Baofeng
 

Obviously I'd heard of the Baofeng products, and this weekend
was my first opportunity to see one in the flesh, but not in amateur
service, for I was a jump judge at an equestrian event and some of these
little beauties were the 2-way radios supplied to each fence.

Interesting to compare the march of time because a couple of years ago
I picked up a Pye Ranger, a valve PMR, dated 1969, and the microphone alone
is bigger than those Baofeng jobbies.

Baofeng
 

"gareth" wrote in message
...
Obviously I'd heard of the Baofeng products, and this weekend
was my first opportunity to see one in the flesh, but not in amateur
service, for I was a jump judge at an equestrian event and some of these
little beauties were the 2-way radios supplied to each fence.

Interesting to compare the march of time because a couple of years ago
I picked up a Pye Ranger, a valve PMR, dated 1969, and the microphone
alone
is bigger than those Baofeng jobbies.

The mic probably cost almost as much as the Baofeng. I know batteries for
the Hts cost more than the whole HT from Baofeng.

Couple of years ago my battery packs for the Yeasu Hs were going bad so I
picked up a Woxun for just over $ 100. Came with a desk charger. Much
smaller and if I need batteries much cheaper.

And this event was licensed HOW?

These little beauties as you put it, are not compatible with GMRS or LMRS rules - Part 90.
They have a detachable antenna and they put out more than one half of one watt - so they are not legal for FRS.
I'm not sure of all the rules in MURS - but I would venture to say that they are not suitable for it either.

It's the morons that wants cheap communications that ruins two way radio for the rest of us!

Baofeng
 

On 5/17/2015 6:29 PM, Channel Jumper wrote:
gareth;839585 Wrote:
Obviously I'd heard of the Baofeng products, and this weekend
was my first opportunity to see one in the flesh, but not in amateur
service, for I was a jump judge at an equestrian event and some of
these
little beauties were the 2-way radios supplied to each fence.

Interesting to compare the march of time because a couple of years ago
I picked up a Pye Ranger, a valve PMR, dated 1969, and the microphone
alone
is bigger than those Baofeng jobbies.

And this event was licensed HOW?

These little beauties as you put it, are not compatible with GMRS or
LMRS rules - Part 90.
They have a detachable antenna and they put out more than one half of
one watt - so they are not legal for FRS.
I'm not sure of all the rules in MURS - but I would venture to say that
they are not suitable for it either.

It's the morons that wants cheap communications that ruins two way radio
for the rest of us!





And exactly what are the rules in the U.K. - where Gareth is?

--
==================
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry, AI0K

==================

Baofeng
 

Channel Jumper wrote:

gareth;839585 Wrote:
Obviously I'd heard of the Baofeng products, and this weekend
was my first opportunity to see one in the flesh, but not in amateur
service, for I was a jump judge at an equestrian event and some of
these
little beauties were the 2-way radios supplied to each fence.

Interesting to compare the march of time because a couple of years ago
I picked up a Pye Ranger, a valve PMR, dated 1969, and the microphone
alone
is bigger than those Baofeng jobbies.

And this event was licensed HOW?

These little beauties as you put it, are not compatible with GMRS or
LMRS rules - Part 90.

What difference does that make in the UK?


--
Jim Pennino

Baofeng
 

"Channel Jumper" wrote in message
...

gareth;839585 Wrote:
Obviously I'd heard of the Baofeng products, and this weekend
was my first opportunity to see one in the flesh, but not in amateur
service, for I was a jump judge at an equestrian event and some of
these
little beauties were the 2-way radios supplied to each fence.

Interesting to compare the march of time because a couple of years ago
I picked up a Pye Ranger, a valve PMR, dated 1969, and the microphone
alone
is bigger than those Baofeng jobbies.

And this event was licensed HOW?

UK based PMR and PA company, OfCom licensed.

They cover most of the equestrian events in this area.

Baofeng
 

On 5/17/2015 6:29 PM, Channel Jumper wrote:

These little beauties as you put it, are not compatible with GMRS or
LMRS rules - Part 90.

Not all countries have Part 90.. Or GMRS or FRS

However.. It would be a simple matter for the manufacturer to make two
ROM chips.. one limits the transmiter to the US ham bands (or to the
Extended ham bands (MARS/CAP) and the other does not.

If they did that it would work like my other radios..I can receive NOAA
wather, GMRS,,FRS and more..BUT THEY WILL NOT TRANSMIT on those frequencies.

But with these they are full coverage.. Both TRANSMIT and RECEIVE




--
Home, is where I park it.

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Baofeng
 

On Tue, 19 May 2015, John Davis wrote:

On 5/17/2015 6:29 PM, Channel Jumper wrote:

These little beauties as you put it, are not compatible with GMRS or
LMRS rules - Part 90.

Not all countries have Part 90.. Or GMRS or FRS

However.. It would be a simple matter for the manufacturer to make two ROM
chips.. one limits the transmiter to the US ham bands (or to the Extended ham
bands (MARS/CAP) and the other does not.

If they did that it would work like my other radios..I can receive NOAA
wather, GMRS,,FRS and more..BUT THEY WILL NOT TRANSMIT on those frequencies.

But with these they are full coverage.. Both TRANSMIT and RECEIVE


Of course, it works both ways.

Anyone can buy those things, so when they find an empty frequency, "why
not use it?". ANd then that empty frequency turns out to be a ham band.

I don't know what the intent of these things are. Are they just cheap ham
walkie talkies, or is the major market elsewhere? If they start making
differnet versions, that will raise the cost.

Michael

Baofeng
 

In message ple.org,
Michael Black writes


On Tue, 19 May 2015, John Davis wrote:

On 5/17/2015 6:29 PM, Channel Jumper wrote:

These little beauties as you put it, are not compatible with GMRS or
LMRS rules - Part 90.

Not all countries have Part 90.. Or GMRS or FRS

However.. It would be a simple matter for the manufacturer to make
two ROM chips.. one limits the transmiter to the US ham bands (or to
the Extended ham bands (MARS/CAP) and the other does not.

If they did that it would work like my other radios..I can receive
NOAA wather, GMRS,,FRS and more..BUT THEY WILL NOT TRANSMIT on those
frequencies.

But with these they are full coverage.. Both TRANSMIT and RECEIVE


Of course, it works both ways.

Anyone can buy those things, so when they find an empty frequency, "why
not use it?". ANd then that empty frequency turns out to be a ham band.

I don't know what the intent of these things are. Are they just cheap
ham walkie talkies, or is the major market elsewhere? If they start
making differnet versions, that will raise the cost.

There already are many different versions. Mr Heinz hardly has a
look-in.


--
Ian

Baofeng
 

On 5/19/2015 4:11 PM, Michael Black wrote:

Anyone can buy those things, so when they find an empty frequency, "why
not use it?". ANd then that empty frequency turns out to be a ham band.

I don't know what the intent of these things are. Are they just cheap
ham walkie talkies, or is the major market elsewhere? If they start
making differnet versions, that will raise the cost.

Michael


You are correct on everything.. Yes. if they make different versions
costs will rise.. If they are honest about a dollar (or less).

But the concern of folks in this thread is not that a radio marketed for
HAM might get used on GMRS/FRS (or worse yet a government frequency) so
much as the fact that a fairly decent radio could be banned because of
folks doing that or... That folks will buy it for that and mess up the
ham bands.. or both.

Also Amazon sells them.. ANYONE can buy off Amazon (Provided they have
a way to pay) They do not make any effort to verify you are licensed.

And we already have many dealers of radio gear who have been "Raided" by
the FCC for selling ham gear to folks who have no intention of getting a
ham license.... EVER.. (10 meter gear re-tuned in some cases, or capable
of tuning 11 meters).
--
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Baofeng
 

In message , John Davis
writes
On 5/19/2015 4:11 PM, Michael Black wrote:

Anyone can buy those things, so when they find an empty frequency, "why
not use it?". ANd then that empty frequency turns out to be a ham band.

I don't know what the intent of these things are. Are they just cheap
ham walkie talkies, or is the major market elsewhere? If they start
making differnet versions, that will raise the cost.

Michael


You are correct on everything.. Yes. if they make different versions
costs will rise.. If they are honest about a dollar (or less).

But the concern of folks in this thread is not that a radio marketed
for HAM might get used on GMRS/FRS (or worse yet a government
frequency) so much as the fact that a fairly decent radio could be
banned because of folks doing that or... That folks will buy it for
that and mess up the ham bands.. or both.

Also Amazon sells them.. ANYONE can buy off Amazon (Provided they have
a way to pay) They do not make any effort to verify you are licensed.

And we already have many dealers of radio gear who have been "Raided"
by the FCC for selling ham gear to folks who have no intention of
getting a ham license.... EVER.. (10 meter gear re-tuned in some cases,
or capable of tuning 11 meters).

In the UK, the general public seems to be little interest in making
direct contact via radio.

After a long battle, we eventually got legal CB in 1981 (40 adjacent 4W,
UK-specific (spec UK/81), FM-only channels, immediately below the 10m
band).

About 20 years later, this was followed up with an additional 40 4-W FM
CEPT channels on the FCC frequencies (yes - a total of 80 legal
channels!) so we could harmonise with the rest of Europe.
A couple of years ago, 12W pep SSB was legalised on the 'FCC' channels.

We also have 8 500mW 'PMR446' channels around 446MHz (same type of
equipment as the FCC FRS service).

Although I live only about 25 miles west of the centre of London, I
can't say that I hear much activity on any of these frequencies (not
that I spend much time monitoring them). I believe that places like
garden centres and shopping malls do sometimes use PMR 446, but I never
hear them at home. As the legal PMR 446 equipment is very cheap, and
probably 'does the job' adequately, there's probably little reason to
want use the more versatile (and somewhat higher-powered) Baofeng (and
similar) equipment. However, although I rarely use it, my UV-3R does
seem to work very well on 2m and 70cm.
--
Ian

Baofeng
 

"John Davis" wrote in message
...

Also Amazon sells them.. ANYONE can buy off Amazon (Provided they have a
way to pay) They do not make any effort to verify you are licensed.

And we already have many dealers of radio gear who have been "Raided" by
the FCC for selling ham gear to folks who have no intention of getting a
ham license.... EVER.. (10 meter gear re-tuned in some cases, or capable
of tuning 11 meters).

Does any of the dealers care if the ones they sell gear to in the US are
licensed ? I don't think many if any do.

There is no requirement for a dealer to sell to only people with licenses or
plan on getting one.
The FCC may raid the stores that sell gear that is modified or made
especially for the CB people.I am not sure how it is now, but at one time
anyone that had an amplifer and CB in the same house evenif the amp was not
hooked up could be charged.

Baofeng
 

"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...

We also have 8 500mW 'PMR446' channels around 446MHz (same type of
equipment as the FCC FRS service).

Been using such today, for they were the radios used at a cross-county event
by we fence judges!

Baofeng
 

In message , gareth
writes
"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...

We also have 8 500mW 'PMR446' channels around 446MHz (same type of
equipment as the FCC FRS service).

Been using such today, for they were the radios used at a cross-county event
by we fence judges!

What sort of range were you getting?

Some types are modifiable to the UK 70cm band (only simplex, of course)
- and ten plus years ago, The Telcom TE-145/150/157 used to be the
favourite. With the Baofeng type now being so readily available, I don't
expect anyone would bother these days.

I bought a pair of TE-145s to modify, but of course, I never got a round
tuit - partly because there was essentially zero 70cm simplex activity
around these parts. Except for an initial check to see if they worked,
I've never used them. I wonder if there's still an interest in DXing
(legally, with the integral antenna)?
http://www.delboys446.co.uk/





--
Ian

Baofeng
 

"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...
In message , gareth
writes

Been using such today, for they were the radios used at a cross-county
event
by we fence judges!

What sort of range were you getting?


If you look up "Bushey Norwood" on the Bath skyline, then you'll
see the extent of the site, otherwise I'd say half a mile but then the
Mongolian Hordes of infantilities would seize upon it again.

Baofeng
 

In message , gareth
writes
"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...
In message , gareth
writes

Been using such today, for they were the radios used at a cross-county
event
by we fence judges!

What sort of range were you getting?


If you look up "Bushey Norwood" on the Bath skyline, then you'll
see the extent of the site, otherwise I'd say half a mile but then the
Mongolian Hordes of infantilities would seize upon it again.

Ah! A horse riding event, In the circumstances, half a mile isn't bad
(at least it beats a couple of baked beans tins and a length of string).



--
Ian

Baofeng
 

"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...
In message , gareth
writes
"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...
In message , gareth
writes

Been using such today, for they were the radios used at a cross-county
event
by we fence judges!

What sort of range were you getting?


If you look up "Bushey Norwood" on the Bath skyline, then you'll
see the extent of the site, otherwise I'd say half a mile but then the
Mongolian Hordes of infantilities would seize upon it again.

Ah! A horse riding event, In the circumstances, half a mile isn't bad (at
least it beats a couple of baked beans tins and a length of string).

Having been a horsey widower for the past 40 years, and roped in to
almost every ground crew activity, we have settled in our dotage on
being fence judges at the cross-country. Looking at my log-book
(Still a necessity for any self-respecting _REAL_ radio amateur!),
I've spent more time on the air at horsey events than on amateur radio!