The BEST VHF/UHF Android For HAM RADIO - Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra

[@jeremyturner4327]

Nice you have my repeaters on your list I am the keeper of GB7JT 😊

[@johnk8091]

I am a longtime Ulefone owner, I have 4 or 5 models. That port on the side is on many of their models - you can connect an Ulefone microscope to it for small SMD PCB work or you can use it to connect the Ulefone Endoscope - for looking down drain pipes, inside car engines etc

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Thanks! Yep, I found it on the website after making the video. Thank you.

[@Sinnn777]

I am on my third ulefone armour. Been able to get 2.5/3 years out of them. Where I would smash a normal smart.phone inside 12 months

[@clewisit]

Thanks for making this video review. It's nice to see this phone reviewed by an actual Amateur Radio enthusiast, instead of just as a phone.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

you're welcome :-) Thanks for watching.

[@W6IWN_Radio]

This is how HT radios will be in the next 5 years... Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

[@ZiggleFingers]

Ladies will see this and think, ‘Wow, this guy is serious about his long-distance relationships!’" 💔📡

[@TechMindsOfficial]

I highly doubt that this phone will improve my Rizzing results... Most likely have a negative effect. lol..

[@frequencywatchers]

Ha ha ha. My Flip 6 Galaxy With Rtl.Sdr And Antenna Is Impressing Woman , This Phone Would Take It To The Next Level. ​@@TechMindsOfficial

[@drright71]

I really really really want to know if it will APRS / Winlink over the radio. Would also love to see the power output.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Technically its possible, but without an SDK or information on how to communicate with the onboard transceiver it will be near off impossible. Hence why I said in the video we could all collectively pressure ulefone to release some kind of documentation for developers.

[@drright71]

@@TechMindsOfficial ulefone and VGC both. So freaking close to the right direction for modern radio.

[@kaossimon]

Wow great looking bit of kit Matt

[@BrianG61UK]

Important question not answered: For how long will it receive Android security updates?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh! Nice find Matt!

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Thanks dude! :-)

[@frankdirksmeier6799]

Thank you very much for sharing. Did you try it on repeaters? Is there a the chance to use the 1750hz tone? Cheers from a jolly warm Germany

[@aaronl2794]

Pretty cool. Definitely in the running for a handheld for me. A bit concerned about Android updates and repairability once the battery takes a dump or the screen starts dimming. What's the spare parts situation for these?

[@clewisit]

Ulefone tends to have spare parts available on AliExpress, but not all parts. I haven't checked to see if any parts are available for the 26 Ultra yet.

[@heitorvrb]

Phone with internal LoRa module when??

[@definty]

One day they will have a rtl sdr built inside. That's when i might get one

[@trpwireless]

Facts!

[@RESISTAGE]

Please make a video how to see phones outgoing calls/radio wave reception on Spectrum Analyzer.

[@pyreneesfarm7818]

Is there ay indication they will make one for the American market, with a US type plug. I did see the USB-C, that may be way to make it work, not knowing if unit voltage may or may not be 5Vdc I would like to see it with a 220 band as well YES. I want champagne on a soda pop budget, lol

[@jamesbertram7118]

The radio only seems to have colour codes 1-3 so very limited for DMR use. Is there anyway we can have this changed so you can run with all colour codes?

[@FlinFarmer]

Looks interesting. Can you run apps like APRS or vara into the internal radio

[@drright71]

Until VARA is available for Android/iOS, no. I consider it a dead protocol until it is.

[@MarioVe2]

Thanks, Great Intro !

[@fotografm]

The accessory connector on the side is to mount an endoscope camera for inspecting difficult places. The connector is secured with a screw. Does this device also allow normal analogue FM on 2m/70cm/PMR446 ?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

@@fotografm yep

[@luckybeanzphoto]

I've been looking for something like this for ages. I'd like to use it on a sailboat as a backup handheld VHF radio. Would this work? Audio would it be able to support AIS?

[@N9KGC]

Nice ! Great video 👍👍

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Thank you 👍

[@ON3PLZ]

I wonder how well it does against the Rfinder and what Android OS is it running?

[@clewisit]

This phone runs Android 13. As far as how it stacks up against the RFinder, as mentioned the Interphone app is fairly basic. RFinder is much more mature and offers many more features. What we really need is an open source app for walkie talkie phones.

[@Yugo-CA]

I have the 3 B1's and im not impressed as far as battery life that sucks (might be upgrading to the extended size batt). BUT Bob (the owner) is amazing, theres many people working on the app to make it better all the time. Also I have the Armor 24 which has a huge screen and way better OS than the Rfinder (though the new B1+ has an upgraded OS still not 13 though). This phone is basically a armor 24 minus smaller battery and has the radio built in. I think im gonna buy one. Also the SDR potential is a game changer instead of running a tablet or PC If Ulefone listens and opens the app for nerds to tweak this phone could be amazing.

[@ON3PLZ]

@@Yugo-CA I have a B1+ and I would never use it as my main phone. Still at Android 9 with security patch 08-2022. The battery is poor and I looked at reverting back to a version that did not have the Satellite features, but they recently announced that their old infrastructure would retired and we had to use the latest version of the OS. Now i am finding myself using Linkpoon more than the Rfinder..

[@Yugo-CA]

@@ON3PLZ yeah bob kinda messed up he should have focussed on the radio part and made the phone part super basic with the latest OS. I carried the B1 for a couple years as my primary phone and it was ok but started slowing down having to delete most apps. Thats why this Ulefone is on my radar.

[@mike95826]

Will this act as the gateway between ip (internet) POC applications like Zello and the VHF/UHF radio transceiver?

[@welshbikepackingadventures]

Bloody lovely!!

[@josesnyder840]

I kind of guessed this was gonna be a $500 device, wasn't wrong Lol

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Cheaper than an RF Finder though :)

[@PaulTaylor1]

​@@TechMindsOfficialmuch cheaper, yes. But for the price I'd like to know how many Android upgrades I can expect before they get bored. 🙂

[@steveblanchard7293]

@@PaulTaylor1 Android 13 is 2 yrs old and Android is normally supported for 2 years.

[@frequencywatchers]

SDR++ Is What I Usally Use In My Android Devices With Rtl.Sdr V3 & Samsung Galaxy Flip 6 . Works Real Great, I Have Some Videos Upon My Channel If You Are Interrsting, But This Phone Looks Really Cool.

[@K5JHP-John]

This is very cool!

[@x_CrossHair_x]

Slick.. But.. FYI The (Radio Pictured) on your Second Provided Product link (Says it's the Ulefone Armor 26 Ultra) But does not look to have the VHF / UHF Antennas.. (So.. Personally I'm Confused) if it's the Correct Product.. (Not sure) if ordered would get the Correct Radio..

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Two links, one with walkie talkie and one without.

[@x_CrossHair_x]

@@TechMindsOfficial Undoubtedly different.. Should not be Named / Titled the same "Ultra" Version..

[@kwskfm]

Comes with vhf/ uhf ant

[@edkemp6287]

if only they built in the rtl sdr chipset

[@GiantSequoiaNation]

This is wayyyy cheaper than i thought it would be, based on specs.

[@AaronsLyfe]

Well I checked the specs and does not look good for US users... *Not compatible with AT&T, Cricket, Sprint,Verizon, Boost Mobile So no data will be able to be used via most US cell networks

[@nine7295]

That's very important to know for those of us in North America

[@TechMindsOfficial]

@AaronsLyfe Not entirely sure where you are getting your information from but it's not correct. The specification page on the official website says this: Supports the following carriers' 5G networks: North America: Canada Rogers Wireless,Bell Mobility,Telus,Videotron,Koodo,Public Mobile,Freedom Mobile,Virgin Plus Mobile United States Sprint, T-Mobile，C spire，AT&T，Google Fi，U.S. Cellular，Verizon Wireless，Cricket Wireless，GCI Wireless

[@AaronsLyfe]

@@TechMindsOfficial I literally copied it from the Network block of the specs off the Banggood link above

[@tiz80fan]

@@TechMindsOfficial I think he is referring to the description on the banggood link you provided in the video description. His comment is a direct quote from the 'Network' section on the banggood page. Would be awesome if you can test that the phone works on US carriers. Looking at the video, it doesn't look like you had a sim inserted at any point.

[@Yugo-CA]

also this feels like the problem we had with Rfinder. some people had to activate their ATT cards with another phone and then put it in the B1 and it worked.

[@RookieLock]

Have you seen the Comjot cj-1? It looks quite promising.. Open source.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Briefly, but don't know much about it yet. I might take a look, thanks

[@hudefuk]

If they made a simpler, cheaper GMRS version they would sell like hot cakes.

[@gearjunkie3402]

It should work with GMRS. I have the 20WT version, and it does it all.

[@iainanderson6558]

any reason it wouldn't take a dual band antenna, seems better option

[@TechMindsOfficial]

It would be the case of finding one that has the right connector on it, but it should work yes.

[@Yugo-CA]

@@TechMindsOfficial the antenna is not a standard SMA?

[@Driekes10]

What’s the name of the Zello like app? Link.. and then?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Hmmmm.... All info in the video etc etc etc

[@Driekes10]

Thats not what I’m asking. Again another half info video?

[@the80hdgaming]

I own the UleFone Armor 20wt... Maybe it's time to upgrade...

[@frankdirksmeier6799]

Do u use it on fm repeaters?

[@the80hdgaming]

@@frankdirksmeier6799 no UHF repeaters in my area... The 20wt is UHF only...

[@LexAtari]

What is the type of Encryption option in DMR mode? Is it possible to link this phone with Hytera or Motorola radios in this basic privacy or extended privacy (AES)?

[@Spookieham]

Encryption in any form is illegal in Amateur radio. Encoding is not as long as it can be easily decoded

[@spraitukas]

​@@Spookiehamquick! Run and tell the cops

[@Yugo-CA]

​@@spraitukas "some people" LOL

[@Yugo-CA]

@@Spookieham not encryption but you can use rattle gram for a little more security. Add in a onetime pad and youre golden.

[@mikewillis1592]

No thermal imaging? No way!

[@TechMindsOfficial]

finally right! :-)

[@spraitukas]

The most useful feature of these type of phones. Everything else is gimmicky enough to not be practical. Way better build quality than CAT though

[@spitzertobias7973]

Does it have ctcss?

[@1911dido]

yes. wave, ctcsss, forward dcs, backward dcs

[@vicrod74]

Why no love for us Apple fan boys?? 😂😂😂

[@TechMindsOfficial]

I with you on that! However, can you image Apple making a product with a transceiver in it! Now that would be awesome right...

[@vicrod74]

@@TechMindsOfficial definitely. If same company can do the same for Apple since they have already done the groundwork.

[@superpieton]

550€ for this. That's a joke.

[@videodude8137]

The cameras capture digital video and images. No film, no footage.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

I think its an effin given that this does not take film....

[@eagleeyex2939]

1st please send me as gift please please please 🙏

[@arthurtwoshedsjackson6266]

I’ll dig it out of the cat litter box for you. Are you QTHR?

[@boweandrew3]

Wow amazing AB9EW

[@gregoryaisemberg2712]

A bit too expensive for me.