Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by throwaway21816 3770 days ago
Or you could buy a $20 baofeng and just yell "WHERE YOU AT?" via FRS
1 comments

Using a Baofeng radio on the FRS band is illegal. Transmission on the FRS band is limited to 500 milliwatts using FCC-approved devices only. Baofeng radios are not approved and can transmit at up to 5 watts.

However, if you get an Amateur Radio license, you can transmit in the 2 meter and 70cm bands at full power, legally, using your Baofeng radio.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-meter_band

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/70-centimeter_band

http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed

Yes, it's illegal. So is going 5 mph over the speed limit.
It's illegal for a good reason. You may prevent emergency communication with others using licensed equipment. Incorrect use of the radio can also cause interference outside of the FRS band entirely. (Particularly with the Baofengs, which have poor/no output filtering and often cause "splatter" tens of kilohertz off the frequency you think you are transmitting on.)