Walkie Talkie

[dangerman]

Ok I know I've asked similar questions to this before and you've all been really helpful. But this little radio keeps popping up on my eBay and I'm curious about it. It's called a Baofeng BF888s and it's only £6. All the reviews are top notch for it, but I can't find any simple explanation as to what it's for or what it can do?

All I'm after really is something that I can use to stick in my bag that I can use just in case. Like, if I get stuck in the middle of nowhere and there is no phone network signal - would this work to contact emergency services? Or if I bought two of them and gave one to my brother who lives a few miles away, would this keep us in contact?

I don't have the time nor inclination at the moment to join any clubs, buy any licenses or do any training. I just want something that is there in case of emergency. If it allowed me to listen in on anything interesting then that would be a bonus.

Should I buy one? Or two? Or even more for other family members? They're cheap enough as long as they're useful.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Baofeng-BF-88 ... 51cbcdce5f

I spotted magmount as well, looks like a simple plug in and mount job that would increase it's range when in (or near) a car.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nagoya-SMA-Fe ... 4ae30a3b73

[Bad Wombat]

Here are some customer reviews from Amazon. Looks like they need reprogramming to make them UK legal.

[Hamradioop]

couple of questions
1. Have you a radio licence? or are they only for use after a total collapse of society

2. what do you want to do with them.

3. as advised before sort out taking your ham licence then you can play to your hearts content.

Ofcom will prosecute if you use these in the wrong frequency and they catch you, and if they get as nasty as the post office used to they will get a warrant authorising the seizure of all equipment capable of transmitting or receiving a radio signal. so good bye to your wifi router, TV, Dab radio, Blue ray/ cd/ pvr your baby alarm, your wireless door bell and you remote garage opener and anything else that fits the warrant.

These Radios are not type approved for pmr446 which requires .5 watt out put and a fixed antenna.

[dangerman]

I've read the reviews but I can't find an explanation anywhere of what they are - is it a HAM radio? What can you use it for?

I'm not thinking of a collapse of society, that has never happened before so I'm not expecting it to now. But I am thinking that we may need to evacuate if there were a massive crises like war or something. Or rioting. And having a radio to listen in to whatever is happening locally, and be able to use to get help if needed would be nice.

As I say, I'm not planning to use anything illegally and I know I've had good advice around clubs, licenses and qualifications required. But that's not what I'm after at the moment. I just want a way of acquiring help should phone networks not be available or if I find myself in an area without phone network signal. Like one time I went walking in Skipton and found myself hopelessly lost - didn't see another person for hours. Should I have been having a heart attack or something I'd have been in real trouble. I very much doubt that any prosecution would likely succeed if only used in an emergency.

Is it illegal to even listen in with these things?

[Hamradioop]

I m not sure what you are trying to achieve Dangerman. The blue Light services are now on secure comms mainly airwaves, you are more likely to find shop security on that equipment.

[dangerman]

Yeah, that's the kind of info I need. What it's capable of if needed. So this is a business type walkie talkie? Once licensed and programmed via PC it can be used to communicate amongst workers and what not?

What I'm after is simple. I just want to achieve a method of communication where there wouldn't ordinarily be any. A way of sending an SOS if needed. Or listen in to local broadcasts. Anything more would be a bonus, but I really don't like the idea of relying on phone networks. They're a load of shat and I don't trust them.

I'm imagining, like always, realistic events that could realistically happen in the foreseeable future. I don't have a land line and so I rely on my mobile. Seems flaky. I was living right amongst the riots a few years ago in Liverpool. What if my phone network had failed and someone set my house on fire? I've got kids man. I would feel better with some communication methods. Eventually I'll take up your advice and get savvy with radios, trained and licensed etc. Sounds like a fun hobby. But I've got too much on for now.

I'm not paranoid, I would just rather have something and not need it... Well you know.

[Fozzie]

Sounds like you're after a type of EPIRB but for persons, not maritime stuff ?

Then a scanner of some sort to listen in on any broadcasts?
As I understand (extremely limited) it relies on both the antenna to receive the signal, then the radio scanner to work on that range of frequency the antenna picked up so there's 2 parts to the puzzle there
As to what kit is good and not good, I've no idea

There was someone on a forum called SurvivalBoards who was talking about cracking encryption etc if you were looking to listen to emergency services/military stuff - I would assume this is illegal but again I don't know.

That post really didn't help at all did it, sorry

[dangerman]

Fozzie? Biker? Or is your name a coincidence with someone I know?