Excellent video those Rapid Radios are great! And the customer service was great as well. Thank you very much to the customer service team Patsy M. And Garrett B. For giving me excellent service and again excellent radios they are truly an asset to the communication industry!
We use these kinds of hand held radios at our trucking company, not this particular brand but the same thing. We use a couple hundred rented semi trucks during the harvest season and the company does not put CB radios in all of them, instead each truck has one of these hand held radios assigned to each truck. They are simple to use, you basically just scroll on screen to the contact you want to talk to then press the button and talk, no dialing or waiting for someone to pick up on the other end, you talk and the other end hears you and vice versa. and the screen shows you who is talking to you and if you miss a coms you will see a message on screen who called you last. We work in some pretty rural way out there fields and I have only had maybe once when I could not get a signal, a complete dead zone, they work 99% of the time.
If you guys are old enough to remember the Sprint Nextel system, this is very similar to that principal. It is still dependent on the Grid and repeaters of cell towers. Whereas Ham is independent of the grid and does not rely on the grid. Ham operators use their own power source and antennas to communicate. The UHF and VHF frequencies(typically) rely on repeaters or pretty much is "Line of site" whereas HF can easily reach Globally. Justz putting it out there, geeting your Ham license is NOT that difficult. I was 56 yrs old when I decided to get mine, and within 2 1/2 years I reached the top tier of license. Ther are 3 classes: Technician=1st, General=2nd, Extra=3rd. With each progression it allows more access to more frequencies. So Chris I recommend you go for it, and keep up the good work and videos.
I have a question. If I buy 2 radios for me and a team mate, if I buy another radio, will you program that frequency into the 3rd radio? How many radios can you have on one frequency?
I'm curious how these would pick up / transmit in very rural areas where cell tower coverage is very week or drops competely. Also, what if I travel to another state that is very rural with no cell tower coverage...although they are not down, but just farther away.
It is possible to be in a complete dead zone where no company's cell service covers that particular spot, and in that case you would not get a signal and the radio will not work. You can look at a area coverage map for each cell service.
If you look at all of the band plans for each carrier, AT&T has the longest range frequencies, so if AT&T doesn't work it's likely others won't reach either
If the some cell towers have back up generators tied to them then they should work. How do I know this? Because a friend of mine installs generators at cell tower locations
@@preparedmind101 He is right. The cell network will be the first victim in a cyberattack which is increasingly likely. The towers are then irrelevant and so is this device.
So here's my question and it's not one of those, what if ninja gotcha questions. Is there a way to turn off service and reactivate it. For instance let's say you want to buy the radio now, but not use it, because maybe you can't quite afford it right now or maybe you wouldn't use it in a regular manner that would justify paying for it now but see a use for it in the future but are also worried about supply chain issues and future availability.
@@TheBCSledder If you're really determined to change the meaning of words to hold it over a company's head and disregard that its once a year thing; then sure... It's a subscription. You win.
@preparedmind101 it's not "changing words", the point is there's a fee to make it work, it doesn't matter how far apart the payments are, it's a subscription end of story. The company rep on the radio said exactly what I said.
I agree if it's not a subscription than what is it? A fee? A service charge? All I know is rapid Radios act like you buy the radio and you good to go no hassle NO SUBSCRIPTION..... they basically hide and put the yearly fee in fine print. They also have deleted at least 50 comments I have made on a face book advertisement comment section of theirs where I kept telling people about the yearly charge. It's pretty shady
I bought these same radios with the service for a fraction of the price. They’re good for a business like mine where we are all coordinating in and off construction sites
Then it'll be "Well what if the generators go out?" Solar Panels. "Well what if the sun shuts off?" You can't win in the topic of radios. It's it's own paradox in the world of gear. Nothing will ever be good enough.
Another question...why would you buy this version over the My Emergency Radio- Emergency VHF/UHF Radio. I realize this is a different radio and uses frequencies outside the cell version, I assume this is similar to GMRS or HAM... GMRS is very inexpensive w/ no test, and Ham is rather expensive and requires a test...Do you have to have a FAA License to use VHF/UHF? If they program based in your area/state, would it cover repeaters for the vast majority of my individual state?
If the cell network goes down which is likely will with a cyber or other attack these are worthless. Only slightly better than cell phone since it can switch carriers. Not suitable for preppers. Ham radio is the most flexible in an emergency assuming you have backup solar power (long or short distance) . GMRS might be an option for maybe up to 30-40 miles and short distances with handhelds. License required but no test or knowledge involved. With a Cyber Attack the entire network will be down, the towers are irrelevant.
@@preparedmind101 Its very possible the multiple cell networks that went down because of a dry run for a cyber attack. It affected MULTIPLE networks in different parts of the country. That's not the end of the world but an increasingly likely scenario.
So same as Nextel Direct Talk. Still need cell signal so if out in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal, it’s useless. I can do the same thing on my Apple Watch’s Walkie Talkie feature with direct talk.
these radios have a yearly fee and they lie about that plus the cost to add more devices to your group. these are from a trash company don't buy them. they require cell phone service to work and that may not exist in an grid down or emergency scenario. everything this company touts these can do in an emergency is a lie, and again they cost $50 a year that's about $4.25 a month, even though they say there is no monthly fee.
Excellent video those Rapid Radios are great! And the customer service was great as well. Thank you very much to the customer service team Patsy M. And Garrett B. For giving me excellent service and again excellent radios they are truly an asset to the communication industry!
Bring back my yellow Nextel i550 brick and we'll call it good. I really miss that thing.....
#missthe90s
I got three and i love them very convenient and the rapid radio customer service is great thank you for the video
Interesting and necessary topic. Thank you!
Wow Chris!
Thanks for this information. Great video content!
We use these kinds of hand held radios at our trucking company, not this particular brand but the same thing. We use a couple hundred rented semi trucks during the harvest season and the company does not put CB radios in all of them, instead each truck has one of these hand held radios assigned to each truck. They are simple to use, you basically just scroll on screen to the contact you want to talk to then press the button and talk, no dialing or waiting for someone to pick up on the other end, you talk and the other end hears you and vice versa. and the screen shows you who is talking to you and if you miss a coms you will see a message on screen who called you last. We work in some pretty rural way out there fields and I have only had maybe once when I could not get a signal, a complete dead zone, they work 99% of the time.
These look great. I am going to get a few.
Great, I'll definitely look into that.
Can I use it to order pizza during a grid down situation?
Does it have GPS? Can Amazon use it to track me during the Apocalypse so I can still get my Amazon packages in the woods?
So if I buy 2 pack I cannot add more later?
I like the idea with these radios.
Thanks for sharing them Chris. 🇺🇲🔪🌲🔥
If you guys are old enough to remember the Sprint Nextel system, this is very similar to that principal. It is still dependent on the Grid and repeaters of cell towers.
Whereas Ham is independent of the grid and does not rely on the grid. Ham operators use their own power source and antennas to communicate. The UHF and VHF frequencies(typically) rely on repeaters or pretty much is "Line of site" whereas HF can easily reach Globally. Justz putting it out there, geeting your Ham license is NOT that difficult. I was 56 yrs old when I decided to get mine, and within 2 1/2 years I reached the top tier of license. Ther are 3 classes: Technician=1st, General=2nd, Extra=3rd. With each progression it allows more access to more frequencies. So Chris I recommend you go for it, and keep up the good work and videos.
Can you use these for overseas calls if you get a radio for a person living there?
I don't think so unless those carriers are there. Email them and ask.
Would these work on a cruise? I assume yes if the cruise uses LTE repeaters.
Yes It Will
I have a question. If I buy 2 radios for me and a team mate, if I buy another radio, will you program that frequency into the 3rd radio? How many radios can you have on one frequency?
Almost unlimited users, it's basically a cellphone that connects to a dmr server via cellular internet.
I'm curious how these would pick up / transmit in very rural areas where cell tower coverage is very week or drops competely. Also, what if I travel to another state that is very rural with no cell tower coverage...although they are not down, but just farther away.
It is possible to be in a complete dead zone where no company's cell service covers that particular spot, and in that case you would not get a signal and the radio will not work. You can look at a area coverage map for each cell service.
I would expect they would need the same cell signal as making a call on a regular cell phone.
So if I am out of the country my AT&T phone will work. Can I talk to someone in my group back home?
If there are Verizon or T-Mobile towers nearby.
If you look at all of the band plans for each carrier, AT&T has the longest range frequencies, so if AT&T doesn't work it's likely others won't reach either
So in a grid down they are pointless
Congrats! You were the first "that guy" I said would show up. 🏆
If the some cell towers have back up generators tied to them then they should work. How do I know this? Because a friend of mine installs generators at cell tower locations
@@preparedmind101 He is right. The cell network will be the first victim in a cyberattack which is increasingly likely. The towers are then irrelevant and so is this device.
cool
So here's my question and it's not one of those, what if ninja gotcha questions. Is there a way to turn off service and reactivate it. For instance let's say you want to buy the radio now, but not use it, because maybe you can't quite afford it right now or maybe you wouldn't use it in a regular manner that would justify paying for it now but see a use for it in the future but are also worried about supply chain issues and future availability.
You'd have to ask them, but I don't think so.
You'd be spending hundreds betting this company exists then
I’m confused by the “no subscription fee claim” yet you have to pay $50 a year for service?
What's so confusing? That's not a subscription fee or contract. $20 a month is a subscription. That's what all the others do.
So it's a $4 per month subscription...
@@TheBCSledder If you're really determined to change the meaning of words to hold it over a company's head and disregard that its once a year thing; then sure... It's a subscription. You win.
@preparedmind101 it's not "changing words", the point is there's a fee to make it work, it doesn't matter how far apart the payments are, it's a subscription end of story. The company rep on the radio said exactly what I said.
I agree if it's not a subscription than what is it? A fee? A service charge? All I know is rapid Radios act like you buy the radio and you good to go no hassle NO SUBSCRIPTION..... they basically hide and put the yearly fee in fine print. They also have deleted at least 50 comments I have made on a face book advertisement comment section of theirs where I kept telling people about the yearly charge. It's pretty shady
I bought these same radios with the service for a fraction of the price. They’re good for a business like mine where we are all coordinating in and off construction sites
Where?
Many cell towers are installing backup generators. Not all but it’s getting better just in case the grid goes down.
Then it'll be "Well what if the generators go out?" Solar Panels. "Well what if the sun shuts off?" You can't win in the topic of radios. It's it's own paradox in the world of gear. Nothing will ever be good enough.
@@preparedmind101 I agree Chris, and I own 2 Rapid Radios and I think they are GREAT 👍
Isn't this just a network radio running Zello or some other PTT app?
It’s what Nextel was, uses cell network.
Basically yes. There are many phone apps like it that are free
Probably will not work in the back country wilderness?
If there's cell coverage they will.
Another question...why would you buy this version over the My Emergency Radio- Emergency VHF/UHF Radio. I realize this is a different radio and uses frequencies outside the cell version, I assume this is similar to GMRS or HAM... GMRS is very inexpensive w/ no test, and Ham is rather expensive and requires a test...Do you have to have a FAA License to use VHF/UHF? If they program based in your area/state, would it cover repeaters for the vast majority of my individual state?
You need to do a survival list or ww3 top 2 knifes
lol!
If the cell network goes down which is likely will with a cyber or other attack these are worthless. Only slightly better than cell phone since it can switch carriers. Not suitable for preppers. Ham radio is the most flexible in an emergency assuming you have backup solar power (long or short distance) . GMRS might be an option for maybe up to 30-40 miles and short distances with handhelds. License required but no test or knowledge involved. With a Cyber Attack the entire network will be down, the towers are irrelevant.
They're great for campers, hikers, hunters, kids/parents, and everyone else not just sitting around waiting/hoping for the world to end.
@@preparedmind101 Its very possible the multiple cell networks that went down because of a dry run for a cyber attack. It affected MULTIPLE networks in different parts of the country. That's not the end of the world but an increasingly likely scenario.
So same as Nextel Direct Talk. Still need cell signal so if out in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal, it’s useless. I can do the same thing on my Apple Watch’s Walkie Talkie feature with direct talk.
Glad he came clean on the $50 a year
Glad he came clean on the $50 per year fee.
sound quality on that radio was horrible!!!
What?😂 It was just loud. It sounds fine. I use it to talk to Will an hour away.
I thought the exact opposite, it sounds fantastic.
these radios have a yearly fee and they lie about that plus the cost to add more devices to your group. these are from a trash company don't buy them. they require cell phone service to work and that may not exist in an grid down or emergency scenario. everything this company touts these can do in an emergency is a lie, and again they cost $50 a year that's about $4.25 a month, even though they say there is no monthly fee.
Bottom line these are dependent upon cell towers same as cell phones. Two thumbs down for me.
Everything is dependant on something. Some are dependent on distance. Some are dependent on repeaters. There are no magic radios.
Yeah if they use towers...
Not a SHTF. solution