Secure Civillian two way radio's

[Zombie Axe]

Diesel's post http://www.xcolony.com/x/showthread.php?t=110 got me to think about secure comms. Ham radio is a very awesome thing, but encryption is a big NO NO. There are some modes which are hard to eavesdrop on from the general public (mainly digital modes such as MFSK16, PSK31, and others) but they require equipment that is bulkier than your average walkie talkie (it can be done).



That being said I was going through some of my old links and came across TriSquare's EXRS radios. These are legal in the US and are similar to the FRS/GMRS radios. Run about $100 a pair. May be a good option for when you need some secure local comms. I think I will be adding 2 sets to my 'comm toolbox' ASAP.

http://www.trisquare.us/

[Diesel]

I know people who use these... while they are neat, can be secure, and are digital

they are still limited distance and seem about par to frs/gmrs radios in some pretty stout testing situation.

[Zombie Axe]

That is what I figured on the range... still would be nice to have some local SECURE commo in case you needed it;)

I do like that radio you posted a link to better!

[Diesel]

That is what I figured on the range... still would be nice to have some local SECURE commo in case you needed it;)

I do like that radio you posted a link to better!

question is how much are they, and can they be bought?

[Zombie Axe]

question is how much are they, and can they be bought?

Looks like they run $99 per pair, cheaper ($69) for the smaller ones. Looks like you can get them @ best buy or any other big box store.

Check out the link below:

http://www.trisquare.us/wheretobuy.htm

[Diesel]

Looks like they run $99 per pair, cheaper ($69) for the smaller ones. Looks like you can get them @ best buy or any other big box store.

Check out the link below:

http://www.trisquare.us/wheretobuy.htm

no i meant the radios i had posted a link to in my other post :P

[nitehawg]

Diesel,

I checked out your link and then the R&S link six ways 'til Sunday and couldn't figure out where to buy them or how much they cost. But to me they just look EXPENSIVE! I wonder if there is some practical way to either build your own or modify existing commercial radios to suit our needs?

[Diesel]

Yeah i'm hot on the trail on some of this.

It depends exactly what you want though do you want just hand helds, or a mobile rig in youe vehicle that can be taken with you

do you want to have a ham license or prefer not to?

[methusaleh]

Those little 900MHz radios were reviewed somewhere on the Popular Wireless Forums a while ago. As someone said, range is short, probably about the same as low-wattage FRS rigs.

EDIT 01/09/2009: here is the link to the review:

http://www.popularwireless.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=94632&page=0&fpart=1

If you want very secure comms, try to get ahold of some surplus encrypted government radios at an auction, then try to find a friendly radio shop to program them with your own encryption key. I don't know how many radios make it through the auctions with the encryption modules intact, but I have seem them out there.

[Ulath]

Check these out: two way radios

I have been thinking of starting communications small and working my way up. I figure the range will be one quarter in the woods as the maximum stated. What do you think?

http://www.midlandradio.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5554

[Zombie Axe]

Looks like a nice RIG... I have some Midlands...

[Diesel]

i have 4 of them we used to use for com, but no longer.

as for junk grms/frs radios (sorry hate them all) it's prob one of the best out there

[Zombie Axe]

I agree...

However if all you need to do is talk to someone out of shouting range... they are OK...

One must ask themselves... who do I want to talk to and what are my range limitations... Ham IMHO is an EASY fix for all comm problems:D

[OneBadPig]

We have some of those "family radios" for staying in touch around the property.
I can see how encryption would be helpful in bad times. You wouldnt want someone with a similar radio or scanner to overhear you report on the canned hams you just found.