Communications Gear List, by TT3
Below is a guide to the easiest way to get basic information on comms and direct links to what to buy. Descriptions are followed by a link of where I recommend you buy the gear then followed by a link to the item on Amazon if you chose to go that route. I do recommend you buy everything from the Brush Beater Store!
Must Haves!
Guerillas Guide to the Baofeng Radio: Get this book and read it! It will lay out how to incorporate the Baofeng into your kit in a meaningful and easy to understand manner even if you are not a radio nerd. Also included in the book are ways that you can encrypt your communications, and how to direct your comms to whom you want to hear it.
The Guerrilla’s Guide to the Baofeng Radio – Mass Market Verison (brushbeater.store)
The Guerrilla’s Guide To The Baofeng Radio: Scout, NC: 9798366525107: Amazon.com: Books
AR-152 Radio: I put this in Must Haves instead of Basics due to it being a bit more rugged than the regular version of the Baofeng UV5R, it will put out 10 Watts of power, and most importantly the battery on this beast will last a week or better! This is the one you want, if you choose to go the cheaper route with the UV5R I’ll link it under Basics.
AR-152 VHF / UHF Radio (brushbeater.store)
Basics
UV5R: This is the one that started it, basic in every way. It is cheap, and it is Cheap. I’ve had some that are almost 10 years old and still kicking and I’ve had some that were crap right out of the box. Basically get a few and just see how they run.
BF-F8HP: This is the 8-Watt version of the UV5R series. Better than the small one but has a bigger battery and more power.
Baofeng BF-F8HP (brushbeater.store)
PC-03 Programming cable: This cable can be used to program all the UV5R variants that I have listed thus far. I don’t have an amazon link because all too often you will get a fake cable so get it from Brush Beater! To use the cable, you will need a FREE software called Chirp. Just google it and watch YouTube videos on how to do it. It isn’t hard I promise!
PC03 Programming Cable (brushbeater.store)
Extras
SMA Female to BNC Female Adaptor: This adaptor goes directly onto the radio so that it can take BNC style connectors. This gives you greater flexibility on the types of antennas you can use with the Baofeng. I’ll link some of them next.
SMA Female to BNC Female Adapter 2 Pack (brushbeater.store)
BNC Gooseneck Antenna: This antenna improves the performance of any of the radios that I previously listed. It is also flexible so if it hits something hard it will fold out of the way to help protect the radio. Highly useful upgrade item!
BNC Gooseneck Antenna (brushbeater.store)
Stubby Antenna: This “upgrade” drastically limits the effective range your radio. Why would you want that? Maybe you only want folks that are close to you to hear you and not those who are a bit further away!
BNC VHF/UHF Stubby Silicone Antenna (brushbeater.store)
K1 Data Cable: This cable will link the radio to an Android Tablet. This gives you the ability to send digital data bursts over the analog radio signal. This is useful to take a lot of information and send it much quicker than if you had to say it all out loud while the receiver had to copy it all down. Any of the cheap ONN brand tablets from Walmart will work. I have the 8” version since it had a little more battery life than the 7”. The book has all the information that you need to be able to make the cable link the radio and tablet.
K1 Data Interface Cable (brushbeater.store)
Cobra Head BNC Female: This little piece will allow you to build your own antenna. You can build a jungle antenna or a dipole antenna. How to build the jungle antenna is covered in the book. Its easy to do and will get you quite a bit more range out of your radios.
Split Post Adapter (Cobra Head), BNC Female, 2 Pack (brushbeater.store)
BNC RG58 Coax Cable: If you build the jungle antenna, or any other type using the cobra head then you will need the coax to connect the radio to the antenna. The jungle antenna for instance will be up high in a tree so this coax bridges the gap for you. You will also need the SMA to BNC adaptor listed earlier.
BNC RG-58 Coax Cable, 25ft (brushbeater.store)
QYT CB58: This is a handheld CB that can work on both AM and FM. Most CB’s only do AM, so you get some obscurity by changing the modulation type. It also will accept the K1 Data cable and any other Baofeng accessory that plugs into the mic jack. You can also hook this radio up a homemade antenna using the cobra head and RG58 coax for even better range! As a bonus you can talk to truckers if you want!
BNC Long whip antenna: This antenna is much better than the stock one that comes with the CB-58 and will gain you some range.
BNC CB Long Whip Antenna (brushbeater.store)
Advanced Setups
US Special Forces Handbook: This book takes antenna theory and builds to another level while still being written for the common man and not HAM Geek. The Guerillas Guide to the Baofeng Radio is a must but this one will gain you quite a bit more knowledge in antennas to aid you.
US Special Forces Antenna Handbook Large Print Version (brushbeater.store)
ABBREE DM-F8 DMR: This is an affordable entry into the area of digital mobile radio or DMR. The ability exists to add encryption to this radio. While encryption is the current radio buzz word don’t think that state actors can’t break it. However, if you read the book, you will learn techniques to hide your transmissions.
ABBREE DM-F8 Digital Mobile Radio (brushbeater.store)
Xeigu G-90 HF Radio: This is the most affordable way that you can get into the high frequency or HF radio game. HF is where you get out of the “line of sight” communications and into regional or even global comms. It will give you 20 Watts of power and can be used with all the popular modes including voice, digital, and Morse Code. Built into the unit is an antenna tuner, which is absolutely needed for HF unless you build the antenna to match the frequency that you are using. You will need a 12-volt battery or power supply to run this unit. Sized to be portable, but still a little bit heavy.
Xiegu G90 HF Radio (brushbeater.store)
Xeigu X-6100 HF Radio: This radio will do what the G-90 will but has a built-in battery that will allow it to run 5 watts of power. If you have an external 12-volt battery or power supply for it, you can get 10 watts of power. This unit is smaller and lighter than the G-90 making it much better for placing in a pack and carrying with you. Great for field use!
Xiegu X6100 (brushbeater.store)
ADL-1 One Time Pad Printer: I threw this in here just for information purposes. The OTP creates and prints a pad that when used only once is completely unbreakable. This will encrypt any message that you send as long as the sender and receiver have the codex to both code then un-code the message. It is pricey, but if your life depended on it…..
ADL-1 One Time Pad Printer (brushbeater.store)
This is a lot of gear and information to go over at once. If I can simplify it for you, just start by getting the book and reading it. If it piques your interest, then get a radio and some accessories from the Brush Beater Store. Also the training offered by BB is money well spent!
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About the Author: Patriotman
GUNS N GEAR
