Yesterday, while organizing emergency supplies at home, I also thought about two-way radios. So, I wrote a short explanatory article (without using AI) and published it here for everyone to refer to and discuss.
As a HAM (amateur radio operator), many people enjoy buying large quantities of radios. However, these radios, while powerful, may not be suitable for everyday use or emergencies at home. To ensure that family members can use them effectively in extreme situations or simply improve their daily lives (while adhering to the law), we can consider purchasing a dedicated, simple, and easy-to-use radio specifically for the family.
Choosing the right two-way radio
Technical specifications
When choosing a walkie-talkie for your family, be sure to consider the following points:
1. No screen, no extra buttons.
As HAMs, we typically prefer radios with a cool appearance and lots of features, such as the K6, 8800, N76, and P8668 models. However, these radios are too complex for our families to use. They require knowledge of things like channel modes, frequencies, etc., which most family members don't understand. Even in an emergency situation, it's easy to accidentally misconfigure the radio settings, making them unusable.
However, if the machine's functions are simple and straightforward, there would be no possibility of misoperation or configuration errors. Therefore, it is best to choose machines that can be turned on with a single twist, have channel adjustment done by turning a knob, or even machines that don't require any channel adjustments at all, where you simply press a button to speak. These are often referred to as "security phones" or "waiter phones."
2. Power endurance
Walkie-talkies are inherently designed for extended use, and their power consumption is very low during standby mode. Therefore, there's no need to specifically look for models with large-capacity batteries.
However, as an emergency radio, it is likely that it will never be used regularly. You might only remember it when you need it suddenly. Some radios have a tendency to drain their battery quickly if left unused for a long time. For example, many of the radios I own, including QuanSheng, Lianchang, Weinuo, Baofeng, and Hytera, all have full batteries that drain over time if left unused. When I remember to use them, K5 and K6 are often unable to power on, while other radios don't lose much battery power. This suggests that K5 and K6 are not suitable for long-term emergency backup.
3. Type-C charging
Type-C charging ports are now very common, so it's important to choose devices that have this type of port. This will make it easy to use a regular phone charger or power bank to charge your walkie-talkie.
4. Prepare the frequency in advance
It's easy to learn how to write frequencies for machines, but even if you know how, it's best to prepare the frequencies in advance. This will prevent family members from having to learn how to write frequencies at the last minute, which would make using the machine more difficult.
To prevent family members from accidentally interfering with each other, you can choose a frequency that is not being used by anyone locally and then set all of these channels (e.g., 1-14) to the same frequency, along with sub-bands and additional channels such as "repeater."
Type of radio
Regarding specific types of radios suitable for family emergency use, there are three main categories: the public radio (model 409), the shared radio (model 406), and specialized amateur radios.
- (Public band walkie-talkies - not recommended): They use the public frequency band, making them easy to use and requiring no license. However, their power and range are limited, and they are not significantly cheaper than other types of walkie-talkies, so their value for money is low.
- Shared walkie-talkies (not recommended): While they are convenient to use, they offer better power and range than public walkie-talkies. Theoretically, this type of walkie-talkie is the most suitable in terms of legality and functionality. However, the current products are relatively expensive, and products from different manufacturers are not compatible. There isn't a particularly suitable "security radio" product available yet. Therefore, they are not recommended at present.
- Amateur two-way radios, and essentially "security radios" that are approved for amateur use (recommended): These require obtaining an amateur radio operator license to operate, but they are inexpensive, have good performance, offer a wide range of features, and come with many options available, making them the most cost-effective choice.
Don't buy public communication radios that claim to have "nationwide coverage" and "5000km communication capabilities." These devices rely on 4G/5G signals for communication. If your mobile network is down or you forget to pay the communication fees, these radios will become useless bricks.
Learn how to use a two-way radio.
For home use, it's important to teach family members how to use the walkie-talkies, including how to turn them on, change channels, and most importantly, how to communicate effectively. Walkie-talkies can only be used by one person at a time; when not speaking, do not press the button. When speaking, hold down the button, say the other person's call sign (amateur radio call sign, "French Fries/Chicken Nuggets," or "Sweet Potato/Yuca"), speak, and then release the button. It is recommended to conduct at least one simulated exercise to ensure that family members can use the walkie-talkies proficiently and understand some basic communication techniques, such as holding them upright, positioning them near a window, and trying to find higher locations.
Regarding equipment maintenance, it is recommended to label the devices with instructions on which channels to use and when, such as:
* 1-14: Family communication
* 15: Emergency assistance (for external callers)
* 16: City channel (only for listening, no speaking allowed)
Regularly check the equipment's battery level and status, and recharge promptly.
Regarding communication security, it is crucial to explicitly prohibit discussing sensitive information, as anyone can potentially overhear conversations on the radio.
Regarding compliance with laws and regulations, I encourage everyone to have their family members also apply for and obtain a certificate of amateur radio operation. As for the license, if family members are not interested in amateur radio, there is no need to obtain a license or call sign; they can simply practice/operate under guest licenses. Having too many documents would make management more complicated.
What devices are suitable/unsuitable?
It's clear that the handheld radios we typically use are not suitable, unless family members are also licensed amateur radio operators and proficient in using the equipment.
I won a Hytera G32 at the company event, and it's very suitable in terms of functionality. However, the price is not ideal, so I wouldn't recommend it. While the Hytera S1 has a great appearance, its price is also too high. The QuanSheng TG-A1 has parameters and prices that seem reasonable, but since I haven't actually purchased one, I need to wait for others to review how it performs and whether it can withstand long-term storage.
Finally, let's consider some other options. What else can be done?
Unconventional uses for walkie-talkies
Under the condition that all applicable requirements, such as obtaining relevant certifications, acquiring licenses, or using unlicensed equipment, and complying with legal regulations regarding internships, are met, you can consider:
- Intercom communication between floors is more convenient than making phone calls or sending voice messages via WeChat.
- Both of them were too lazy to move, or one person was cooking in the kitchen, making it impossible to hear each other talking. They could use a walkie-talkie to communicate, which would be convenient and provide clear audio.
- When engaging in outdoor activities such as walking around downstairs, hiking in nature, or camping in the suburbs, you don't need to shout.
- Listen to other listeners chatting.
- ……
Emergency, but not a two-way radio.
- Firefighting equipment: fire extinguishers, protective masks, fire blankets (note: check expiration dates annually)
- First aid kit: adhesive bandages, gauze, antiseptic solution, tourniquet
- Lighting equipment: Flashlight, emergency light
- Multi-purpose tool: Swiss Army knife, multi-tool pliers
- Long-lasting drinking water, canned goods, and compressed biscuits (Note: make sure to update these regularly before they expire, and replace the old ones with new ones).
- Radio: A portable radio, preferably one with hand-crank power generation and solar charging capabilities.
- Buy two sets of rice, noodles, oil, and daily necessities.
- Some cash, not just large bills like hundreds of yuan, but also smaller denominations.
- ……
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