OK, I know we all like to boast here about our /v\otorola APX & XTS radios with DES-XL or AES, etc. BUT for those of you who are looking for radios that have the combination of being fairly cheap, easy to program, and have decent range, I've now come across a relatively new series/type of radio that I (despite also having plenty of "better" radios, my ham & GMRS licenses, etc.) think are perfect for comms during UE.

/v\otorola DLR series (currently the two-channel DLR1020 & 6-channel DLR1060) can be found on eBay for about $50-70 apiece (if you have to ditch it or lose it during an exploit, the harassment isn't as bad as it'll be if you lose/break the APX7000 you carry as a status symbol). They're relatively study & compact. very easy to program, and because they use digital 900MHz frequency hopping spread-spectrum, if programmed right (don't use the default 0000 security code), they're quite secure from anyone being able to tune-in your conversations. They're very similar to the /v\otorola DTR-series radios, yet a lot less expensive & easier to program.

As for range, it depends on several factors. A cool thing is when you key-up to talk, it sends a quick handshake request out to the other radio(s) set to the same security code & channel, and if it can't connect to them because they are out of range, turned-off, on a different channel, etc. you'll get a 'bonk' noise, which lets you know you can't talk to them at the moment. I live in a fairly densely populated suburban subdivision -- houses are only about 10' apart, and most have cinderblock walls around their back yards. I left one of my DLR1060 radios sitting inside my living room on a table (standing-up, for vertical polarization...) & took the other with me when taking one of the dogs out for a walk. I'd key my radio up occasionally, knowing that if I didn't get the 'bonk,' then I was successfuly reaching the DLR1060 inside my house. I got about 2/3rd mile away (measured by GPS) before I would start to get the bonks. LOS distance-wise, that wasn't great, but keep in-mind I was on level terrain, so the reality is that radio signal was penetrating through probably over a dozen houses & cinderblock walls to then be received by the DLR1060 in my house.

I've not tried open-space or car/car on level terrain yet, but years ago when I tested two DTR650s in the desert, I got 9 miles LOS loud & clear, and 10 miles
LOS gave about 75% copy. I don't think the DLR series will give that range -- the DLRs have better antennas if nothing else, but for small facilities or warehouse type structures with a lot of open-space, I'll leave my APX, XPR, XTSs, Baofengs, Wouxuns, Yaesu VX-8, AnyTone 878, & DTRs at home & use my DLR1060s to communicate with UE teammates. For those of you that already have DTRs (which up-until I discovered the DLRs, were my first choice for covert UE comms with others), there is some comms compatibility between a DTR & DLR.


https://www.youtub...atch?v=myLKQZdRVYk
https://www.motoro...digital-radio.html

/-/ooligan

Been using $50 Chinese TYT radios with encryption for a few years now with no complaints.

It's technically illegal to use encryption on ham radio in the US, but who's watching and who cares?

Edit:

When you really think about it, unless you're regularly hitting high-risk locations and plastering pics and video all over the internet, you're not on the radar for law enforcement or security.

Most people that get busted are target of opportunity or they did something stupid that got the attention of the police.

Aircraft carriers are called bomb magnets for a reason.