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Militia Radio Frequencies

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Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#71

Post by runjake »

Thriptic wrote: post #63
runjake wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the AR-15 is impractical gun for both home defense (Too long to for hallways. Too powerful for drywall.) 1. Actually, the .223/5.56mm round has less penetration in residential[1] that most handgun rounds due to its tumbling characteristics. 2. I'd say the AR-15 is impractical for home defense due to its stigma of being an evil black rifle, and that it seems like "overkill" to uneducated people. That's a shame, due…

Mind explaining what you mean by tumbling characteristics?

When a 5.56mm round strikes a solid object, it tumbles (aka "yaws", or rapidly changes orientation).

Contrary to popular legend, it does not tumble in flight.

Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#72

Post by mapt »

runjake wrote: post #53
jonathankoren wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> These photos remind me of William Gibson's observations on tactical fashion -- if you are really a militant, then the last thing you'd want to do is look all tactical and stuff. Hear. Hear. The AR-15 segment of gun culture is essentially cosplay. For example, the AR-15 is impractical gun for both home defense (Too long to for hallways. Too powerful for drywall.) and actually illegal to hunt with because the bullets…

> the AR-15 is impractical gun for both home defense (Too long to for hallways. Too powerful for drywall.) 1. Actually, the .223/5.56mm round has less penetration in residential[1] that most handgun rounds due to its tumbling characteristics. 2. I'd say the AR-15 is impractical for home defense due to its stigma of being an evil black rifle, and that it seems like "overkill" to uneducated people. That's a shame, due…

My impression from what I'd read is that nearly anything that's got enough impact energy to penetrate clothing, soft flesh (denim & ballistic gel) and the hard bits of thorax, is going to get through perpendicular drywall very easily.

Here's the lightest round in common use, 22LR, holing 8 layers of drywall sequentially. This is 1/12th as much muzzle energy as .223:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ME3IEYoQXc

Here's pricy specialty frangible rounds designed not to go through walls... still going through walls in a test:

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/09/daniel-zimmerman/sh...

Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#73

Post by cdjk »

Aloha wrote: post #36
twothamendment wrote: post #29

Interesting read, but it almost paints anyone who owns a Baofeng as a terrorist. It does do a great job of showing how lame it is to think that those radios will help in a standoff like that. If the government was going to go in, you can bet the first thing they'd do is jam those cheap radios. For anyone interested in ham radio, there isn't a better place to start. Without these cheap, not-as-good-as-something-that-c…

In my opinion the Baofeng isn't a very good radio (poor build quality, poor performing RF deck, bad documentation and software support), and there are better inexpensive options out there - most surplus commercial radio gear is around the same price with a better build quality - and for those with some money to spend, you can pick up surplus XTS3000 with DES-XL (or DES-OFB) for under 250 bucks ea, add another 3-800 f…

I've tried using commercial radios before, but the biggest annoyance is the difficulty in either 1) getting programming software and 2) actually using the software, which usually has an atrocious UI.

At least with a purpose-built ham radio you can enter frequencies directly on the handset, even if it's a pain. Although the programming software for them is almost as bad.

Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#74

Post by twothamendment »

cdjk wrote: post #73
Aloha wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my opinion the Baofeng isn't a very good radio (poor build quality, poor performing RF deck, bad documentation and software support), and there are better inexpensive options out there - most surplus commercial radio gear is around the same price with a better build quality - and for those with some money to spend, you can pick up surplus XTS3000 with DES-XL (or DES-OFB) for under 250 bucks ea, add another 3-800 f…

I've tried using commercial radios before, but the biggest annoyance is the difficulty in either 1) getting programming software and 2) actually using the software, which usually has an atrocious UI. At least with a purpose-built ham radio you can enter frequencies directly on the handset, even if it's a pain. Although the programming software for them is almost as bad.

I heard bad things about programming the Baofeng and other cheap radios so picked one up before getting blessed by the FCC to operate it. I figured if it was a pain I didn't care about passing some test.

It was a pretty straight forward process. I bought a decent cable to plug it in to my laptop, downloaded CHIRP (http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home) and used it to pull in a list of local repeaters, selected the ones I wanted and dumped the list to the radio.

There was one issue of confusion, maybe this will help someone. The order is important. I've never failed if I: 0) Remove the antenna 1) Plug in the cable to the computer 2) Plug in the cable to the radio 3) Turn the radio on - all the way, full volume Then CHIRP will happily download or upload profiles from the radio.

The UV-82 manual is decent. I'm guessing it is the older models that people talk about. There are some funny translations here and there, but I don't recall anything that didn't work or make sense. Programming them by hand is still no fun. Thank you everyone who works on CHIRP!

Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#75

Post by beezle »

Aloha wrote: post #36
twothamendment wrote: post #29

Interesting read, but it almost paints anyone who owns a Baofeng as a terrorist. It does do a great job of showing how lame it is to think that those radios will help in a standoff like that. If the government was going to go in, you can bet the first thing they'd do is jam those cheap radios. For anyone interested in ham radio, there isn't a better place to start. Without these cheap, not-as-good-as-something-that-c…

In my opinion the Baofeng isn't a very good radio (poor build quality, poor performing RF deck, bad documentation and software support), and there are better inexpensive options out there - most surplus commercial radio gear is around the same price with a better build quality - and for those with some money to spend, you can pick up surplus XTS3000 with DES-XL (or DES-OFB) for under 250 bucks ea, add another 3-800 f…

"most surplus commercial radio gear is around the same price with a better build quality"

As someone considering getting into this, can you make a couple of suggestions of surplus commercial gear in this price range (ie, under $75)? TIA

Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#76

Post by Aloha »

beezle wrote: post #75
Aloha wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my opinion the Baofeng isn't a very good radio (poor build quality, poor performing RF deck, bad documentation and software support), and there are better inexpensive options out there - most surplus commercial radio gear is around the same price with a better build quality - and for those with some money to spend, you can pick up surplus XTS3000 with DES-XL (or DES-OFB) for under 250 bucks ea, add another 3-800 f…

"most surplus commercial radio gear is around the same price with a better build quality" As someone considering getting into this, can you make a couple of suggestions of surplus commercial gear in this price range (ie, under $75)? TIA

What band do you want (VHF, UHF, etc)?

Do you need a radio that can be legally transmit on MURS or Part 90 frequencies (land mobile) or just ham radio?

Do you want a handheld or mobile?

Do you object to hardware that uses DOS (preferably running either on a real older laptop/desktop, or perhaps slowed down in DOSBox to program) or needs funky interface cables?

Do you object to something that must be programmed with a computer, and cannot be programmed by front panel inputs?

Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#77

Post by alricb »

jonathankoren wrote: post #32
zekevermillion wrote: post #12

These photos remind me of William Gibson's observations on tactical fashion -- if you are really a militant, then the last thing you'd want to do is look all tactical and stuff. The Army surplus look, radios with whip antennae, etc., is fun. But in any scenario where militia were up against organized force, I would think they should try to blend into the population. But I guess it's hard to keep morale up if you just…

> These photos remind me of William Gibson's observations on tactical fashion -- if you are really a militant, then the last thing you'd want to do is look all tactical and stuff. Hear. Hear. The AR-15 segment of gun culture is essentially cosplay. For example, the AR-15 is impractical gun for both home defense (Too long to for hallways. Too powerful for drywall.) and actually illegal to hunt with because the bullets…

re: Throat mic, they have their use! Specifically, being able to properly do the "Ah-ah" in "Da da da": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtMThVUpc-U

Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#78

Post by kaoD »

sithadmin wrote: post #24
nathanm412 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assault weapon is colloquially defined as a firearm with a detachable magazine and a pistol grip. I've seen this definition in common use going back 30 years, whether or not it helps anyone's political ideals. A thorough discussion of the definition and it's history can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assault_weapon

>Assault weapon is colloquially defined as a firearm with a detachable magazine and a pistol grip. Rifle. Not firearm. Otherwise every pistol that isn't a muzzle/breech loader or revolver is an 'assault weapon', which is makes the distinction even more functionally useless.

A rifle is a firearm.

Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#79

Post by Aloha »

rtkwe wrote: post #11
apaprocki wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In addition, GMRS requires an FCC license.[1] Just because the Baofeng allows you to access the frequencies doesn't mean that you can legally transmit on them. I wonder if this is their Capone-tax-evasion-style Achilles' heel. Enforce those FCC regs! :P [1]: https://www.fcc.gov/general/general-mobile-radio-service-gmr...

FCC violations are generally fines instead of prison time. It'd be somewhat effective but not nearly as powerful as the tax evasion charges.

People have been jailed for violating the ham radio rules.

Re: Militia Radio Frequencies

#80

Post by nordsieck »

pavel_lishin wrote: post #52
hga wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The AR-15 segment of gun culture is essentially cosplay. For example, the AR-15 is impractical gun for both home defense (Too long to for hallways. All those who advise and use shotguns disagree, and a short carbine is certainly more manageable than a 20ga or greater shotgun. And they're certainly easier to aim under stress than a handgun, and ideal for bunker tactical situations (e.g. you stay in your bedroom waitin…

> Plenty of people have used AR-15 pattern rifles in self-defense, inside and outside the home. Genuinely curious: when have people used an AR-15 rifle outside for self-defense?

LA riots
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