Ham radios have been around for quite a long time, and they enable individuals to speak with each other without the requirement for phone lines or the Internet. It may not be the renewed type of communication around, yet it can regularly demonstrate to be one of the most dependable. In this contemporary era people rely on the cell phones as the fastest type of communication, but what they do not realize is that cell phones are not always reliable in serious emergency situations. There are so many places where Ham dmr two way radios can work better than mobile phones because two way radios are more reliable, have better battery backup and work well in the low network areas.
All cell phone networks are limited by a design capacity. Large-scale emergency events take the cell networks well past these capacities in seconds. For example, during Hurricane Katrina almost more than 70% of the cell towers were out of operation for multiple days. Thus, the cell phone is a low reliability communication source and cannot be entirely depended upon during widespread disasters or serious emergency situations. For a considerable secure and reliable source of communication you need to invest in a survival Ham Radio. And so we have compiled a list of best handheld ham radio for survival.
1. BaoFeng BF-F8HP 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio
Our first pick of the list is the powerful third and final generation BaoFeng BF-F8HP 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio. It is one of the company’s leading option to date having BaoFeng as one of the leading brands when it comes to ham radios. Its yield power is expanded from 4-watts up to 8-watts contrasted with the past model, and there’s likewise a 30% larger battery to guarantee that you can remain in correspondence longer without recharging as regularly. A solidified sturdy shell offers for expanded unwavering quality even in unforgiving situations, and the V-85 high-gain antenna considers double the presentation contrasted with contending alternatives.
The incorporated profound user guide furnishes you with the majority of the data you have to begin with this radio, and the end-user experience is one of the most straightforward around. There are still a great deal of controls and settings that you can mess around with, however general options are simple and easy to learn.
2. Yaesu FT-60R: a Well-Built, Water Resistant Ham Radio
Yaesu FT-60R is a Dual Band Amateur Ham radio transceiver which is the runner up on our list of best handheld ham radio for survival. It is a perfect and most portable device to take anywhere along. Most portable ham radios are made out of plastics, but this one like our first top pick features a solid aluminum case. It is water resistant so light rain and drink spills won’t damage it. It constitutes a durable battery and one charge can last up to several days. It comes with an audio alarm which notifies you when the battery is low. It is cheap compared to most handheld ham radios. It is a smart choice for those of you looking for a handy and user-friendly ham radio.
3. Tytera TYT MD-380 DMR Ham Radio
Our next on the list is TYT MD-380 which adopts hi-technology and novel design presenting you a steady, dependable and effective communication administration. Tytera MD-380 is a TDMA (Time Division Multi Access) handheld unit that works in all the usual bands and modes just as giving access to 12.5 kHz and 25 kHz. It has a 1 or 4-watt control selector and transmits over UHF 400 – 480 MHz. The unit has a tri-hued LED which shows Green while receiving, Orange when examining and Red when transmitting. It likewise sports backlit DTMF keys. The Tytera MD-380 comes with a 7.4V 2000 mAh Li-ion battery and 2 SMA type antennas. There is a software package and programming cable to connect the unit to a PC or Laptop. The radio is digital and analog consolidated with the goal that you can utilize the advanced mode and simple mode in one radio.
Licensing Requirements
Licensing is a prerequisite for Ham radio; however the procedure has been streamlined over late years. It is quite easy now to go through the procedure and get authorized.
There are three types of licensing currently offered:
1. The Technician License:
It is the entry level licensing. You need to pass an exam of 35 questions to obtain it and you can communicate domestically and locally.
2. The General License:
It comes with technician licensing as a prerequisite and requires you to undertake another exam of 35 questions. It allows international communication.
3. The Amateur Extra License:
It presents every single working benefit on all modes and bands. It includes an exam of 50 questions with general licensing as a prerequisite.