New Product Announcement - 2 way radios

Best practice with thees radios is to keep to the FRS/GMRS channels in the 469MHz range. This will keep the IC off your back since it is public frequency band. Still is over the 2watt limit but unlikely they will enforce on these bands.
 
I can get about 1km range out of my UV5R with a Nagoya antenna in heavy, rocky forest. How are folks getting 5-10 km out of them?
 
grox6 said:
(Warning: I tend to ramble when I've had a couple drinks)


I think they are both right: From my interpretations of their posts snapshot and badshotbob agree with each other.

In post #86 snapshot quotes a regulation that translates to: Anyone can use a ham radio as long as they are supervised by a license holder. While not explicitly stated in the rule that snapshot quoted, the corollary of that rule is that an unlicensed person is not permitted to transmit unless a licensed person is babysitting them (able to stop a transmission if things go sour). At least, that is the way it was taught to me when I took my ham classes and I recall reading a lot of material on the IC website reinforcing this point.

Post #86
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...way-radios?p=12842014&viewfull=1#post12842014



In post #88 badshotbob says that the scenario that surplusshooter was inquiring about would be illegal:
(don't confuse surplusshooter with snapshot)

Post #88
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...way-radios?p=12842124&viewfull=1#post12842124


Surplus shooter asked the question of whether or not it was OK for him to give radios to unlicensed users so they could communicate with him remotely. The rules say that the only way unlicensed people can legally transmit on ham radio frequencies is when they are directly supervised by a licensed operator(the "control" operator). So, from what I have been taught and read; I agree with badshotbobs opinion that the proposed scenario is illegal.

Anyway, I've done a lot of reading on this topic and everything I've seen reinforces that IC is against unlicensed users TX'ing if unsupervised. And, supervision translates to having a trained person(license holder ) able to step in and stop things if the untrained person starts breaking rules. This is a common theme throughout the international amateur radio scene and it is meant to keep the airwaves less chaotic and more usable/functional.

Now, Canada is a fantastic place to live and there are no restrictions on the sale of transmitters like these baofengs to the general public. So, anyone can buy one of these radios and benefit from them(or abuse them). If used sensibly you may never have to worry about getting fined. But, if someone makes a nuisance of themselves, IC has the authority to penalize/punish them. And, there are some guys out there who make a game out of trying to track down unlicensed users.

As for my personal stance on all of this: if someone is abusing a repeater, interfering with a net, or otherwise messing with lawful radio users, I'd want that person tracked down and taken off the air and I might offer to help with the tracking effort if I could. But, I'm not going to dump on someone who's calling out the KM markers on a logging road and I'd put no effort into chasing someone running simplex on a 5 watt UHF hand held in the deep back woods.

Oh, and from what I recall the laws are written so that in times of emergency life/safety issues supersede IC radio regulations. ie. If you are in the woods with a ham radio and your hunting buddy has a heart attack, f**k the legislation and call for help however you can. In this scenario a Baofeng could be a life saver. But, on that note, if you take the ham radio course and get your amateur license you might just learn how to properly use your radio and that would make it far more likely that you'd succeed in finding & tripping a repeater which in turn would give you the ability to call for long distance help. If you just buy one of these radios and stick it in your glovebox there is very little chance you'll be able to pull it out in an emergency and use it unless you had some training and practice(or radio config help). So, I encourage folks to take the course, get legal, and move on...

Crap, that was way to much typing. I should have stopped at "I think they are both right"...
Click to expand...

Your right, if there is an emergency call for help. Don't worry about Industry Canada.
 
russm86 said:
If you know the frequency of your kenwood then yes. A nice feature on these is you can key in nearly any valid frequency you want. I have one with the large battery pack and it will last a very long time depending how much your transmitting/receiving. I backup what a few others are saying about the distance too, I have had them working up to 12 to 13km on hilly thick bushed logging roads.
Click to expand...

Very illegal!!! Commercial licenses specify designated radios and non user adjustable parameters. Commercial radios also have more stringent specifications.
 
badshotbob said:
People seem to think these are ham radios. They are not.

Having said that, they can be programmed to operate on the ham bands.

People tend to buy these and program in the FRS/GMRS frequencies. One of the reasons why they do that is because there is less chance of being caught. Also if you are using it on the FRS frequencies there is less of a chance of causing interference to ham radio users, commercial, marine, etc. Remember you have to be responsible with these things.

As far as value they are not the same quality and ease of programming, etc. as the standard "ham radios". You just have to ask yourself how much you want to pay. The price on the radios that CanadaAmmo is selling are great prices. For the money you can't go wrong. I have purchased the 888s before and they are a great radio for the price. Zero regrets in buying them.
Click to expand...

Still Illegal ... a point to note ... industry canada can and will confiscate any radio capable of transmitting outside of its legal designated range and radios being in possession of those without the required licensing... a couple of years ago in BC, industry canada was accompanying commercial road checks and RCMP speed traps doing just that.
 
fingers said:
Still Illegal ... a point to note ... industry canada can and will confiscate any radio capable of transmitting outside of its legal designated range and radios being in possession of those without the required licensing... a couple of years ago in BC, industry canada was accompanying commercial road checks and RCMP speed traps doing just that.
Click to expand...

ummm.... ya... I agree... that's why I wrote "...there is less chance of being caught". If it was legal people wouldn't have to worry about being caught.
 
Arclight said:
I can get about 1km range out of my UV5R with a Nagoya antenna in heavy, rocky forest. How are folks getting 5-10 km out of them?
Click to expand...

People aren't getting 5-10km out of them... Besides... why would anybody buy these radios to only get 5-10kms out of them when they can go and buy FRS radios that get 60+ kms... ;-)
 
OK, guys. I am going to clean up this thread. Please move the general radio discussion elsewhere.

I will give you time to start the new thread before I delete the general posts.
 
grox6 said:
(Warning: I tend to ramble when I've had a couple drinks)


I think they are both right: From my interpretations of their posts snapshot and badshotbob agree with each other.

In post #86 snapshot quotes a regulation that translates to: Anyone can use a ham radio as long as they are supervised by a license holder. While not explicitly stated in the rule that snapshot quoted, the corollary of that rule is that an unlicensed person is not permitted to transmit unless a licensed person is babysitting them (able to stop a transmission if things go sour). At least, that is the way it was taught to me when I took my ham classes and I recall reading a lot of material on the IC website reinforcing this point.

Post #86
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...way-radios?p=12842014&viewfull=1#post12842014



In post #88 badshotbob says that the scenario that surplusshooter was inquiring about would be illegal:
(don't confuse surplusshooter with snapshot)

Post #88
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...way-radios?p=12842124&viewfull=1#post12842124


Surplus shooter asked the question of whether or not it was OK for him to give radios to unlicensed users so they could communicate with him remotely. The rules say that the only way unlicensed people can legally transmit on ham radio frequencies is when they are directly supervised by a licensed operator(the "control" operator). So, from what I have been taught and read; I agree with badshotbobs opinion that the proposed scenario is illegal.

Anyway, I've done a lot of reading on this topic and everything I've seen reinforces that IC is against unlicensed users TX'ing if unsupervised. And, supervision translates to having a trained person(license holder ) able to step in and stop things if the untrained person starts breaking rules. This is a common theme throughout the international amateur radio scene and it is meant to keep the airwaves less chaotic and more usable/functional.

Now, Canada is a fantastic place to live and there are no restrictions on the sale of transmitters like these baofengs to the general public. So, anyone can buy one of these radios and benefit from them(or abuse them). If used sensibly you may never have to worry about getting fined. But, if someone makes a nuisance of themselves, IC has the authority to penalize/punish them. And, there are some guys out there who make a game out of trying to track down unlicensed users.

As for my personal stance on all of this: if someone is abusing a repeater, interfering with a net, or otherwise messing with lawful radio users, I'd want that person tracked down and taken off the air and I might offer to help with the tracking effort if I could. But, I'm not going to dump on someone who's calling out the KM markers on a logging road and I'd put no effort into chasing someone running simplex on a 5 watt UHF hand held in the deep back woods.

Oh, and from what I recall the laws are written so that in times of emergency life/safety issues supersede IC radio regulations. ie. If you are in the woods with a ham radio and your hunting buddy has a heart attack, f**k the legislation and call for help however you can. In this scenario a Baofeng could be a life saver. But, on that note, if you take the ham radio course and get your amateur license you might just learn how to properly use your radio and that would make it far more likely that you'd succeed in finding & tripping a repeater which in turn would give you the ability to call for long distance help. If you just buy one of these radios and stick it in your glovebox there is very little chance you'll be able to pull it out in an emergency and use it unless you had some training and practice(or radio config help). So, I encourage folks to take the course, get legal, and move on...

Crap, that was way to much typing. I should have stopped at "I think they are both right"...
Click to expand...

Thank you for the informative answer!
 
For what it's worth. If programming cables are going to be brought in by Can Am make sure they are the good ones. There are clones of clones of clones out on the market that are trying to use the Prolific chip set, but the Prolific drivers will not work with them which means they do not work. The good cables run between 15 and 20 bucks.
 
CanAM- Any ETA on accessories for these? Programming cables, Nagoya NA-771 antennas, external speaker/mics, and 3800 mAh batteries in particular.
 
teknition said:
CanAM- Any ETA on accessories for these? Programming cables, Nagoya NA-771 antennas, external speaker/mics, and 3800 mAh batteries in particular.
Click to expand...

The 3800 mAh batteris last a long time. I last charged my UV5R in June and I use it about 3-5 hours a week. I have about 70% battery left. Baofeng also makes a battery case that runs off AA batteries. I use that when there is no power. I can charge the AA batteries with a goal zero solar panel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom