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How to use radio/radio modems to communicate with random people? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by Quintus@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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You know how sometimes in a show or a movie there is a character that has a "radio friend" that they talk to? Yeah that's what I want to do.

But I do not know how to so I came to ask you! Cheap, preferably.

Out of curiosity, I found this app on IzzyOnDroid, (which gave me the idea in the first place) Codec2Talkie that seems to be what I'm looking for but I'm unsure due to my ignorance.

A radio modem seems to be required as the app description dictates. I can find one somewhere no issue. But is this the correct approach? Is there a better way that I don't know of?

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[–] vk6flab@lemmy.radio 8 points 1 month ago

There are at least three legal ways to do this. CB radio, ISM frequencies and amateur radio. I say legal because the radio spectrum is heavily regulated because every transmitter affects everyone else to more or lesser extent.

You can buy CB or ISM band radios and get started.

Amateur radio is a better option in my opinion. There are many more frequencies to experiment with, people who can help and people to talk to.

Amateur licensing is different in each country, but an introductory licence is often no more than a weekend course and exam. I know of nine year olds who have done this. It's not hard. No Morse code required either.

With such a licence in hand you can use things like JS8Call, CODEC2, Olivia, WSPR and hundreds of other protocols to communicate using just a radio and a computer.

Disclaimer: I'm a licensed amateur in Australia and have been since 2010. I hold an introductory licence, here it's called a Foundation licence, and have been having an absolute blast with all that I can do.

If you have specific questions, don't hesitate to ask.