@hamradio2 I almost bought these radios until I seen this video. I also asked a question on a FB post that was deleted and my question was would it work if all cell towers were out? Can someone please give me some advice. I am not knowledgeable with radios but am willing to learn. I am in search for 4-6 hand held devices that would work over 60 miles or so that I could communicate with family should the grid be down. Please point me in the right direction or just the best device for this and if I could listen for emergency alerts that would be great too but primarily need to be in contact with family should the time come that no cell phones or internet work
@@jessicaturner6972 @hamradio2 this is my question as well. I just need to know which radios to buy for my entire family that do not rely on cell towers. We have had two instances of cell phone outages in our area just in the last few months, one due to a storm and one due to technology failure.
The $100/yr. charge (for 2 radios) and the fact they deleted your FaceBook posts when you pointed out the annual fee is a deal breaker for me. I won't do business with a company that does that kind of thing.
Can you use it as a cell phone? Ot is it only allowed to be used on the radio network? Can you recieve phone calls? Only way I would do this. 50 dollars a year for only call service.
You bought these radios on your own dime so I joined you channel because I appreciate you doing that to help me learn without spending my own money. $400 for a pair is crazy.
@HamRadio2 Lets put our thinking cap on for a second. Would you rather put your trust in an app or the entire cellular spectrum? Also what does Zello require? Hint: it's a cell phone.
@@ThePullnfool No, they are cellular devices that won't work 5 feet apart. Take them out of cell coverage and you have fancy paperweights. True 2 way radios don't have that problem.
@@ThePullnfool they don't work flawlessly because cell networks are incredibly flawed and unreliable. Watch this video - ua-cam.com/video/0k6STAdRVhA/v-deo.html
@@HamRadio2 I have used these radios all over and have one in California with a friend and a friend in Maryland.. I am in Michigan.. We have ALWAYS had crystal clear reception..
Thanks for making this video, Glad you are doing a video about them !! You just saved my ministry $1,497.00, was about to buy 2 Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie Base/Car Units and Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie 6-Pack was just about to pay for them and wanted to do more research on how it works and found you ( So you also just saved me $400 a year as well no way we could afford that as well!!!) Thank you! :)
@@ThePullnfool they aren't "radios" they are crappy cell phones, and significantly overcharge for their LTE only IOT SIM cards. Not only that but they are just more rebranded cheap garbage, and I would never accept having a device that some company can remotely program without needing my consent. They also can track you, no thanks. Just use the cell phone you already have and get your HAM license so you can use real radios instead.
Wow. I charge students $50 for both Tech and General license training manuals. Teach a 13 week Tech/General licensing class. Then Test them for the $15 ARRL test session fee. Then they pay $35 to the FCC for a 10 year license. And then they’ve got actual radio capability locally or around the world!!!!! These radios you just showed are FRAUD due to their marketing practices.
@@HamRadio2 to be honest here, anyone with a radio has ‘access’ to those channels/frequencies, right? They are not secret like knowing the real number to 911 is 912…lol
Glad you are doing a video about them :). I've been asked about these as well - they look like push to talk cell phones. I think their deceptive marketing is really abhorrent - they make it sound like the walkie talkie is doing all the work of connecting you, and they advertise that it's never billed. I'd like to know the FCC id as well of the handset to dig into who made them.
Not true, the first year of service is included, after that they charge $50 ANNUALLY per radio for service, IF you want to continue using them. You won't receive a bill, you'll have to renew your service. Maybe not so clear on the front page, but this is CLEARLY stated in the FAQ section, so not deceptive. And it's they're probably designed by China and operated by the NSA, who cares 🤣 Edit: added bill info.
@@MadCloudDisease they only recently added some of this info though. I would add I wasn't even taking about billing but also look at their videos - they really do make it seem like it's some kind of miracle walkie talky with unlimited range.
Too often, we hear unlicensed operators ask on our LICENSED amateur radio repeater, "Radio Check! AUDIO!!!" I want to keep my license, so I don't answer.
Right I thought of that same comment when this guy mentioned that they are on cellular network. Haha looks like they won’t be talking to their kids at college when shit hits the fan haha smh
Yes I have my phone but when I'm out even in the mountains I have my Motorola xpr7550e. And my anyone 878 Then I can scan I have GPS. Aprs analog and digital field programming is a must pre program the radio for the area your going to be in and have GPS and aprs set to go when you need it
This is a clear case of misleading advertising. At the price you paid, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about a class action case against them in the future.
Thanks for making this video!! They are misleading people about emergency communications and possibly preventing people from actually taking the right steps to achieve their communications goals.
Hello, I think you are more expert than me, but I think that multimedia, all those sensors that are cellular, such as Bluetooth, which give a twist, serve as positioning, NFC, which serves as task control, GPS, gyroscope, man down , accelerometer and of course multimedia live videos, photos etc. They give an operational advantage in the world of work. This will not replace conventional radios, but it is a contribution. Will join him. I'll tell you what I see in the future of PoC, each time children -35 years old do not call each other on the phone, they use WhatsApp, spam emails, they open a door to the most advanced PoC services for work, and less like Samsung with The Xcover Hytera line launched a product in Thailand the P30 with Rtos operating system, faster without communication delay. But with a Free license, with 1 annual sim card, the commercial is extraordinary, people camping, granny talking to granddaughter. I see a super good future in the PoC world and I think that the more popular PTT is, the better the world will be, faster, more efficient and much more fun. Greetings and I subscribed to your channel
I think for what they are they work well. They work off a different carrier band so they worked when all cells went down last week. A well prepped individual would have both
Yep, I have zello and it is active all the time. Whenever some of my buddies call, I receive it, even if I have the app closed, it runs in the background.
Not really, we were using free zello for family everyday comms, these are Much more simple,, even the younger grandkids have no problem with them. the zello work that you pay for is 8.00 a month per radio, plus whatever a data sim card monthly cost would be , and use a single carrier. these a re better in my opinion for everyday comms and small businesses where you do not need tracking or dispatch services
Yes, if you must use cellular Zello is the way. If you already have a phone why spend more money on severely overpriced devices. With Zello you set up your own groups and user names, no relying on a provider getting around to doing it for you. And no extra cost beyond what you pay for cellular service. If cellular service is down your out of luck. If you can not figure out Zello you should not be using a phone.
Good stuff Jason as usual. Excellent job on calling them out on false advertising and no yearly/monthly fees. Definitely not geared for a SHTF “radio”.
When you started talking about these radios at the beginning I wondered if it was from My Emergency Radio. When you mentioned they were from Michigan I knew it could not be a coincidence. Then you mentioned their contact info listed on their Facebook page. If I would have read the video description I would have known without watching the video though. It is sad that they are using fear of uncertainty and misleading claims about their fees to market these POC radios. The average person will see the "no monthly fee" and think it is free, then get fired up when they get a bill from the company. I find the timing of this upload to be quite interesting due to the recent AT&T outage. I know I would not spend $200 on something that is essentially a push to talk cell phone when I can spend the same for a smart phone that will work with my carrier's infrastructure. If I am going to spend $200 on a push to talk device it will be an actual radio that doesn't need infrastructure to work.
it is scummy. And I'm not on their side, but legally, they're correct. it's not a monthly fee if it's billed yearly. lol the devil is always in the details and the fine print. So technically they didn't lie
Radios are basically the only off grid system. Depending on who you want to talk to and what kind of range you need there is CB, MURS, and FRS for license free radio services or GMRS and amateur (ham) radio licensed services. One advantage of GMRS over ham radio is that your immediate family can share your license. However with ham radio you can talk all over the world with the proper licensing and equipment. There are a few different ways to charge batteries for handheld radios and power base stations without being connected to the grid.
Thanks for sharing this information. I was looking at their website and noticed the same thing about no monthly fees ever, then saw the $50 per radio, per year after the first year. Like you said, that is a monthly fee, just billed annually. I was looking into these radios because our cell phones do not work where we hunt for a week during buck season. Now my son and I, he goes with me, use various different brands of FMRS radios. We could use Amateur radios, but I am licensed and he is not. Just this year I applied for my GMRS license and now we can use GMRS radios. But I thought this radio would be great to have at camp to check in with my wife who would be at home 100 miles away. I don't even know if these radios would work there, they may, but I know we are close to the Green Bank, WV where the Green Bank Observatory is located. The Green Bank Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in the National Radio Quiet Zone in Green Bank, West Virginia. Even Amateur Radio operators have to run minimum to low power if they live within a certain distance of the observatory. Again, thanks for sharing. Juddie
I was really close to buying a set of their radios but I did a lot of digging into the comments & found someone posted the $50/year per radio. That made me changed my mind.
You cannot beat the good ole CB/SSB/Ham radios. You can use them nationwide and even make overseas connections. Don’t get hung on these gimmicks with LTE and other non-sense. During the last hurricane in FLorida, we were out of cellular service for days. My CB radio was a life savior because you are not relying on anyone to provide you service. Lot of people make fun of CB’s, but they are an excellent communication tool. You want reliable off grid communication, CB and Ham is your solution. In case of an emergency, CB/Ham radio will still work. Great video by the way. My 2 cents.
Glad its working for you. CB is dead here most of the time and when people are out there they tend to be very cliquish and you're not talking to them unless you are running an amp or close by. CB is a crappy band for interference. These modern radios don't have good filter crystals like the old school Cobras had. Also much of the band is full of people running massive power.
Ham, CB and other radio frequencies are only really helpful, if someone is able to help you. It’s great that with HAM you can reach someone on the other side of the planet, but unless they can bring you the help or supplies you need it doesn’t really matter.
Yeah if you want to hear everybody on their asking for a blowjob on Channel 9 CBS would be awesome do you have to have an Antron 99 play The Screaming Eagle booster which would be illegal by the FCC to be able to get out anywhere
Right on Buddy. That is Why I still have by CB and also on GMRS to. Radios is Radios NO Internet Anything over the Internet or Cellular It is a Bullshit so call Radios
I've also made comments on their FB page only to have them deleted shortly after. Guess they don't want the truth to interfere with their misleading advertising or comments on their page.
Good day to do it with the cell outage today. Mine is still down here. Has been since 3AM. I'm very close to you. Just down the highway in A-town. Bet they wouldn't work today. 🤣
THANK YOU! I was literally about to hit the buy button on a 4 pack of these for me and my family specifically if the grid went down. Right before I did I was like "Let me check reviews on this." Your video popped up and I am so glad. Thanks. Do you know of any good, relatively inexpensive, HAM/CB portable devices? I'm in Florida, and I have one daughter 2 hours away in college and the other in college in Alabama. I want to make sure I can communicate with them if the grid goes down. Thanks!
So I was thinking about the fees and came up with this. Maybe they don't personally charge fees and the monthly fees are charged by the LTE provider. Do you think that may be possible?
It’s a lie by omission. There is no monthly fee just like a prepaid phone has no monthly fee. If you want the dumb thing to work, you have to pay for another $50 SIM card per radio per year.
I saw their website as well. I won't pay 400 for 2 walkie talkies when they are connected to celluar networks. However they do have off grid ones for 69 I believe each. Does anyone know of a great walkie talkie company that has off grid communication in case power goes out in the U.S. and other countries with 100 mile range? Thanks
Thanks for the video because now I will not buy one I was thinking about it now that you've explained more about it which the company would not explain it makes me not want to buy him so I will stick with my off-grid gmrs radio or my 2 meter or my 70 cm
So i found this page because i turned on my Rapid Radios after 3 months of them sitting powered off. All 3 of them reset and are completely useless without contacting them and waiting to get them re-registered. I am learning now what a scam it is. Thank you
Here in Nova Scotia, our internet and cellular networks don't last all that long after the power is out... Those radios would be useless after a day or two without power to the local networks. They could have a use for a business that's in cell range, though. Part of the reason I'm currently in the Ham course is because the cell network drops with no power and local hams are the only way anyone has information on what's going on
NO Licenses - Includes SIM card with 1 year of service per radio. Renew for another year for $50/year (no subscriptions/contracts/monthly fees). Okay, so this cannot be an emergency radio if the grid is down or cell phone towers because it runs on LTE 🤔🤷🏻♂️
Appreciate you doing a video on these Jason! Had a family member send me a link to these and asked if they were any good, didn't take me long to tell them no, at least not for the application we need them for.
@thomasadam1579 I'm not sure what you mean. It is just just talking on nextel or a radio with full quieting and no delay at all? In fact, people are using old nextel phones for this purpose.
I have Zello. Maybe it’s just my phone or whatever but I talk to a contact pushing a button on my screen and then I get a notification of a response then I have to click play like voicemail to listen to the response. It’s not instant ptt. Maybe because I have iPhone or something who knows.
Glad you did this, hopefully it gets a ton of views. Side note what are you using for the flag you have in the background? Also 2:38 you mention cell service when it was down today...lol
Looks like the old Nextel phones Sprint had many years ago minus the Cell phone feature. People would be walking all over the store and you'd hear their conversation along with the annoying beep every time they'd key up or let go of the PTT button.
People still do that when they Facetime people or watch videos in public. At least the old Nextel phones had a privacy setting that allowed you to have a conversation using the earpiece.
@@jefffrazier2465 they are very much like Nextel but better with many improvements. yes, you can use earpieces, headsets, etc. they use a standard Kenwood connection (dual port for mic/speaker). you can use your own or order one from their website.
So happy i found this channel! You're the guy i needed to 'talk' to about those radios. I am decently prepared, and live alone in a rural area about 3 hours from Dallas. My family lives near Galveston. I have been looking for a way to check on them if we have an EMP, or what have you. I give up! I was hoping this radio would be the solution. Nope! Thank you for the info!!!
The way i see it is your paying $400.00 for a $50.00 radio. So, at 50.00 a year after the first year. You had already paid for 8 years of service in the first year. Manufacturing cost for this thing in China is probably less than $10.00. What will probably happen to you guys that already put out the big expense after 2 or 3 years your yearly fee will jump to $60~70 a year (depending on how many radios are sold, could go to $100 a year. Since you already put out $400 they know you will pay the extra fee because you paid $400.00 for a $50.00 for a glorified flip-phone!
FYI.. I commented on their page about the $50/year/radio and that it is not off-grid communications and they deleted my comments and blocked my profile. I had to log in under a different profile to see the page athat! I left a negative review. Let's see if they can delete that!
Wade works creative was on Fox n Friends this morning promoting these.... As soon as he said it works off the LTE network and that there is No monthly fee and they're good if the Power goes out..... My ears perked up!! What a waste of time! Thanks for the video!
This is so much deceptive marketing it’s practically fraud. People’s problem with “monthly fee” isn’t the monthly part. Also, most people interested in radios in the era of everyone having a smart phone in their pocket is to have communication outside of cell coverage areas.
The city of Maricopa, AZ had a power outage today effecting 33k people. The cell phones were not working either. As a group spread out among AZ, we purchased these radios for emergencies and this morning they worked from 3 miles away to 33miles away and 40miles away, I also traveled to Tucson yesterday 2hrs away from my home and the signal was strong and clear. I can’t complain at the moment about these radios, as a matter of fact, I’m impressed. I wanted to get into Ham or GMRS radios and my wife kept mentioning these Rapid radios, I’m glad we did get them.
so.. to be clear, the website TELLS you everything you just said, uses LTE / 5g, needs internet to work, etc. How are they scamming? I don't see any mention of " Off grid ", and are very up front telling people with a FAQ on the home page that literally explains everything you just said. What you're basically saying lol... is People are too stupid to know what LTE / 5g means, and they need this video for you to explain to them that LTE isn't radio to radio. If that's the case, perhaps the issue is the industry of people who want to " prep " and not the technology they use to get it done? This video literally serves no purpose other than to expose how down right stupid some people are.
People still think cell phones are point to point. I get comments like that all the time. It's less about people being stupid and more about how they don't pay attention
The first thing you said that made these radios a No sale for me is the fact that they are internet and cell tower-reliant. When SHTF the first thing that will go down is the grid and internet/cell service making them useless.
Spreading the truth isn't hate. Only ignorance calls it hateful. Never did I say that anyone forced me to buy these devices. And while cellular is radio indeed, it isn't Simplex or point to point so it isn't the same thing. "Sad Commenter"
So I was looking at these also and they have them listed for $899 but offer now 60% off so $399 for two. But then when u go to checkout they then will off a third one for $199 w $50 off for $149 for 1! Sooo how much are these things actually!?! Is one $199 or $449.50?! I feel like they are screwinf w the price to make it seem like gettin a deal when your not!!! What y’all think?!
1:14.... so, as a majority of hams (myself included) use a hotspot for digital modes, connected through.. yep. the internet, that's not real radio ?? :) only a semi-serious question.
The difference is that those radios you are using to connect to the hotspot will work in Simplex mode and also with a real repeater also. The hotspot requires the internet - the radio and MODE itself, do not.
I'm pissed hopefully they refund me the money I watched this video after I bought them!!!!! I asked for a refund immediately hopefully they do it or I'll send it right back...and dispute charges.
Yes and those were cool at the time. I think someone is trying to revamp that network, at least that's what I heard. But the point is you can't use those NexTel radios alone without the network, they are useless
@@HamRadio2 I don’t know how those two radios work. If I had a large enterprise I would look into putting several of those radios into operation. $50 per year per phone is nothing compared to a bunch of cell phone bills. No brainer unless you have some super excellent rates on each phone, but most likely it will be more than 50 bucks in one year. Definitely something to ponder!
I called them to ask my questions, Rapid Radio is totally dependent on Terrestrial cell infrastructure, this includes the towers, data centers and electricity. These radios are not capable of talking to each other without this infrastructure, so grid goes down, you are stuck with two bricks. You may get a honeymoon period where they work as the required infrastructure is supported by diesel power but if a tower's diesel goes down, or the data center or the IP network between sites, you can't use these radios. you are dependent on a lot of contingent power plans for these babys to work in an emergency situation. I opted not to buy them. Thanks for confirming my assessment.
A person could just buy 2 cellular flip phones with no data plan and call/text each other for waaaaay less than $400. Likely even less than the $100 per year they want after the first year. Some people are just suckers for "technology" and don't think through what the device(s) actually do.
yeah, I was sucker enough to to buy. I looked it over and everything thinking I should buy and I paid the $400. Do not a piece of advice do not get suckered into shit like this. They make it sound like they’re selling you a gold mind but they’re not this stuff is pure crap no go as far as I’m concerned if you’re so worried about communication with your child or children get a cheap cell phone like a flip phone from T-Mobile or Verizon still sells them the cheapest one and hook up to the family plan and you’re good to go and nine chances out of 10 you’re only gonna pay like $100. You learn the hard way. these are made in China. Something in my gut just tells me that they can track you with these. If they have control of your radio, I’m definitely sending mine back. They’re gonna get flooded with a sea of these things. 😂😂😂. I have cobra radios that reach 30 miles I've used for hunting & fishing work great. 😊
Not just all that's been said, but, when it's really shtf time, satellite, cellular, TV, AM/FM radio, internet, GPS, etc., will all be shut down or limited to government access only! So VHF, UHF, CB and Amateur SW communications are going to be the only things working for the general public.
Blackview had a radio-phone back in the day. It included a 2m/70cm radio with ptt and Voip apps as well but now discontinued. They still had one with built in Flir though. \
I've been in Telecom and LMR for over 40 years now and am still managing 5G site builds (SC mm wave). If these use the LTE 4G network, we are shutting it down, slowly but steadily. I specifically build for Verizon and T-Mobile. Just for what it's worth, 4G (LTE) is getting shut down. Now P25 MARCS and RoIP "LTE" is different and is not what they are using. You can buy SIM cards for 65 bucks a year that will connect to Verizon or ATT LTE, which is data only, that will remain for awhile and is used for IP cameras and security systems, including GPS trackers. Those are strictly data and will ride on a barebone limited 4G network. Better off with DMR and hotspot.
Similar to the Nextel phones we used in the 90s-00s. We had locomotive service personnel all over the country and it was super handy to reach them instantly with PTT on our phones.
That’s hilarious, I lived in Dove Rd Apartments 20 years ago and literally that was the only time in my life I had to get a cell booster to have reception indoors lol. Grapevine must have been a vacuum for a long time!
There are phone apps you can get for free that try to simulate a walkie talkie. You push and hold the screen to talk to someone who’s on the same app and same “channel”. BIG quotations there. But it’s just a normal phone call except you’re muted until you push the button on the screen. Those apps are free and 100% the exact same thing as this 400 dollar device. …better yet, don’t even bother with a free app. Just call someone like normal. If you need a radio, get a real radio. Whether it be FRS, GMRS, HAM, LMRS, MURS etc. depending on your personal needs
We have had nextel, ptt from the begining (1993 beta tested nextel) all the way thru sprint nextel, then sprint after nextel lost the big lawsuit against the Gov and FCC. Then from sprint to now AT&T PTT units. We are currently running 5 PTT units for work - each unit is 35.00 monthly charge for AT&T- these seem to be a better deal over a 6 month period. I like the fact that I pick up my radio push one button and get my dispatcher or can go into the group button. We will update later.
Anything that is connected to the Internet It is not real Radio. Radio is over the Air Waves not on the Internet that is the Real Radios. And I don't like any Radios on the internet Because when the Internet or Power goes down what you have Nothing at all communicate with. Love you Content telling the Truth about those Radios
In a SHTF situation, these are 100% useless. Plus, they can track, reprogram, kill, or even listen in on your conversation. Plus they CHARGE after a year LOL!! What a joke. Nah, I'll pass.
we just bought three of these walkies to use and I am having a tough time getting them to work consistently. When I was reading the instructions, it mentioned the ping off the cell towers and My husband was pissed! That is NOT why we bought them. BUT, since we already have them and will put them to good use at least, can you tell me how to get them to actually transmit my voice to the other walkies? I put in the zone as requested but every other talk, it does not speak through the other sets!! You can't get a hold of them by phone, they ask you to email and wait ugh!
I'm newly looking into these (and similar) and never once saw any claim about working "off the grid". They also are not "internet" radios just as cellular phones are not "internet" phones (mostly). My interest in these is just for fast contact with friends and family for convenience ... don't have to dial, push-to-talk convenience, no monthly fees (and $50 each for a year is WAY cheaper than my cell phone bill). I and my circle are pretty old, many of us living alone, and this could be a lifesaver if anyone gets into a bind at home. I am not shilling for the company or its products. It is priced out of range for my friends and family to all have one. Just saying it has a lot valid utility ... and doesn't require getting a license. Ahem.
I thought they were via cell networks. That's the claim they make. Obviously useless as off grid emergency coms as they depend on the cell networks to function! For the $, getting close to sat phones.
No matter what it is called, any service requiring authentication to a subscriber terrestrial server, will be INOPERATIVE during a grid down situation. "Grid Down" = no power. (Any time a cell call is made, the subscriber must be authenticated as valid. No power = no authentication = no call)
They will NOT work in shtf situation. I am in Law enforcement and I will tell you we had a tornado come through and took out the cell towers. Guess what NO CELL service in the area and we had to go back to point to point radios. These won’t work without cell service it is just that simple. They are AWESOME when everything is good, I would recommend them for that but not in a power outage, tower down situation.
So basically just a phone, that works like a2 way radio. Not real useful, when everyone has a phone. I was checking it out, for backcountry radios, For Sled And Dirtbike. Looks like I'm sticking with the Oxbow renegade.
It can not have worse service than TMobile. They have great reception, unless you are in a city or outside of a city. But best of all is they support over 100 countries for traveling, except Canada! Because why would a company from the United States offer coverage for a country that speaks the same language and shares a border? When there are hundreds of other countries that nobody will ever visit.
Like Zello radios that could have been operated from your cell phone buy adds in a $400 pair of handsets into the mix. Ripoff. You would do better using Zello radios.
I finally got the answer I was looking for which I wasn’t getting elsewhere😏… So thank you… I’ll forget this Crap , and I’ll just stick with the good ole C.B. Radios as my family has and have used for many years… COPY THAT GOOD BUDDY😄, Mercy sakes we GONE BYE BYE😂…
Thank you for your update and review I was going to buy these radios and actually I did before. I actually saw your UA-cam video and luckily they didn’t ship yet and I canceled it and they did indeed refund my money right away which I was happily surprised about I do have a question now I live in an area or I should say a home in an area that times doesn’t have any cell service and I my daughter who lives about 300 miles away, I want to be able to talk to her what is the best way to communicate if a satellite phone the best way or is there any other least less expensive way for me to do this? Any advice you have would be great.
It would be wiser for the company to just do a $5 charge per month. It's worth five bucks a month after the initial cost of the devices. And you are much more likely to have customers that last more than a year. I feel like the initial cost of the device could be cheaper, easily. And you would probably sell more of them. I'd like to see what's inside one of those
This is what their web site says now ??? Absolutely NOT! There is no monthly fees or contracts ever! We are the ONLY company in the USA to do this. Most of our competitors charge between $20-$30/mo per radio. We charge NOTHING! We have partnered with major data networks to provide us access to our infrastructure at an omnibus level - which allows us to make it so there is no monthly service fees for you - ever! Did they change or still BS ing
Thank you for putting this video out there because I was seriously thinking of picking a few of these up for my employees so we did not have to keep using our cell phones, which become a pain due to their lack of battery capacity throughout a work day and because I dislike covering my $1300 phone with shit - not just dirt, literally shit. We work underground in lift stations and in sewage pump stations to repair muffin monster effluent pumps which digest human feces. I knew something was wrong because these sounded too good to be true, and as you pointed out, they are too good to be true.
I made a follow up to this video - ua-cam.com/video/0k6STAdRVhA/v-deo.html
The website model is your doppelgänger lol
@hamradio2 I almost bought these radios until I seen this video. I also asked a question on a FB post that was deleted and my question was would it work if all cell towers were out?
Can someone please give me some advice. I am not knowledgeable with radios but am willing to learn. I am in search for 4-6 hand held devices that would work over 60 miles or so that I could communicate with family should the grid be down. Please point me in the right direction or just the best device for this and if I could listen for emergency alerts that would be great too but primarily need to be in contact with family should the time come that no cell phones or internet work
@@jessicaturner6972 @hamradio2 this is my question as well. I just need to know which radios to buy for my entire family that do not rely on cell towers. We have had two instances of cell phone outages in our area just in the last few months, one due to a storm and one due to technology failure.
Thanks for info
@HamRadio2 what radios would you suggest? I was looking at purchasing these until watching this
The $100/yr. charge (for 2 radios) and the fact they deleted your FaceBook posts when you pointed out the annual fee is a deal breaker for me. I won't do business with a company that does that kind of thing.
Right
The company points out they charge 50.00 per radio per year in the first paragraph.
No different than using personal cell phone, right...
@@triple777kodiakExactly. You just push one button instead of dialing a number
Can you use it as a cell phone? Ot is it only allowed to be used on the radio network? Can you recieve phone calls? Only way I would do this. 50 dollars a year for only call service.
You bought these radios on your own dime so I joined you channel because I appreciate you doing that to help me learn without spending my own money. $400 for a pair is crazy.
Thanks.
Considering people spend $1500 for a cell phone..not really.
@@LIFE-pg5kz Considering you can download Zello for free which basically does the same thing... yes... really
Good idea, I just did the same.
@HamRadio2 Lets put our thinking cap on for a second. Would you rather put your trust in an app or the entire cellular spectrum? Also what does Zello require? Hint: it's a cell phone.
Thank you for exposing this scam. As a 30 year radio tech, I see this as a bait & switch sales tactic. I tell people to avoid crap like this.
It's not really a scam. They do work. Just a bit deceptive marketing. No different than Baofengs stating they have 12000 watts.
This is not a scam.. These radios work and work flawlessly..
@@ThePullnfool
No, they are cellular devices that won't work 5 feet apart.
Take them out of cell coverage and you have fancy paperweights.
True 2 way radios don't have that problem.
@@ThePullnfool they don't work flawlessly because cell networks are incredibly flawed and unreliable.
Watch this video - ua-cam.com/video/0k6STAdRVhA/v-deo.html
@@HamRadio2 I have used these radios all over and have one in California with a friend and a friend in Maryland.. I am in Michigan.. We have ALWAYS had crystal clear reception..
Thanks for making this video, Glad you are doing a video about them !! You just saved my ministry $1,497.00, was about to buy 2 Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie Base/Car Units and Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie 6-Pack was just about to pay for them and wanted to do more research on how it works and found you ( So you also just saved me $400 a year as well no way we could afford that as well!!!) Thank you! :)
All that information is in their adds and on their web site.. These are great radios and deliver flawless communications..
@@ThePullnfool they aren't "radios" they are crappy cell phones, and significantly overcharge for their LTE only IOT SIM cards. Not only that but they are just more rebranded cheap garbage, and I would never accept having a device that some company can remotely program without needing my consent. They also can track you, no thanks. Just use the cell phone you already have and get your HAM license so you can use real radios instead.
Just use Zello, you will save lots of money.
Wow.
I charge students $50 for both Tech and General license training manuals. Teach a 13 week Tech/General licensing class. Then Test them for the $15 ARRL test session fee. Then they pay $35 to the FCC for a 10 year license.
And then they’ve got actual radio capability locally or around the world!!!!!
These radios you just showed are FRAUD due to their marketing practices.
Thank you! Your video just saved me $400. 4 of my friends were going to buy a pair as well. NOT ANYMORE!
Glad I could help!
I have 12 of them and love them. Not sure why this guy hates them so much. lol
@TOTTY12 - try watching the video and I explain my stance very well. It isn't hate, it is truth.
There just a clone of the $50 anysecu poc. They use zello though.
@@NatsumeKonno they're not Zello clones
I got my GMRS license I am now working on my HAM radio license. The advertising on these radios is way off, No cellular service no radio.
I got my GMRS ‘license’ the other day. Hardly a license, more of a give us $35 and we’ll give you a call sign. No test or knowledge required.
It is still a license that gives you access to specific frequencies.
Anyway you can explain how to go about that?
@@HamRadio2 to be honest here, anyone with a radio has ‘access’ to those channels/frequencies, right? They are not secret like knowing the real number to 911 is 912…lol
So this is like the Nextel walk-in talkie cell phones of years ago.
Glad you are doing a video about them :). I've been asked about these as well - they look like push to talk cell phones. I think their deceptive marketing is really abhorrent - they make it sound like the walkie talkie is doing all the work of connecting you, and they advertise that it's never billed. I'd like to know the FCC id as well of the handset to dig into who made them.
You should be able to search the FCC's database for it.
@@ItsEverythingElse well search it
Not true, the first year of service is included, after that they charge $50 ANNUALLY per radio for service, IF you want to continue using them. You won't receive a bill, you'll have to renew your service. Maybe not so clear on the front page, but this is CLEARLY stated in the FAQ section, so not deceptive.
And it's they're probably designed by China and operated by the NSA, who cares 🤣
Edit: added bill info.
@@MadCloudDisease they only recently added some of this info though. I would add I wasn't even taking about billing but also look at their videos - they really do make it seem like it's some kind of miracle walkie talky with unlimited range.
Yep, I asked about that fee and they blocked me too.
I feel like the ‘I NEED A RADIO FOR OFF-GRID COMMS WHEN SHTF’ crowd has gotten big enough that marketers see a target. Thanks for the knowledge drop.
Yes
Too often, we hear unlicensed operators ask on our LICENSED amateur radio repeater, "Radio Check! AUDIO!!!" I want to keep my license, so I don't answer.
Right I thought of that same comment when this guy mentioned that they are on cellular network. Haha looks like they won’t be talking to their kids at college when shit hits the fan haha smh
Yes. No poc or internet radio should ever be a primary radio for shtf. When the internet goes down. They are dead always have a rf radio for a backup
Yes I have my phone but when I'm out even in the mountains I have my Motorola xpr7550e. And my anyone 878
Then I can scan I have GPS. Aprs analog and digital field programming is a must pre program the radio for the area your going to be in and have GPS and aprs set to go when you need it
Jason: "The only truly off-grid communications type today is radio"
Smoke Signals: "Am I a joke to you"
Semaphore has entered the Chat.
I'd rather use a heliograph.
Smoke signals
Bad guys will be looking for smoke in an shtf.
Flashlights/torches, mirrors, mail, Morse code, two cans with a string, talking, banging rocks or sticks, and a 1000 other ways
This is a clear case of misleading advertising. At the price you paid, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about a class action case against them in the future.
Thanks for making this video!! They are misleading people about emergency communications and possibly preventing people from actually taking the right steps to achieve their communications goals.
EXACTLY!!
Lies sell very well to the unknowing. Then they learn to late.
No they arent
Hello, I think you are more expert than me, but I think that multimedia, all those sensors that are cellular, such as Bluetooth, which give a twist, serve as positioning, NFC, which serves as task control, GPS, gyroscope, man down , accelerometer and of course multimedia live videos, photos etc. They give an operational advantage in the world of work. This will not replace conventional radios, but it is a contribution. Will join him.
I'll tell you what I see in the future of PoC, each time children -35 years old do not call each other on the phone, they use WhatsApp, spam emails, they open a door to the most advanced PoC services for work, and less like Samsung with The Xcover Hytera line launched a product in Thailand the P30 with Rtos operating system, faster without communication delay. But with a Free license, with 1 annual sim card, the commercial is extraordinary, people camping, granny talking to granddaughter. I see a super good future in the PoC world and I think that the more popular PTT is, the better the world will be, faster, more efficient and much more fun.
Greetings and I subscribed to your channel
And, because of that, exposed by videos like this, I am $400 ahead of my near impulse buy.
I think for what they are they work well. They work off a different carrier band so they worked when all cells went down last week. A well prepped individual would have both
When I needed help, I called 911 on my vintage Trac Fone. My location was tracked, then deputy arrived in minutes. Saved $400 over a Rapid Radio.
Yep
If it's 20+ years old, it's likely not on LTE and is on a network that was or is being phased out.
@@jeffkardosjr.3825yeah lte was released in 09
It's just Zello with extra steps 🤣
I was thinking the same thing..... Get a Bluetooth speaker mic paired with zello and boom you have a cellular "radio"
Yep, I have zello and it is active all the time. Whenever some of my buddies call, I receive it, even if I have the app closed, it runs in the background.
Not really, we were using free zello for family everyday comms, these are Much more simple,, even the younger grandkids have no problem with them. the zello work that you pay for is 8.00 a month per radio, plus whatever a data sim card monthly cost would be , and use a single carrier.
these a re better in my opinion for everyday comms and small businesses where you do not need tracking or dispatch services
Yes, if you must use cellular Zello is the way. If you already have a phone why spend more money on severely overpriced devices. With Zello you set up your own groups and user names, no relying on a provider getting around to doing it for you. And no extra cost beyond what you pay for cellular service. If cellular service is down your out of luck. If you can not figure out Zello you should not be using a phone.
Good stuff Jason as usual. Excellent job on calling them out on false advertising and no yearly/monthly fees. Definitely not geared for a SHTF “radio”.
When you started talking about these radios at the beginning I wondered if it was from My Emergency Radio. When you mentioned they were from Michigan I knew it could not be a coincidence. Then you mentioned their contact info listed on their Facebook page. If I would have read the video description I would have known without watching the video though. It is sad that they are using fear of uncertainty and misleading claims about their fees to market these POC radios. The average person will see the "no monthly fee" and think it is free, then get fired up when they get a bill from the company. I find the timing of this upload to be quite interesting due to the recent AT&T outage. I know I would not spend $200 on something that is essentially a push to talk cell phone when I can spend the same for a smart phone that will work with my carrier's infrastructure. If I am going to spend $200 on a push to talk device it will be an actual radio that doesn't need infrastructure to work.
The no monthly fee thing is scummy as hell. Wouldn't be surprised if that violates law in some places.
it is scummy. And I'm not on their side, but legally, they're correct. it's not a monthly fee if it's billed yearly. lol the devil is always in the details and the fine print. So technically they didn't lie
Why? there's literally no monthly fees? lol
@@attilaplays listed right on there website under frequently asked questions about the annual fee
WOW!!! $100 doller a year sounds like a fee to me. Unbelievable, what a dishonest bunch of crooks, in my humble opinion.
Thank you, was fixin to buy them but watched your video first. Glad I did. Still on the search for a true off grid system.
Radios are basically the only off grid system. Depending on who you want to talk to and what kind of range you need there is CB, MURS, and FRS for license free radio services or GMRS and amateur (ham) radio licensed services. One advantage of GMRS over ham radio is that your immediate family can share your license. However with ham radio you can talk all over the world with the proper licensing and equipment. There are a few different ways to charge batteries for handheld radios and power base stations without being connected to the grid.
Thanks for sharing this information. I was looking at their website and noticed the same thing about no monthly fees ever, then saw the $50 per radio, per year after the first year. Like you said, that is a monthly fee, just billed annually. I was looking into these radios because our cell phones do not work where we hunt for a week during buck season. Now my son and I, he goes with me, use various different brands of FMRS radios. We could use Amateur radios, but I am licensed and he is not. Just this year I applied for my GMRS license and now we can use GMRS radios. But I thought this radio would be great to have at camp to check in with my wife who would be at home 100 miles away. I don't even know if these radios would work there, they may, but I know we are close to the Green Bank, WV where the Green Bank Observatory is located. The Green Bank Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in the National Radio Quiet Zone in Green Bank, West Virginia. Even Amateur Radio operators have to run minimum to low power if they live within a certain distance of the observatory. Again, thanks for sharing. Juddie
I was really close to buying a set of their radios but I did a lot of digging into the comments & found someone posted the $50/year per radio. That made me changed my mind.
You cannot beat the good ole CB/SSB/Ham radios. You can use them nationwide and even make overseas connections. Don’t get hung on these gimmicks with LTE and other non-sense. During the last hurricane in FLorida, we were out of cellular service for days. My CB radio was a life savior because you are not relying on anyone to provide you service. Lot of people make fun of CB’s, but they are an excellent communication tool. You want reliable off grid communication, CB and Ham is your solution. In case of an emergency, CB/Ham radio will still work. Great video by the way. My 2 cents.
Glad its working for you. CB is dead here most of the time and when people are out there they tend to be very cliquish and you're not talking to them unless you are running an amp or close by. CB is a crappy band for interference. These modern radios don't have good filter crystals like the old school Cobras had. Also much of the band is full of people running massive power.
Technically, HAM radio still requires an infrastructure, but it can be as simple as a single repeater within range.
Ham, CB and other radio frequencies are only really helpful, if someone is able to help you. It’s great that with HAM you can reach someone on the other side of the planet, but unless they can bring you the help or supplies you need it doesn’t really matter.
Yeah if you want to hear everybody on their asking for a blowjob on Channel 9 CBS would be awesome do you have to have an Antron 99 play The Screaming Eagle booster which would be illegal by the FCC to be able to get out anywhere
Right on Buddy. That is Why I still have by CB and also on GMRS to. Radios is Radios NO Internet Anything over the Internet or Cellular It is a Bullshit so call Radios
I've also made comments on their FB page only to have them deleted shortly after. Guess they don't want the truth to interfere with their misleading advertising or comments on their page.
They blocked me for pointing out that shady practice.
Block them first and they cant see your comments.
Why the hell would you not just use your cell phone....thats all these are
Exactly
Good day to do it with the cell outage today. Mine is still down here. Has been since 3AM. I'm very close to you. Just down the highway in A-town. Bet they wouldn't work today. 🤣
Totally agree, Jason. Smoke and mirrors and poof! you have to pay for cell access! Ouch.
THANK YOU! I was literally about to hit the buy button on a 4 pack of these for me and my family specifically if the grid went down. Right before I did I was like "Let me check reviews on this." Your video popped up and I am so glad. Thanks. Do you know of any good, relatively inexpensive, HAM/CB portable devices? I'm in Florida, and I have one daughter 2 hours away in college and the other in college in Alabama. I want to make sure I can communicate with them if the grid goes down. Thanks!
Yes this video should help you - ua-cam.com/video/LLIxRV_a_R0/v-deo.html&ab_channel=HamRadio2.0
these 4g radios are a joke. shit ain't a radio it's a cellphone with zello tht needs a data connection from a provider to operate. worthless
So I was thinking about the fees and came up with this. Maybe they don't personally charge fees and the monthly fees are charged by the LTE provider. Do you think that may be possible?
It’s a lie by omission. There is no monthly fee just like a prepaid phone has no monthly fee. If you want the dumb thing to work, you have to pay for another $50 SIM card per radio per year.
If u read it says 50 a year or 100 for 2 year...learn to read
They claim that they pay the fees, but you are paying $400 for a pair of POC "radios" so who is really paying the fee?
I saw their website as well. I won't pay 400 for 2 walkie talkies when they are connected to celluar networks. However they do have off grid ones for 69 I believe each. Does anyone know of a great walkie talkie company that has off grid communication in case power goes out in the U.S. and other countries with 100 mile range? Thanks
I understood what I was buying and they work great for what we use them for but thanks for your video
Good, as long as you do understand, have fun with it
& what do you use them for? Do you have licenses?
@@0854julie No license needed.
Glad I found this. I asked questions on their posts and they deleted them.
Yeah
Thanks for the video because now I will not buy one I was thinking about it now that you've explained more about it which the company would not explain it makes me not want to buy him so I will stick with my off-grid gmrs radio or my 2 meter or my 70 cm
Thanks for watching
So i found this page because i turned on my Rapid Radios after 3 months of them sitting powered off. All 3 of them reset and are completely useless without contacting them and waiting to get them re-registered. I am learning now what a scam it is. Thank you
Here in Nova Scotia, our internet and cellular networks don't last all that long after the power is out... Those radios would be useless after a day or two without power to the local networks. They could have a use for a business that's in cell range, though. Part of the reason I'm currently in the Ham course is because the cell network drops with no power and local hams are the only way anyone has information on what's going on
NO Licenses - Includes SIM card with 1 year of service per radio. Renew for another year for $50/year (no subscriptions/contracts/monthly fees). Okay, so this cannot be an emergency radio if the grid is down or cell phone towers because it runs on LTE 🤔🤷🏻♂️
Correct on all points. You don't need a license for a cell phone either.
But if you have a Ham or GMRS license, there are no fees to be on the air.
Appreciate you doing a video on these Jason!
Had a family member send me a link to these and asked if they were any good, didn't take me long to tell them no, at least not for the application we need them for.
Thanks, I just saved 400 buckaroos.
Same, I almost bought 3. 😂
Zello is completely free, works the same way. And you only need a cellphone you already have.
Yep
It’s not true ptt either tho. It’s more like listening to a voicemail. I miss nextel. That was the best.
@thomasadam1579 I'm not sure what you mean. It is just just talking on nextel or a radio with full quieting and no delay at all? In fact, people are using old nextel phones for this purpose.
I have Zello. Maybe it’s just my phone or whatever but I talk to a contact pushing a button on my screen and then I get a notification of a response then I have to click play like voicemail to listen to the response. It’s not instant ptt. Maybe because I have iPhone or something who knows.
Glad you did this, hopefully it gets a ton of views. Side note what are you using for the flag you have in the background? Also 2:38 you mention cell service when it was down today...lol
If it needs wifi then it isnt really that great.
Looks like the old Nextel phones Sprint had many years ago minus the Cell phone feature. People would be walking all over the store and you'd hear their conversation along with the annoying beep every time they'd key up or let go of the PTT button.
People still do that when they Facetime people or watch videos in public. At least the old Nextel phones had a privacy setting that allowed you to have a conversation using the earpiece.
@@jefffrazier2465 they are very much like Nextel but better with many improvements. yes, you can use earpieces, headsets, etc. they use a standard Kenwood connection (dual port for mic/speaker). you can use your own or order one from their website.
For every guy annoyed, I hear 10 wishing Nextel was still around.
I miss the Nextel beep beep. Greatest phone ever.
I wouldn't like to know what Radio is the best for off grid for a real emergency
ua-cam.com/video/0aK12vmoaTQ/v-deo.html
So happy i found this channel! You're the guy i needed to 'talk' to about those radios.
I am decently prepared, and live alone in a rural area about 3 hours from Dallas. My family lives near Galveston. I have been looking for a way to check on them if we have an EMP, or what have you. I give up! I was hoping this radio would be the solution. Nope!
Thank you for the info!!!
Correct! If the towers go down, this “radio” is useless.
The way i see it is your paying $400.00 for a $50.00 radio. So, at 50.00 a year after the first year. You had already paid for 8 years of service in the first year. Manufacturing cost for this thing in China is probably less than $10.00. What will probably happen to you guys that already put out the big expense after 2 or 3 years your yearly fee will jump to $60~70 a year (depending on how many radios are sold, could go to $100 a year. Since you already put out $400 they know you will pay the extra fee because you paid $400.00 for a $50.00 for a glorified flip-phone!
To be fair, $400 is for two radios; so $200 ea
FYI.. I commented on their page about the $50/year/radio and that it is not off-grid communications and they deleted my comments and blocked my profile. I had to log in under a different profile to see the page athat!
I left a negative review. Let's see if they can delete that!
Typical
Wade works creative was on Fox n Friends this morning promoting these....
As soon as he said it works off the LTE network and that there is No monthly fee and they're good if the Power goes out.....
My ears perked up!!
What a waste of time!
Thanks for the video!
I watched a well.. Thank you, Jason! I just subscribed to your channel!
This is so much deceptive marketing it’s practically fraud. People’s problem with “monthly fee” isn’t the monthly part. Also, most people interested in radios in the era of everyone having a smart phone in their pocket is to have communication outside of cell coverage areas.
The city of Maricopa, AZ had a power outage today effecting 33k people. The cell phones were not working either. As a group spread out among AZ, we purchased these radios for emergencies and this morning they worked from 3 miles away to 33miles away and 40miles away, I also traveled to Tucson yesterday 2hrs away from my home and the signal was strong and clear. I can’t complain at the moment about these radios, as a matter of fact, I’m impressed. I wanted to get into Ham or GMRS radios and my wife kept mentioning these Rapid radios, I’m glad we did get them.
so.. to be clear, the website TELLS you everything you just said, uses LTE / 5g, needs internet to work, etc. How are they scamming? I don't see any mention of " Off grid ", and are very up front telling people with a FAQ on the home page that literally explains everything you just said. What you're basically saying lol... is People are too stupid to know what LTE / 5g means, and they need this video for you to explain to them that LTE isn't radio to radio. If that's the case, perhaps the issue is the industry of people who want to " prep " and not the technology they use to get it done? This video literally serves no purpose other than to expose how down right stupid some people are.
People still think cell phones are point to point. I get comments like that all the time.
It's less about people being stupid and more about how they don't pay attention
The first thing you said that made these radios a No sale for me is the fact that they are internet and cell tower-reliant. When SHTF the first thing that will go down is the grid and internet/cell service making them useless.
Dude nobody forces you to buy anything, so stop complaining, and cellular signals are radio . Don't hate " Sad Ham"
Spreading the truth isn't hate. Only ignorance calls it hateful.
Never did I say that anyone forced me to buy these devices. And while cellular is radio indeed, it isn't Simplex or point to point so it isn't the same thing. "Sad Commenter"
So I was looking at these also and they have them listed for $899 but offer now 60% off so $399 for two. But then when u go to checkout they then will off a third one for $199 w $50 off for $149 for 1! Sooo how much are these things actually!?! Is one $199 or $449.50?! I feel like they are screwinf w the price to make it seem like gettin a deal when your not!!!
What y’all think?!
Yep. Typical marketing tactic, though.
What radios do you recommend that is not in need of a cell network?
This is my latest list - ua-cam.com/video/vTgR1uaZKbg/v-deo.html
So what radios do you recommend? I like this company’s idea but the money and the cellular part makes me cringe
I put the truth on the comments section and they deleted my comments 😅
I was blocked within 2 minutes of my comment.
You will get arrested if you kill somebody 😂😂😂
1:14.... so, as a majority of hams (myself included) use a hotspot for digital modes, connected through.. yep. the internet, that's not real radio ?? :) only a semi-serious question.
The difference is that those radios you are using to connect to the hotspot will work in Simplex mode and also with a real repeater also. The hotspot requires the internet - the radio and MODE itself, do not.
@@HamRadio2 ahhh, subtle yet real difference. Thanks Jason.
I'm pissed hopefully they refund me the money I watched this video after I bought them!!!!! I asked for a refund immediately hopefully they do it or I'll send it right back...and dispute charges.
GET A REFUND!
Brain enzymes kicked in, Nextel was the carrier!
Yes and those were cool at the time. I think someone is trying to revamp that network, at least that's what I heard. But the point is you can't use those NexTel radios alone without the network, they are useless
@@HamRadio2 I don’t know how those two radios work. If I had a large enterprise I would look into putting several of those radios into operation. $50 per year per phone is nothing compared to a bunch of cell phone bills. No brainer unless you have some super excellent rates on each phone, but most likely it will be more than 50 bucks in one year. Definitely something to ponder!
I called them to ask my questions, Rapid Radio is totally dependent on Terrestrial cell infrastructure, this includes the towers, data centers and electricity. These radios are not capable of talking to each other without this infrastructure, so grid goes down, you are stuck with two bricks. You may get a honeymoon period where they work as the required infrastructure is supported by diesel power but if a tower's diesel goes down, or the data center or the IP network between sites, you can't use these radios. you are dependent on a lot of contingent power plans for these babys to work in an emergency situation. I opted not to buy them. Thanks for confirming my assessment.
Yep, agreed
Junk....just get a walkie talkie app...your already paying for cell service lol you wasted 400.00
Garbage product, it destroys all security between people that radios should guard against. Might as well just have a cell phone.
A person could just buy 2 cellular flip phones with no data plan and call/text each other for waaaaay less than $400. Likely even less than the $100 per year they want after the first year. Some people are just suckers for "technology" and don't think through what the device(s) actually do.
Yep
yeah, I was sucker enough to to buy. I looked it over and everything thinking I should buy and I paid the $400. Do not a piece of advice do not get suckered into shit like this. They make it sound like they’re selling you a gold mind but they’re not this stuff is pure crap no go as far as I’m concerned if you’re so worried about communication with your child or children get a cheap cell phone like a flip phone from T-Mobile or Verizon still sells them the cheapest one and hook up to the family plan and you’re good to go and nine chances out of 10 you’re only gonna pay like $100. You learn the hard way. these are made in China. Something in my gut just tells me that they can track you with these. If they have control of your radio, I’m definitely sending mine back. They’re gonna get flooded with a sea of these things. 😂😂😂. I have cobra radios that reach 30 miles I've used for hunting & fishing work great. 😊
I was hoping they were satalites radios without a monthly fee
I wish
Thanks for the info. They lost me at "Made in China" and no monthly fees EVER😊
If it’s just a cell phone? Whats the point?
Right
Not just all that's been said, but, when it's really shtf time, satellite, cellular, TV, AM/FM radio, internet, GPS, etc., will all be shut down or limited to government access only! So VHF, UHF, CB and Amateur SW communications are going to be the only things working for the general public.
Blackview had a radio-phone back in the day. It included a 2m/70cm radio with ptt and Voip apps as well but now discontinued.
They still had one with built in Flir though.
\
I've been in Telecom and LMR for over 40 years now and am still managing 5G site builds (SC mm wave). If these use the LTE 4G network, we are shutting it down, slowly but steadily. I specifically build for Verizon and T-Mobile.
Just for what it's worth, 4G (LTE) is getting shut down. Now P25 MARCS and RoIP "LTE" is different and is not what they are using. You can buy SIM cards for 65 bucks a year that will connect to Verizon or ATT LTE, which is data only, that will remain for awhile and is used for IP cameras and security systems, including GPS trackers. Those are strictly data and will ride on a barebone limited 4G network.
Better off with DMR and hotspot.
I don’t do business with companies that lie, I’m sure is legal but deceive.
Similar to the Nextel phones we used in the 90s-00s. We had locomotive service personnel all over the country and it was super handy to reach them instantly with PTT on our phones.
Monthly and yearly fees are not the same. Monthly is paid every month and yearly is paid every year. 🤷♂️
That’s hilarious, I lived in Dove Rd Apartments 20 years ago and literally that was the only time in my life I had to get a cell booster to have reception indoors lol. Grapevine must have been a vacuum for a long time!
There are phone apps you can get for free that try to simulate a walkie talkie. You push and hold the screen to talk to someone who’s on the same app and same “channel”. BIG quotations there. But it’s just a normal phone call except you’re muted until you push the button on the screen. Those apps are free and 100% the exact same thing as this 400 dollar device. …better yet, don’t even bother with a free app. Just call someone like normal. If you need a radio, get a real radio. Whether it be FRS, GMRS, HAM, LMRS, MURS etc. depending on your personal needs
Sounds like prc government is in the middle of this.
We have had nextel, ptt from the begining (1993 beta tested nextel) all the way thru sprint nextel, then sprint after nextel lost the big lawsuit against the Gov and FCC. Then from sprint to now AT&T PTT units. We are currently running 5 PTT units for work - each unit is 35.00 monthly charge for AT&T- these seem to be a better deal over a 6 month period. I like the fact that I pick up my radio push one button and get my dispatcher or can go into the group button. We will update later.
Anything that is connected to the Internet It is not real Radio. Radio is over the Air Waves not on the Internet that is the Real Radios. And I don't like any Radios on the internet Because when the Internet or Power goes down what you have Nothing at all communicate with. Love you Content telling the Truth about those Radios
Thanks
In a SHTF situation, these are 100% useless. Plus, they can track, reprogram, kill, or even listen in on your conversation. Plus they CHARGE after a year LOL!! What a joke. Nah, I'll pass.
we just bought three of these walkies to use and I am having a tough time getting them to work consistently. When I was reading the instructions, it mentioned the ping off the cell towers and My husband was pissed! That is NOT why we bought them. BUT, since we already have them and will put them to good use at least, can you tell me how to get them to actually transmit my voice to the other walkies? I put in the zone as requested but every other talk, it does not speak through the other sets!! You can't get a hold of them by phone, they ask you to email and wait ugh!
Something didn't smell right when I saw the advertisements. Thank you!
I'm newly looking into these (and similar) and never once saw any claim about working "off the grid". They also are not "internet" radios just as cellular phones are not "internet" phones (mostly). My interest in these is just for fast contact with friends and family for convenience ... don't have to dial, push-to-talk convenience, no monthly fees (and $50 each for a year is WAY cheaper than my cell phone bill). I and my circle are pretty old, many of us living alone, and this could be a lifesaver if anyone gets into a bind at home. I am not shilling for the company or its products. It is priced out of range for my friends and family to all have one. Just saying it has a lot valid utility ... and doesn't require getting a license. Ahem.
I thought they were via cell networks. That's the claim they make. Obviously useless as off grid emergency coms as they depend on the cell networks to function! For the $, getting close to sat phones.
They "work" via cell networks, yes
No matter what it is called, any service requiring authentication to a subscriber terrestrial server, will be INOPERATIVE during a grid down situation. "Grid Down" = no power.
(Any time a cell call is made, the subscriber must be authenticated as valid. No power = no authentication = no call)
They will NOT work in shtf situation. I am in Law enforcement and I will tell you we had a tornado come through and took out the cell towers. Guess what NO CELL service in the area and we had to go back to point to point radios. These won’t work without cell service it is just that simple. They are AWESOME when everything is good, I would recommend them for that but not in a power outage, tower down situation.
I am a ham I get on local 2meter repeater when they activate weatherwarn and its very effective.
Thank you for this video. I was going to purchase and then the thought came to me to look at reviews and you came on. Thank again 😎
Now we know why your Facebook account was hacked and blocked. 😝
Haha
So basically just a phone, that works like a2 way radio. Not real useful, when everyone has a phone. I was checking it out, for backcountry radios, For Sled And Dirtbike. Looks like I'm sticking with the Oxbow renegade.
I saw these things. Totally misrepresented! Great video.
It can not have worse service than TMobile. They have great reception, unless you are in a city or outside of a city. But best of all is they support over 100 countries for traveling, except Canada! Because why would a company from the United States offer coverage for a country that speaks the same language and shares a border? When there are hundreds of other countries that nobody will ever visit.
Like Zello radios that could have been operated from your cell phone buy adds in a $400 pair of handsets into the mix. Ripoff. You would do better using Zello radios.
I finally got the answer I was looking for which I wasn’t getting elsewhere😏… So thank you…
I’ll forget this Crap , and I’ll just stick with the good ole C.B. Radios as my family has and have used for many years… COPY THAT GOOD BUDDY😄, Mercy sakes we GONE BYE BYE😂…
Thank you for your update and review I was going to buy these radios and actually I did before. I actually saw your UA-cam video and luckily they didn’t ship yet and I canceled it and they did indeed refund my money right away which I was happily surprised about I do have a question now I live in an area or I should say a home in an area that times doesn’t have any cell service and I my daughter who lives about 300 miles away, I want to be able to talk to her what is the best way to communicate if a satellite phone the best way or is there any other least less expensive way for me to do this? Any advice you have would be great.
It would be wiser for the company to just do a $5 charge per month. It's worth five bucks a month after the initial cost of the devices. And you are much more likely to have customers that last more than a year. I feel like the initial cost of the device could be cheaper, easily. And you would probably sell more of them. I'd like to see what's inside one of those
This is what their web site says now ??? Absolutely NOT! There is no monthly fees or contracts ever! We are the ONLY company in the USA to do this. Most of our competitors charge between $20-$30/mo per radio. We charge NOTHING! We have partnered with major data networks to provide us access to our infrastructure at an omnibus level - which allows us to make it so there is no monthly service fees for you - ever! Did they change or still BS ing
Thank you for putting this video out there because I was seriously thinking of picking a few of these up for my employees so we did not have to keep using our cell phones, which become a pain due to their lack of battery capacity throughout a work day and because I dislike covering my $1300 phone with shit - not just dirt, literally shit. We work underground in lift stations and in sewage pump stations to repair muffin monster effluent pumps which digest human feces. I knew something was wrong because these sounded too good to be true, and as you pointed out, they are too good to be true.