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Kv4p HT – A homebrew 1W radio (VHF or UHF) that plugs into an Android phone

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Re: Kv4p HT – A homebrew 1W radio (VHF or UHF) that plugs into an Android phone

#21

Post by lxgr »

lovelearning wrote: post #16
Crunchified wrote: post #6

This doesn't turn your phone into a ham transceiver at all. It turns your phone into a transceiver controller . Given that a cell phone is a transceiver, this headline is rather disappointing clickbait.

I don't see it as clickbait since the realities of the Android ecosystem is a shared context. Most people know that just about every Android phone has a restricted hardware design, not an expandable one. So, "turn your phone into X" is bound to automatically evoke images of another device that plugs into the phone via common connectors like USB or the audio jack and an app on the phone to control that device. That's…

"Turn your phone into a nuclear reactor (by plugging it into a wall outlet served by a nuclear power plant)"

Re: Kv4p HT – A homebrew 1W radio (VHF or UHF) that plugs into an Android phone

#22

Post by Crunchified »

lovelearning wrote: post #16
Crunchified wrote: post #6

This doesn't turn your phone into a ham transceiver at all. It turns your phone into a transceiver controller . Given that a cell phone is a transceiver, this headline is rather disappointing clickbait.

I don't see it as clickbait since the realities of the Android ecosystem is a shared context. Most people know that just about every Android phone has a restricted hardware design, not an expandable one. So, "turn your phone into X" is bound to automatically evoke images of another device that plugs into the phone via common connectors like USB or the audio jack and an app on the phone to control that device. That's…

The article is chiefly about a radio circuit you can "build", plus some controller software that happens to run on an Android phone. Meanwhile the headline is 100% focused on describing something that your phone can be made to do (which you have admitted that it can't).

The two don't add up, and your apologetic analysis doesn't convince me otherwise. It's still clickbait. An Android cell phone has radio guts, and that headline is just gutless.

Re: Kv4p HT – A homebrew 1W radio (VHF or UHF) that plugs into an Android phone

#23

Post by lxgr »

landgenoot wrote: post #13

> 1 watt transmit can go miles yet sips your phone’s battery How far can such a device reach in a typical urban environment with the longer antenna?

VHF is effectively line-of-sight, and no antenna size can change that (although it does improve efficiency for both sending and receiving), so for two handheld radios, you are limited to about 10 km.

The only thing that really helps extend the range is elevating the antenna, and repeaters allow you to do that even between two mobile stations.

Re: Kv4p HT – A homebrew 1W radio (VHF or UHF) that plugs into an Android phone

#24

Post by sfmike »

alexwwang wrote: post #7
Crunchified wrote: post #6

This doesn't turn your phone into a ham transceiver at all. It turns your phone into a transceiver controller . Given that a cell phone is a transceiver, this headline is rather disappointing clickbait.

Agree. We need a compact short wave transceiver device actually.

Is this prevented by physics or cost or just no one has the motivation?

Re: Kv4p HT – A homebrew 1W radio (VHF or UHF) that plugs into an Android phone

#25

Post by [deleted] »

martheen wrote: post #17
asdff wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does the FCC enforce this sort of thing? Are they listening in to certain frequencies nationally with the ability to triangulate a handheld down to actually identifying someone?

Someone complained, they send someone to check and triangulate, verify that the operator doesn't have the license, then issue a warning or fine.

[deleted]

Re: Kv4p HT – A homebrew 1W radio (VHF or UHF) that plugs into an Android phone

#26

Post by asdff »

fodmap wrote: post #18
asdff wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does the FCC enforce this sort of thing? Are they listening in to certain frequencies nationally with the ability to triangulate a handheld down to actually identifying someone?

Most of the time they get a complaint, and they investigate. https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/guides/fcc-enforcement-...

Wow, you mail them the complaint? No reason to worry about accidentally hitting the talk button I guess. Probably nothing happening unless you spam the frequency for weeks I'd guess.

Re: Kv4p HT – A homebrew 1W radio (VHF or UHF) that plugs into an Android phone

#28

Post by asdff »

martheen wrote: post #17
asdff wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does the FCC enforce this sort of thing? Are they listening in to certain frequencies nationally with the ability to triangulate a handheld down to actually identifying someone?

Someone complained, they send someone to check and triangulate, verify that the operator doesn't have the license, then issue a warning or fine.

I wonder how close they can triangulate? I'd guess they are SOL if I am in an apartment building with 200 other units.
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