circuitfarmer

It is a misconception that you cannot do encryption with ham radio.

Affordability – looks like a wash to me.

Ease of access – maybe. But it generally does less, so it’s a tradeoff.

The G90 is a much, much better radio.

I’m not trying to drag anything down. But I think it is important for many people to realize that the meshtastic is ultimately a ham device. It is using specific parts of the spectrum and reduced power to avoid needing the license. There’s nothing wrong with that, but by definition, it isn’t really adding anything that can’t also be done on ham. In a similar vein, the only direction to go in terms of enhancing its capabilities is further into ham.

And no, I didn’t spend a bunch of time doing anything. People vastly overestimate the complexity of the ham radio exams.

But by all means, use what you want to communicate. I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from it – I just think it’s important that they know the limitations of the device compared to the greater whole in which it exists.

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It allows for worldwide comms, even in situations where entire infrastructures cease to exist. This is especially useful for emergency situations.

There are many, many digital modes on ham radio. The encryption question is one of legality – not capability. But the short answer is yes, you can do various things with data on ham radio.

I guess it’s a question of the level of disaster / political strife / etc which causes the internet to no longer be usable.

Edit: worth noting that mesh is effectively a kind of ham radio device, which uses some ham spectra and can be subject to the same rules about encryption (it is specifically illegal in the US to use “messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning”, FCC Title 47 Section 97.113). Digital signing, for example, does not violate this.

The only reason you don’t need a license for mesh is because it is using specific, reduced power transmissions and specific parts of the spectra. Adjusting these settings beyond the acceptable range (e.g. boosting output power) would mean you need a license just like any other ham device.

Here’s an example of intercepting and transmitting mesh content using an off-the-shelf ham radio SDR.

Radtel RT-880 comes to mind. Baofeng-level handheld capable of HF comms. I got one for ~$50.

Could be. I expect the commenter would clarify.

I expect they also used ham. It’s just a numbers game. Mesh doesn’t have them in comparison.

I’d love to know where a ham test is difficult.

Which “people”?

But it just isn’t. Why not put those resources towards ham, where there are considerably more handsets already there?

This seems like a solution in search of a problem thay was already solved, hidden by people who don’t want a $10 license.

Good on you for using one to bolster the other! Smart use of the tech either way.

Now that I like. And I think there is room for both – IF people know and understand the differences.

Mesh against ham in an emergency is not even a competition, in my view. The numbers just aren’t there. But for random cellular failures etc, I see some utility.

Personally, I’ve just seen so much more about mesh lately than ham, and it makes me sad. If it’s a gateway, as you suggest, then great. I worry that people see it as a novelty and not a gateway.

But in a “the internet is out” situation? Or even a “please evacuate in a calm and orderly fashion” for a wildfire or a bad hurricane? That is where meshtastic (et al) shine and it is well worth convincing friends to pick up a t-deck or whatever. Excellent for the “is it out for everyone or just me?” checks. Also useful for letting people know which field can see a cell tower a county or two over for emergency communication or to even coordinate whether you are all gonna head North or South to hang out for (hopefully just) a few days.

Disagree. Ham is better here, for the reasons I already mentioned.

I’ll also add on that it is useful to be able to practice and get familiar with a tool without risking a fine.

You don’t risk a fine if you get the license first. The test is not difficult and costs something like $10.

I wish you put more energy towards reading the comments you are replying to

I put in the appropriate amount of energy for the quality of the comment (and the rudeness of the response – be better).

I think many people are unaware that you don’t need Morse anymore tbh. This makes the license extremely easy to get, but the knowledge you can get from ham radio is off the charts.

FYI, it’s not HAM (not an acronym)-- just ham. Named because the people fucking around with radios were “hamming it up”, back in the day.

Out of curiosity: where do you live where listening on ham requires a license?

In the US and other countries I am aware of, listening is allowed without a license (how would one even enforce such a thing?). In fact, you can even transmit on a ham radio in the US without a license provided there is an immediate risk to life or property.

HF handhelds do exist. Do they have the range of a dedicated HF rig? No. Better than a Baofeng? Yes, and they’re about $10 more.

Licensing means nothing in an emergency situation. I never understand why it is even mentioned in these arguments. In fact, even if the world isn’t ending, you can ALWAYS use a ham radio in an emergency with or without a license (defined by the FCC as immediate dangers to life or property).

More importantly, there are at least an order of magnitude more ham radios out there than mesh devices. It isn’t even close. If the world ends, find a ham radio. Ideally you will know what to do with it when the time comes.

I wish this energy was just put towards promoting ham, tbh.

I’ll say what I just said on a similar thread: if the internet goes down tomorrow, mesh will mean very little compared to ham radio.

Any quality transceiver built in the last 100 years will be more useful. It is purely about how many exist, how long they last, and their requirements for use (which are effectively, power and antenna).

Yes, there is a license that you need in non-emergency situations. It doesn’t change much anything in emergency situations, and it certainly doesn’t affect the fact that there are already millions of radios out there.

I certainly wouldn’t throw away a mesh if the world was ending – I’d set it on the desk while finding contacts on HF (=world band) using a ham radio. My chances of contact there are at least an order of magnitude better.