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…
HT Radio
HT Radio
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
Family-Ready GMRS + Ham Emergency Communications Checklist
Simple → Capable → Resilient Layer 1 — Family & Immediate Communications (GMRS) Goal: Everyone can communicate immediately with minimal training. Licensing & Legal Radios & Accessories Programming…
Building a Layered Emergency Communications Plan
From Family Radios to Regional Reach Emergency communications fail most often not because of equipment—but because of single-point thinking. One radio, one service, one plan is rarely enough…
GMRS vs Amateur Radio for Emergency Communications
What Actually Works When It Matters When emergency communications come up, the conversation often turns into GMRS vs amateur (ham) radio—usually framed as a debate about which is…