key is all they ever use. Rarely do they ever go beyond FRS channel 1. It’s easy for them to know what channel they’re on. They’re notified verbally every time they turn on the radio or change channels. Any particular channel you were on last is kept in memory and will remain on that channel until it’s changed again, even with the battery removed for long periods. Too confusing for someone? Program all 16 channels on the same frequency. On high power these are 2 watt HT’s (the new FRS limit) with a non-removable antenna. No, they’re not FCC certified, but they should be IMO. Many hams are fond of them for their audio, spectral purity and frequency accuracy. I’ve yet to see any blister pack Wally World FRS talkies outperform them. Again, the speaker audio inside these are better than all the other long list of HT's I've owned.

 

[Jay Mojave]

I'm not sure I'd be to terribly concerned about the FRS/MURS Police showing up, lol.

Its way more important to keep communication with family and friends than reciting rules and regulations. Just watch how much everyone is into the rules when some ones missing on a camping trip or driving across country.

During a long distance jeep run in the desert, we had to cover a CB channel, a VHF and a FRS channel as all the jeepers had different radios. Most all had modified Ham VHF/UHF and a CB Radios, and what communications we had, all of the almost 50 jeeps made home camp safely. That's the rule I was concerned about.

Jay in the Great Mojave Desert.... "Next Gas 150 Miles"

 

[2NC995]

Reading a bit more about these radios I’m surprised they haven’t caught on like wildfire with the hunting clubs in the southeast (or maybe they have and I just don’t know).

20 years ago it was export CBs with “uppers and lowers”...the Super Star 121 a popular choice. These days it’s all VHF, usually Marine radios.

Incidentally, amid the COVID 19 crisis, Spain has just authorized unlicensed operation on the amateur bands, at least to some extent.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Incidentally, amid the COVID 19 crisis, Spain has just authorized unlicensed operation on the amateur bands, at least to some extent.

Unlicensed INDIVIDUALS not unlicensed OPERATION which implies that just anyone can set up a station and run it without a license. They still must operate under the direct supervision of a licensed operator. https://qrznow.com/spain-grants-unl...sion-to-use-amateur-stations-during-lockdown/

Here is a translated copy of the official ruling:


MINISTRY
OF ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
AND DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES

RESOLUTION OF THE SECRETARIAT OF STATE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES FOR WHICH AUTHORIZATION IS GRANTED
TEMPORARY FOR THE USE, IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS, OF
RADIO AMATEUR STATIONS BY PERSONS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE
PRECEPTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORIZATION UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
AUTHORIZED RADIO AMATEUR.

It has been presented to this management center by an Association of
Radio amateurs request for children living together at the home of a
authorized radio amateur can use, under his supervision, his stations
radio amateur, during the entire period in which the state of
alarm declared by Royal Decree 463/2020, of March 14, and the measures of
established confinement, even if said descendants do not have the
mandatory administrative authorization.
The main objective of the request is to disseminate and promote radio amateurs
among schoolchildren who must be confined at home.
This activity offers young people the opportunity to gain practical experience
in telecommunications technology, favor education in subjects
technology and the performance of a socially enriching family activity.
The International Telecommunication Union defines the amateur service
such as the radiocommunication service whose purpose is the instruction
individual, intercommunication and technical studies, carried out by amateurs,
that is, by duly authorized persons who are interested in radio engineering
exclusively personal and non-profit.
The aforementioned individual instruction of the radio amateur can be understood in a
exceptional and temporary, extended to the instruction of people who in these
exceptional circumstances are confined to their home due to
alarm status decreed and during the period of validity thereof, so
that they can collaborate in practical education in technological matters.
The current Regulation of use of the public radio-electric domain by
radio amateurs, approved by Order IET / 1311/2013, of July 9,
establishes in its article 5 the necessary obtaining of administrative authorization from
use of the radio spectrum by the radio amateur, which shall be
personal and not transferable. This radio amateur authorization enables its holder

SIGNED BY: R
OBER
T
O SANCHEZ SANCHEZ, SECRETARY OF STATE, MINISTRY OF AFFAIR
ECONOMIC AND TRANSFORM OS
DIGITAL TION. As of 03/27/2020 14:33:07
This document is accesib
him from

serviciosmin.gob.es/arce

with Query Code and V
erification
8954633-59242725HO78H3XTKF7F
.
The document consists of a total of 4 pages. F
olio 1 of 4.
Page 2

two
to make broadcasts, through fixed stations that have the required
license and / or mobile or portable stations, in any of the bands of
frequencies attributed to the Fan Service and Fan Service by
Satelite.
On the other hand, article 30 of the aforementioned Regulation establishes that stations
collective may be used sporadically for disclosure purposes and
promotion of radio amateurs, by new people in said activity, under the
following conditions:
a) The use of the stations will be limited to demonstrations in centers of
teaching, outreach courses organized by the titular association of the
station authorization and generally similar non-profit and
short duration.
b) The use of the stations will be carried out under the responsibility and
direct and face-to-face supervision of an authorized radio amateur with at least three
years old in the practice of radio amateurs.
c) The emissions will be identified by the distinctive of the collective station
followed, after the suffix, by two or three letters of free choice.
d) The power of the emissions will not exceed 40% of the maximum value of
power established for the frequency band used, with a maximum limit,
in any case, 100 watts (eirp).
Finally, the second final provision of Order IET / 1311/2013, of July 9,
empowers the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and for the Society of
Information, current Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Infrastructure
Digital, to dictate the instructions deemed necessary for the
application of the Regulation of use of the public radioelectric domain by
radio amateurs.
Taking into account the characteristics of the amateur service, the
outreach work contemplated in the Regulations carried out by
associations of radio amateurs, the current state of alarm that forces the
confinement taking measures in colleges and universities to maintain
educational tasks and the power of this Secretary of State to dictate
instructions regarding the application of the Regulation of use of the public domain
radioelectric by radio amateurs, it is considered appropriate to facilitate such work
educational and communication, authorizing temporarily and exceptionally
while the alarm state and confinement measures last
established, the use of radio amateur stations by individuals
who live in the residence of this even if they do not have the required
administrative authorization and under the supervision of the aforementioned radio amateur
authorized, station owner.

SIGNED BY: R
OBER
T
O SANCHEZ SANCHEZ, SECRETARY OF STATE, MINISTRY OF AFFAIR
ECONOMIC AND TRANSFORM OS
DIGITAL TION. As of 03/27/2020 14:33:07
This document is accesib
him from

serviciosmin.gob.es/arce

with Query Code and V
erification
8954633-59242725HO78H3XTKF7F
.
The document consists of a total of 4 pages. F
olio 2 of 4.
Page 3

3
CONSIDERING:
First.- That in article 30 of the current Regulation of use of the public domain
radio amateurs by radio amateurs the possibility that people who do not
have the required administrative authorization can use, in
certain circumstances, radio amateur equipment.
Second.- That the aforementioned provision has been used frequently by
associations of radio amateurs, without such use having originated
interference to broadcasts from the amateur service or other
radio communications.
Third.- That extending the request received to all the people who,
regardless of the degree of relationship, share the same residence
during the validity of the alarm state with a person who has a
radio amateur administrative authorization, in addition to providing a
excellent opportunity to promote radio amateurs, disseminate and carry out
practices in telecommunications, will make available to a
more people one more tool for communication not
face-to-face with other people during the obligatory and necessary period of
confinement.
Fourth.- That the second final provision of Order IET / 1311/2013, of 9
July, empowers the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and for Society
of Information, current Secretary of State for Telecommunications and
Digital Infrastructures, to dictate the instructions considered
necessary for the application of the Regulation of use of the public domain
radioelectric by radio amateurs.
Fifth.- The exceptional circumstances that the application of the state of
alarm.
Taking into account the above, under the powers
attributed by Order IET / 1311/2013, of July 9, which approves the
Regulation of use of the public radio-electric domain by radio amateurs and by the
Royal Decree 403/2020, of February 25, by which the structure is developed
organic basic of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation,
having regard to Law 9/2014, of May 9, General Telecommunications, the Royal
Decree 123/2017, of February 24, which approves the Regulation on the

SIGNED BY: R
OBER
T
O SANCHEZ SANCHEZ, SECRETARY OF STATE, MINISTRY OF AFFAIR
ECONOMIC AND TRANSFORM OS
DIGITAL TION. As of 03/27/2020 14:33:07
This document is accesib
him from

serviciosmin.gob.es/arce

with Query Code and V
erification
8954633-59242725HO78H3XTKF7F
.
The document consists of a total of 4 pages. F
olio 3 out of 4.
Page 4

4
use of the radioelectric public domain, Order IET / 1311/2013, of July 9, by the
that the Regulation for the use of the radioelectric public domain is approved by
radio amateurs, Order ETU / 1033/2017, of October 25, amended by the
Order ETU 416/2018 of April 20, which approves the National Table of
Frequency Allocation (CNAF), the attached Radio Regulations
to the International Telecommunication Agreement, and other provisions of
application, this Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Infrastructure
Digital,
RESOLVES:
First.- That people who have to stay at the same address with
people who have the required administrative authorization for the
broadcasting in amateur service bands, they can use their
stations exceptionally for the duration of the alarm state and
their corresponding mandatory confinement measures.
Second.- That the use of the aforementioned radio amateur stations is
will be carried out under the direct and face-to-face responsibility and supervision of the
radio amateur and under the conditions established in the Regulations for the use of
Radioelectric public domain by radio amateurs, without prejudice to the provisions
in the following resolves.
Third.- The power of the emissions will not exceed 40% of the maximum value of
power established for the frequency band used, with a maximum limit,
in any case, 100 W.
Fourth.- This authorization is made on the basis of non-interference to others
authorized telecommunications services and no protection claim
against interference.
If harmful interference to other telecommunications services occurs
authorized, emissions must be suspended immediately.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURES
Roberto Sánchez Sánchez

SIGNED BY: R
OBER
T
O SANCHEZ SANCHEZ, SECRETARY OF STATE, MINISTRY OF AFFAIR
ECONOMIC AND TRANSFORM OS
DIGITAL TION. As of 03/27/2020 14:33:07
This document is accesib
him from

serviciosmin.gob.es/arce

with Query Code and V
erification
8954633-59242725HO78H3XTKF7F
.
The document consists of a total of 4 pages. F
olio 4 of 4.

 

[2NC995]

unlicensed OPERATION which implies that just anyone can set up a station and run it without a license. They still must operate under the direct supervision of a licensed operator.

I definitely didn’t read into the details, as it doesn’t apply to me and isn’t likely to happen here....but the distinction in verbiage is noted.

From what little I read it seemed geared towards students.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I definitely didn’t read into the details, as it doesn’t apply to me and isn’t likely to happen here....but the distinction in verbiage is noted.

From what little I read it seemed geared towards students.

Basically they are allowing what Canada and the USA have allowed for years and that is to permit an unlicensed operator to operate an amateur station but only while under direct supervision of a licensed operator. Some countries do not permit ANY unlicensed person to so much as press the PTT button on an amateur station without a license. Apparently Spain is one of them.

 

[kopcicle]

The usual KiloCycle-Cops here have softened noticeably.
The most often herd reply to an unlicensed operator has been,
"How can I help"? rather than ,
"What's your call sign"

Eventually of course the admonition that a license is required is heard , however it is directed to study of amateur radio rules, practice, technology, and regulations in the hope of resumed testing rather than "You are going to burn in hell if you show up here without a license" .

Unlicensed users have been directed to FRS and GMRS frequencies that are actually being monitored.

It may be a Northwest state of mind , but I hope not.

Now is not a time to open the rule book in response to a call for help.
It is a time to to open your hearts and minds.

This affects us all

Technically speaking the Baofeng is a kludge. It does work. It is frequency agile with the aid of "Chirp" is able to be easily programed. It does exhibit some questionable spurs and may have some IMD issues that aren't a huge concern for FM but are still present. My continuing issue with the Baofeng is the nonexistent front end. It is easily overwhelmed by , well , anything ...

My secondary fear is that a dependency on the the Baofeng as an essential communication device and even a device for emergency services will show the reliability shortcomings of this radio.
It's low cost and ease of operation are it's strong points. It's low cost and flexibility drive it's reliability into question.

.

 

[unit_399]

We have been using Baofeng UV-5R radios on our farm for over 3 years. Our farmhouse has a Larsen BSA450 GMRS antenna about 40 feet in the air, and the house is on the highest point on our property. We have 9 of these radios, 1 for the farm house and the rest for our workers. Also have another pair in our mobiles. They provide solid communication over our 22 hectares farm, and all the way to the pueblo of Alejandria (18 kms away). Never had one failure, except for a battery that died. Life doesn't get any tougher for a rig then when it's hanging on a Colombian farm worker's belt all day. Kopsickle's comment that " It's (sic) low cost and flexibility drive it's (sic) reliability into question " is way off based on our experience. Has he ever owned one of these rigs??
I bought them because of their low cost ($18 ea) . If a worker broke one, no big deal. Best buy for the buck that I've found.

- 399