Cheap Comms - Baofeng Radios

[Justin]

As a suggestion, once everyone gets their radios in and programmed,(and their license of course) we should set up a "Net" and give everyone a place to practice using them. I got mine a couple of years ago but never use it. Pretty sure "dry fire" or talking to myself, isn't building my radio skill or confidence.

I'd be down for that. After the next paycheck I think I might order a couple of these.

Yes, and yes. The only caveat to talking to other radios is that some FRS radios can run "security" to make your conversations private, so if others are using that, you can't hear what they are saying, just noise.

That was going to be my other question. Not that it's a big deal, but how common is encryption on consumer-grade radios?

[Grant H.]

I'd be down for that. After the next paycheck I think I might order a couple of these.



That was going to be my other question. Not that it's a big deal, but how common is encryption on consumer-grade radios?

It's not that uncommon, but I would have to opt to turn it on in my Midland FRS radios. It's usually on by default, because most of the manufacturers understand that the average user isn't going to want to have to figure out matching security keys between radios, or turning it off to use with their homies that can't.

Motorola is the worst offender about having it on by default.