i really like this resource! thank you for calling our attention to it, @maiki!
one question i still have is… what is the difference between “CB” (citizens’ band) and “amateur radio” (ham radio)? is one a subset of the other?
i’m interested in learning more about the concept listed at the end of awesome-radio, “trunking.”
Trunking
While not strictly specific to public health and safety, it is usually the first thing that comes to mind when talking about trunked radio.
Trunked radio is a form of digital-two-way communication where multiple organizations can share a small spectrum of real frequencies without hearing another organizations conversations. A user can choose a logical channel or group and the base station will find an empty frequency to transmit on.
i butted into a conversation i overheard at DWeb Camp because someone was saying they wanted to set up radios next year. i told them i just got my technician’s license and needed My First Radio help. they recommended this specific model: Tri-Band Yaesu VX-6R Submersible Amateur Ham Radio Transceiver (144/222/440) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ESEW6C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QjGpDbT9T8FN5
note to self: find another supplier. they and i both are sorry that for now the link is an amazon link. it was the most convenient way for them to look up the specific model.
they said they take it backpacking.
unfortunately it’s $263. looks cool though, smaller than i thought, and … submersible?
Despite not knowing much about radio, I spent some time learning about trunking. I don’t have anything to share, just that a “talkgroup” is a kind of grouping in a trunk system.
A talkgroup is an assigned group on a trunked radio system. Unlike a conventional radio which assigns users a certain frequency, a trunk system takes a number of frequencies allocated to the system. Then the control channel coordinates the system so talkgroups can share these frequencies seamlessly. The purpose is to dramatically increase bandwidth. Many radios today treat talkgroups as if they were frequencies, since they behave like such. For example, on a radio scanner it is very common to be able to assign talkgroups into banks or lock them out, exactly like that of conventional frequencies.
It was this explanation (along with BART iconography) that made me land on this domain name. We bring in individual, distinct frequencies, and coordinate them into new conceptual channels, talkgroups. For anything, x, y, or z.
That’s kinda cool unless I didn’t want my full name out there, but I have it out there on many other websites so I guess I’m cool with it. I think some sites have my old address too sadly. The FCC also carries my address. Fortunately it’s out of date and if I update it, I’ll use a business address. lol.
Here’s another site, radioreference dot com, where you can find me in a list of all operators in my (old) zip code:
That’s cool! Coming up on my list is to look at radio tech. Since we rarely travel, and live on a hill, I was hoping to turn off general cell service and use walkie-talkies/radios (separately and combined) to communicate with folks around us. As part of building a resilient network.
