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Overview — What CTCSS and DCS Are
CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System) and DCS (Digital-Coded Squelch) are privacy code systems used in analog two-way radio communications. They do not create new channels nor encrypt your communications — they simply help radios filter which transmissions are accepted (i.e.,…
AnyTone 878UVII Plus vs. AnyTone AT-D890UV + Kenwood TH-D75A
Now from a different prespective One Radio vs. Purpose-Built Stack — Which Wins in 2026? If you’ve spent any time in DMR, APRS, or mixed-mode VHF/UHF work, you’ve probably faced this decision: This comparison breaks down: The Philosophical Difference Before…
AnyTone AT-D890UV vs 878UVII Plus + TH-D75A
One Radio to Rule Them All… or Two Radios Done Right? The Question As handheld radios evolve, we’re seeing a push toward “do everything in one box” radios like the AnyTone AT-D890UV. At the same time, many experienced operators still prefer a modular approach—pairing…
AnyTone AT-D890UV: The Next-Level DMR Handheld for Serious Operators
If you’ve spent any time running DMR, APRS, or multi-mode handhelds, you already know the usual trade-offs: power vs. battery, features vs. usability, and analog vs. digital flexibility. The AnyTone AT-D890UV is one of the first radios that genuinely tries to eliminate…
GMRS Handheld Showdown: BTech GMRS-V2 vs. Retevis/Ailunce HA1G vs. Radioddity GM-30 Plus
If you’re shopping for a GMRS handheld in 2026, you’ve probably noticed the market has split into two camps: The BTech GMRS-V2, Retevis/Ailunce HA1G, and Radioddity GM-30 Plus all sit squarely between those two extremes. Each is a capable GMRS…
BTECH GMRS-V2: A Practical, Capable GMRS Handheld for Everyday and Emergency Use
The BTECH GMRS-V2 is a purpose-built GMRS handheld designed for users who want reliable local communications without stepping into the complexity of amateur (ham) radio licensing. Built by BTECH, the GMRS-V2 focuses on durability, straightforward operation, and full compliance with…
The Quiet Magic of Ham Radio
There’s a moment in ham radio that never really gets old. You’re sitting at a desk—or maybe in a truck parked on a ridge—listening to static ebb and flow. You twist a dial, tune a frequency, and suddenly a human…
Full DigiPi APRS Deployment Guide
Raspberry Pi + Dire Wolf + systemd (iGate / Digipeater) Scope and Design Goals This guide documents a production-style APRS DigiPi deployment using: Design Objectives Hardware Architecture Required Components Component Purpose Raspberry Pi Compute + Linux host microSD (16–32 GB)…
Engineering a Low-Cost APRS Node with Raspberry Pi, DigiPi, and a Baofeng UV-5R Mini
Overview APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) remains one of the most mature examples of distributed RF data networking in real-world use. Long before the rise of modern IoT platforms, APRS solved problems of telemetry, position reporting, store-and-forward routing, and RF…