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meshtastic should not be used for protest communications
(hexbear.net)
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this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2025
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How is a Baofeng radio different from a walkie talkie?
Your typical walkie talkie is going to be much lower quality and lower range, and has a lot less features. Theyre built to be toys where as the Baofengs are built as actual radios. Have access to more frequencies too. Its like a real smart phone vs a toy phone you get a kid.
So is Baofeng a high quality brand of walkie talkie or is there something fundamentally different with how it modulates radio signals?
I associate the phrase "walkie talkie" with decent quality Motorola equipment used on job sites as well as toy tier $10 walmart devices.
No i was talking about the toy ones. Handheld radios vs walkie talkie toys. Baofeng is a very well known and affordable brand. And a lot of their devices are jail breakable which is nice. They arent top of the line, but for 20$ i doubt you could find better. Even many that are 50$+ are pretty similar.
Good to know, thanks! Will definitely consider them
np also look into liscensing in your local area. You can usually buy them regardless, but you are technically supposed to have a license to use them. Altho i don't think they really enforce it unless you do something bad atleast for GMRS. Ham tho you'll get people removed at you about it on the radio if they hear you. Theres a lot of hobbyist hams who monitor their local areas traffic. The jailbroken Baofeng UV-5R is the really well known one like people will use it to talk on drive thru speakers and stuff. I've picked up like planes and stuff flying overhead on mine talking to ATC because im within like 30 miles of an airport. Normally if i see a plane flying above me and pull it out i can find them, and listen in which is pretty fun when im bored lol.
Edit: To be clear about licensing.
GMRS: You need to pay like a 60$ fee online, and get one to broadcast. Technically anyway in the US. Your probably not gonna get bothered about it tho unless ur doing something annoying. Listening you can do without one. Just broadcasting you need it.
Ham: You have to take a knowledge test, and need to pay aswell. I havent done it so don't know the whole process but its more involved for sure. On this you will get the Ham hobbyists removed at you and thats about it if you don't have one, and are just minding your business. But they can potentially triangulate your location and report you if they want to. Not that I've heard of anyone getting in trouble for it who wasn't causing an issue. Once again Listening to it you can do without one.