I’m on the road this weekend, visiting some of my old stompin’ grounds in Philadelphia and doing some other things. (So no livestream is possible today!) But I have some things I’m eager to share with you all when I get back home, involving the difficulties of having self-sufficient heat-up/cook methods while staying in higher-end hotels. It is very, very difficult because you can absolutely not create smoke.
I’m in a Marriot here in Philly, and there are probably 300 people or more staying in this hotel. The last thing on earth I can do is risk setting off the fire alarm in this building early in the morning. Can you imagine the resulting chaos that would ensue?
Instead of drinking the hotel’s terrible coffee, I want to be able to boil my own water for my own coffee that I have brought, enough water to have a cup now and to also brew plenty for my thermos for drinking throughout the day after I check out.
In preparation for this, I even brought a small, portable electric stove top that just plugs into the wall. As a backup, I have a small alcohol/pop can stove. I’ve been able to use neither one this morning. I’ve tried, and both are just too risky.
When I get home I’ll do a demonstration for everybody highlighting the problems I encountered with both things, and the ultimate solutions I arrived at.
Baofeng K63… I forgot to mention in the video that the battery has a USB-C charge port, so it can be easily recharged in the backcountry with a power bank or a solar charger. Also, the battery allows for something like 12 hours straight usage, and 22 hours monitoring.
Get yer’s here: https://a.co/d/ci7hOcA
I’ve been using AI to answer all my questions and learn these radios. Here is some of my conversations with my good ol’ buddy ‘Chatty’ George P. Tooley (some call him ChatGPT) for your benefit and so you can see where I started and how I began to learn the ins and outs.
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On your Baofeng radio screen, the two sets of numbers you see represent two different frequency channels, and here’s how they function:
Top Frequency (Display A):
• In your photo: 155.725
• This is the active transmitting/receiving frequency when you’re on “A” (upper) channel.
• It is usually the main frequency you’re using to talk or listen unless you switch to the other.
Bottom Frequency (Display B):
• In your photo: 471.665
• This is a second frequency you can monitor or switch to quickly.
• It’s handy for dual watch or dual standby — the radio can listen to both frequencies and let you know when activity occurs on either.
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Key Differences in Purpose:
Function Top Frequency (A) Bottom Frequency (B)
Primary Use Active/Selected channel Secondary or standby channel
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