Using a Baofeng with BCA or other FRS radios
I get a lot of calls and emails about using Baofeng with BCA and other FRS radios. The programming that comes with the radios I sell include the FRS channels 1-22 with no code sometimes called sub channels or privacy channels. I also include the BCA factory channels of which 4 of the six have codes. So most guys have no idea what these codes do or if they should be using them. The short answer is no they are a joke unless you are using a repeater. Some people think that sub channels are actual a different frequency than the main channel This is not true, what a sub channel does is add a low inaudible frequency signal to your voice signal (67-254.1 HZ). If your buddies' radios is set up to listen for that code it will turn the speaker on (squelch) when it hears it and won't if it doesn't. If you are on channel 4-20 anyone on 4-0 will hear you as that radio is not listening for a code but you won't hear them because your is and the 4-00 isn't adding one. The other big thing is if someone is transmitting on 4-0 your radio knows that (even though you aren't hearing anything) and you can not transmit over it as your radio will be locked out so it doesn't step on the other transmission. So you could be thinking you are trying to get a hold of your buddies but you aren't transmitting. How many people are aware of that, probably not many sledders. So if you have a buddy using a FRS radio 1. tell them to get a Baofeng 2. don't use any code. When using a FRS radio also don't use channel 8 to 14 as even with the new BCA 2 they are still only .5 watts on those channels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zht-Y_QsZ2I
I get a lot of calls and emails about using Baofeng with BCA and other FRS radios. The programming that comes with the radios I sell include the FRS channels 1-22 with no code sometimes called sub channels or privacy channels. I also include the BCA factory channels of which 4 of the six have codes. So most guys have no idea what these codes do or if they should be using them. The short answer is no they are a joke unless you are using a repeater. Some people think that sub channels are actual a different frequency than the main channel This is not true, what a sub channel does is add a low inaudible frequency signal to your voice signal (67-254.1 HZ). If your buddies' radios is set up to listen for that code it will turn the speaker on (squelch) when it hears it and won't if it doesn't. If you are on channel 4-20 anyone on 4-0 will hear you as that radio is not listening for a code but you won't hear them because your is and the 4-00 isn't adding one. The other big thing is if someone is transmitting on 4-0 your radio knows that (even though you aren't hearing anything) and you can not transmit over it as your radio will be locked out so it doesn't step on the other transmission. So you could be thinking you are trying to get a hold of your buddies but you aren't transmitting. How many people are aware of that, probably not many sledders. So if you have a buddy using a FRS radio 1. tell them to get a Baofeng 2. don't use any code. When using a FRS radio also don't use channel 8 to 14 as even with the new BCA 2 they are still only .5 watts on those channels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zht-Y_QsZ2I
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