Ask HN: Alternatives to a cell phone for spontaneous communication

Re:Ask HN: Alternatives to a cell phone for spontaneous comm... by PaulHoule on Tuesday January 08, 2019 @07:16PM (#18861133)

For non-commercial use you and your friends can become ham radio operators.

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Re:Ask HN: Alternatives to a cell phone for spontaneous comm... by snazz on Tuesday January 08, 2019 @07:18PM (#18861148)

I do have a license, actually. I’m not sure I can convince my relatives to join in on the plan, though. It would certainly work between friends with cheap Baofeng portable radios, though the range sure isn’t cross-country.

Edit: range wouldn’t be cross country on VHF or UHF, which is what Baofengs use.

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Re:Ask HN: Alternatives to a cell phone for spontaneous comm... by ohazi on Tuesday January 08, 2019 @08:20PM (#18861492)

You could build a relay system that lets you galavant across town while sending and receiving messages between your handheld radio <-> house/apartment <-> internet.

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Re:Ask HN: Alternatives to a cell phone for spontaneous comm... by anderiv on Tuesday January 08, 2019 @08:33PM (#18861553)

You can, but not in any secret way, at least not without breaking FCC rules. Encrypted comms on Amateur radio bands aren’t permitted.

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