I’m often asked about the differences between GMRS and MURS radio services, and which one works best for various situations. The answer isn’t as simple as picking the “better” option – it really depends on what you’re trying to do. GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) packs a serious punch with power levels up to 50 … Read more
When looking at CB vs Ham Radio, the differences are pretty dramatic when you look at the numbers. Ham radio can pump out up to 1500 watts and let you chat with someone on the other side of the world, while CB is limited to a measly 4 watts and typically reaches about 20 miles … Read more
When you look at the history of radio, radio’s growth in America is nothing short of amazing. I’ve always been fascinated by how quickly Americans adopted this technology – jumping from just 60,000 radios in 1922 to a whopping 10 million by 1930. This has to be one of the fastest technology adoptions we’ve ever … Read more
Software defined radio, or SDR, really applies to a huge range of products ranging from cheap add-ons for your computer, all the way up to very expensive stand-alone radios with a massive feature set. In this article I will be concentrating on the former. Software defined radio might sound complex, but these little devices pack … Read more
In an increasingly connected world, the need for reliable communication in off-grid scenarios has never been more pressing. Enter Meshtastic, a groundbreaking technology that’s changing the game in decentralized, long-range messaging. What is Meshtastic? It’s an open-source project that turns inexpensive radio modules into powerful, low-power communication devices, enabling users to stay connected even when … Read more
The Sangean ATS-909X2 is billed as the “ultimate” radio receiver and while I am not quite sure that is the case, it certainly is at the very top end of the portable multi-band receiver market today. You are going to be hard-pressed to find a radio with better capabilities and features that you can still … Read more
The GY561 is a small and inexpensive power meter and frequency counter that should make it easy for you to test your radios. Small enough to fit into your pocket with plenty of room left over, it includes the cables needed to attach it to most handheld radios, as well as a small antenna for … Read more
The Diamond SX-400 is a nice desktop power and SWR meter that covers the 140-525MHz range. I use this meter to test all of my handheld radios to see how much power they really put out. Read on to learn more! I have been using Diamond products for about as long as I have been … Read more
That’s right, Wouxun pays for positive reviews, they tried to pay me for not only a positive review but wanted me to write an advertorial. I know that a lot of you probably already assumed this happened, but I had never had it happen to me, until now. I am not saying I haven’t received … Read more
Years ago when I wanted to put up my first real antenna, I looked far and wide to find out what type of antenna cable to use. Is there a difference for distance? How about just receiving instead of transmitting? Different types of cable for different frequencies? How about for the power I would be … Read more