[ale] Misc ramblings of a diseased mind

[Christopher Fowler]

aaron wrote:
> so the FRS/GMRS class radios have 22 channels,
> and ranges of 5 miles or more. 14 privacy encoded sub-channels and VOX
> are also a standard features now.
>   

And only 22 channels.  Don't believe the hype that with all these PL 
tones you get hundreds of channels.

privacy is a term that must be used loosely.  There is no such things as 
privacy on those frequencies.  You can buy radios from china that 
support "scramble" but that is simply inversion of the audio and is 
illegal here.  I enjoy listening to FRS/GMRS channels at Disney World 
but my PL turned *OFF*.  I hear everything so there is no such thing as 
privacy.

PL tones are simply a form of squelch.  I think my FRS/GMRS radios will 
only show RX on the LCD then the squelch opens.  My real radios will 
show RX when signal is heard even if it does not open squelch.  This is 
critical because if I'm talking to you via PL tone 88.5 and someone else 
wants to use 146.2 if they hit PTT while we are talking then they will 
be QRM'ing our conversation. 

So.  With the 22 channels only one person can TX at a time per channel.  
This means in a crowded area like Orlando (tourists) only 22 people 
could be TX'ing at the same time.  That is one per channel.

You would be surprised what the band sounds like with a mag mount 
antenna and open squelch.  It opens up right as you turn into the Down 
Town Disney area.