This APP May Replace FRS Completely

[ChrisABQ]

Google "MDC1200 squelch tail", you will need the WAV file for it to work. In the Options dropdown, go to Alerts and you can select Custom and then search where you downloaded it to. I have it as the sound for "End of Incoming Message" Really easy.

I don't hang out on any channels, there are storm chasers and some police and fire that I listen to.

 

[N9NRA]

I too have Zello, use it mostly for an adjunct to my regular ham radio comms, but i do like it a lot, great for when you can`t hit a repeater or need to talk privately with another ham about something you don`t want to put out on the repeater . I might just for kicks search on the app that was mentioned (two-way walkie talkie) just to see what it`s all about, might be an intresting looksee. N9NRA

 

[W8RMH]

It's international. I talk to people around the world. I agree, it's an awesome service. However, it is also infested with whackers...

In Zello you can set up private channels which require passwords.

 

[Analogrules]

I actually don't care for Two Way Walkie Talk (at least in my area) for personal use. I think if the audio was a little louder, it would be great for businesses to communicate (you have 999,999 channels to choose from). Therefore the chances of being interfered with are very slim. In in my area, Ch 0, 1, and 2 are used mostly by Indians who are constantly chatting. When I first downloaded the app, Ch 2 seemed to be very similar to hearing CB Ch 19. So, you never know who you will hear on the lower channels, but if you want a private channel, all you have to do is pick any combination of 6 digits. Also Two Way Walkie Talk app does not require any sign up or passwords. You are good to go after you download it. Zello is more like social media where you have to choose a user name and password and can even add people (friends) for your contact list. There are a lot more features with Zello and you can talk to people worldwide on some popular channels. Two Way Walkie Talk is much more simple and is based on 6-7 mile radius regions.

 

[Rred]

Step away from the KoolAide.
All the walkie-talkie phone apps either use the cell phone system, in which case you could have dialed direct, or they use mesh networking or direct networking over Bluetooth or WiFi.
The normal BT range of a cell phone is thirty feet, as long as you are marching in a line with someone running the app every 25' apart, the network works.
WiFi? Eh, maybe 40-50', cell phones don't put a lot of power into that either.

FRS ain't gonna be replaced anytime soon by cell phone apps. Dozens have made that promise--and failed repeatedly for the same reasons. Cell phone "mesh" networking only works if you know how to read the numbers, and set up a very tight mesh.

 

[Analogrules]

Sorry, but I don't drink Kool-Aid. And yes, FRS will always be the best way to communicate on cruises, vacation resorts, or camping trips when cell phone service is spotty and you need to save phone battery life. However, these apps are already replacing the old methods businesses were communicating. Several businesses have switched or will be switching to these Walky talky apps. It is already happening as more and more people are finding out about them. I also want to add that I am finding these channels on Zello more enjoyable to communicate on than the boring local HAM repeaters in my area that are becoming less and less active.

 

[Rred]

From their (intentionally?) obtuse web site, they want $6/month/user. And they require a wifi or data connection from the smartphone. Which makes Zello not a walkie-talkie at all, but very probably a private VOIP service with some clever hooks. But, still a VOIP service that is dependent on a private operator (switchboard, server) as opposed to a walkie-talkie, which is independent of that infrastructure.

But apparently there's no FAQ to explain the secret sauce.

 

[Analogrules]

Incorrect. Their app is free. Download it and see for yourself.

 

[Rred]

Free for some users, $6/month/user for others. As per their own web site.

Many antivirus software companies made their software free to individual users, in order to get the buzz out and have those individuals do the marketing to their places of employment. Zello is doing the same model.

You can ride the coattails for free--but there's still a corporate infrastructure behind it that needs to be supported. If Zello goes into bankruptcy, their system shuts down. Unlike a walkie-talkie of any kind, where infrastructure is not an issue.

OK, they're carrier-agnostic. BFD, corporate users often have "corporate" carriers. If that carrier turns on "push to talk" and talk groups...no reason to pay Zello, and there goes the infrastructure. One of many failure modes that walkies don't have.

It ain't w/t software. It is apparently a private phone network.

 

[Analogrules]

No, it's currently free for all however they offer in app purchases for more bells and whistles if you choose. But ANYONE on any smartphone (whether it is a droid or IOS) can download and use the app for free. This could always change in the future, but for now it is totally free for anyone to use.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Thanks to hurricane Matthew, I just spent 36 hours with no power, no phone, no cable, no internet. Yet channel 1 FRS/GMRS was busy with neighbor gabbing about the wait for these utilities. Sure, the cellular worked, but not well enough for voice and streaming data services. I could barely make out a phone call with a neighbor next door and the data services were slow and overloaded. So dont count on these apps replacing FRS or GMRS.

 

[MTS2000des]

Thanks to hurricane Matthew, I just spent 36 hours with no power, no phone, no cable, no internet.

I hope this is all you suffered and made it through okay.

Yet channel 1 FRS/GMRS was busy with neighbor gabbing about the wait for these utilities. Sure, the cellular worked, but not well enough for voice and streaming data services. I could barely make out a phone call with a neighbor next door and the data services were slow and overloaded. So dont count on these apps replacing FRS or GMRS.

That's the biggest issue with relying on common carrier networks. Overload. Even if the sky is blue and sun is shining, if too many folks are in a given sector/cell and the backhaul is a narrow pipe, you're screwed.

Was in a venue in the southern part of my county (which is fairly rural despite being only 20 miles from downtown Atlanta) working an event last weekend. We saw about 8-10,000 folks a day. Guess what didn't work well, cellular. None of the cartels had COW's because the event promoter didn't think about that.

All the major carriers cell sites in the area are designed for low density use (figure only a couple thousand subs passing through a day and a few hundred in the area) and those sites quickly became choked and could not handle even basic voice traffic because everyone is trying to use HSD and get on FaceBook, Twitter, etc.

Needless to say our Astro 25 7.14 system worked fine and handled the additional load of event traffic, and those folks at the event had no problem using the on-site MotoTRBO radios they rented, and many of the attendees were using FRS/GMRS and had no issues.

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water just yet.

 

[Hans13]

In Zello you can set up private channels which require passwords.

Yep. I have been running a few channels for years now. Thanks for the tip though.

 

[Analogrules]

I admit that I was fascinated with Zello initially, but later realized how quickly it burns my cell phone battery and I'm also not happy with the lack of media and weather buffs on there in my area. It seems some of the channels were once a big hit, but hardly used anymore. I tried joining a couple of active channels like Ring Of Fire and Non-Stop Talk, but it just reminded me of nonsense CB chatter. Also, the volume level of the app is quite low. No longer a fan of Zello unless major improvements are made.

 

[Sporrt]

I believe the monthly fee is for business users.
The most worthwhile use for me, is talking to my sister that's overseas.

Have no issues with low volume, there's a few available adjustments, touch the transmit circle and rotate to set DB of mic gain. Can also individually adjust the volume of others.

 

[jaymatt1978]

Nobody said it wasn't "cool", hey if I had a smartphone I'd download the app just for chuckles. I'm not knocking it one bit, not by a long shot./ However, and this is NOT A KNOCK, I'm still not impressed simply because it relies on the cellphone backbone.. It WON'T replace FRS because FRS doesn't require ANY network. As far as I know just by saying it's a nationwide networks, to me that requires a celluar inffrastructure, If I'm wrong, please let me know.

I use Zello everyday, it's free and it's nationwide. I can use it like a walkie talkie from 3,000 miles away over the cell network. And to make it sound that much cooler, I added the Motorola MDC1200 squelch tail to it. Very cool.

 

[N9NRA]

After reading this thread i got to thinkin`, and i for one don`t think Zello, good as it is, or any other walkie-talkie app will ever replace FRS (or any regular two-way radio for that matter). Why? Well for one, as has been said these apps rely on the cellullar network, lose the net and it`s bye-bye walkie-talkie app, and two, there`s still enough FRS users to keep those bands busy enough, while they aren`t talking all the time, they are out there. Like i said, i have Zello, like it, use it mainly as a backup to my regular ham radios, and find it a fun app for just experimenting a bit too. But IMHO apps like Zello will not replace a good ol` two-way radio . N9NRA.

 

[prc117f]

Never heard of it but had fun on 27.555 DX channel on Zello. It was like being on CB, was talking with someone in Mexico etc.. really neat.