If it supported aviation bands, I would get it to use as a backup radio while flying. Not sure how far it would transmit though.
Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
61–70 of 196 posts
Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
Generally speaking, line of sight. Assuming you're in the US, the FCC wouldn't come after you for using this in an emergency situation unless you were being absolutely egregious about stomping on other emergency comms, even then I seriously doubt you'd see a fine. Having said that you're basically going to need enough knowledge to pass the test to make use of this anyway. Why not just take the test and be legal?
Don't you have to register with your personal address in a public database?
You mean like virtually everyone did, with phone books?
Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
#63how the turntables. Back in the 80s my grandfather (N4MDB RIP) had a ham radio in his car and used something called an "autopatch" which could dial phone numbers. He'd call my grandma and say we were going shopping or whatever. Everybody from the shack could listen in with their radios.
He tried to get me interested in ham radio but at the time I was exploring the internet and ham seemed... boring? Overly fussy with its technical license and morse code? He did give me a shortwave radio and explain how radio waves could bounce off the atmosphere (which seemed like science fiction honestly) and I got to listen to numbers stations.
Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
#64how the turntables. Back in the 80s my grandfather (N4MDB RIP) had a ham radio in his car and used something called an "autopatch" which could dial phone numbers. He'd call my grandma and say we were going shopping or whatever. Everybody from the shack could listen in with their radios. He tried to get me interested in ham radio but at the time I was exploring the internet and ham seemed... boring? Overly fussy with…
>He tried to get me interested in ham radio but at the time I was exploring the internet and ham seemed... boring?
Might wanna be careful, you might get your turns tabled and become that grandfather one day. :V
Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
#65I always ask myself why no any cellphone producer is making a phone with 2m/70cm capabilities.
They exist but they are no-name brands. The phone is crappy, the radio is crappy, and the combo is a big brick. It would be awkward phone with antenna sticking out.
The question is why don't handheld radios have Bluetooth and USB-C data (some have USB-C power).
Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
#66Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, but think about having a mobile that has native integration with APRS or can make voice/packet radio or even DMR. It would be perfect for hiking or adventures. Even better with LORA. Probably the main issue is RF compatibility.
LTE over satellite is going to be the solution, as all existing 4g phones can do it.
I wish they would get LTE/5G peer to peer working. It is defined in spec but barely anything supports it. Then could do any networking instead of limited to ham radio.
CBRS frequencies might work for that.
Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
#67Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't you have to register with your personal address in a public database?
You mean like virtually everyone did, with phone books?
Well, for white pages, it used to be name to phone number lookup, not, you know, physical address, in almost all cases. Yellow pages were different ofc. And the tide against that turned 20 years ago, which congress banned that for cellphones.
In any case, sounds like "yes".
Not a deal breaker, but concerning. I know folks in my home would be opposed to my doing it.
Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
#68Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sim card radios exist. eg https://www.wouxun.com/radios/two_way_radio_kg-v98.aspx
Do they need a simcard with an active plan or aNy simcard just works !!??
Don't believe it needs a simcard for UHF/VHF.
Even without a simcard, emergency numbers should still work if in range of a cell tower. IIRC that's a requirement of all 4g devices.
Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
#69What other things can I turn my android device into? I've considered using it as a node on my network for certain tasks, and maybe even as a router.
Re: Turn your Android phone into a modern ham radio transceiver
#70I always ask myself why no any cellphone producer is making a phone with 2m/70cm capabilities.
They exist but they are no-name brands. The phone is crappy, the radio is crappy, and the combo is a big brick. It would be awkward phone with antenna sticking out. The question is why don't handheld radios have Bluetooth and USB-C data (some have USB-C power).
This!
Only recently are some of the cheap radio brands coming with USB c charging. I'd love built in Bluetooth pairing.