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Baofeng Baofeng BF-888's being sold on Amazon with MEDCOMM frequencies programmed

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scannerman5000

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Amazon.com: Customer Questions & Answers
Scroll down on the link and look at channels 10 and 11.
Those two frequencies are MEDCOMM (UHF) frequencies used for ambulance to Hospital communications.

I heard some kids in my neighborhood tonight using that frequency and DPL set up. This particular frequency (463.025) just HAPPENS to be our LOCAL HOSPITAL MEDCOMM channel, that's why it came across my scanner.
I looked up the frequency in google search and the link above was THE FIRST listing to come up. Someone asked "what channels are programmed in?".

I took the time to write an email to the seller to inform him of the situation. I doubt i'll hear back or anything will be done but DAMN you should not be able to buy a radio pre-set with Emergency channels programmed, regardless of if they access a repeater or not.
 

scannerman5000

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Thankfully it was not going through the repeater. My scanner did not have the PL set so that's how I heard it. I usually skip the FRS frequencies and had to take a look when I heard kids talking. I used my radio to call out to them and tell them to go to a different channel. They went silent after I did that. I didn't mean to scare them, I just wanted them to know.
 

mmckenna

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Every new commercial radio I've ever put my hands on, Icom, Kenwood, Harris, Motorola, EF Johnson, etc all came completely blank. No reason why these radios are arriving on our shores pre-programmed, other than preventing consumer users from returning them because "they didn't work".

FCC could fix this, but they won't.
 

scannerman5000

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Every new commercial radio I've ever put my hands on, Icom, Kenwood, Harris, Motorola, EF Johnson, etc all came completely blank. No reason why these radios are arriving on our shores pre-programmed, other than preventing consumer users from returning them because "they didn't work".

FCC could fix this, but they won't.
Agreed,
Anymore when someone buys a radio, they know NOTHING about programming, legalities of use or anything else. Like most things, they don't want to put work into a new product, they just want them to WORK right out of the package.

YES, they "could" do something, but you're right they won't.
 

alcahuete

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I've said it before, and it always starts arguments, but I'll say it again. These radios should be programmed for FRS frequencies. They should NEVER be programmed for public safety or business band frequencies. I get the need to have something programmed in, because people expect them to be able to talk to each other out of the box. FRS is already a wasteland. I'm not for polluting the FRS with more crap, but between FRS, public safety, and business, FRS is the logical choice, IMO. The best choice would be to not allow them to enter our country, but that isn't going to happen.
 

scannerman5000

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Surprisingly enough, I received a reply from the seller, almost instantly. The seller seemed very concerned, and stated they would "feedback the problem with the technician". Seems genuine enough. Will it be solved? hopefully in this one seller's case. Will it continue to happen with other sellers? highly probable. My work is done!
 

scannerman5000

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I've said it before, and it always starts arguments, but I'll say it again. These radios should be programmed for FRS frequencies. They should NEVER be programmed for public safety or business band frequencies. I get the need to have something programmed in, because people expect them to be able to talk to each other out of the box. FRS is already a wasteland. I'm not for polluting the FRS with more crap, but between FRS, public safety, and business, FRS is the logical choice, IMO. The best choice would be to not allow them to enter our country, but that isn't going to happen.
I totally agree.
 

AK9R

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Seems like the problem has been identified, reported, and has a promise of resolution. Nothing more to discuss as most of us are aware of the quality of these radios and the integrity (some good, some bad) of their sellers.
 
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