Baofeng Baofeng HT Saves A Life

[MTS2000des]

I fail to see with what you just wrote above has to do with the thousand upon thousands of Baofengs sold. Nobody is saying here that a Baofeng is better than an Icom. Nobody.

What is being said is that a cheap radio has brought a lot of people to HAM. You can add FRS and MURS to that list as well.

Are you disputing that point?

This isn't about better or a Ford versus Chevy pissing contest. It's about compliance with FCC rule part 97.307. Cheap radios that are compliant aren't the point. The FACT is many of these are NOT compliant as has been demontrated. Again, your choice to be obtuse to this fact doesn't make it any less true or less relevant.

Amateur radio operators who care about the rules and bettering themselves are true radio amateurs who work to ensure that the amateur radio service will be around to be enjoyed as a hobby and advance the art of radio for generations to come.

Those who thumb their nose at the rules and give a finger to the FCC are LIDS who are no different than CB'ers with the "more watts and echo box/roger beeps" mentality that will ensure the copious radio spectrum authorized by the FCC to be eventually taken away as it becomes a lawless free for all.

For decades hams have demonstrated great technical prowess and respect for the rules. Once we get away from that, we are no different than CB lids with echo boxes, roger beeps, kerchunks/dead keyers, and profanity. It's not about cheap equipment, it's more about licensees understanding why some cheap equipment is garbage because it puts out garbage and adds to the ever growing noise floor problem on our radio spectrum. As hams, we should collectively "know better".

 

[AK9R]

The premise of the thread is that a "Baofeng saved a life". That hiker could have easily been carrying another brand of radio. You could argue that the hiker was more likely to have any amateur radio transceiver with him due to the low price of CCRs. But, in the end, it was the skills of the amateur radio operators involved in the communications that "saved a life", not the radio.

 

[Marine_Cotporal]

This isn't about better or a Ford versus Chevy pissing contest. It's about compliance with FCC rule part 97.307. Cheap radios that are compliant aren't the point. The FACT is many of these are NOT compliant as has been demontrated. Again, your choice to be obtuse to this fact doesn't make it any less true or less relevant.

Amateur radio operators who care about the rules and bettering themselves are true radio amateurs who work to ensure that the amateur radio service will be around to be enjoyed as a hobby and advance the art of radio for generations to come.

Those who thumb their nose at the rules and give a finger to the FCC are LIDS who are no different than CB'ers with the "more watts and echo box/roger beeps" mentality that will ensure the copious radio spectrum authorized by the FCC to be eventually taken away as it becomes a lawless free for all.

For decades hams have demonstrated great technical prowess and respect for the rules. Once we get away from that, we are no different than CB lids with echo boxes, roger beeps, kerchunks/dead keyers, and profanity. It's not about cheap equipment, it's more about licensees understanding why some cheap equipment is garbage because it puts out garbage and adds to the ever growing noise floor problem on our radio spectrum. As hams, we should collectively "know better".

Again. What does following rules and radios that leak this or that have anything to do with the point that I made regarding that Baofengs have brought a lot of people to HAM?

This what you are doing. If you make a statement that cheap mobile homes have made it possible for lots of people to become home owners to get away from renting and I quote your post saying that a regular house is better since it has a foundation, better insulation, and better resale value, you’ll be scratching your head wondering what that has to do with the statement said.

That isn’t the point.

 

[MTS2000des]

Again. What does following rules and radios that leak this or that have anything to do with the point that I made regarding that Baofengs have brought a lot of people to HAM?

Because following the rules and not transmitting spurious emissions is what makes one a ham versus a lid.

This what you are doing. If you make a statement that cheap mobile homes have made it possible for lots of people to become home owners to get away from renting and I quote your post saying that a regular house is better since it has a foundation, better insulation, and better resale value, you’ll be scratching your head wondering what that has to do with the statement said.

That isn’t the point.

There is a reason why county governments don't allow for mobile home developments in many places anymore. Trailer parks aren't generally gateways to someone owning real homes. They're traps for low income and all the associated problems. Poor example you picked if you're trying to sell the "Baofeng is the gateway drug" of ham radio.

 

[MTS2000des]

But, in the end, it was the skills of the amateur radio operators involved in the communications that "saved a life", not the radio.

THIS PART. And those who actually comprehend skill sets also understand the basis and purpose of why we have rules.

 

[Marine_Cotporal]

Because following the rules and not transmitting spurious emissions is what makes one a ham versus a lid.

There is a reason why county governments don't allow for mobile home developments in many places anymore. Trailer parks aren't generally gateways to someone owning real homes. They're traps for low income and all the associated problems. Poor example you picked if you're trying to sell the "Baofeng is the gateway drug" of ham radio.

OMG. You still do not get it. Have a good day sir. You are correct. Baofengs have not brought new people over to HAM due to their cheap price.

 

[N4KVE]

Trailer parks attract a certain class of people. So do Baofengs.

 

[KK4JUG]

This isn't about better or a Ford versus Chevy pissing contest. It's about compliance with FCC rule part 97.307. Cheap radios that are compliant aren't the point. The FACT is many of these are NOT compliant as has been demontrated. Again, your choice to be obtuse to this fact doesn't make it any less true or less relevant.

Amateur radio operators who care about the rules and bettering themselves are true radio amateurs who work to ensure that the amateur radio service will be around to be enjoyed as a hobby and advance the art of radio for generations to come.

Those who thumb their nose at the rules and give a finger to the FCC are LIDS who are no different than CB'ers with the "more watts and echo box/roger beeps" mentality that will ensure the copious radio spectrum authorized by the FCC to be eventually taken away as it becomes a lawless free for all.

For decades hams have demonstrated great technical prowess and respect for the rules. Once we get away from that, we are no different than CB lids with echo boxes, roger beeps, kerchunks/dead keyers, and profanity. It's not about cheap equipment, it's more about licensees understanding why some cheap equipment is garbage because it puts out garbage and adds to the ever growing noise floor problem on our radio spectrum. As hams, we should collectively "know better".

And that's why I threw away (and didn't sell) all my Baofengs. I bought them very early on before I knew how they polluted the airways.

 

[usswood]

The fact remains, not many PS operators on the VHF anyway... everything is 700/800 trunked, so I can't see them being that big of an issue anymore as far as interference goes with PS... So I don't really get the debate anymore?

 

[GTR8000]

The fact remains, not many PS operators on the VHF anyway... everything is 700/800 trunked, so I can't see them being that big of an issue anymore as far as interference goes with PS... So I don't really get the debate anymore?

There are millions upon millions of public safety users still very much active on analog VHF and UHF all across the USA, including some of the most populated cities like NY, LA, Chicago, etc. The statement "everything is 700/800 trunked" is far from the reality.

 

[Marine_Cotporal]

They debate because they are HAM snobs. Plain and simple. What the hell do they care if I’m out in the woods with 2 30 dollars UV5R’s talking simplex while hiking or if I’m in my home hitting a repeater with a Baofeng with no one around me?

They argue points that has nothing to do with the point that lots of people came to HAM with a Baofeng as a starter radio as if no one knows that a Baofeng is a bottom of the barrel radio and we are arguing it’s superiority.

 

[ecps92]

Not sure why the WMA.ARRL had to advertise for a CCR vendor, when it should have been, a licensed Amateur Radio Operator used his training and equipment to assist with a medical emergency in the woods.

Fact is a HAM RADIO talked on a HAM REPEATER which is all it SHOULD DO.

 

[Citywide173]

The fact remains, not many PS operators on the VHF anyway... everything is 700/800 trunked, so I can't see them being that big of an issue anymore as far as interference goes with PS... So I don't really get the debate anymore?

And this is where people apply their local trends to everyone. Massachusetts, with the exception of the State Police and a few others are still on VHF/UHF, with the UHF more prevalent, Vermont, well, I couldn't find a single public safety trunked system that would have been in play, but a whole bunch of VHF/UHF in the two counties that could be contacted from that mountaintop.

 

[alcahuete]

Not sure why the WMA.ARRL had to advertise for a CCR vendor...

Oh, that's easy! Cheap radios = more ham radio operators = $$$$$$$ for the ARRL. That's literally all they care about. With all the bad press the CCRs have gotten, this is a welccome article for them.

 

[AK9R]

Not sure why the WMA.ARRL had to advertise for a CCR vendor, when it should have been, a licensed Amateur Radio Operator used his training and equipment to assist with a medical emergency in the woods.

They didn't. Baofeng was only mentioned once in the article and did not appear in the headline.

 

[KK4JUG]

Everyone talks about how the Beofengs are good for ham radio but I'm not convinced that that's what most are being used for. I can't help but think that 1) people simply used the frequencies already programmed in the radios for personal communications, 2) they programmed FRS or GMRS frequencies in them, or, 3) they programmed local law enforcement frequencies in them hoping to use them for scanners.

 

[MTS2000des]

Everyone talks about how the Beofengs are good for ham radio but I'm not convinced that that's what most are being used for.

yup, cheap "autonomous zone" radios used by persons who don't know/care that they are afoul of the law and may be interfering with legitimate users. But with no one doing any real enforcement and these road apples flooding the market, all we can do is turn up the power, right? Overcome noise with noise.
Glad I convinced my employer to pay for my RFIM tech cert. They're gonna get their $$$ worth as the years go on.

W9BU covered it well: quality ham gear isn't that expensive, and unlike these Chinese pirate radio transceivers, legitimate marketed ham gear doesn't come pre-loaded with part 90 frequencies for folks to pirate on.

 

[krokus]

What the hell do they care if I’m out in the woods with 2 30 dollars UV5R’s talking simplex while hiking or if I’m in my home hitting a repeater with a Baofeng with no one around me?

It is the other communications that get interfered with, that is the problem for most of us. If the CCRs were built with better quality filtering, it would be a non-issue. Of course, that would increase the price of the radios, and they would (probably) not be as popular.

 

[Marine_Cotporal]

It is the other communications that get interfered with, that is the problem for most of us. If the CCRs were built with better quality filtering, it would be a non-issue. Of course, that would increase the price of the radios, and they would (probably) not be as popular.

Funny. I use my personal Baofeng UV82HP at work and no one at the train yard complains about interference with their issued ICOMS on the same frequency. This is a non issue for the majority of people. Especially when using PL Codes which anyone who is serious about interference should be using anyway.

 

[KK4JUG]

Funny. I use my personal Baofeng UV82HP at work and no one at the train yard complains about interference with their issued ICOMS on the same frequency. This is a non issue for the majority of people. Especially when using PL Codes which anyone who is serious about interference should be using anyway.

I was a cop for 32 years. I remember being shot at one time a long time ago. He missed, though, so I guess it didn't matter.