Off-Grid Voice, Texting, and GPS Locations Sharing with the Motorola T800 Series Radios

[@user-jt5vm3mi1w]

That tree idea is really neat

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Works well! I've been doing it a lot with the VGC VR-N76.

[@EpiclyReckless]

I've programmed repaired and installed tons of Motorola repeaters and portables. Digital and Analog. I love them. Never this one though. Very cool features!

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Nice! They make good stuff. I also have an XTS 2500, that thing is a tank!

[@juliogonzo2718]

Moto gets er done.

[@craftymaster]

The review of the actual radio in the title starts @ 4:41

[@Foremi]

The GMRS-Pro is an awesome radio. I use one for trail riding and over landing, it's nice that if needed we have them broadcast the gps location, but them being able to connect to a bluetooth helmet headset and work pretty much flawlessly is the real value in it. It's cheaper, but far superior to something like a packtalk. The learning curve is a thing though...

[@423tech]

You must live REALLY close to me because I was NOT prepared for you to show an APRS map of Cleveland LOL

[@bulldogbrower6732]

This is an excellent presentation. Motorola should be paying you. Good radio for FRS. I went with the BTech GMRS Pro which does the same thing but with more power and removable antennas. I have the ham version, BTech UV Pro ordered. I understand that by transmitting on the GMRS frequencies I can share location and text messages between radios. Im hoping to use the Vero VGC 7600 as a base unit with a real antenna that I can hoist up high to monitor all radios in the field. I hope that in the future somebody makes a base with a rechargeable battery to work in my tent and display the map.. Thanks for a top notch review.

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Thanks! Send them an email and tell them they should send me a check, haha 🙂🙂 The GMRS-PRO and UV-PRO are great radios! You won't be disappointed in either one. I'm working on a review of the GMRS-PRO as we speak so be sure to keep an eye out for that! A base with a rechargeable battery would be great. I love my Icom 705, but it's expensive and it would be great to see some similar cheaper options.

[@One-Eyed-Willly]

pretty bad ass. More features then some ham radios

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Pretty impressive for sure! Especially for just being FRS.

[@bryanhunwardsen]

@The_Comms_Channel would you kindly clarify, re: the compatibility discussion from 9min->9:30 that the feature not available on the old models is "only" using the cell mic/speaker/touchscreen for PTT. Its seems that is what you are saying but its not quite clear I have it right. (Understanding all other App features have parity save for the fact that the old and new models are on incompatible protocols. Thx

[@The_Comms_Channel]

@@bryanhunwardsen sure thing! That is correct. The older models have the texting, location sharing, radio control features. Just no ability to use your phone as a speaker/mic and PTT like the newer generation. And the different data transmission protocols making the data transmission between the older and newer generations not possible

[@deepbludude4697]

Nice upload looking at GMS for comms with a buddy that lives 8 miles away in the Ozarks!

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Stay tuned for the GMRS-PRO video!

[@helloimtim]

@@The_Comms_Channel My biggest issue in the ozarks is even making it 3 miles due to the massive thick amount of hills and trees

[@pen25]

@@helloimtim this is where repeaters come into play.

[@fshieldsii]

If Motorola won't issue a firmware update to upgrade the 800-series to the new protocol, then why would I buy their new models? Looks cool, but I don't want to get stuck with a useless device in a year or two when they abandon their old customers again!

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Could be hardware differences. Also, the devices don't become useless. I have the older generation models and they continue to work just fine with each other. Just not compatible with the newer generation.

[@CatholicFireman]

You're the Man! Thanks brother!

[@robcollins7680]

Would this be a great solution for a large group to stay in touch with each other while at a large event?

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Yep, these could work well for that depending on how large the event is and how far away from each other you'd be. As long as you're within around 2 miles or so you should be fine. Maybe more depending on the terrain.

[@jointercz]

That is all nice. In EU we have only PMR which as far as I know does not have any features like that. And nothing like GMRS.

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Not super familiar with PMR but I'm not not sure if data transmissions like this are allowed. Digital voice with DMR is allowed, which is cool and something not allowed on the US FRS/GMRS frequencies. I know some DMR radios can send text messages, so maybe that would work 🙂

[@jplacido9999]

It is not PMR (that would be business band). It is pmr446.

[@jointercz]

@@The_Comms_Channel That would be dPMR (446 MHz), aka DMR Tier 1. I have two Maas 130-D where each was about 80 USD. However Tier 1 is basic and do not have features like those T800, the better Tier 2 is for licensed bands only I think. The GMRS seems nice, there is nothing in EU like that. It must be nice because you do not need the full HAM license for it and the range must be superb. Never got time to do the HAM license, maybe when I am old...

[@craftedcores]

Is this a Meshtastic killer or totally different?

[@Subgunman]

Totally different, uses a Motorola proprietary digital format to deliver messages.

[@The_Comms_Channel]

These are a bit different and don't have mesh capabilities. Meshtastic is currently more for tinkerers and doesn't have voice capabilities, so this is a good alternative for those who want something that you can just pick up and use and have voice comms capabilities.

[@briankendall1978]

I was wondering, does the app limit how fast you can send multiple messages? I was thinking fcc rules on messaging on frs were that you can only send once per minute or something like that.

[@The_Comms_Channel]

It does. The FCC has a limit of one data transmission every 30 seconds and the app accounts for that

[@briankendall1978]

@@The_Comms_Channel that would not be too limiting. Just enough time to think about what you want to reply and check your spelling.

[@wehooper4]

Sounds like I need to send you one of my tree nodes...

[@cynic13]

Need that new Btech video stat

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Coming soon!

[@notreal5311]

Do they have a GMRS equivalent of this radio? Something dumbed down to this level of performance with the ability to use GMRS power and abilities etc?

[@The_Comms_Channel]

As far as having the texting and gps sharing, I believe the only radio out there is the BTECH GMRS-PRO. If you aren't worried about those features, Baofeng has some radios that looks dumbed down and easy to use amzn.to/4eyOIMm I've not tested these myself though

[@The_Comms_Channel]

There's a number of inexpensive GMRS radios that are simple to use like these radios from Midland amzn.to/3APy1OT but they don't have the ability to transmit on repeaters. Midland does make another easy-to-use radio that is repeater capable and waterproof called the GXT67 PRO. It's a bit pricey though but high quality amzn.to/48Retqf

[@pen25]

thing to mention is getting a license isnt hard today and we should have a multi layer approach. 8 year olds get licensed and it opens the world to much longer distances.

[@The_Comms_Channel]

For sure. Got my license at 13 and will be mentioning that when we build up to Ham Radio

[@user-jt5vm3mi1w]

I have those Motorolas

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Nice little radios!

[@tvbox6955]

What is the difference between the T802 and T803? What is your overall impression of these radios?

[@The_Comms_Channel]

The radios themselves are the same other than the color. The biggest difference is the T803 radios come with the drop-in charger accessory.

[@The_Comms_Channel]

The radios are built well and work well. The app is super easy to use and much more polished than the app the GMRS-PRO uses. Overall, I personally prefer the BTECH GMRS-PRO, but that is a much more expensive and a bit more complex radio. For those on a budget or aren't radio nerds like me that don't mind more complexity, these Motorolas are a great alternative with texting and GPS location sharing capability.

[@HotMicSystems]

First! Look at reticulum!

[@CatholicFireman]

I know the point of this is license free, but I'd love to see this same tech in a 2 meter / 440 ham radio. Would be amazing!

[@The_Comms_Channel]

You're in luck! kzbin.info/www/bejne/ap60ppathJ15gLc

[@CatholicFireman]

Thanks Brother!

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Sure thing!

[@pen25]

the great thing about amateur radio is it is all open. nothing closed or proprietary. a cheap baofeng and a k1 cable and a cellphone or tablet with a phono plug will give you all of this. and you can pretty much do this with any radio.

[@ninja5672]

too bad they are not waterproof and don't charge by USB-C.

[@The_Comms_Channel]

They're IP54 water resistant and the newer generation T802 & T803 radios have USB-C

[@egillis214]

Every goober with a radio from WalMart is also on FRS... SHTF try a Motorola DTR ISM band with FHSS, digital voice and text messaging as well as secure private groups. 😮

[@The_Comms_Channel]

Not everything is SHTF that needs secure private groups. I have those Motorola DTR radios as well. Motorola DTR Cons: Limited to 1 watt ISM band is 902 - 928 MHz which is terrible in rural areas Text messaging is laughable... No real text messaging capability - just canned messages

[@Subgunman]

What’s the deal? Most of the Chinese radios are capable of APRS ON OTHER FREQUENCIES! So if you go with a GMRS radio and use a Chinese radio for APRS one can also find power amplifiers for portable that take 5 watts in and output can be up to 40 watts. The only limit is that there are no other gateway repeaters to relay your message so range will be limited unless you can setup small APRS radios that can act as data repeaters for APRS. Don’t even bother using OR trying to use a FRS radio. The antennas are non removable and trying to modify the radio to use an external connector can result in burning out the transmitter of the radio since the built in antenna has been designed to work with that radio.

[@The_Comms_Channel]

APRS is a ham radio protocol and only works with ham radio call signs. Unlike ham radio frequencies, GMRS/FRS frequencies have a time limit on how often data is transmitted, which these radios account for. This video is meant more for people who are on a budget and want an easy to use radio and don't want to mess with getting a license. As mentioned in the video, we'll be doing a video on the GMRS-Pro for those willing to spend more on the radio+license

[@Subgunman]

@@The_Comms_Channel interesting, while experimenting with my APRS equipment I programmed 4 ones into the call sign position and fed the transmitted signal into a dummy load while setting deviation levels. The other radio on the bench decoded the 1111 call sign. From what I gather using the version I had in the past it made no difference what call was placed into the program. The main issue remains for wide area coverage one would have to place repeater nodes wherever on wanted coverage and those nodes must be capable of reaching another node in the coverage area. I am running P25 in my mobiles and they can transmit 9600 baud data so I can text others in the group who have iP set up in their XTL MOBILES. Now I use the same radios for business comms and can transmit info to other mobiles in the fleet or base. DMR we consider the poor man’s P25 and can be a little easier to configure than P25.

[@The_Comms_Channel]

It can depend on the software being used and radio. APRSdroid and I believe Pinpoint for example won't allow you to put in a GMRS call sign because it's too long. As far as digipeaters and DMR/P25 go, this is all ham radio stuff that goes beyond the scope of this video and isn't allowed on FRS/GMRS. We'll be getting into that stuff as the videos progress past GMRS but the audience for this video was meant for users looking for inexpensive radios with a 2 or so mile range (or more depending on terrain) and simplicity without needing a licence.