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Sad Ham Fuddery

I wanted to share some radio antics from yesterday because there is some learning value in it.

While I was rucking 2.5 miles, I carried my new Motorola XPR 6550 to see how it performed in a wooded area. I was listening to the local GMRS repeaters, which have been taken over completely by sad hams. After a rousing round-robin discussion of where to eat dinner and critiques of various restaurant French fries, they began a discussion of some radio ne'er do wells (more like vagabonds) that needed to be tracked down.

The ringleader complained that some "truckers" (turns out they are maintenance guys) had been using their frequency and activating the repeater (GASP). Mind you, this is an Open repeater that anyone can use. Well, our hero said he hadn't' had the time to track them down yet, but he was going to get to it, because someone needed to find them and tell them that they are using the repeater illegally.

Let me clarify, that's completely FALSE. As it is an open repeater, with a published PL Tone, it is open for anyone to use. Now, he might try and say you can't use the radio for business use, but that's a HAM radio thing, not a GMRS thing. It is perfectly legal to use GMRS for business communications.

Now, I get it, they probably don't have a GMRS license, but that doesn't make this illegal. Every FRS (license free) radio has the exact same 22 channels as GMRS on it. Many, like Cobra radios, are sold as 2-watt business radios, but they have the same channels. As a side note, 3 of the GMRS channels used to be "Itinerant Business" channels, meaning that if a business has had their radios for a long time, these channels are likely on them.

What I think the deal is that these guys are using some cheap FRS radios, but they are really close to the repeater. They put a CTCSS code on the channel to stop having to hear every kid in the neighborhood playing on their walkie talkies, and by pure coincidence got the code to their repeater (they are all from the same tone list).

If these guys track them down, what gives them the authority to act as self-appointed Junior Federal Agents and go knock on this business's door? The problem is that a lot of amateur radio guys think that their license conveys some sort of authority, it doesn't. So, let's say they track these guys down, confront them, and these cats tell the Ham Junior Police to pound sand, what is their recourse? The hams could call the cops, who would politely tell them that they have no idea what they are talking about, but that they had better not trespass and accost people anymore, lest someone blacken their eye.

They could try to go to the FCC, but the FCC would point out that in order for them to take action, the activity has to be malicious and intentional. Listening to these guys on the radio, they have NO IDEA whatsoever that they are interfering with this repeater. Therefore, there is no violation. The right solution is simply to change the tone to your repeater.

As far as businesses using GMRS without a license, or using FRS radios above 2 watts, there are literally THOUSANDS of them doing it every day. The FCC will never act on it, since business use is permissible and not a violation. Sure, they are using more power than legally allowed, but since we're talking 4 watts instead of 2, the FCC could care less.

One of the comments the ham guy said proved that they don't ever operate radios for business. He said that the other guys didn't know that you should never use a PL tone (privacy code) on simplex (talking without a repeater). That's pure BS. I've used GMRS radios all over the country (and in other ones) on simplex for running security details or surveillance, and if you don't use a PL tone, you will hear every little business or kid using the radio as a toy. Yes, using a PL tone on simplex is a good idea if you and your team want to just talk to each other.

Yes, I know everyone else can hear our conversation, but I'm not hearing kids shouting "poo poo pee pee" over the channel or Suzie asking Diane for price check.

Anyway, use PL tones on simplex to reduce interference and also understand that even with a GMRS license, you aren't given exclusive access to any of the 22 channels. You just have to deal with the fact that other humans exist and might exercise their right to use the same channel you are exercising your rights on.

Y'all would be proud of me, it took every ounce of willpower in my body, but I did not engage with these guys.

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4. They will also sell you all the newest GPS Topo maps at reduced prices. I have like 5 different map areas on one SD card.

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Gear Review - Hoplite High Cut
Update to Hoplite Helmet Review

Hoplite Industries sent me a new helmet to test, they claim sourced from a different factory.  I take them at their word, but the helmet is identical in both outer appearance and suspension system, right down to the fake Team Wendy W pad inside.  China is like that though, there might be 5 different state-owned businesses all making the same product with slight quality variations.

You can find this helmet at: Hoplite Helmet

You can read about our testing of the first batch elsewhere on this site, but hey failed to stop a 44 Magnum Soft Point.

This helmet was tested using a 9mm 147 Jacketed Hollow Point fired out of a Ruger RXM at about 15 yards.  As you can see from the pictures, the helmet stopped the round.  The dent on the inside did not exceed the thickness of the padding, making this helmet truly a Level IIIA helmet.

I like the easy to adjust helmet suspension.  The mounting plate for NODs is stiffer and a bit harder to lock in than on my USNV FAST helmet, but it does work and is sturdy.

This is good lower cost entry level ballistic helmet for those just starting out.

 

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Gear Review - Hoplite Industries Helmet

Hoplite Industries reached out to me and asked me if I would be willing to be a 3rd party to test their new line of NIJ Level IIIA rated helmets.  I accepted, and for full disclosure, I was sent two helmets, one to test and one to keep as payment.  I told him that I would test them, give him a couple of days to handle any feedback I had, then I'd release the results, either way.

Hoplite Industries had a rough start with their digital night vision, but is geniuinely attempting to fix the sourcing issues they had and build solid products for the tactical/preparedness community.  I know there was drama with others, but I'm able to set that aside, as I want to truly help other guys get out there and I want to recommend quality products to my people.

Hoplite asked me if I had a 44 Magnum available for testing.  He sent me the results of their test on the high cut helmets using 147 grain 9mm Gold Dot hollow points and he wanted to make sure that the mid-cut helmet met the same standard.  I don't have a 44 Magnum, because I am not Inspector Harry Callahan of the SF PD, but my dear friend Allen has one and agreed to help me with the test.  We fired a single round of 44 Magnum, 240 grains, from a Ruger Blackhawk revolver at a distance of 10 yards (30 feet).

As you can see, the UHMWPE fibers became severely deformed and all that energy would have been transferred to the skull and brain of whoever was wearing the helmet.

I immediately sent the photos to Hoplite, who was indeed surprised.  He looked into the issue and found that the mid and full cut helemts came from a different source than the high cuts he had tested.  He asked me if I would be willing to shoot the other helmet with a 9mm to see if the full cut had the same issue.  To his credit, he seemed genuinely concerned to want to do this right.

So, the full cut was tested with a single round of Sellier & Bellot 115 grain FMJ.  The helmet also failed, with a deformity that would have caused injury.  Sure, any round to the helmet will cause some injury and deformation of the helmet, but the fibers still seperated on this helmet.

Hoplite immediately pulled the helmets from his site and offered a full refund or replacement to anyone who bought one before the testing was done, which says a lot of good for him.  

He has switched materials and is ordering helmets made of Aramid now, and intends to send a new pair to me for testing, which I will do, and then issue a follow up review.

While the product didn't stand up to testing, Hoplite's character did.  He didn't dodge or evade the test results, he took immediate action to correct the situation.  We will see what the future holds.

In the meantime, he has re-listed the helmets as non-ballistic bump helmets for airfsoft or fragmentation, but not NIJ rated.

I cannot recommend these helmets for any protective use.

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DM-32UV Radio Review

Brushbeater Store Link: Baofeng UV-32DM

I know, I know, "Not another Boo-Fwang", right?  Well, this one fills a need for the prepared citizen, and it's not what you think.  I've had one for about 2 weeks and have been testing it out.  In this, I'm going to recap my thoughts.  

Let me just say that if you are a sad ham, or a fan for amateur "Digital Mobile Radio"/DMR, you should probably stop reading.  NC Scout and I teach an entirely different skill set with the DMR than you use, and you won't like it.  I did not test this out on a single DMR repeater and did not try to program every ham DMR contact in the world into my radio.  Sorry.  Just like we say at every class, "This is not ham radio".

So, if I don't use Amateur Radio DMR, why would I want a digital radio?   Well, for starters, in a complete collapse and Without Rule of Law (WROL) situation, a digital voice signal (like your cell phone) travels farther than analog voice, so there is that.  Our use case is for sending text messages via a handheld radio.  I know, some sad ham is going to screech about how we can't do that without a permission slip from our overlords, but that's entirely FALSE.  Digital text messages are allowed on MURS and you are allowed to send text messages via FRS/GMRS under the rules.  It's perfectly legal, sad hams. Wait until you hear about digital over CB - wild times, man, wild times.  Oh, and Midland is campaigning to add digital voice to GMRS, just like the Europeans did with PMR (Personal Mobile Radio - 446 Mhz).

I tested the message function and it works across all brands.  In other words, I was able to send and recieve text messages with my Baofeng digital radios, my Abbree ones, and Motorola XPR digital radios.  They all also recevied the digital voice using both the All Call ID and private calls.  A cool side effect of using digital traffic is that anyone with an analog-only radio will just hear static rather than your comms.

Another important feature on these radios is AES 256 encryption.  I tested it with my other Baofeng DMR (DM-1701) and the Abbree DM-F8 DMRs I own and the encryption worked flawlessly.  I was not able to get it to handshake with my Motorola XPR and XTS radios.  That's both a blessing and a curse I guess.  However, if everyone on my team has one of these and the same encryption key, we are good.  Now, neither NC Scout nor I recommend running encrypted radios all the time because they draw unwanted attention to your traffic, but there are times and places when I might want it.

The software is easy to use, but a little quirky.  For example, when programming repeaters, if you don't "Forbid Talkaround", the radio defaults to talkaround only and doesn't let you activate a repeater.  Checking the "forbid" box solved it, but it's annoying.  It also required me to enter the All Call talkgroup (16777215) manually, while every other DMR I've ever had had it already in the radio.

I recommend setting the squelch to 3 on all of your channels.  I started with 5 and wasn't receiving anything at all, while my other radios were. Adjusting it down to 3 was a quick fix.

The stock antenna is actually quite good, once you set the squelch properly.  

The radio is very well-built and is designed to look like a Motorola APX.  It fits very well into AR-152 pouches.  My radio came with a pouch, but I am not a fan of the stock pouch.

The main problem I have with it is the screen brightness.  When turned all the way up, it is still not readable in daylight.  You can turn the screen off as well.

The radio accepts all the standard K1 accessory cables.  You don't need to buy a whole bunch of additional stuff that way.  The radio battery screws into the unit and accepts USB-C charging, so you can charge it on the run.  You can also find spare batteries on Amazon.  For the first time, the people at Baofeng got the charger right - the charging base is also USB-C powered.  FINALLY, I can run the quick charge base from my vehicle power using a USB cord.  Well done.

The radio has GPS and will do automatic APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System).  I did test the GPS function (because of two hams who asked me like a million times - you know who you are).  It matched what my Garmin GPSMap said exactly, including speed and elevation.  I did not test APRS because I am never comfortable broadcasting my location for anyone with a radio to find.  Before you tell me that I carry a phone that does that, several students will attest that one rural Tennessee Sheriff Department complained that my phone pings in Europe (they weren't looking for me, they were looking for a student in the woods with me whose mother was worried - Sorry Samuel).  I do turn the GPS on once a day to keep the clock updated, which is VITAL in digital communications.  Once it gets a fix and accurate time (from somewhere I'm not going to be at for long), I turn the GPS off.  It gets a fix in about 30 seconds after the first time.

The range is simlar to every other VHF/UHF dual band radio.  I am able to hit the Bigfork repeater from 30-35 miles away if I am outside with no problem.

While I think this radio is a must have for advanced users, I don't reocmmend it if you are just starting out.  If you haven't taken the RTO and Advanced RTO course, you won't have much of a need for one of these.  It will not replace my AR-152 for tactical operations, and it won't replace my AR-5RM that I use as my daily business radio, but it has a use for clandestine communications like NC Scout and I teach.

At $99.99, it's more expensive than other Baofeng's, but cheaper than most DMR units.

Again, it's not a radio that everyone needs.  However, if you need a DMR, getting this one or the Abbree DM-F8 is a good idea.

If you're new here, we do reviews like this and on other topics as well as share breaking news with subscribers.  Additional content is avaible for paid monthly supporters as well.  SIgn up.

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