The Right Walkie Talkie.....

[631 Patriot 131]

Ok. I barely know ANYTHING about walkie talkies, and yet, it is VERY important to have one.... Well, I have read the forums on here and found that some people here are a bit snobby (and snippy) when it comes to the "best" or a really good walkie talkie.... I have found a few and want to know YOUR GUYS' thoughts on them: 
1. BaoFeng UV-82HP ( Camo )High Power Dual Band Radio 
https://baofengtech.com/uv-82hp-camo 

and 2. Midland Handheld GMRS Radios — Pair, 36-Mile Range, Waterproof, Model# GXT1000VP4 
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200408944_200408944?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Sporting Goods %2B Toys > Two-Way Radios&utm_campaign=Midland&utm_content=200824&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrZzw4trm5gIVSZyzCh2M1gBqEAQYAyABEgKw0vD_BwE 

I know that Baofengs are controversial on here. Some people on here hate them, some people on here feel that they are ok.... 

I need (or would like) a walkie talkie that I can communicate with plenty of other patriots (not a tremendous amount. Maybe under 30?), as well as patriots from other states.... Are any of the walkie talkies that I mentioned above fit any of those needs? The SECOND one says 36 miles, so I KNOW that THAT wouldn't reach other states where I'm at, but what about the Baofeng one?? It doesn't say. ?? But what concerns me with the first one is that it says it's "high powered." ? Does that mean that it is high in radiation??
And, with walkie talkies, can OTHER people with DIFFERENT kinds of walkie talkies communicate with us (like can someone with a Baofeng walkie talkie communicate with someone with a Midland walkie talkie, or does it have to be the same brand, and same model?? And, do I have to buy the walkie talkie in BULK to be able to communicate with OTHERS in my militia, or can we just sinc our walkie talkies some other way?? 
Thanks!! 

[LetFreedomRing 5,753]

1 hour ago, New York Patriot Recruiter said:

Ok. I barely know ANYTHING about walkie talkies, and yet, it is VERY important to have one.... Well, I have read the forums on here and found that some people here are a bit snobby (and snippy) when it comes to the "best" or a really good walkie talkie.... I have found a few and want to know YOUR GUYS' thoughts on them: 
1. BaoFeng UV-82HP ( Camo )High Power Dual Band Radio 
https://baofengtech.com/uv-82hp-camo 

and 2. Midland Handheld GMRS Radios — Pair, 36-Mile Range, Waterproof, Model# GXT1000VP4 
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200408944_200408944?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Sporting Goods %2B Toys > Two-Way Radios&utm_campaign=Midland&utm_content=200824&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrZzw4trm5gIVSZyzCh2M1gBqEAQYAyABEgKw0vD_BwE 

I know that Baofengs are controversial on here. Some people on here hate them, some people on here feel that they are ok.... 

I need (or would like) a walkie talkie that I can communicate with plenty of other patriots (not a tremendous amount. Maybe under 30?), as well as patriots from other states.... Are any of the walkie talkies that I mentioned above fit any of those needs? The SECOND one says 36 miles, so I KNOW that THAT wouldn't reach other states where I'm at, but what about the Baofeng one?? It doesn't say. ?? But what concerns me with the first one is that it says it's "high powered." ? Does that mean that it is high in radiation??
And, with walkie talkies, can OTHER people with DIFFERENT kinds of walkie talkies communicate with us (like can someone with a Baofeng walkie talkie communicate with someone with a Midland walkie talkie, or does it have to be the same brand, and same model?? And, do I have to buy the walkie talkie in BULK to be able to communicate with OTHERS in my militia, or can we just sinc our walkie talkies some other way?? 
Thanks!! 

 

 

In the city without using a repeater you are going to get about 2 - 3 miles tops with anything you use.  In the countryside you might get 4 or 5 miles if you are lucky depending on how uneven the terrain is.  A single repeater might triple your range when in range of the repeater.  When they talk maximum distance they usually mean unobstructed mountain top to mountain top with a large base or some other large antennae.  Something like this will do you just fine and it has everything you need in it as a kit including a spare rechargeable battery.  As a general rule if you legally want to use the majority of the power when transmitting, you'll need to get a license from the FCC which are $75.00 and good for 5 years.  Of course if we are in a state of TEOWAKI / WROL, who is going to be checking on how much power you are transmitting on?  If you are being tactical though, you want to use low power so your signal won't get picked up by people a little farther away that you don't want them to hear you.  You want to use the minimum power needed to clearly transmit to others your group. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Handheld-Complete-Earpiece-Programming/dp/B07TX9FYKJ/ref=sr_1_21?crid=1KN1X8SE5BH6A&keywords=uvr5&qid=1578100993&refinements=p_72%3A2661618011&rnid=2661617011&sprefix=uvr%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-21

 

FCC Personal Radio Services Regulations:

 

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/personal-radio-services-prs-keeping-touch

 

 

[631 Patriot 131]

@ LetFreedomRing , How low are we talking? 

[631 Patriot 131]

@ LetFreedomRing , So NONE of the walkie talkies that I mentioned fit into what I was looking for in a walkie talkie? I hear that there are walkie talkies that you can talk to from NY to, say, California or Texas!  ? Now, I know that one of the walkie talkies clearly says 36 miles, but what about the OTHER one?? It doesn't say (clearly, anyways).  

[LetFreedomRing 5,753]

26 minutes ago, New York Patriot Recruiter said:

@ LetFreedomRing , So NONE of the walkie talkies that I mentioned fit into what I was looking for in a walkie talkie? I hear that there are walkie talkies that you can talk to from NY to, say, California or Texas!  ? Now, I know that one of the walkie talkies clearly says 36 miles, but what about the OTHER one?? It doesn't say (clearly, anyways).  

 

It doesn't matter what it looks like, what matters is the broadcast power and the antenna size and height.  No hand held unit is going to broadcast from coast to coast.  You can receive much more powerful signals and listen to them but you can't broadcast that far.  If you want to broadcast coast to coast you need a powerful base unit theat broadcasts at 40 watts or more and a large base antennae as high up as you can get it.

[631 Patriot 131]

@ LetFreedomRing , Oh? Then I must have heard wrong, then. 
And, I'm not focused so much on what it looks like. I am asking, say, if I have ONE brand of walkie talkie, and want to communicate with ANOTHER patriot, but they have a DIFFERENT type of walkie talkie. Can I still talk to them on MY walkie talkie, or does it have to be the same as THEIRS?  

[LetFreedomRing 5,753]

17 minutes ago, New York Patriot Recruiter said:

@ LetFreedomRing , How low are we talking? 

 

You may operate FRS / GMRS radios up to 2 watts without requiring an FCC license.  If you transmit over 2 watts then you need to get a license to legally do it.

[LetFreedomRing 5,753]

6 minutes ago, New York Patriot Recruiter said:

@ LetFreedomRing , Oh? Then I must have heard wrong, then. 
And, I'm not focused so much on what it looks like. I am asking, say, if I have ONE brand of walkie talkie, and want to communicate with ANOTHER patriot, but they have a DIFFERENT type of walkie talkie. Can I still talk to them on MY walkie talkie, or does it have to be the same as THEIRS?  

 

Brands don't matter it has to have the same frequencies /band and channels in common.

[631 Patriot 131]

@ LetFreedomRing , Oh! Well, thank you!! I appreciate the info!!  ? 

[LetFreedomRing 5,753]

Just now, New York Patriot Recruiter said:

@ LetFreedomRing , Oh! Well, thank you!! I appreciate the info!!  ? 

 

You are welcome.  ?

[LetFreedomRing 5,753]

Most people and units use a UHF VHF Dual Band 2-Way Radio because they have the most flexibility and range capability in handhelds.  Like I posted earlier, this kit will give you everything you need and it is just fine and dandy for most amatuer users to operate.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Handheld-Complete-Earpiece-Programming/dp/B07TX9FYKJ/ref=sr_1_21?crid=1KN1X8SE5BH6A&keywords=uvr5&qid=1578100993&refinements=p_72%3A2661618011&rnid=2661617011&sprefix=uvr%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-21

 

 

 

 

[Randi Altman 171]

KA3ZXA.  Personally get a 10m or 6m ham rig. You’re going long distance with that. Like cross country.  They make rigs small enough to pack out with easily. And you can always carry a wire for an antenna prn 

[RevRifleman 1,512]

I have a Baofeng UV-5R.  It has a reputation of being a decent unit.  I'm not using it to send anything out so I'm not worried about that aspect of things. It's pretty much for shtf.  

 

You could try CB/SSB.  These are limited by similar factors as walkies.  They can be 'tweaked' to increase their range a bit... not that I'd ever recommend doing such a thing as that would be illegal.  

 

 

[LetFreedomRing 5,753]

Baofeng UV-5R ham radio, talking from Atlanta to Seattle

This is accomplished using a national repeater system linking via the internet,  however you can't count on such a system being fully operational during SHTF times....

 

 

 

[LetFreedomRing 5,753]

Baofeng for Beginners: How to Use Baofeng UV-5R Buttons and More