I am a longtime Ulefone owner, I have 4 or 5 models. That port on the side is on many of their models - you can connect an Ulefone microscope to it for small SMD PCB work or you can use it to connect the Ulefone Endoscope - for looking down drain pipes, inside car engines etc
so you mean you'll have an android system that has support for it dropped a year after you buy the phone and then you have a closed source android app that is used to access the UHF/VHF module. I'm working on a product that fixes that problem entirely. Let me know if you're interested. BTW, i'm in Shenzhen developing the product at TroubleMaker coworking space.
the accessory port - I have a power armor 13 model, it can use the accessory port with an endoscope to see behind/in walls and in pipes. I dont have it or use the feature but it's there. love my phone, its a tank, as you said. this model looks interesting too
Technically its possible, but without an SDK or information on how to communicate with the onboard transceiver it will be near off impossible. Hence why I said in the video we could all collectively pressure ulefone to release some kind of documentation for developers.
@@drright71 they are always just so close and miss the bar with these phones I sware they do it on purpose, do they not realize society has better uses for texting over radio than talking? In an emergency texting is far more usefull, cuase if im asleep, your voice transmitting don't do any good. But a text message is gold cuase I see it when I wake up, why is it every last fricken company on the market slips over the feature modern society wants in a ht device? Are they stupid or just plain against it? It's also consumer product malpractice to make a radio you cannot text through easily out of the box.
I checked the Ulefone website and also on this video - there was no indication of the VHF and UHF RX and TX range ? how wide can it RX and TX ? GMRS frequencies ?
I've been looking for something like this for ages. I'd like to use it on a sailboat as a backup handheld VHF radio. Would this work? Audio would it be able to support AIS?
Pretty cool. Definitely in the running for a handheld for me. A bit concerned about Android updates and repairability once the battery takes a dump or the screen starts dimming. What's the spare parts situation for these?
Ulefone tends to have spare parts available on AliExpress, but not all parts. I haven't checked to see if any parts are available for the 26 Ultra yet.
The accessory connector on the side is to mount an endoscope camera for inspecting difficult places. The connector is secured with a screw. Does this device also allow normal analogue FM on 2m/70cm/PMR446 ?
Is there ay indication they will make one for the American market, with a US type plug. I did see the USB-C, that may be way to make it work, not knowing if unit voltage may or may not be 5Vdc I would like to see it with a 220 band as well YES. I want champagne on a soda pop budget, lol
SDR++ Is What I Usally Use In My Android Devices With Rtl.Sdr V3 & Samsung Galaxy Flip 6 . Works Real Great, I Have Some Videos Upon My Channel If You Are Interrsting, But This Phone Looks Really Cool.
This phone runs Android 13. As far as how it stacks up against the RFinder, as mentioned the Interphone app is fairly basic. RFinder is much more mature and offers many more features. What we really need is an open source app for walkie talkie phones.
I have the 3 B1's and im not impressed as far as battery life that sucks (might be upgrading to the extended size batt). BUT Bob (the owner) is amazing, theres many people working on the app to make it better all the time. Also I have the Armor 24 which has a huge screen and way better OS than the Rfinder (though the new B1+ has an upgraded OS still not 13 though). This phone is basically a armor 24 minus smaller battery and has the radio built in. I think im gonna buy one. Also the SDR potential is a game changer instead of running a tablet or PC If Ulefone listens and opens the app for nerds to tweak this phone could be amazing.
@@Yugo-CA I have a B1+ and I would never use it as my main phone. Still at Android 9 with security patch 08-2022. The battery is poor and I looked at reverting back to a version that did not have the Satellite features, but they recently announced that their old infrastructure would retired and we had to use the latest version of the OS. Now i am finding myself using Linkpoon more than the Rfinder..
@@ON3PLZ yeah bob kinda messed up he should have focussed on the radio part and made the phone part super basic with the latest OS. I carried the B1 for a couple years as my primary phone and it was ok but started slowing down having to delete most apps. Thats why this Ulefone is on my radar.
Slick.. But.. FYI The (Radio Pictured) on your Second Provided Product link (Says it's the Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra) But does not look to have the VHF / UHF Antennas.. (So.. Personally I'm Confused) if it's the Correct Product.. (Not sure) if ordered would get the Correct Radio..
What is the type of Encryption option in DMR mode? Is it possible to link this phone with Hytera or Motorola radios in this basic privacy or extended privacy (AES)?
Well I checked the specs and does not look good for US users... *Not compatible with AT&T, Cricket, Sprint,Verizon, Boost Mobile So no data will be able to be used via most US cell networks
@AaronsLyfe Not entirely sure where you are getting your information from but it's not correct. The specification page on the official website says this: Supports the following carriers' 5G networks: North America: Canada Rogers Wireless,Bell Mobility,Telus,Videotron,Koodo,Public Mobile,Freedom Mobile,Virgin Plus Mobile United States Sprint, T-Mobile，C spire，AT&T，Google Fi，U.S. Cellular，Verizon Wireless，Cricket Wireless，GCI Wireless
@@TechMindsOfficial I think he is referring to the description on the banggood link you provided in the video description. His comment is a direct quote from the 'Network' section on the banggood page. Would be awesome if you can test that the phone works on US carriers. Looking at the video, it doesn't look like you had a sim inserted at any point.
also this feels like the problem we had with Rfinder. some people had to activate their ATT cards with another phone and then put it in the B1 and it worked.
They are always just so close and miss the bar with these phones I sware they do it on purpose, do they not realize society has better uses for texting over radio than talking? In an emergency texting is far more usefull, cuase if im asleep, your voice transmitting don't do any good. But a text message is gold cuase I see it when I wake up, why is it every last fricken company on the market skip over the feature modern society wants in a ht device? Are they stupid or just plain against it? It's also consumer product malpractice to make a radio you cannot text through easily out of the box.
I am a longtime Ulefone owner, I have 4 or 5 models. That port on the side is on many of their models - you can connect an Ulefone microscope to it for small SMD PCB work or you can use it to connect the Ulefone Endoscope - for looking down drain pipes, inside car engines etc
Thanks! Yep, I found it on the website after making the video. Thank you.
I am on my third ulefone armour. Been able to get 2.5/3 years out of them. Where I would smash a normal smart.phone inside 12 months
I have the 3
Thankssss
Nice you have my repeaters on your list I am the keeper of GB7JT 😊
Thanks for making this video review. It's nice to see this phone reviewed by an actual Amateur Radio enthusiast, instead of just as a phone.
you're welcome :-) Thanks for watching.
This is how HT radios will be in the next 5 years... Thanks for taking the time to make this video!
so you mean you'll have an android system that has support for it dropped a year after you buy the phone and then you have a closed source android app that is used to access the UHF/VHF module.
I'm working on a product that fixes that problem entirely. Let me know if you're interested. BTW, i'm in Shenzhen developing the product at TroubleMaker coworking space.
the accessory port - I have a power armor 13 model, it can use the accessory port with an endoscope to see behind/in walls and in pipes. I dont have it or use the feature but it's there.
love my phone, its a tank, as you said. this model looks interesting too
Probably a borescope lol
I really really really want to know if it will APRS / Winlink over the radio. Would also love to see the power output.
Technically its possible, but without an SDK or information on how to communicate with the onboard transceiver it will be near off impossible. Hence why I said in the video we could all collectively pressure ulefone to release some kind of documentation for developers.
@@TechMindsOfficial ulefone and VGC both. So freaking close to the right direction for modern radio.
@@drright71 they are always just so close and miss the bar with these phones I sware they do it on purpose, do they not realize society has better uses for texting over radio than talking? In an emergency texting is far more usefull, cuase if im asleep, your voice transmitting don't do any good. But a text message is gold cuase I see it when I wake up, why is it every last fricken company on the market slips over the feature modern society wants in a ht device? Are they stupid or just plain against it? It's also consumer product malpractice to make a radio you cannot text through easily out of the box.
Wow great looking bit of kit Matt
Important question not answered: For how long will it receive Android security updates?
Thank you very much for sharing. Did you try it on repeaters? Is there a the chance to use the 1750hz tone?
Cheers from a jolly warm Germany
Ladies will see this and think, ‘Wow, this guy is serious about his long-distance relationships!’" 💔📡
I highly doubt that this phone will improve my Rizzing results... Most likely have a negative effect. lol..
Ha ha ha. My Flip 6 Galaxy With Rtl.Sdr And Antenna Is Impressing Woman , This Phone Would Take It To The Next Level. @@TechMindsOfficial
I checked the Ulefone website and also on this video - there was no indication of the VHF and UHF RX and TX range ? how wide can it RX and TX ? GMRS frequencies ?
Oh! Nice find Matt!
Thanks dude! :-)
I've been looking for something like this for ages. I'd like to use it on a sailboat as a backup handheld VHF radio. Would this work? Audio would it be able to support AIS?
Please make a video how to see phones outgoing calls/radio wave reception on Spectrum Analyzer.
Looks interesting. Can you run apps like APRS or vara into the internal radio
Until VARA is available for Android/iOS, no. I consider it a dead protocol until it is.
Pretty cool. Definitely in the running for a handheld for me. A bit concerned about Android updates and repairability once the battery takes a dump or the screen starts dimming. What's the spare parts situation for these?
Ulefone tends to have spare parts available on AliExpress, but not all parts. I haven't checked to see if any parts are available for the 26 Ultra yet.
The accessory connector on the side is to mount an endoscope camera for inspecting difficult places. The connector is secured with a screw. Does this device also allow normal analogue FM on 2m/70cm/PMR446 ?
@@fotografm yep
for under $500 this thing is INSANE.
One day they will have a rtl sdr built inside. That's when i might get one
Facts!
Phone with internal LoRa module when??
What's the Starlink button for that I saw in the video?
Will this act as the gateway between ip (internet) POC applications like Zello and the VHF/UHF radio transceiver?
Nice ! Great video 👍👍
Thank you 👍
Is there ay indication they will make one for the American market, with a US type plug. I did see the USB-C, that may be way to make it work, not knowing if unit voltage may or may not be 5Vdc I would like to see it with a 220 band as well YES. I want champagne on a soda pop budget, lol
Thanks, Great Intro !
Have you seen the Comjot cj-1? It looks quite promising.. Open source.
Briefly, but don't know much about it yet. I might take a look, thanks
SDR++ Is What I Usally Use In My Android Devices With Rtl.Sdr V3 & Samsung Galaxy Flip 6 . Works Real Great, I Have Some Videos Upon My Channel If You Are Interrsting, But This Phone Looks Really Cool.
Can you share the apk for intercom i. Curious if we could add in more features to the app
I wonder how well it does against the Rfinder and what Android OS is it running?
This phone runs Android 13. As far as how it stacks up against the RFinder, as mentioned the Interphone app is fairly basic. RFinder is much more mature and offers many more features. What we really need is an open source app for walkie talkie phones.
I have the 3 B1's and im not impressed as far as battery life that sucks (might be upgrading to the extended size batt). BUT Bob (the owner) is amazing, theres many people working on the app to make it better all the time. Also I have the Armor 24 which has a huge screen and way better OS than the Rfinder (though the new B1+ has an upgraded OS still not 13 though). This phone is basically a armor 24 minus smaller battery and has the radio built in. I think im gonna buy one. Also the SDR potential is a game changer instead of running a tablet or PC
If Ulefone listens and opens the app for nerds to tweak this phone could be amazing.
@@Yugo-CA I have a B1+ and I would never use it as my main phone. Still at Android 9 with security patch 08-2022.
The battery is poor and I looked at reverting back to a version that did not have the Satellite features, but they recently announced that their old infrastructure would retired and we had to use the latest version of the OS. Now i am finding myself using Linkpoon more than the Rfinder..
@@ON3PLZ yeah bob kinda messed up he should have focussed on the radio part and made the phone part super basic with the latest OS. I carried the B1 for a couple years as my primary phone and it was ok but started slowing down having to delete most apps. Thats why this Ulefone is on my radar.
@@Buoyant-m5f who lost rfinder to another company, dont understand this message.
This is wayyyy cheaper than i thought it would be, based on specs.
Slick.. But.. FYI The (Radio Pictured) on your Second Provided Product link (Says it's the Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra) But does not look to have the VHF / UHF Antennas.. (So.. Personally I'm Confused) if it's the Correct Product.. (Not sure) if ordered would get the Correct Radio..
Two links, one with walkie talkie and one without.
@@TechMindsOfficial Undoubtedly different.. Should not be Named / Titled the same "Ultra" Version..
Comes with vhf/ uhf ant
What is the type of Encryption option in DMR mode? Is it possible to link this phone with Hytera or Motorola radios in this basic privacy or extended privacy (AES)?
Encryption in any form is illegal in Amateur radio. Encoding is not as long as it can be easily decoded
@@Spookiehamquick! Run and tell the cops
@@spraitukas "some people" LOL
@@Spookieham not encryption but you can use rattle gram for a little more security. Add in a onetime pad and youre golden.
What’s the name of the Zello like app? Link.. and then?
Hmmmm.... All info in the video etc etc etc
Thats not what I’m asking. Again another half info video?
This is very cool!
How good is the cell function? KA1OLA.
Bloody lovely!!
any reason it wouldn't take a dual band antenna, seems better option
It would be the case of finding one that has the right connector on it, but it should work yes.
@@TechMindsOfficial the antenna is not a standard SMA?
I own the UleFone Armor 20wt... Maybe it's time to upgrade...
Do u use it on fm repeaters?
@@frankdirksmeier6799 no UHF repeaters in my area... The 20wt is UHF only...
Does it have ctcss?
yes. wave, ctcsss, forward dcs, backward dcs
No reverse wireless charging, as I see?😢
If they made a simpler, cheaper GMRS version they would sell like hot cakes.
It should work with GMRS. I have the 20WT version, and it does it all.
Anyone who has this talkpod linkpoon app? Matt's link to talkpods server gives 404 file does absolutely not exist?
www.talkpod.cn/app/ham/
No thermal imaging? No way!
finally right! :-)
The most useful feature of these type of phones. Everything else is gimmicky enough to not be practical. Way better build quality than CAT though
if only they built in the rtl sdr chipset
Well I checked the specs and does not look good for US users...
*Not compatible with AT&T, Cricket, Sprint,Verizon, Boost Mobile
So no data will be able to be used via most US cell networks
That's very important to know for those of us in North America
@AaronsLyfe Not entirely sure where you are getting your information from but it's not correct. The specification page on the official website says this: Supports the following carriers' 5G networks: North America: Canada Rogers Wireless,Bell Mobility,Telus,Videotron,Koodo,Public Mobile,Freedom Mobile,Virgin Plus Mobile
United States Sprint, T-Mobile，C spire，AT&T，Google Fi，U.S. Cellular，Verizon Wireless，Cricket Wireless，GCI Wireless
@@TechMindsOfficial I literally copied it from the Network block of the specs off the Banggood link above
@@TechMindsOfficial I think he is referring to the description on the banggood link you provided in the video description. His comment is a direct quote from the 'Network' section on the banggood page.
Would be awesome if you can test that the phone works on US carriers. Looking at the video, it doesn't look like you had a sim inserted at any point.
also this feels like the problem we had with Rfinder. some people had to activate their ATT cards with another phone and then put it in the B1 and it worked.
Lots of bad reviews on that phone...☹
550€ for this. That's a joke.
Why no love for us Apple fan boys?? 😂😂😂
I with you on that! However, can you image Apple making a product with a transceiver in it! Now that would be awesome right...
@@TechMindsOfficial definitely. If same company can do the same for Apple since they have already done the groundwork.
The cameras capture digital video and images. No film, no footage.
I think its an effin given that this does not take film....
They are always just so close and miss the bar with these phones I sware they do it on purpose, do they not realize society has better uses for texting over radio than talking? In an emergency texting is far more usefull, cuase if im asleep, your voice transmitting don't do any good. But a text message is gold cuase I see it when I wake up, why is it every last fricken company on the market skip over the feature modern society wants in a ht device? Are they stupid or just plain against it? It's also consumer product malpractice to make a radio you cannot text through easily out of the box.
1st please send me as gift please please please 🙏
I’ll dig it out of the cat litter box for you. Are you QTHR?
A bit too expensive for me.
Wow amazing AB9EW