What 2-Way radio platforms and brands do you gents utilize when outdoors, out of line of sight and work? Privacy channels?

SAMCOM Programmable Walkie Talkie

I use the smallest Garmin inreach, just takes the worry out of communications in austere environments. A little expensive, but my wife was 100% onboard with it and I used it when backpacking on Mt Rainier and the PCT.
Additionally had it on my bag for fly fishing out in Alaska. For backpacking, I was able to communicate my daily status and change of pickup locations.

Never needed the emergency functions, but I plan on using this thing for every trip in an austere environment. Bad part with the inreach series is if you need to communicate regularly and on the fly; it is a little clunky to use for impromptu communications. I would recommend short range walkies if that is the case.

It sucks that you can't use encrypted freqs as a civie. I've been looking at ATAK for nav and comms but it's limited to 2.4g router ranges.

Generally use GMRS to communicate when we don't have cell service, or where it's unreliable/spotty.

MXT275's are cheap and easy to installed in a truck, and Baofeng handhelds are cheap/easy to program/have great reach and clarity.

You do need a GMRS license, but it's not expensive and there's no test like HAM.

Privacy codes aren't worth it. Just flip to a different channel if there's traffic. Remember, privacy codes aren't encryption; everyone can still hear what you're saying.

I'm looking for a small handheld, possibly HAM, but would prefer something non-Chinese (is that even possible?) so while BaoFeng gets good reviews and is priced reasonably...any alternatives?

Nealthedestroyer said:

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It sucks that you can't use encrypted freqs as a civie. I've been looking at ATAK for nav and comms but it's limited to 2.4g router ranges.

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You can get longer ranges on ATAK using lora. I've managed to get half a mile out of a TTGO tbeam. There's also ways to run through a handitalkie. The problem with using a HT is the data rates are fairly slow. If you have a lot of people on a frequency, you won't be able to get many chats and position updates will be slow. Something that is much faster is AREDN. Good speeds and distance but requires specialized equipment.

Of course, you can't run encryption on any amateur frequencies. You can run encryption on the ISM bands the t-beams use. The alternative is paying the FCC the $400 for a business band or itinerant frequency which allows you to run pretty much whatever you want.

1872walker said:

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I'm looking for a small handheld, possibly HAM, but would prefer something non-Chinese (is that even possible?) so while BaoFeng gets good reviews and is priced reasonably...any alternatives?

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Plenty of ham options that aren't made in China. Assuming you have a license, Yeasu, ICOM, Kenwood, Motorola, etc all make radios in Japan or other places. They aren't $30. You're going to pay $150+ for one of those if you buy new.

Just getting into amateur radio. Ordered a Yaesu ft3d last week and hitting the learning curve.

FBG_Ag78 said:

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Just getting into amateur radio. Ordered a Yaesu ft3d last week and hitting the learning curve.

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Same here. A lot to learn!

We have some of the little bao feng radios and we talk across 5 miles or so easily. My brother in law has a couple and we have them in the shop, my farm pickup, my father in law's pickup one in each house and carry a couple to the tractors with us while baling hay or harvesting.

They work really well for us and our operation.