The FCC started getting serious about the importation of unlocked ham radios sometime around 2019 or so. An unlocked radio is one that transmits on frequencies not intended for the type of radio that it is. For example, a GMRS radio should not be able to transmit on amateur radio frequencies and vice versa. Some folks also refer to this as jailbreaking although that term is more synonymous with cellular phones or game consoles.
The rules regarding the importation and sale of such radios in the US is pretty clear, especially regarding any Family Radio Services such as FRS, GMRS, and MURS. Continue reading →
Is There A Single Radio That Can Do Amateur Radio And GMRS?
This is kind of a trick question. Technically, there are radios capable of doing this. And you can buy these radios today. The inherent problem though is that these radios violate the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 47 and FCC Rules and Regulations for Amateur Radio and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios to include Family Radio Service (FRS) and Multi Use Radio Service (MURS).
Baofeng UV-5R Pre-2021
Actually, a few years ago there were radios being imported into the United States that were capable of VHF/UHF, FRS, GMRS, and MURS.
If you bought the venerable Baofeng UV-5R prior to 2021 you had all these capabilities. In 2021 the FCC started disallowing the importation of radios that didn’t meet newly written regulations.
Subsequently, I bought several of these things when I first got my FCC License and still have them all. The UV-5R’s prior to 2021 were the magic radios that did it all. Continue reading →
I think there may be a perception by non-radio users that us Hams simply buy radios and just push the microphone or Push To Talk (PTT) button. If only it were that simple. In this day and age most radios come with a hunk of software called Customer Programming Software or CPS. With that CPS software, the user must create something called a Codeplug. The Codeplug must then be uploaded to the radio. This usually entails having a programming cable. The programming cable almost never comes with the radio and must be purchased separately. I swear that I will never understand this.
The first time you look at a CPS program it is just a bit intimidating. So many fields to populated with information you may or may not know about as a new ham.
And I’m mostly talking about analogue radios here. When I bought my first DMR radio, a Connect Systems CS800, I had no earthly idea what to do next. I started looking a Codeplug to download. The problem with that is your Codeplug is pretty specific to your local area. Subsequently, It should be programmed for your local amateur radio repeaters. For digital radios it will also include your favorite talk groups. Continue reading →
What if you woke up and there was no internet connection?
I have written similar blogs a couple of times in the past but like to keep it up to date as technology cruises forward or if I discover new hardware. Just what would you do if you woke up and there was no internet connection? This could be due to a massive telecom hack, or natural disaster, or an act of war.
Surprisingly, your computer can do quite a lot without a network connection, even if you can’t picture in your mind how that could be. Let’s explore how we can use a computer with no internet connection.
What Can We Do With No Internet Connection?
Quite a bit actually. Let me make a quick list:
GPS
Radio (AM, FM, shortwave, weather, air band, etc.)
This is one of my favorite subjects. And it kind of goes along with being prepared for the worst. Small devices such as computers can be easily recharged or used on even a small solar set up. So what can you do with a computer when there is no internet? Quite a lot actually.
I’ve done this before in 2018 with a Linux computer but I’m going to do it this time with a Windows laptop. But it is time to update that post a little bit, I suppose.
And as per my previous recommendation you want to probably use an old laptop and preferably something like a ToughBook. If the internet is down, and life is getting harder you don’t need some baby computer that won’t hold up.
TV
Yep, your computer can be a TV with no internet connection. You do need a USB TV Tuner though. I use the Hauppauge 955Q which is probably obsolete since I couldn’t find it anymore on Amazon. This seems to be the latest generation. Despite which tuner you get make sure that it is ATSC and not PAL. ATSC is US and PAL is European. Your tuner combined with software called NextPVR or probably any number of software programs you can download will give you an Electronic Program Guide and allow you to watch Over The Air Live TV. That program guide does come down from the internet though, and you won’t be able to access it if the grid goes down. Still, you know what your local channels are though.
NOTE: I probably should state that my grid down situation is most likely a hurricane and all the local stations are 40 or so (driving) miles away and inland so they will most likely still be operational. Your situation may vary.
Being able to watch TV during a power outage or while you are Sheltering in Place could provide vital, life saving information. Or it could just provide much needed entertainment in a bad situation.
So here it is, New Years Eve…….I’m up at 1 AM and reading “Best Tech of The Year” articles. Either one of two things has happened. Either nothing tremendously wonderful happened in Tech this year or the imagination and writing skills of journalists are now nearly non-existent.
Every list shows the latest cell phones or drones, or gaming device or newest TV offering. I’m sorry, but that just isn’t that inspiring to me. I may be a dinosaur but newer is not always better. Case in point. Look up the home entertainment category and most lists have some SONOS player. That’s a networked streaming audio system.
I’ve been using Logitechmediaserver so many years it isn’t funny. It streams Spotify, Tidal, TuneIn, Pandora (I dropped my Pandora subscription) and many, many more services.
I got the distinct honor of speaking at the local Amateur Radio Club last night and it caused me to dust the, errrrrrr, dust off of my DMR Hotspots. After the club meeting I came back and updated the OS’s (PiStar) on my Zumspot and JumboSpot and updated the firmware as well.
The JumboSpot has one distinct advantage over the Zumpsot I have. It has a cool OLED display.
That got me to thinking. I could probably add an OLED to my Zumspot. I could. Here’s how you do that:
Thought I’d do some philosophical stuff today instead of technical stuff today. Beware.
One of the things that first fascinated me as a little kid (besides baseball and before women) was radio. Specifically short wave radio. We had a world band radio in the house and it had the TV audio band. I used to think that was so cool. Then along came Citizens Band (CB) radio. Oh God how I loved that. I really find that odd because now at my advanced age of 57, and the fact I’m a licensed Ham, I really don’t care to talk.
But oh how I love to listen. I almost don’t care what I’m listening to as long as I’m LISTENING.
Batten down the hatches and store food. The end is near. I bought a Windows Device and I am going to review it.
Let’s be clear. I F’n-ing hate Windows. I have been using Linux and Mac way before it was cool to do so. Windows is an abomination. That being said I have long since owned a Vinyl Sign Cutting machine. The very best software for it runs on Windows. Also recently I bought an SDRPlay RSPDuo and the only real software to exploit it properly is called SDRUno and it is Windows only.
This is a review for a Chuwi HI10 Air Tablet . I bought it EXCLUSIVELY for using RTL-SDR radios on. If you are looking for a review of how well this tablet does ANYTHING besides RTL-SDR, then by golly you are in the wrong place.
I travel a lot and I love listening to radio signals and like it or not I just need to carry around a Windows device.
Sure I can run Windows in a Virtual environment but I’m kind of king of the low power devices (read: CHEAP) and the things I try to do require more power and speed than what I typically carry around.
I have 
This is a review for a 