He gives really good baseline info, then if someone clarifies or expands in his comments, he literally pins their comments and tells people to mock them about it. Ur-boomer behavior.
I bought two Baofeng UV-5R’s for SHTF and to keep in contact with my family while camping. I think most people aren’t going to get a HAM or GMRS license without first knowing how to use/program the equipment. Right now I listen and watch guys like you two in order to learn.
lmao and you got the buzzer to talk to you!!! you sir also have a great channel me and the wife watch you and randy together... sorry crash course you i gotta watch solo lol
@@craigdavidson2977 look up his name then look in the court records.. he was prosecuted in court for speeding whilst drunk...........i live near to him. would you be rambling on if he has mowed down and slaughtered your baby in his speeding car ?????????????? well ???????????????????????????????????????? get YOUR facts right before you attack others............he is a criminal and as such he is open target to be called out on it.. he denied it already but the proof is in the courts........people like him kill people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got my GRMS license after listening to Randy for many months. We use GMRS on the ranch instead of FLS. I recently got back into CB as my wife and i have started doing more traveling and wanted mobile communication. I added a base antenna so Ive started using the CB as a base radio as well. Setting up my A99, getting into tuning etc led me to getting my Technician license which, honestly, took 8 hours of reading and regurgitating it on an exam. No big deal, now i have my "ticket" to learn even more - if it interests me. Im not a radio techie, im interested in it for its usefulness.
This is good. For many people like myself, the practical aspects of this stuff are actually more important than simply following arbitrary rules. It’s not our hobby or identity, radio is just a tool we are trying to understand and use if necessary. Bravo Randy.
If SHTF happens, and it truly is an end of the world event: If I manage to survive, I'll use any radio I can find that still works. I'll use any frequency that has traffic and use any language/procedure I need to communicate with ANYONE else who managed to survive and find a working radio. The FCC probably no longer exists anyway.
Oh it's happening as we speak and most people are to afraid or so wrapped up in there own little world(bubble) they don't see it. Sometimes you need to take a step back in life and remove the blinders. It's not gonna be like the movies occuring overnight. No no not at all it will be a slow collapse. You understand it took the Romans 5 years after Rome collapsed for the people looking back to realize it had ever collapsed. The same will happen here as well it's inevitable and it is happening as we speak. It's plain as day to some of us who(well...some would call us the awaken(not woke totally different). Anyway I randomly every once in a while try to warn some random person online knowing it's pretty much a waste of time. So here is my good deed take it how you will but you have been warned for what it's worth. It's all there for you to see if you look(not on your main stream media) maybe TheFirst with Jesse Kelly or NewMax on your TV but that's about the closest you will get but its....not the full extent of the situation at hand. I am done do your thing or just ignore this and pretend I am some crazy conspiracy dude from online. Good luck
SO TRUE !! SHTF means just that. There is no Calvary over the hill. Marshall Dillon is dead. And as Katrina showed us in real time. Most , NOT all but MOST law enforcement and even military employee's will break down into tribalism.
I live in Canada and I had a bad interaction with an old Ham Operator here in Calgary just as I was having a conversation with a fellow Ham while out for a walk with my HT 2 years ago. He was very ignorant in his approach to new users or new users to Calgary here. I was talking with another ham and he called for a "Break". He then started to chastise me for using an HT and presumed I knew nothing about the hobby and was completely ignorant with the use and operation of a radio. (I used to be part of an elite rescue group back in British Columbia during the 1980's.) I found the old guy very unrepresentative of the hobby and he was rude enough to myself and the original conversation that was going on. Just because you happen to have a license does not make one top of the pack. I haven't heard the guy on the radio ever since. I participate on Sundays on two nets which operate here in Alberta, covering from Edmonton to Waterton Park in Southern Alberta. Don't get disappointed by as you've said by "assholes".
Amen, best statement. Keep your nose out of other people's business, unless maybe somebody's dying. Yes, you can bring to the government a legitimate complaint, but it's not sticking your nose in and rubbing your nose all around in somebody else business. They are not like you, you are not going to be able to make them a photocopy of you. You are not like them, leave it alone. DON'T BE A KAREN.
Randy isn’t a HAM but he also advocates knowing how and when to use radios responsibly. He never advocates just going out and transmit on whatever frequency you want when you want.
I bought a couple of Baofeng UV-9R radios for a form of comms to use to monitor information being transmitted, and to use as emergency comms, because my wife is Stage 4 kidney failure, and in a grid down situation, that would be our only means of getting her help if she needed it.
@@dustinmiller2775 she’s getting plenty of calcium. Too much calcium causes kidney stones; I know this from experience. She’s doing dialysis at home. If the grid goes down, it could be fatal for her. That’s why I posted the comment, looking for advice.
I have always suspected that when SHTF there will be lots of chatter on the radio channels (both licensed and unlicensed) for the first few days but as the batteries run down and those people begin to realize their factory included radio chargers won't work with the power out, It will get much quieter on all the bands. The new thing I learned on last night's stream with Randy and Josh is that there is going to be a whole lot more toilet paper available than I suspected.
I would not say that i am sure that there are plenty of people out there that are smart enough to have a solar charger or a hand cranked generators , and those diamond batteries are on the market as well so it will still be noisy out there when SHTF
I’m one of the people who got a Chinese radio, turned it on and I was like wtf… I have experience with first responder and aviation radios but the training and use of those is very basic compared to figuring out all this other stuff. In the fire department I just turned on the radio, selected the frequency I needed and talked. Thats it. I never had to program anything or get licenses or connect to repeaters or anything.
No, your department tech has programmed your frequency channel, and all you're doing is using a handset with a few sub-channels. This is common for any first responder set up. No one expects security guards and life guards to understand radio transmission equipment details. They're designed to be idiot proof, much like buying an Apple tablet instead of a Windows or Linux laptop. I was a Dispatcher and Life Safety Control Room Supervisor for years in a Fortune 3 company and never once had to program a hand unit, our dispatch panels, or do anything with the transmitter other than watch our tech guy do what he did to set up and modify our stuff. Those units you use as a first responder are more advanced than an GMRS locked unit, and typically run with digital encryption on a paid for frequency. Sure they're limited to the frequencies you program/pay for, but when operating, those Motorola units are very state of the art.... but they DEFINITELY have licenses and repeaters programed for use... you just didn't see it.
Before i got licensed, we used the golden rule. If someone came on frequency, we moved frequency. We tried not to interfere with anyone. We never used ham radio frequencies.
Two things: 1.) buying a radio and putting it away in case SHTF and waiting to learn how to use it until after the SHTF is like having never owned a firearm and waiting until a firefight breaks out to learn how to use it. 2.) Baofeng radios are insanely complicated to program, especially if you have no idea what you're doing with any radio. I suggest studying to get your HAM radio license and joining a local Amateur Radio Club.
Yes. I’m starting to see this. I thought i could just drop $900/$1200 on a kenwood or yaesu and start listening to transmission from around the world. Boy. I was wrong. But I will be looking to join a ham club. learning the terminology about this hobby is where I’m at now. I’m in the Long Beach area
That's my main reason for wanting to get into it but I do wanna learn about it before SHTF so I'm not trying to figure it out when shit does hit the fan I wanna start prepping and HAM radio is gonna be an essential piece to prepping IMHO
I bought 5 radios over the years after watching Randy's reviews, and I also got my GMRS license thanks to him. Two of my radios are UV5R Boofwangs that I use daily for NOAA weather broadcasts and listening.
Great interview, would love more of these. Beufwang gang unite! 🤣 Seriously though I've learned a lot from both of you, other priorities have kept me from a deep dive into Ham but its on the list to improve on.
I would be one of those manual readers you discussed😂😂 I'm a truck driver who got into building antennas a couple years ago. No license, just citizens band, but I always like to learn new things.
1:16:06 We go state-wide in AZ, and most states to my knowledge. That's why we're allowed to CC state-wide, instead of being limited to within the county of issuance like CA.
Oh I needed to add . I am watching All your videos. &Joined you channel. Your videos are GREAT. I didn't realize how technical this is but I'm really enjoying. Thank you Both.
Sad Hams also target other Hams. Example, some HF operators ID both parties after each transmission. It's only required to ID "yourself" every 10 minutes. I actually had a guy once tell me, "if you're not going to properly ID then I'm going to move on..." In a nutshell, Sad Hams are radio Narcissists.
I had no idea the FCC is self-funded. I am 100% in support of not giving them any goddamn money. Thank God for our government doing something halfway right for once!
I believe a major reason to be licensed is to protect the frequency. The more people that are licensed the less likely the FCC will reallocate our bandwidth. GMRS too.
I’m really glad you guys get along. I’m trying to find the balance in all this, and having open conversations helps. Can’t really hear this from most licensed HAMs, for good reason. Both great to listen to: Josh is super helpful and informative, Randy so hilarious, also informative, especially about GMRS. I am studying for HAM, as I’m fascinated by the science, and CW. But I really don’t care to just make contacts to make contacts. Connect me with good, kind, and helpful people…..well, like mysel, haha.
I admit… I have “kerchunked” a repeater a time or two 😂 There’s a local repeater that’s relatively active (at the least, they have a weekly net) and I’d just learned about CTCSS and how to set up the offset on my radio, so I set up my UV9P and one of my UV5R radios with all the information, and with my heart racing, I tapped the PTT on the UV9P to see if I’d set it up correctly so that the UV5R would receive my tap from the repeater. I about jumped out of my skin when the repeater responded instantly with its call sign in a robotic automated voice message 😆 Right now I’m sprinting toward getting my license though. And I think that successful kerchunk is really what set me in that direction, which I think is important to note. That tiny success may be the excitement a lot of people need to decide they want that license.
I love Randy but I can see how people see his opinions as “don’t/you don’t have to follow the rules” and on that front I do agree but as someone who has always loved radio and looked at the button wishing “I wanna press it” I can say that it is probably a good idea to get licensed and my Technician test is at 8p tonight. Wish me luck!
I think that the FCC is also taking a look at some of the other 3 letter organizations that enforce "Rules" instead of laws and are using them as an example of what NOT to do and how to not overreach. At the end of the day the FCC is here to help us, not hinder us...and i think thats how they want to be viewed. JMO
Too cool; Watching Randolphs Videos got me into HAM. Actually I'm studying to get lisc. I think I've done every dumb thing you have both mentioned 😱🤫🤫🤫 But didn't realize how cool the world of ham is. So you both have encouraged me to do this right!! Thanks to you Both.
I am an ex-Navy electronics Tech from the 1980S and there is no reason people need to have a license to drive as long as they know there limitations and use the equipment responsibly. with that, there are thousands of people out there who go to school so that they have a piece of paper that tells other people they can be taught whats in the book but the book doesn't teach common sense
Wanting to learn more about radios I’ve found a lot ham people make it feel like some Uber fucking club and almost any question is answered with “just get your license “ I just want to know if I can find a small radio that could cover about a 100 miles range , that’s ear/throat Mike compatible , waterproof etc … and how to set such a thing up .. by the time I’d ever need to use it the FCC would be the least of my worries
Most hams are very sad they take a test and think it makes them geniuses. I am licensed because I like operating on HF but many of the people I talk to on the radio can be condescending.
The type A personality group exists in nearly everything we have to do. They usually don’t exist in what we enjoy doing simply because they weed themselves out. Those of us who enjoy utilizing airwaves for communication understand that we will always have to deal with the type A’s, the Rebels, the Hero’s, the Cons, the Jokers, etc. I just ignore them and continue to enjoy my time on my radios. Great video! You both do excellent work and it was great seeing you guys together. 73s from Maine 👋🏻
Noise will only really affect very, very long range communications when the receive signal is very weak to start with. The radio receivers built to do that are generally Super Heterodyning and are very selective anyway using the Upper or Lower Sideband. At least that was the way the radios were that I Serviced and Repaired in the Navy.
I took my test last Dec. I answered YES to the felony question. I followed an email explanation, including my FBI records. Now it's been 7 months, I'm still "pending", and puzzled as to why it takes 7 months for them to make a decision on my case. I'm told the FCC examines things on a case by case basis, and Josh, why the heck don't you reply to my emails, tweets, or comments? but anyway, has anyone else who reads this comments, knows if anyone else gets a license if they answer YES to the felony question? On June 7th, I wrote a snail mail letter to a Joel Taubenblatt at the FCC, I still haven't gotten a return letter. My next followup letter will be a Registered Mail, requiring Joel to sign for the letter.
Personally I don't see the excitement in radio from only GMRS radio. There are so many other aspects to explore. Never the less Randy can be entertaining.
Sure. Randy and I both agree GMRS is the radio service that is good for doing your primary hobby while the radio is a tool in getting it done. That’s the point.
I heard a story about a man in Little Germany, North Carolina who had a amateur radio that brought help to their isolated community after hurricane Hellene. They were totally cut off from anyone and his amateur radio communication saved their 40 lives.
Question. Help please. I'm very interested in getting into HAM radio yet have no idea what kind of equipment to buy. I don't have a social media account nor am I interested in even going in that direction so finding a local group isn't an option through that modality. I got the study guides to take the exam but need the equipment first. I don't have a ton of money to spend on this and I'd like to get something portable to take camping. Suggestions please. Thanks
I got my Baofeng UV17r and I got the basics of how to listen. My question is why is programing important and is it necessary and if so how do you program it.
Read some of the comments on Ham UA-cam or Facebook posts, you will find a LOT of licensed hams that don’t know how to operate their radio. Many that don’t know the basics, or know things that are in the rules that their license supposedly shows they have knowledge of. We all (including the FCC) know of those on HF that have licenses, that ID with their call sign, and constantly violate the rules, play music, cuss like sailors and maliciously interfere with others.
You and Notarubicon as well as a handful of friends and colleagues have inspired me to get my license. My test is soon, working small, baby steps, getting my Technician. Hey, it's a start, right? Be an Elmer, not a Sad Ham. You should be happy that new people are joining the Amateur Radio Universe. Also, recently got my GMRS License. I blame Notarubicon for me wanting to do that. ^_^
i have 20-25 radios in a Rubbermaid container. Not sure why i bought all of them, mostly from watching josh and randy. Here's my list: 8-UV5R (4 are colored), 2- UV-5G, KG-935G, KG-UV9GX, KG-UV9G Pro, Baofeng UV17R and Pro, 4-Quansheng UV-K5, Tidradio H3, UV9PX. I have more but can't think of them. Also bought an SDS100 scanner, BEAST!!! Again, not sure why i buy these things, i have a GMRS license but stopped studying for HAM for some reason. Its a disease!
Not exactly. Not just any emergency anywhere. The FCC rule says you must have the emergency that requires a radio to get help and there must be no other means of communication available.
@@craigdavidson2977 And there has to be an immediate threat to life or property (like a house on fire) I have heard false emergency calls. If someone doesn’t have a call sign, I’m very skeptical.
@@craigdavidson2977does that also mean when the Borg come to Earth to assimilate all of the human race and block all radio bands except for the ham frequencies? We are Borg, you will be assimilated, resistant is futile! LOL
Rules are made to be broken, laws are made to make rules unbreakable, by Karen's who have to tell you how to live your life while they themselves don't!!!
Question what do we need to do if the S hit hits the fan like a EMS BOMB is used over the USA what can we do and what do we need to do to have radios to still work ????
You should interview my grandpa. He is almost 90 years old and when he was in middle school he built a short wave radio and the FCC showed up at his house for it back in the 40s
alrighty, I am enthralled with this. Got a couple el cheapo Baofeng UV68pm radios. After looking it is listed as being a 2 meter and a 70cm radio with all kinds of freaking options. Hooked it up to CHIRP and see where I can apparently tell it to transmit and receive outside of it's default freq. I did not test that of course, because I am a complete newb, and still learning the lingo. Used a bunch of CB stuff back in the day, but only on strip jobs. SO I don't want big bro knocking by accident...I mean, if I get in trouble I want to at least be aware I am messing up. Is there a way for me to legally transmit on either of the bands that these things can utilize? I do intend on getting a tech license, but got to study up on it, and find the time...mostly the later. Thanks.
Legally? No, but nobody actually cares that you use a part 90 radio for GMRS or MURS. I do it, and so does about half the people I talk to on big mountaintop repeaters that anyone can hear within a hundred miles.
I am living in this SHTF world now and the people that had the knowledge to broadcast on AM or FM did not, just a single radio station reached out even the emergency system was silent..
Love your videos. I'm new to the radio thing so you're exceptional expertise has turned me on to GRMS which it looks to me that you are spot on with the information. Oh and thanks for the entertaining way you bust out the hammers living in their basements.🤣🤣🤣. I'm not really a radio dude but you're videos are brilliant and well made so I'm subscribed since I can learn something and laugh all in one place.
Do FCC regulations have the force of law? If someone flaunts the rules long enough and far enough, would they ever be charged in CRIMINAL court, and if so, with what?
Yes, FCC regulations have the force of law as part of Title 47 of the CFR, which derives its authority from 47 USC last updates effective January 5, 2015. Penalties generally involve fines for all CFR violations. However, some CFR violations will have criminal consequences. The obvious ones are where interference affects police, fire, or medical services. However, radio users can find themselves in prison for violating other rules. Section 501 of the Communications Act allows the FCC, in cooperation with the DOJ, to purse criminal charges for willfully and knowingly violating the rules. This tends to be used for the most extreme violations or where the conviction will serve as an example to deter other offenders (or as claimed in the video, where a lot of money is involved).
A friend of mine still serves on a Selective Service Board, aka draft board. They maintain access to almost all public licensing and skills databases. And one of the stated purposes of amateur radio, specifically the CW requirement, was "to provide a trained pool of radio operators" to the military in time of war. Got a ham license? Your draft board still exists, and still will draft you as a communications operator. Got a pilot's license? A professional drone license? Uncle Sam has access to a lot of data. And yes, there are contingency plans to use it. Of course, there were formal response plans, and tens of thousands of trained personnel, to deal with epidemics...until 2017, when those plans were literally deemed unneccesary and thrown out. In 2019 some people learned to regret that.
Why was the practice with PTT with no vatteries comment funny? Sorry im a new guy and (paritally smooth brain) just getting into this. Does it have to do with not messing up current real ham professional communications. Or does it have more to do with being silent and getting good at comms when (if) SHTF happens?
Too bad you are not in Oklahoma, we’re having a Freedom conference March 16 and can’t find anyone willing to come speak about radios and emergency preparedness. Wish you were here Mate.
A real emergency to life, serious harm, or a(n) other(s), an officially declared national or regional disaster or an offcically declared regional or national emergency, or a widespread failure of the communications system, including anything on the TV or a radio FM and AM where you're using said device to gather information to help preserve or alert potential first responders or law enforcement personnel to an ongoing crime, an ongoing health emergency, or any other type of emergency that could cause serious harm to yourself others or your community and that's just a rough outline.
It doesn't make sense for you to "have to be there" for your family to be able to use your GMRS callsign since the whole point of permitting sharing is so you can talk to each other from beyond shouting range.
The reason the FCC requires a license for GMRS but not for FRS, MURS or CB is because GMRS users can transmit with as much as 50 watts so there is some possibility of causing interference to other users. The FCC wants there to be a person responsible if a problem occurs.
BTW I’m clueless. I just got a pair of Baofengs. I can’t figure out shit on them and I’m half way through the study guide to get my Technicians. I will have my Technicians in 2 or 3 weeks. Then I’ll slowly figure it out. This is a partial SHTF but also a cool (nerdy) hobby that goes well with some of my interests. Signing off, with my cool fire, Mantis X and batteries removed from My training radios. We look awesome in Moms basement, except for the Pizza stains we are afraid to show her.
Bineg licensed does not waive your 4AC protections. If you refuse entry/inspection/search..they can revoke your license. If you then xmit w/o a required license, they could come back for that issue.
I still don't understand why frs and gmrs share frequencies when one has the license tied to the radio (aka free after purchase) and the other the license is tied to the person/family and requires a few extra bucks beyond the radio purchase.
I haven't listened to this episode yet and IANAL, but in a SHTF situation use any radio you have on any spectrum you can to keep you and your people safe as long as you arent blocking emergency responders that are trying to help.
I would think that the FM broadcast band (88 to 108MHz) is too close to the VHF Aircraft band (108 to 136 MHz) for a problem with harmonic emissions. However, there is another problem called an 'image' frequency in super hetrodyne receivers. If your airplane receiver is designed with a 10.7 MHz IF circuit and low side injection then it will also receive an image frequency 21.4 MHz below. That image frequency would be smack in the middle of the FM broadcast band. Sadly you have two solutions. Get a new airplane radio or have an FAA certified technician install an FM broadcast blocking filter on your antenna coax cable. What is the freq of your airplane radio when it has a problem and what FM radio station are they hearing? Is it 21.4 MHz below?
I just want to say, the ones who scream the loudest about climate change and massive storms of cataclysmic proportions because of it, are the same people who start shit talking the dude with a 2 week supply of food, water, a set of radios and portable solar generator.. Also, without getting your license, you won't know the insane detailed nuanced information about your radio, the cable, the antennas and how the frequencies work 🤣 I'm studying for it, and holy crap there's so much information that I'll never remember, nor will I ever need, unless I'm building the radio and antenna from scratch.
Randy is right. Sad HAMs are the bane of our hobby. Most of them are bullies that take every opportunity to bash others.
Except Randy thinks EVERY ham is sad, that's why he's not right.
I think the real issue is not offering a welcome to glad hams. @@ItsEverythingElse
He gives really good baseline info, then if someone clarifies or expands in his comments, he literally pins their comments and tells people to mock them about it. Ur-boomer behavior.
He is right? He is a sad ham, and brags about being a ham of 40 years and doesn't think that we we should get a license
I love this guy calling out sad hams 😂
i only use my uv-5r for listening since i don't have no license. only transmit in case of emergency like a stubbed toe or ran out of beer
I bought two Baofeng UV-5R’s for SHTF and to keep in contact with my family while camping.
I think most people aren’t going to get a HAM or GMRS license without first knowing how to use/program the equipment. Right now I listen and watch guys like you two in order to learn.
I have watched a lot of Randy's Works. He first gained my Respect, and then my Admiration. Big Thumbs Up.
Two great channels in one video! What more could you ask for?!
oh look the english idiot who drink drives... saw your ban from driving in the local press
lmao and you got the buzzer to talk to you!!! you sir also have a great channel me and the wife watch you and randy together... sorry crash course you i gotta watch solo lol
@@craigdavidson2977 look up his name then look in the court records.. he was prosecuted in court for speeding whilst drunk...........i live near to him. would you be rambling on if he has mowed down and slaughtered your baby in his speeding car ?????????????? well ???????????????????????????????????????? get YOUR facts right before you attack others............he is a criminal and as such he is open target to be called out on it.. he denied it already but the proof is in the courts........people like him kill people !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for watching!
I got my GRMS license after listening to Randy for many months. We use GMRS on the ranch instead of FLS. I recently got back into CB as my wife and i have started doing more traveling and wanted mobile communication. I added a base antenna so Ive started using the CB as a base radio as well. Setting up my A99, getting into tuning etc led me to getting my Technician license which, honestly, took 8 hours of reading and regurgitating it on an exam. No big deal, now i have my "ticket" to learn even more - if it interests me. Im not a radio techie, im interested in it for its usefulness.
This is good. For many people like myself, the practical aspects of this stuff are actually more important than simply following arbitrary rules. It’s not our hobby or identity, radio is just a tool we are trying to understand and use if necessary. Bravo Randy.
If SHTF happens, and it truly is an end of the world event: If I manage to survive, I'll use any radio I can find that still works. I'll use any frequency that has traffic and use any language/procedure I need to communicate with ANYONE else who managed to survive and find a working radio. The FCC probably no longer exists anyway.
Oh it's happening as we speak and most people are to afraid or so wrapped up in there own little world(bubble) they don't see it. Sometimes you need to take a step back in life and remove the blinders. It's not gonna be like the movies occuring overnight. No no not at all it will be a slow collapse. You understand it took the Romans 5 years after Rome collapsed for the people looking back to realize it had ever collapsed. The same will happen here as well it's inevitable and it is happening as we speak. It's plain as day to some of us who(well...some would call us the awaken(not woke totally different). Anyway I randomly every once in a while try to warn some random person online knowing it's pretty much a waste of time. So here is my good deed take it how you will but you have been warned for what it's worth. It's all there for you to see if you look(not on your main stream media) maybe TheFirst with Jesse Kelly or NewMax on your TV but that's about the closest you will get but its....not the full extent of the situation at hand. I am done do your thing or just ignore this and pretend I am some crazy conspiracy dude from online. Good luck
SO TRUE !! SHTF means just that. There is no Calvary over the hill. Marshall Dillon is dead. And as Katrina showed us in real time. Most , NOT all but MOST law enforcement and even military employee's will break down into tribalism.
Once all of government gets disbanded and it's anarchy no law then it's just FUCK FCC time😂
I live in Canada and I had a bad interaction with an old Ham Operator here in Calgary just as I was having a conversation with a fellow Ham while out for a walk with my HT 2 years ago. He was very ignorant in his approach to new users or new users to Calgary here. I was talking with another ham and he called for a "Break". He then started to chastise me for using an HT and presumed I knew nothing about the hobby and was completely ignorant with the use and operation of a radio. (I used to be part of an elite rescue group back in British Columbia during the 1980's.) I found the old guy very unrepresentative of the hobby and he was rude enough to myself and the original conversation that was going on. Just because you happen to have a license does not make one top of the pack. I haven't heard the guy on the radio ever since. I participate on Sundays on two nets which operate here in Alberta, covering from Edmonton to Waterton Park in Southern Alberta. Don't get disappointed by as you've said by "assholes".
I feel this... ive been talked to like I know nothing when I spent 5 years in the military as a jtac 🤣
Amen, best statement.
Keep your nose out of other people's business, unless maybe somebody's dying. Yes, you can bring to the government a legitimate complaint, but it's not sticking your nose in and rubbing your nose all around in somebody else business. They are not like you, you are not going to be able to make them a photocopy of you. You are not like them, leave it alone. DON'T BE A KAREN.
Randy isn’t a HAM but he also advocates knowing how and when to use radios responsibly. He never advocates just going out and transmit on whatever frequency you want when you want.
Exactly. I actually have never heard him advocate for breaking the rules. Those with no sense of humor and Karen tendencies may hear it differently.
He isn't a ham. Ah. That explains why he's advocating illegal radio transmission.
He literally advocated it in this video@@bendeleted9155
@@jasontimmur HIGHLY illegal, right?
@@jasontimmurfudd ham spotted
I bought a couple of Baofeng UV-9R radios for a form of comms to use to monitor information being transmitted, and to use as emergency comms, because my wife is Stage 4 kidney failure, and in a grid down situation, that would be our only means of getting her help if she needed it.
She getting any CALCIUM??? 🤓
@@dustinmiller2775 she’s getting plenty of calcium. Too much calcium causes kidney stones; I know this from experience. She’s doing dialysis at home. If the grid goes down, it could be fatal for her. That’s why I posted the comment, looking for advice.
@@RobertHamm-u7c It's not too much. If I were your kidneys, I'd store away, calcium, too!! You're being deceived. God bless. 🤙
@@RobertHamm-u7c That's also why you have high blood pressure. Because of what you believe. 🤨
GMRS was my gateway to get my tech license and it started from watching Randy’s videos!
Same
same
I have always suspected that when SHTF there will be lots of chatter on the radio channels (both licensed and unlicensed) for the first few days but as the batteries run down and those people begin to realize their factory included radio chargers won't work with the power out, It will get much quieter on all the bands. The new thing I learned on last night's stream with Randy and Josh is that there is going to be a whole lot more toilet paper available than I suspected.
I would not say that i am sure that there are plenty of people out there that are smart enough to have a solar charger or a hand cranked generators , and those diamond batteries are on the market as well so it will still be noisy out there when SHTF
@@keithtaylor6259"...those diamong batteries..."? Care to elaborate?🤔
Two of my favourite people in one video!!! 👍🏻
Kerchunking a repeater to see if you have your radio set up is some kind of crime against humanity? Asking for a... Ok, it was me.
😂
I’m one of the people who got a Chinese radio, turned it on and I was like wtf… I have experience with first responder and aviation radios but the training and use of those is very basic compared to figuring out all this other stuff. In the fire department I just turned on the radio, selected the frequency I needed and talked. Thats it. I never had to program anything or get licenses or connect to repeaters or anything.
Facts.
No, your department tech has programmed your frequency channel, and all you're doing is using a handset with a few sub-channels. This is common for any first responder set up. No one expects security guards and life guards to understand radio transmission equipment details. They're designed to be idiot proof, much like buying an Apple tablet instead of a Windows or Linux laptop.
I was a Dispatcher and Life Safety Control Room Supervisor for years in a Fortune 3 company and never once had to program a hand unit, our dispatch panels, or do anything with the transmitter other than watch our tech guy do what he did to set up and modify our stuff.
Those units you use as a first responder are more advanced than an GMRS locked unit, and typically run with digital encryption on a paid for frequency. Sure they're limited to the frequencies you program/pay for, but when operating, those Motorola units are very state of the art.... but they DEFINITELY have licenses and repeaters programed for use... you just didn't see it.
Before i got licensed, we used the golden rule. If someone came on frequency, we moved frequency. We tried not to interfere with anyone. We never used ham radio frequencies.
Maybe Randolpho can publish a list of "You might be a Sad Ham if...." That would be hilarious. And maybe start a Sad Hams Anonymous support group.
Name it SPAM, Sad People Are Mean. And Sad Hams should only be fed Spam for life
“Sell the GMRS frequencies to those ham guys” ha ha, lol.
Two things: 1.) buying a radio and putting it away in case SHTF and waiting to learn how to use it until after the SHTF is like having never owned a firearm and waiting until a firefight breaks out to learn how to use it. 2.) Baofeng radios are insanely complicated to program, especially if you have no idea what you're doing with any radio. I suggest studying to get your HAM radio license and joining a local Amateur Radio Club.
100% I literally made a video using that argument too!
Yes. I’m starting to see this. I thought i could just drop $900/$1200 on a kenwood or yaesu and start listening to transmission from around the world. Boy. I was wrong. But I will be looking to join a ham club. learning the terminology about this hobby is where I’m at now. I’m in the Long Beach area
That's my main reason for wanting to get into it but I do wanna learn about it before SHTF so I'm not trying to figure it out when shit does hit the fan I wanna start prepping and HAM radio is gonna be an essential piece to prepping IMHO
lol "lawlessness will reign free". i dont recall that happening here in Canada where we don't need GMRS license
Good Stuff! I follow Randy and he is right... Licensed Amateur Radio guys should be happy to bring on new folks..
Most do, but so many sad hams just take up so much of the bandwidth.
I love Randy so much 😭 straight up g
I bought 5 radios over the years after watching Randy's reviews, and I also got my GMRS license thanks to him. Two of my radios are UV5R Boofwangs that I use daily for NOAA weather broadcasts and listening.
Great interview, would love more of these.
Beufwang gang unite!
🤣
Seriously though I've learned a lot from both of you, other priorities have kept me from a deep dive into Ham but its on the list to improve on.
Two of favorite UA-camrs on GMRS topics. Great show and information.
I would be one of those manual readers you discussed😂😂 I'm a truck driver who got into building antennas a couple years ago. No license, just citizens band, but I always like to learn new things.
I am a ham. We are not mad at ya. There are some sad hams 😂
1:16:06 We go state-wide in AZ, and most states to my knowledge.
That's why we're allowed to CC state-wide, instead of being limited to within the county of issuance like CA.
Oh I needed to add . I am watching All your videos. &Joined you channel. Your videos are GREAT. I didn't realize how technical this is but I'm really enjoying. Thank you Both.
Sad Hams also target other Hams. Example, some HF operators ID both parties after each transmission. It's only required to ID "yourself" every 10 minutes. I actually had a guy once tell me, "if you're not going to properly ID then I'm going to move on..." In a nutshell, Sad Hams are radio Narcissists.
I had no idea the FCC is self-funded. I am 100% in support of not giving them any goddamn money. Thank God for our government doing something halfway right for once!
Finally starting to find the based side of this community. It's taken long enough!
Cheers!
I believe a major reason to be licensed is to protect the frequency. The more people that are licensed the less likely the FCC will reallocate our bandwidth. GMRS too.
My GMRS just got approved. Working on my technician, about halfway through the material.
Nice.
Randy's the Bomb!!! Love it! Love baked ham!
Outstanding!!! I follow both of them.
I’m really glad you guys get along. I’m trying to find the balance in all this, and having open conversations helps. Can’t really hear this from most licensed HAMs, for good reason. Both great to listen to: Josh is super helpful and informative, Randy so hilarious, also informative, especially about GMRS. I am studying for HAM, as I’m fascinated by the science, and CW. But I really don’t care to just make contacts to make contacts. Connect me with good, kind, and helpful people…..well, like mysel, haha.
Thank you. I don’t agree with Randy on some of his points. But, we agree more than we don’t.
@@HamRadioCrashCourse Understood. Like I said, just trying to find a balance, as this is all new to me.
Watching Randy made me interested in radio and I am just learning for my ham foundation licence in UK. Thanks Randy!
I admit… I have “kerchunked” a repeater a time or two 😂 There’s a local repeater that’s relatively active (at the least, they have a weekly net) and I’d just learned about CTCSS and how to set up the offset on my radio, so I set up my UV9P and one of my UV5R radios with all the information, and with my heart racing, I tapped the PTT on the UV9P to see if I’d set it up correctly so that the UV5R would receive my tap from the repeater. I about jumped out of my skin when the repeater responded instantly with its call sign in a robotic automated voice message 😆 Right now I’m sprinting toward getting my license though. And I think that successful kerchunk is really what set me in that direction, which I think is important to note. That tiny success may be the excitement a lot of people need to decide they want that license.
Garmin RINOs have been doing the GPS/GMRS thing for YEARS! At least in Canada where GMRS does not require a license.
GMRS in Canada is the equivalent of FRS in the States. It has the same 2W transmit limit. Both are license-free.
I didn't know that. So why does it even exist in Canada? Anyway, I'm a ham.@@Dan_KM8DAD
I love Randy and his channel.
I love Randy but I can see how people see his opinions as “don’t/you don’t have to follow the rules” and on that front I do agree but as someone who has always loved radio and looked at the button wishing “I wanna press it” I can say that it is probably a good idea to get licensed and my Technician test is at 8p tonight. Wish me luck!
did you pass?
Well?
last boufwhang I bought only had 6 channels programed! Wow!😲😲 Had to program the NOAA weather service in it!🙄🙄
Good point / information.
I think that the FCC is also taking a look at some of the other 3 letter organizations that enforce "Rules" instead of laws and are using them as an example of what NOT to do and how to not overreach. At the end of the day the FCC is here to help us, not hinder us...and i think thats how they want to be viewed.
JMO
"The most terrifying words in the English language: I'm from the Government and I am here to help"
-Ronald Reagan
Too cool; Watching Randolphs Videos got me into HAM. Actually I'm studying to get lisc. I think I've done every dumb thing you have both mentioned 😱🤫🤫🤫 But didn't realize how cool the world of ham is. So you both have encouraged me to do this right!! Thanks to you Both.
Exactly! Randy’s the whole reason I got my GMRS license and am taking my ham next week. He’s also the reason I have 40 radios….
I am an ex-Navy electronics Tech from the 1980S and there is no reason people need to have a license to drive as long as they know there limitations and use the equipment responsibly. with that, there are thousands of people out there who go to school so that they have a piece of paper that tells other people they can be taught whats in the book but the book doesn't teach common sense
Wanting to learn more about radios I’ve found a lot ham people make it feel like some Uber fucking club and almost any question is answered with “just get your license “
I just want to know if I can find a small radio that could cover about a 100 miles range , that’s ear/throat Mike compatible , waterproof etc … and how to set such a thing up .. by the time I’d ever need to use it the FCC would be the least of my worries
Most hams are very sad they take a test and think it makes them geniuses. I am licensed because I like operating on HF but many of the people I talk to on the radio can be condescending.
Great conversation. I learned a lot!
Excellent vid,thanks guys been learning alot from you guys.
The type A personality group exists in nearly everything we have to do. They usually don’t exist in what we enjoy doing simply because they weed themselves out. Those of us who enjoy utilizing airwaves for communication understand that we will always have to deal with the type A’s, the Rebels, the Hero’s, the Cons, the Jokers, etc. I just ignore them and continue to enjoy my time on my radios. Great video! You both do excellent work and it was great seeing you guys together. 73s from Maine 👋🏻
Noise will only really affect very, very long range communications when the receive signal is very weak to start with. The radio receivers built to do that are generally Super Heterodyning and are very selective anyway using the Upper or Lower Sideband. At least that was the way the radios were that I Serviced and Repaired in the Navy.
My two favorite Radio guys having a crossover show!
I watch both of your channels because ALL of radio interests me. Just got my GMRS licence and studying for the technician test now.
I took my test last Dec. I answered YES to the felony question. I followed an email explanation, including my FBI records. Now it's been 7 months, I'm still "pending", and puzzled as to why it takes 7 months for them to make a decision on my case. I'm told the FCC examines things on a case by case basis, and Josh, why the heck don't you reply to my emails, tweets, or comments? but anyway, has anyone else who reads this comments, knows if anyone else gets a license if they answer YES to the felony question? On June 7th, I wrote a snail mail letter to a Joel Taubenblatt at the FCC, I still haven't gotten a return letter. My next followup letter will be a Registered Mail, requiring Joel to sign for the letter.
Damn dude you should have just said no.
Goodluck BTW it's BS that is even a question on the test.
31:17 I remember there was a pilot in the Tucson area at one point whose radio was so bad that I was able to pick him up rather clearly on Fm 96.1
Personally I don't see the excitement in radio from only GMRS radio. There are so many other aspects to explore. Never the less Randy can be entertaining.
Sure. Randy and I both agree GMRS is the radio service that is good for doing your primary hobby while the radio is a tool in getting it done. That’s the point.
I heard a story about a man in Little Germany, North Carolina who had a amateur radio that brought help to their isolated community after hurricane Hellene. They were totally cut off from anyone and his amateur radio communication saved their 40 lives.
Question.
Help please. I'm very interested in getting into HAM radio yet have no idea what kind of equipment to buy. I don't have a social media account nor am I interested in even going in that direction so finding a local group isn't an option through that modality. I got the study guides to take the exam but need the equipment first. I don't have a ton of money to spend on this and I'd like to get something portable to take camping. Suggestions please. Thanks
Start with 2 meter and get a $30 uv-k5, then progress into HF after saving up. It took me years to get everything for HF because I was the poors.
Feel free to just get your GRMS license then. If you still want an amateur radio, get the license first. 👍
I got my Baofeng UV17r and I got the basics of how to listen. My question is why is programing important and is it necessary and if so how do you program it.
Read some of the comments on Ham UA-cam or Facebook posts, you will find a LOT of licensed hams that don’t know how to operate their radio. Many that don’t know the basics, or know things that are in the rules that their license supposedly shows they have knowledge of.
We all (including the FCC) know of those on HF that have licenses, that ID with their call sign, and constantly violate the rules, play music, cuss like sailors and maliciously interfere with others.
Ok this guy Randy is my speed. So glad I ran across him today on your vid Josh! You guys are cool people 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🇺🇸
Randy caught the guy in his car jamming and.... Told him to stop? Kind of anti climactic. "Hey what's your callsign buddy" lmaooo
So if one was looking to avoid the area of the web where the information to "accidently unlock" an "H" to talk on GMRS...where that spot be?
I have a uv 5r needs programmed and 3 of the Hidradio H3s I just purchased
You and Notarubicon as well as a handful of friends and colleagues have inspired me to get my license. My test is soon, working small, baby steps, getting my Technician. Hey, it's a start, right?
Be an Elmer, not a Sad Ham. You should be happy that new people are joining the Amateur Radio Universe.
Also, recently got my GMRS License. I blame Notarubicon for me wanting to do that. ^_^
Darn Skippy we are using em. And fk the whole system!
Living in northern California up north close to Oregon what things should I store into memory for emergency access or SHTF at the minimum
i have 20-25 radios in a Rubbermaid container. Not sure why i bought all of them, mostly from watching josh and randy. Here's my list: 8-UV5R (4 are colored), 2- UV-5G, KG-935G, KG-UV9GX, KG-UV9G Pro, Baofeng UV17R and Pro, 4-Quansheng UV-K5, Tidradio H3, UV9PX. I have more but can't think of them. Also bought an SDS100 scanner, BEAST!!! Again, not sure why i buy these things, i have a GMRS license but stopped studying for HAM for some reason. Its a disease!
Anything up for trade?
@@randykitchleburger2780 4?
Knocking on ur door does not require a warrant...lol
When in a truly SHTF scenario, what agency is going to come arrest/fine/sanction the unlicensed user?
I'll wait.
Nah, they won’t, they’ll also be pretty useless without any kind of actual radio time under their belt.
FYI, FCC rules state that no amateur radio license needed in emergencies. Anyone can use.
Not exactly. Not just any emergency anywhere. The FCC rule says you must have the emergency that requires a radio to get help and there must be no other means of communication available.
@@craigdavidson2977 And there has to be an immediate threat to life or property (like a house on fire)
I have heard false emergency calls. If someone doesn’t have a call sign, I’m very skeptical.
@@craigdavidson2977does that also mean when the Borg come to Earth to assimilate all of the human race and block all radio bands except for the ham frequencies?
We are Borg, you will be assimilated, resistant is futile! LOL
Rules are made to be broken, laws are made to make rules unbreakable, by Karen's who have to tell you how to live your life while they themselves don't!!!
Question what do we need to do if the S hit hits the fan like a EMS BOMB is used over the USA what can we do and what do we need to do to have radios to still work ????
You should interview my grandpa. He is almost 90 years old and when he was in middle school he built a short wave radio and the FCC showed up at his house for it back in the 40s
Thanks guys
alrighty, I am enthralled with this. Got a couple el cheapo Baofeng UV68pm radios. After looking it is listed as being a 2 meter and a 70cm radio with all kinds of freaking options. Hooked it up to CHIRP and see where I can apparently tell it to transmit and receive outside of it's default freq. I did not test that of course, because I am a complete newb, and still learning the lingo. Used a bunch of CB stuff back in the day, but only on strip jobs. SO I don't want big bro knocking by accident...I mean, if I get in trouble I want to at least be aware I am messing up.
Is there a way for me to legally transmit on either of the bands that these things can utilize? I do intend on getting a tech license, but got to study up on it, and find the time...mostly the later. Thanks.
Legally? No, but nobody actually cares that you use a part 90 radio for GMRS or MURS. I do it, and so does about half the people I talk to on big mountaintop repeaters that anyone can hear within a hundred miles.
I found you by watching him and following links
Love Randy’s wall message…SPOT ON!👍
Um... If the $#!t really hits the fan... Nobody's gonna care if you have a license!
I am living in this SHTF world now and the people that had the knowledge to broadcast on AM or FM did not, just a single radio station reached out even the emergency system was silent..
Glad You two decided too do a video together!!!! your both interesting to here from!!!😀
Love your videos. I'm new to the radio thing so you're exceptional expertise has turned me on to GRMS which it looks to me that you are spot on with the information. Oh and thanks for the entertaining way you bust out the hammers living in their basements.🤣🤣🤣. I'm not really a radio dude but you're videos are brilliant and well made so I'm subscribed since I can learn something and laugh all in one place.
You two are my two favorite radio dorks on UA-cam.
same
Do FCC regulations have the force of law? If someone flaunts the rules long enough and far enough, would they ever be charged in CRIMINAL court, and if so, with what?
Yes, FCC regulations have the force of law as part of Title 47 of the CFR, which derives its authority from 47 USC last updates effective January 5, 2015.
Penalties generally involve fines for all CFR violations. However, some CFR violations will have criminal consequences. The obvious ones are where interference affects police, fire, or medical services. However, radio users can find themselves in prison for violating other rules. Section 501 of the Communications Act allows the FCC, in cooperation with the DOJ, to purse criminal charges for willfully and knowingly violating the rules. This tends to be used for the most extreme violations or where the conviction will serve as an example to deter other offenders (or as claimed in the video, where a lot of money is involved).
@@kenchilton thanks for your answer! I honestly didn’t know.
A friend of mine still serves on a Selective Service Board, aka draft board. They maintain access to almost all public licensing and skills databases. And one of the stated purposes of amateur radio, specifically the CW requirement, was "to provide a trained pool of radio operators" to the military in time of war. Got a ham license? Your draft board still exists, and still will draft you as a communications operator. Got a pilot's license? A professional drone license? Uncle Sam has access to a lot of data. And yes, there are contingency plans to use it.
Of course, there were formal response plans, and tens of thousands of trained personnel, to deal with epidemics...until 2017, when those plans were literally deemed unneccesary and thrown out. In 2019 some people learned to regret that.
Why was the practice with PTT with no vatteries comment funny? Sorry im a new guy and (paritally smooth brain) just getting into this. Does it have to do with not messing up current real ham professional communications. Or does it have more to do with being silent and getting good at comms when (if) SHTF happens?
I believe in Canada no licence is required for GMRS. Can you confirm?
That is correct, however, Canadian GMRS radios are limited to 2 watts output and a fixed antenna on the radio that cannot be removed.
What is called GMRS in Canada equates to FRS in the US.
Too bad you are not in Oklahoma, we’re having a Freedom conference March 16 and can’t find anyone willing to come speak about radios and emergency preparedness. Wish you were here Mate.
A real emergency to life, serious harm, or a(n) other(s), an officially declared national or regional disaster or an offcically declared regional or national emergency, or a widespread failure of the communications system, including anything on the TV or a radio FM and AM where you're using said device to gather information to help preserve or alert potential first responders or law enforcement personnel to an ongoing crime, an ongoing health emergency, or any other type of emergency that could cause serious harm to yourself others or your community and that's just a rough outline.
It could also be said if you don't have a call sign don't expect other hams to respond to you esp. if you yourself are not in danger.
It doesn't make sense for you to "have to be there" for your family to be able to use your GMRS callsign since the whole point of permitting sharing is so you can talk to each other from beyond shouting range.
The reason the FCC requires a license for GMRS but not for FRS, MURS or CB is because GMRS users can transmit with as much as 50 watts so there is some possibility of causing interference to other users. The FCC wants there to be a person responsible if a problem occurs.
BTW I’m clueless. I just got a pair of Baofengs. I can’t figure out shit on them and I’m half way through the study guide to get my Technicians.
I will have my Technicians in 2 or 3 weeks. Then I’ll slowly figure it out.
This is a partial SHTF but also a cool (nerdy) hobby that goes well with some of my interests.
Signing off, with my cool fire, Mantis X and batteries removed from
My training radios. We look awesome in Moms basement, except for the Pizza stains we are afraid to show her.
Bineg licensed does not waive your 4AC protections. If you refuse entry/inspection/search..they can revoke your license. If you then xmit w/o a required license, they could come back for that issue.
You’re just repeating what we said in the video.
I should have watched until thye end before commenting!@@HamRadioCrashCourse
I still don't understand why frs and gmrs share frequencies when one has the license tied to the radio (aka free after purchase) and the other the license is tied to the person/family and requires a few extra bucks beyond the radio purchase.
I haven't listened to this episode yet and IANAL, but in a SHTF situation use any radio you have on any spectrum you can to keep you and your people safe as long as you arent blocking emergency responders that are trying to help.
Awesome video.. lots of fun.
We have a local FM radio station whose harmonic ends up in the aircraft AM band... Its annoying, but no-one has done anything about that...
I would think that the FM broadcast band (88 to 108MHz) is too close to the VHF Aircraft band (108 to 136 MHz) for a problem with harmonic emissions. However, there is another problem called an 'image' frequency in super hetrodyne receivers. If your airplane receiver is designed with a 10.7 MHz IF circuit and low side injection then it will also receive an image frequency 21.4 MHz below. That image frequency would be smack in the middle of the FM broadcast band. Sadly you have two solutions. Get a new airplane radio or have an FAA certified technician install an FM broadcast blocking filter on your antenna coax cable. What is the freq of your airplane radio when it has a problem and what FM radio station are they hearing? Is it 21.4 MHz below?
I just want to say, the ones who scream the loudest about climate change and massive storms of cataclysmic proportions because of it, are the same people who start shit talking the dude with a 2 week supply of food, water, a set of radios and portable solar generator..
Also, without getting your license, you won't know the insane detailed nuanced information about your radio, the cable, the antennas and how the frequencies work 🤣 I'm studying for it, and holy crap there's so much information that I'll never remember, nor will I ever need, unless I'm building the radio and antenna from scratch.
Are you going to do a new course for the new questions pool for general?