The truth about Baofeng radios

Communications during disasters or for providing security for a large geographical area is of high importance. There are many different manufacturers of radios and a whole plethora of different technologies and features that can be put into them. One of the radio manufacturers that I am sure you may have heard of in the prepper community is Baofeng. One of the main reasons many preppers have one of these radios is because of the price, they go for around $30 - $60 for most of their models. So what exactly does the Baofeng radio do? Let me go over some legal aspects and why some radio operators need a license and others do not.

Ham radio is the go-to way of communicating either a short distance or around the world with the right equipment. Anybody that wants to transmit on any of the ham radio bands needs a license that permits them to use the frequencies allowed for their particular license. The technician license is the most restrictive and needs to be the first test that you pass to get a ham license. Most licensed hams stick with this license since they are only interested in using the VHF and UHF bands. Two of the most common bands are the 2 meter band (144 MHz) and 70 cm band (440 MHz). Most of the Baofeng radios will allow you to talk on either of these bands. The portable versions of these radios can output about 2 - 8 watts of power. Mobile or base radios will generally put out about 50 - 100 watts of power. The antennas on these radios are easily replaceable with better performing ones or to connect a radio to a mobile or base antenna. Before using a Baofeng or any other portable or mobile ham radio, it needs to be programmed with the desired frequencies and offsets and tones if using a repeater.

Another type of radio you can use is the Family Radio Service (FRS) radio. These are the ones you usually find in most stores and usually come in pairs. No license is needed to operate these radios. They are easy to operate since they have few buttons and don't need to be programmed. You just go to the channel and sub-channel that you want and you are good to go. FRS operates on the UHF band, between 462 and 467 MHz and is limited to 2 watts of power. This gives them limited range, maybe a mile or two if you are lucky. Don't be fooled by their packaging that says they have a 20 - 30 mile range. That is just not going to happen, even under the best of circumstances. The antennas on these radios are permanently mounted and cannot be changed. This is done on purpose to keep their range short and interference to a minimum.

CB radio is still used by some people. No license is needed to operate on the CB frequencies. CB uses the HF band, around 27 MHz. Most of them have a set of 40 channels, no programming is necessary. The power limitation is 4 watts on AM. Some CB radios allow you to operate on upper or lower side bands which has a power limit of 12 watts. These are the legal limits, but I can tell you that there are many people out there that are using way more than that. They either modified the radio or are using an RF amplifier to get a farther range. There is also a multitude of different antennas that can be used, either for mobile mounting or base mounting. 

Now that we have seen these three types of radios, let's concentrate on what the Baofeng radio can and cannot do. As stated above, we know that the Baofeng radio can be used to talk on the ham radio band, but it will also transmit on other frequencies, such as those used by FRS and GMRS radios. I didn't mention GMRS above because it is only used by businesses and does require a license. Most of the Baofeng radios can also receive stations such as FM broadcast stations or even local public service stations like fire, police and EMS. This can be handy for listening in on what is going on around you. The Baofeng radio also has a dual receive option. On the display are two frequencies that you can listen to at the same time. Good in some situations.

What can't the Baofeng radio do? This is where I know I will get some people mad with what I am about to say. Let's look at programming the Baofeng radios. This can be done with either the keypad on the radio or by using the software and programming cable. The software and programming cable method is by far the easiest and recommended way to go. You can either use the Chirp program or the Baofeng software. One would think using the Baofeng software would be the right way to go, but it isn't. The Baofeng programming software as well as the radio is plagued with bugs. The programming software will not open on your computer unless you have the programming cable plugged into the computer. When the program does load, it loads in the Chinese language and if you don't know what menus to navigate to, it's hard to get it to display English. I'm sure Baofeng is aware of this, since they actually recommend using the Chirp program and not their own. 

There are items in the menu you can view using the keypad, but are unable to change unless you use the programming software. One of these options is the Busy Channel Lockout (BCL). Let's say you are scanning your programmed channels and one channel has interference or you do not wish to listen to it, there is no way to skip it without a computer. This is just one of the dumbest things I have ever seen on a radio. Every other radio I have used, you can easily skip or block a channel from the scan. 

As for the firmware on the radios, I have seen a couple of times where the radio will stop receiving. You can view the signal strength meter show that it is picking up a signal, but it will not play it over the speaker. This is a glitch in the firmware and is remedied by re-flashing the firmware onto the radio using the Chirp program. 

The audio quality on the Baofeng can also be improved. At times it is hard to understand what someone is saying over the radio. If you are in a noisy environment and need to turn the volume up, the audio can become distorted.

The range seems to be limited as well, not what you would expect from such a radio. One day my friend and I did a brief test and maybe only got a one mile range between our two radios. Remember that you get what you pay for. The Baofeng radios are cheap, but they lack the reliability and features of some other ham radios out there. 

So if you want to get a radio, what type should you get? If you don't want to get a license, the best bet is to go with a FRS radio. They are easy to operate and are reliable, but with limited range and functionality. If you want more range and don't mind getting a license, ham radio is the way to go, but not with a Baofeng. Some great ham radio manufacturers are Kenwood, Icom and Yaesu. Personally I have the Yaesu VX-6R like the one pictured below. This radio will not only receive everything the Baofeng can, but also other stations like AM radio, air traffic and shortwave radio. It is also much more durable and is water resistant. The only downside with these brands is you will not be able to talk to anyone using the FRS frequencies. They are made for transmitting on the ham bands only. My best advice, if you are going to get your ham radio license, save up a little extra money and get a decent and reliable radio. Baofeng will just give you problems and not be reliable, which is not good in a disaster scenario. 

Building your bug out bag, or rather, get home bag.

One of the most talked about pieces of gear you can have is the so called bug out bag. I prefer to call it a get home bag since that is most likely what it will be used for. The only times you would use it to leave your home is when a major natural disaster is imminent or there is a riot or for some reason it has become unsafe to stay at your home. So what characteristics does a good get home bag consist of?

When choosing a good bag, look for one that is comfortable to wear. It should have padding on the shoulder straps and the portion that lays against your back. The more comfortable the bag is, the easier it will be to walk a long distance without it slowing you down or making you feel uncomfortable. In a stressful situation where you will need your bag, comfort will go a long way. The bag should also be a plain or camouflage color so it doesn't stick out. Avoid bright colors or any bags with reflective material on them.

The size of your bag is the next consideration. The bigger the bag, the more gear you will be able to carry, but that comes at a cost. A heavier bag will slow you down, which is good incentive for you to get physically active so this will not be an issue. Remember that the four fundamentals that humans need to survive is water, food, shelter and a means of self defense. Your bag should contain everything needed to maintain those fundamentals for at least a 24 hour period.

Water in your bag should be rotated out frequently, especially if you keep the bag in your vehicle. Some bottled water does not store long in the high heat of your vehicle and needs to be used quickly and replenished often. You should also have a means of filtering water when your current supply runs out. There are plenty of great options like the Life Straw or Sawyer water filter. Some of these filters will also allow you to refill a bottle with clean water so you don't need to stay by a source of water for long.

Food in your bag should be easy to make and last for an extended period. The Mountain House meals found at Walmart are actually pretty good. They are tasty and easy to make by just adding hot water to them. Keep in mind that some of your water may be needed to cook food. Other easy options to have are trail mix or energy bars if only needed for a short term basis. You will also need a small container to cook your food or boil water in. I use an Esbit brand solid fuel stove that works great. It is compact when stored and easily can boil water in a matter of minutes. It can use solid fuel to heat it, or in a pinch you can use small sticks. Don't forget having a set of eating utensils.

Having a small tarp or tent in your bag will provide you with shelter on a temporary basis. If your bag is only being used to get to your destination within 24 hours, a tarp would be a better option. It takes up less space and easier to put up and take down. Don't forget tie down straps or rope to hang the tarp up and secure it. In some situations you may have to sleep on the ground. Use your tarp or tent in a way that will help keep animals or other unwanted creatures away from you. Your shelter should also protect you from the elements like rain and wind. Although not really considered shelter, a good rain outfit will help keep you dry during inclement weather and should be included.

For self defense, every bag should contain a good knife at the minimum. I prefer a non-folding knife and one that has a full shank, meaning the blade is one whole piece down to the end of the handle. If you are skilled enough, you can survive indefinitely in the woods with just a knife. It can be used to make other tools, shelter and be used for hunting.

Now that we have the basics needed for survival, lets look at other extras that should be in your bag.

You should have at least three ways of making fire. This can include matches, a lighter or a magnesium fire starter. Fire will be used to sterilize water, cook food and provide heat during cold weather. You will also need some kind of kindling to start a fire. One trick is to have a Zip Lock bag full of dryer lint. It's light weight and easy to start a fire with.

Another important item to have in your bag is a first aid kit. The best kits are ones that you build yourself and not getting the so called complete kits at a store. A large Zip Lock bag is excellent for a basic first aid kit. The first aid kit should include band aids, gauze, medical tape and thick pads for heavy bleeding. You will also want a container of antibiotic ointment for minor cuts. You will also want to have a few pairs of latex free gloves. Some people have an allergy to latex, so get latex free items whenever possible. The gloves should be used whenever administering aid to another person. They help protect you and them from any fluid borne illness that either of you may come in contact with. Hand sanitizer should also be in your first aid kit. When used properly, it will help stop the spread of disease and in a survival scenario this will be important. The hand sanitizer should also be used every time after using the restroom (or woods). This way you don't need to tap into your water supply to wash your hands.

A good flashlight should also be in your bag. LED lights are the preferred way to go. They use less power giving a longer battery life and the lights last much longer and don't need to be replaced like ordinary bulbs do. Don't forget about replacement batteries for the flashlight.

A multi-tool would be another item to have in your bag. They provide a quick way of having a pair of pliers, small knife and a screwdriver in one tool.

When assembling the contents of your bag, having everything organized will make retrieving the items needed easier. As mentioned above, Zip Lock bags work well for keeping everything together. I put all my items in them so they are protected from rain, water or anything that might spill in the bag. This will help if you have to cross a stream or stuck out in bad weather, you will know that your gear will be protected.

The last thing that should be placed in your bag is a change of clothes. At least a couple of pairs of socks and underwear for keeping dry. Wet clothes can cause hypothermia, so changing them when wet will help alleviate this problem.

When you get your bag assembled, wear it when going for a walk around your neighborhood. This will help you get used to the weight and is good exercise. Keep it close by at all times, either in your vehicle or home.

Are you prepared?

Do you consider yourself a prepper or survivalist? Would you like to become a better prepper? Then you have come to the right place. I will be writing a series of articles on a wide variety of topics to help you be better prepared for the unknown. Being a prepper doesn't mean we prep for just one likely scenario, but rather a wide range of them. These scenarios can be anything from natural disasters to man made conflicts or just having the right tools and skills if you get a flat tire along the road.

Many people look at preppers as someone that hordes a bunch of guns and food. Although that is a small part of our lifestyle, we must also possess the knowledge and skills needed to survive when we encounter distress. Two of the most important facets of prepping is actually overlooked, your physical fitness and diet. Time and time again I see people that claim they are preppers or even patriots that think they can defeat an army single-handedly, but they look like they spent too much time at the bakery, if you know what I mean. Being physically active and in shape will not only help you, but you will be better able to help others around you. You will be more maneuverable and stronger and will be able to do more then if you were out of shape. I'm not saying you need to be able to run a marathon, but take a good look and be honest with yourself and make the decision to get into a routine exercise program. You don't even need a home gym to get in shape. Do some push ups, sit ups and some cardio to get started. When it comes to diet, make the choice to stay away from fast food and unhealthy meals. Instead eat more raw fruits and vegetables. Start to make every decision based on what a real prepper would do. Drinking water is another big decision to make. Soda is a big health hazard and will cause health problems down the line and the only way to stop that from happening is to stop drinking soda altogether and replace it with plain water.

There are four basic necessities that humans need to survive: food, water, shelter and a means of self-defense. In the above paragraph we see that making better dietary choices is half of what it takes just to survive. It is so simple, yet many people still consume fast food knowing that it is bad for them. Starting today is when you need to make better choices on what you feed yourself. We don't know when we will encounter an event where we will need to put our skills or bodies to use. Getting in shape does not happen overnight. It takes time and we are getting closer everyday to when we will need to put our skills and bodies to use.

Another health issue for many preppers is smoking. If you are a smoker, you should consider getting help from your healthcare professional on quitting smoking. We know that smoking causes cancer and lung disease. If you come down with either, you will not be able to perform at your best in a survival scenario. With the prices of cigarettes now, imagine what you can do to better prep when you no longer have to spend money on cigarettes. Take care of your body and your body will take care of you.

That is all for now. Start taking care of yourself and everything else will fall into place.

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Building your bug out bag, or rather, get home bag.