Lifesaving Connections: The Power of Radio Communication

Episode 29

In this episode of The Philippe Soriano Podcast, Philippe talks with Mclaine De Guzman, a dedicated radio enthusiast, about the lasting impact of radio communication in today’s high-tech world.

They discuss how radio remains more than just a tool — it’s a vital means of connection during emergencies, disasters, and rescue missions. Mclaine shares how this enduring technology continues to unite communities, promote safety, and empower those who rely on it when it matters most.

Whether you’re into tech, community service, or simply want to understand how communication can save lives, this conversation will make you see radio in a whole new light.

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Philippe: Can the average person, let’s say me, I want to buy a UHF radio, do we need to have a license to use certain types of equipment? 

Mclaine: Yes, parang pagdadrive lang din yan eh. If you’re going to drive sa national road natin, kailangan mo ng license.

My name is Maclaindy Guzman, I am a licensed radio enthusiast. I’m holding a Class D license.

Philippe: This type of communication is old school compared to what we have right now with our phones, the iPhones, androids.

I mean, what is the difference between having this and that?

Mclaine: If there’s an earthquake or emergency, especially if the telecommunication or the communications is down.

Philippe:  Is it considered illegal? Kung halimbawa, pupulit tayo ngayon, ginamit natin within this vicinity, is that considered illegal?

Mclaine: Technically,

This transcript is machine-generated, and we apologize for any errors.

The  views  and  opinions  expressed  in  this  podcast  are  those  of  the  host  and  guests,  and  do  not  necessarily  reflect  those  of  the  producers,  network,  or  sponsors.  Listener  discretion  is  advised.

Philippe: So we know these days that communications is a vital part of our lives these days, especially at times where there is a lot of scandals going on in our government. And as today’s recording of our podcast, I invited someone who specializes in a certain type of communications. 

This is more of a last resort or backup. But then again, we’d like to welcome our guest. Please tell me who you are, what you do, and what would you like to share?

Mclaine: My name is Maclaindy Guzman. I am a licensed radio enthusiast.  I’m holding a Class D license. So there is a classification regarding the license. Parang driver’s license din, no?

So mayroong professional, there is non-professional, and there’s student. Yung Class D is pinaka-standard or basic. Yun yung pinaka-startup.

Mclaine: If you’re going into the license world pagdating sa pag-rakadyo.  So nowadays, nagiging ano na siya, matunog na rin yung communications. Even though that this has been used way back in the 80s, 90s.

Pero dahil sa mga nangyayari sa paligid natin ngayon, if the big one come or if there’s an earthquake or emergency, especially if the telecommunication or the communications as sa pag nag-down, marami ang maapektuan sa atin in terms of lalo na yung mga naka-dependent, very dependent sa cell phone. 

Mclaine: So communication, dito pumabasok siya.  In times of emergencies, even our national government, nag-re-rely sila sa two-way radio. Itong mga typhoon, bumabalik sila doon sa old era ng CB radio or HF radio, which is malalaking radio equipment siya.  

Pero since ngayon, palit na ng palit yung technology, nagiging high-tech, so pumapasok na dyan yung mga POC radio.  This actually is SIM-based. So network-dependent siya.  So affected din siya pag nag-down yung communication natin.

Philippe: Can we rewind back to that form of license? Do we need to have a license to use certain types of equipment?

Mclaine: Yes, parang pagdadrive lang din yan.  If you’re going to drive sa national road natin, kailangan mo ng license. Start ka ng student license. This one, nabanggit ko kanina, Class D yung pinaka-standard niya or startup. 

Aside doon sa pagkuha mo ng license, you need also to register your radio equipment. So parang hindi ka naman po pwedeng driver’s license lang ang dala mo. Kasi you need to register din yung equipment or yung vehicle na gagamitin.

Philippe: Just like a car. 

Mclaine: Just like a car.

Ito, i-register mo din siya. I think for portable radios, it’s ranging from P500 minimum. And then the base radio is P1,500. Base radio is yung parang mukhang kaset.

Philippe: When you say P500, P1,000, what is it? Is it the cost?

Mclaine: Yes, the cost para makipa-license.  Makapalasensyahan mo siya.

Philippe: I see.

Mclaine: And then sa license naman, you need to take up, kailangan mo muna mag-seminar before you take an exam.  So meron silang mga online seminar via Facebook or Zoom.  This is happening all over the Philippines. So by region. And then the NTCs, naglalabas sila ng listahan ng scheduling kung kailan.

Hindi siya ganun kadalas. Kaya yung ibang radio enthusiasts, inaabangan nila to.  Kasi hindi ka, parang hindi siya, basta pupunta ka doon sa, katulad ng sa LTO na pagpunta mo doon, pwede ka na pumuha. But dito naman din, meron, you go to NTC main, pero hindi siya ganun ka, I mean, correct me if I’m wrong doon sa mga talagang bihasa.

Mclaine: Pag nagpunta ka doon, hindi naman siya agad-agad, ipaprocess ka kaagad. Kasi yun nga, the first step is you need to take a seminar first before ka mag-take ng exam. So yung seminar mo, they’re going to issue a certificate.

Pag wala kang certificate, kahit magpunta ka ng NTC, mag-a-apply po ko ng license. Ay, meron ka bang seminar certificate?

Philippe:  So they won’t entertain you?

Mclaine: Yes.

Philippe: So let’s rewind back.  So the stigma kasi is, a lot of people that uses radio communications is usually used by security agencies, the army, our police force, and certain government types of security like PSG and all that.

So sa mga, for example, mga Gen Zs, they’ve never seen that. They’ve only seen that as someone, security guards. And of course, would we say that this is, this type of communication is old school compared to what we have right now with our phones, the iPhones, Androids?  

Philippe: I mean, what is the difference between having this and that?

Mclaine: Yes, very old school toto. Kasi this has been, ginagamit na nila to ever since. Pero this was, the type was, sobrang lalaki pa. Sobrang bibigat. And nga, dahil nga ngayon is, medyo high-tech na.  So they tried to, paliit na ng paliit.  

Paliit ng paliit, parami ng parami ang features. So there are certain type na stick to this band only. Sa amateur kasi, meron siyang band allocation.  It’s 144 megahertz up to 146.

Philippe:  So is this for, is that certain frequency where they can operate? Do we have to register a certain frequency? Just like TV channel?

Mclaine: Yeah, for amateur, yun nga nabanggit ko. 144 megahertz up to 146.  That is for the amateur band. 146 and above, up to 174 megahertz or even higher.  Doon na siya papasok sa commercial. So merong type na, may amateur, and then merong commercial type.

So commercial type is mostly yung mga civic na yan. Yan na pumapasok yung, doon sila, doon naka-allocate yun sa kanila. Pero sa amateur, ang dami nga kasi nagre-reclaim ang amateur. Kasi nga, sa dami-dami nila, ang late lang nung band allocation, 144, 146.  

So iba, sa dami na nagtatayo din ang mga amateur club, so yung pag-allocate, siyempre, hindi lang po pwedeng gamitin mo yung frequency dito.  Frequency lang sa kabilang region. Minsan, since nag-setup sila ng mga antena nila, so lumalakas, nasasagap nila yung…

Philippe: Ibang communications?

Mclaine: Ibang area. So anong nangyayari?  Nagkakaroon ng interference, nag-overlap sa lakas ng radio nila. Meron din kasing strict sa policy si NTC na ito lang dapat yung power output ng radio mo.

Pero since hindi naman ganun ka-strict din yung ating government, sa NTC especially, sa pagkukontrol and pagmumonitor, kaya yung iba, yun nga, nagkakaroon ng overlapping, nagkakaroon ng interference, lalo na yung mga naka-portable radio lang ang gamit nila.  

Mclaine: So natatapakan sila ng mga malalakas.  So nga, nagreklamo sila sa NTC. Sa NTC ngayon, gagawa nila ng action para magkaroon ng resolution kung parang makakagamit sila.

Philippe: Right now, because you did mention that you should have a license and there’s a certain bandwidth or frequency that you have to tune in just to be able to use this communications device.  

Ano ba yung nakikita natin sa Lazada shop, TikTok, and other shops na meron sila nag-umbenta ng mga mumurahin lang, short range, and what is the difference between that and what you have right now?  And why is the short range radio communications cheaper than what you have here?

Mclaine: Yung mga cheaper, nakikita mo sa Lazada, like the WLN, KC-51, yung mga less than 1,000.  Misan, may mga package pa na 3 for 1,000, 4 for 1,000, 4 unit na siya. So buy one, take one. So ganoon na siya kamura, pero maliit lang kasi siya.  At apos, yung nga, tama kasi sinabi mo, short range lang siya.  

So mostly UHF siya. So for commercial use, yun yung mga good gamitin sa dito, sa metro, lalo yung mga buildings. Kaya yung makikita mo sa mga security guard, usually gamit nila yung mga UHF radio kasi nga UHF, nagpe-penetrate siya sa mga buildings.

Mclaine: So pagdating sa ganito sa metro, mas advisable gamitin yung UHF, lalo yung mga nagpunta ng basement.

Philippe: Does it require na may license to operate a UHF radio? 

Mclaine: Yung sa UHF, meron din siyang band allocation sa amateur and then commercial. 430 to 440, yun, mas maliit yung band.  Pero since madalang ang gumagamit ng UHF, I’m not really sure, hindi ko naman monitor lahat sa commercial.  

Pero as per the NTC guidelines, 430 MHz to 440, yun yung naka-allocate sa amateur.  And then the rest, 430 pa baba and 440 pa taas, those are intended for commercial use. So regarding sa question mo, required ba?  Yes, required pa rin.

Mclaine: Kahit nasa UHF ka na, kung amateur ka, ang paggamit pala ng UHF, hindi na sasakop sa Class D license. So ngayon, kailangan mong mag-upgrade.  So itataas mo yung level ng, parang sa driver’s license.

If you want to drive big, mga 10-wheeler truck, so kailangan mong mag-professional na.  So same din din sa amateur club.  So kailangan mo at least Class C to operate on the UHF band.

Philippe: Okay, because it’s getting a bit technical.  So how is it hindi namamonitor na government yung mga sales sa online stores just like Lazada and Shopee?  I mean, hindi nila namamonitor yung sales of these types of, and there’s a lot of sellers.

Because anyone can buy it. Sabi mo nga, may 4 for 1,000. So is it considered illegal kung halimbawa bumili tayo ngayon, ginamit natin within this vicinity? Is that considered illegal?

Mclaine: Technically illegal, siya, if you don’t have license. 

Philippe: Okay.

Mclaine: If you’re going to follow the rules, rules are rules. No one is above the rules or no one is above the law.  Kung ito ang batas. Pero yun nga, ang question, walang masyadong manpower sa NTC to monitor yung mga gumagamit ng two-way radio. 

It’s the same thing din sa pagdadrive ng sasakyan.  Even the LTO cannot know, meron ka bang license o ano license mo. Hindi mo naman kayang i-monitor unless magkakaroon ng violation.  Kunwari sa sasakyan.  

Mclaine: Pag nagkaroon ng accident, doon lang mamonitor na, do you want to check kung may license ka ba? Ano ba ang license mo?  Ako nga ba yung license mo sa pinadrive mo? Same with sa radio.

Regarding naman sa mga sales, kasi may mga binabayaran silang mga costo. Sa costo, yung tax, tapos yung… Pag NTC-type approved, yung paisa, sa pagre-register ng radio, two-way radio, kailangan NTC-type approved.

Mclaine: Hindi porke bumili ka na ng radio, pwede mo nang ipa-license. Hindi lahat. Please correct me kung mali ako sa mga nasasabi ko. I’m not really an expert on this. But these are just my observation. 

And based on my own understanding, there are certain…Nagkakaroon sila ng resolution or… What do you call that? Yung batas, ina-amiendahan nila para maging applicable sa existing na current situation. Kasi since ngayon, ang daming mga two-way radio na lumalabas. 

Mclaine: So ngayon, inaalaw nila sa amateur, as long as yung portable radio, mapa-anong brand dyan, basta meron syang 144 to 146 MHz na frequency, pwede syang i-register sa NTC. Pero again, dadaan ka sa process. So hindi din lahat tinatanggap.  And depende pa sya sa mga NTC region.  

Dito sa NTC sa main, sa Metro Manila or sa QC, strict. Pero sa ibang district, hindi sila strict. Kaya doon sila nagkakaroon ng question. Bakit doon sa ibang lugar, nare-register to? Pero pag dinalam mo sa main, which is dito sa QC, ayaw tanggapin. So maraming nagkakaroon ng question about that.  

Mclaine: So doon pumapasok yung bakit doon lumalabas na hindi talaga kayang i-monitor ni NTC. Ang sabi nga nung iba, wala daw kita kasi dito sa ano.  Kasi nga, parang pag nahuli ka, ang advice nung iba, if maabutan ka na macheck ka ng NTC na may dala kang two-way radio, sabi nila, ang sabi, surrender mo.  

Tanggalin mo yung antena. Tanggalin mo yung battery. Surrender mo yung unit.  Ito, hindi kasama.

Philippe: Bakit?

 Mclaine:  I don’t know.  Technically, dapat.

Philippe:  Kasama lahat.

Mclaine: Kasama lahat.  

Philippe: Parang kotse na.

Mclaine: Oo, parang kotse.  Hindi mo pwedeng, ay, sir, tanggalin ko yung gulong. Pero as per advice nung mga ibang license na ano, yun yung sinasabi nila, pag ito lang, surrender mo. Surrender mo yan.  Meron namang iba, naku-question, no, no, tanggalin mo. Kasama lahat siyan.

Pero yung ibang mga, as in mga class A, mga, meron talagang, pinag-aralan nila yung ano, yun yung ina-advice nila pag nahulihan ka ng NTC. 

Philippe: So ano yung penalties? For example, nahuli ka na may two-way radio ka, nahuli ka na NTC, is there imprisonment? Is there, what’s the penalty?

Mclaine: Wala. Mostly, confiscation na. Unless, nagkaroon ka ng, yung jinadjam.  Jinadjam yung frequency. Kasi before, back to the 90s, uso yan eh. Ah, ito yung frequency mo.  

Ah, jajam-in ka namin.  Ang gagawin nila, mag-setup sila ng radyo, isaset nila doon sa frequency, tatalian nila or…

Philippe: So iba pa ang jammer? What does a jammer look like? Is it like this? Does it look something like this? 

Mclaine: Yung jammer is, ako, konwari, isa person who operates the two-way radio.  Meaning to say, nanggugulo, parang skandaloso. Ako yung skandaloso, guguloyin ko yung frequency nyo.  

The way I do it, is, magdededicate sila ng isang radyo, na nakatransmit. Yon, nakatransmit doon sa frequency.

Philippe: It’s a radio also? 

Mclaine: Yes.

Philippe:  Hindi siya ibang device, hindi siya…

Mclaine: No, it’s a radyo din. Pero malakas na yung power output niya.  Base station, minsan nakabooster pa, tapos setup nila 100 feet. Kahit naman hindi 100 feet, kung alam mo, ayan lang yung, yung jajamin mo.  Maglagay ka lang na isang portable na, no, nakapress lang siya, nakakatransmit lang siya. 

So, walang ma-re-receive yung, puna rin, yung station. Wala siyang ma-re-receive, kasi nga, nasa tabi lang nyo yung nagja-jam. 

Philippe: Or static?

Mclaine: Oo, parang static.

Philippe: So usually ang mga nagja-jam, for example, if they want to cut communications in a certain area, kung may military, let’s say, action within that area, diba gina-jam nila sa mga… Is that how we see it in the movies? 

Mclaine: Nagtatanim sila, yun, nagtatanim sila ng jamming device, para ma-interrupt yung communication nila.

Philippe: So right now, it’s because we see a lot of products sa Lazada and Shopee, and also TikTok, na ang dami nagbibenta. So it seems they’re not putting on importance na dapat may license in terms of having a UHF radio for, even if it’s amateur or professional. 

Why can’t, since hindi nila ma-monitor yung mga gumagamit, I mean, I think it’s easier to monitor the point of sale of these equipment. because we, you have a bunch of equipments, right?  So, I also have a bunch of ways, but they’re only UHF. 

Philippe: You mga nabibili sa Lazada and Shopee. So technically, if these are not registered, then we’re doing something illegal, right?  But apparently, confiscation lang, and only if you were caught in the act. Yeah, using it in the act.

Pero right now, if it’s just for a collector’s item, if that’s your purpose, then I don’t think you’re breaking the law.  You’re just, meron ka lang.

Mclaine: Just like collecting cars, di ba?

Philippe: Exactly. 

Mclaine: Kahit ganong karami sa sakin mo, nandun lang, naka-park lang, you’re not violating anything.

Philippe: And even if it’s not registered, as long as you don’t use it, right? So, because these days, di ba, everyone’s used on the, sanay sila sa cell phones, sanay sila sa Android phones, iPhones and all, any types of phones or communications.  Kasi internet-based siya.  

Can you tell me what, since sanay yung mga tao diyan, what are, what is the advantage of having, even the basic UHF radio? Do we need it in our daily lives, or do we need this just for in case of emergencies?

Mclaine: Sa akin, as a radio enthusiast, pero I don’t speak in general sa lahat.  I speak for myself only.Sa akin, I see this very useful, even on a daily basis. Kasi instead of your children having cell phone, masyado na sila nakatutok sa cell phone, way of communication, pwede ko gamitin to. 

Kung dun-dun lang naman, or within the vicinity, to monitor kung nasaan siya, for as long as, cover siya within the area. And especially yun nga, in case of emergencies, yung disaster, hindi kasi natin alam kung kailan darating. So, aantahin pa ba natin yung disaster, tsaka kabibili? 

Mclaine: Nag-down na yung signal, pabili po, paano kabibili? Down na yung communication, wala nang internet.  Paano kabibili ngayon? Eh hindi naman to, hindi naman to yung typical na nasa sari-sari store. Unless you know people, a person, or shop na meron talagang on hand.  

Pero kadalasan yung iba, hindi eh.  Made to order, o parang Shopee. If you buy today, hindi mo naman makukuha today eh.  Either tomorrow, or the next day, or depende kung gano’n, kung saan na-purchase, if it’s outside the country.  So ito, talagang for me, I’ve been collecting, although nagba-buy and sell din ako.

Mclaine: Pero yung dala ko ngayon, these are my personal collection, and these are my personal belonging, intended for personal use, and in case of emergencies. 

Philippe: Can you list down the types of emergencies where we can use this?

Mclaine: Okay. Emergencies, typhoon. Since I’m in a civic group, ang motto ng group namin is serving the nation through communication.  So, we are focusing on helping, not just, masyadong wide pag you’re talking about the country.

Doon na lang sa AOR, kung saan yung nasasakutan mo.  Pag baha, inabutan ka na ng baha, hindi ka na makakarespond eh.  So, first things first is, kailangan mong, kailangan ng communication mo, sa loved ones, sa family mo.

Mclaine: So how would you do that? Kung magkaroon ng interruption ang cell site, this would come handy. 

Philippe: Which most of the time, lagi may interruption ng internet and cell site.

Mclaine: Either interruption or congested. Kasi kung, let’s say magdown doon sa isang area, so alam naman natin na, pag nagdown na isang cell site, all users is being redirected to other cell sites. So, yun yung nagkakaroon ng congestion. Yung iba, kahit text lang, ang bagal eh, ang tagal eh.  

So, this would come handy. Lalo na kung, andyan lang naman, within the area, magchat-chat ka baba o mag video call ka ba. Kung hindi naman magkoconnect. At, especially, yun pa, mawalan ka ng load.  Wala ka ng load. Wala ka ng internet. Wala ka pang regular load. 

Mclaine: So, hindi rin maggamit yung cellphone. So, dito papasok, yung iba hindi nila nakita na handy. Kasi nga, hindi pa nila na-experience.

Philippe: Tsaka bulky daw.

Mclaine: O, bulky.

Philippe: Wala na mga ibang per-charge.

Mclaine: Pero, you know what is it?  Kitong gano’ng kaliit o, cellphone. So, eto talaga, pag kinanggal mo pa to, liliit pa ulit. Sobrang liit lang o, at sobrang gaang lang dito.  Unlike, bigat pa nga yung cellphone ko. So, meron pang mga mas maliliit dito, as in, half the size, na two-way range o.

Philippe: Pero, ano yun? What is the, short, for example, yung mga maliliit na banggi mo, what are, what’s the range?

Mclaine: Ah, ang power output nya is, so, given na nandito ka sa, city, maraming building, suerte mo na yung, one kilometer.

Philippe: That’s a, that’s, that’s big. 

Mclaine:  But, depende pa sya sa area mo. 

Philippe: Sa area, okay.

Mclaine: Kung masyado na talagang mabuilding.  Tapos, yung talagang sobrang liit na, eto, medyo reliable pa yung mga ganito, or the size. Baupeng UV500.

Philippe: For example, you wanna be with UHF, from, Lazada Shopping, yung four, four for, four for 1,000.

Mclaine: Ayan.

Philippe: Ano yung range yan? Half a kilometer? One kilometer?

Mclaine: Half a kilometer, good na yan. Clear na yung, conversation mo.

Philippe: Anything after that?

Mclaine: Line of sight na siguro.

Philippe: Ah, I see. 

Mclaine:  So, pero pag may building na, expect mo na yung, magkakaroon na yung obstruction. 

Philippe: Okay. So, medyo choppy na yung, Yes, medyo choppy na.  Static and all.

Mclaine: Pero, syempre, pag naman, within the community naman, siguro naman, di naman, one kilometer yung, yung monitor mo. Unless, talagang, magkabilang barangay, or, municipality. Doon naman papasok yung, kung meron kang, aerial, or external antenna sa bahay.  

Which is, yung mga ganito, nakakabitan siya.  Hindi mo kailangan nung, malalaking base radio. Ito, pwede mo na siyang kabitan. There are special connectors, that you can buy, na pwede mo siya ikabit, para, at, using this alone, line of sight, this is a dual band VHF, UHF. Line of sight, kaya niya at least, five kilometers. Three to five kilometers.

Philippe: Wow.

Mclaine: I mean, line of sight.

Philippe: Kung may obstruction.

Mclaine: Pag may obstruction, one to two kilometers.

Philippe: Na malinaw. Before, before I jump into that, can you, list down, or, expound further, the stuff that we buy from Lazada, up to the professional ones.  Can you list down, each type of product?

So let’s start with the ones, that we see in Lazada. Yung mga maliliit, yung mga, colorful.

Mclaine: Again, hindi ako professional. These are just, my own understanding, how this works.  Kung ano lang yung nakikita ko. 

Philippe: That’s okay, because we need to know, for the average person, na wala pang alam, at least you’re giving up the basic knowledge.  So let’s start with, what do we find on Lazada right now? 

Mclaine: Okay, yung mga nabibili sa Lazada na, buy one, take one, or at least, pinaka cheapest is, 300 pesos. Yun yung mga nakikita mo, sa mga security guard, that is, Baofeng BF888S. Yun yung mga, 2 watts lang yun. Yun yung, yun yung kadalasan nakikita mo, sa mga security guard.  

Pero depende, may mga security guard, kasi na talagang high-end. Like, some mall, they’re using, high-end, two-way radios. Those are high-terra, 20 to 30 thousand. Each brand new.

Philippe: Each brand.  So let’s start with the cheapest, and then let’s go to the, most expensive.  Pero give us also, ano, examples.  So let’s start with the cheapest, yung sinasabi mo.  Let’s restart that. Start from the ones that we find, in Shopee Lazada.

Mclaine: Shopee Lazada, there are multiple, kasi, ang daming brands sa China na, yung, same quality, same power output, different design and models lang. So yun yung mga, price ranging from, 300 to 500. 

Tapos, yun yung mga 2 watts, like WLN, ah, merong mga, nire-rebrand nila, Motorola, merong magkikita ka na, nakalagay, Icom.

Mclaine: So, these are just, rebranding, no? Pero, kung makikita mo dun sa, sa Shopee Lazada, teka, isa lang naman, isa, mati iba-ibang, pangalan.

Philippe: Okay.

Mclaine: Kasi nga, it’s because of rebranding. 

Philippe:  And what’s the range?

Mclaine: Yung range ng, any two-way radio, na 2 watts of power.  Yun mga range from, 500 to 1 kilometer.  Clear na yun. 

Philippe: Clear line-of-sight?

Mclaine: Ah, pero pag line-of-sight, ah, nagdidepende talaga sya, no? Pag line-of-sight, kasi nga, since walang obstruction, dun nagkakaroon nang humahaaba yung, Range nya. Pero, if there is, line-of-strike, kunwari, village, so, bahay-bahay yan.

So, in a village, yung mga 2 watts na yun, kaya na niya i-cover. Pero wag naman yung sobrang mega village, yung mga ordinary village, lalo nakikita mo, like Camellia, yung mga Camellia, o mga small villages sa mga provinces, yan. Yung mga 2 watts radio, kaya na.

Mclaine: Kasi mostly yun yung mga, even the barangay, kahapon lang nasa isang barangay ako sa Bulacan, tinanong ko sila, Sir, meron po kayong, radio dito, or set up? Wala, ang gamit lang namin, yung mga nasa Shopee, Shopee.

Philippe: And it works, for,

Mclaine: and it works, Kasi Ginagamit lang nila for traffic assistance, sa patay, road assistance lang. Hindi mo kasi kailangan ng malayo kasi road assistance lang eh. So these are just from meters to 1 kilometer.

Malayo ngayon 1 kilometer kasi if you’re doing traffic assistance, hindi ka naman siguro mag-aabot ng 1 kilometer traffic sa isang barangay. So these are very useful sa mga barangay. Ito yung mga ginagamit nila. So from 2 watts, tatalo na siya sa 5 watts. 5 watts, ito na yung mga 5 watts radio.

Philippe: Okay. So what are these?  What’s the difference in terms of 2 watts to 1? Is it just power output? And what’s the range?

Mclaine: Yes. This is not just about power output. These are dual band radios.

Philippe: What does dual band radios mean?

Mclaine: VHF and UHF.

Philippe: So what is UHF and what is VHF?

Mclaine: So VHF, it can operate from 136 MHz up to 174 MHz. So cover niya ang amateur and then commercial.

Philippe:  I see.  Okay. 

Mclaine: Pero not everyone can use this.

Philippe: Why?

Mclaine:  Katulad na nabanggit ko kanina, if you’re using a dual band radio, kailangan classica kasi nga meron siyang UHF.  So baka maguloan yung iba. Ah, ba’t ganoon?  

If you’re going to stick on the rules, yun yung nakalagay sa rules, you cannot operate. I guess you can own one, pero don’t use.  Ang ina-advise sa amin, or ina-advise ng mga amateur enthusiasts na mga professional or mga class A, if you’re going to buy, you can monitor.

Mclaine: Pwede tayong mag…  Everyone ha, pwede po tayong mag-monitor, pero do not transmit.  Pag nag-transmit ka, doon ka na nag-violate.

Philippe: Ah, I see. 

Mclaine: Yun yung paliwanag nila and this is also my understanding. Parang sa sasakyan, pinaandar mo yung sasakyan, pinainit mo lang.

Philippe: Pero hindi mo pinaandar?

Mclaine:  Oo, hindi ka naman lumabas ng village, hindi ka naman ano. I’m not sure kung…  Kunwari, malaki yung compound mo. Pag ba nag-operate ka within… I think nag-violate kasi, in-operate mo na.

Philippe: Yes, yes.  So what is the price range?

Mclaine: Yes, okay. Price range, this UV5R for the cheapest from P500 to P1,500.  Depende.  This brand alone, or this model alone, may iba-iba.  May Cygnus, may Baofeng, merong Platinum. 

Nire-rebrand lang nila. Tapos, actually, pinakamahal na ganitong model, yung Platinum, nasa P2,500.  Samantalang, same lang naman, same ng operation, same ng features, same ng ano.

Philippe: Pero still affordable for the average person who wants to get into this. So, this is the next…  So, yung kanina, entry-level UHF, and then this one…

Mclaine: Actually, ito, entry-level pa rin to.

Philippe: Oh, pero that looks more ano pa.

Mclaine: Kaya lang syang malaki, kasi I bought a…  yung extended battery.  Pero usually, ganito lang sya.

Philippe: Ganyan lang sya.

Mclaine: Eto, extended battery, longer, tapos, instead of cradle, meron na syang USB…  different ports na lang.

Philippe: Ano yung ano?  So, who uses this? Kung kanina, they use sa barangay, who uses this?

Mclaine:  Eto rin. Mostly barangay din.  Before na uso yung mga cheapest na ganon, eto yung pinaka top of the line sa barangay. Mostly makikita mo sa province, eto ang mga gamit nila, UV5R. 

Parang sinasabi nga nila, yung pambansang radyo ng mga tanod.

Philippe:  Wow, okay.

Mclaine: O, eto yung… Dito nagsimula lahat. I’m not sure, pero makikita mo lahat kahit saan barangay ka magpunta. Pero nung lumabas eto… 

Philippe: So, what’s this? 

Mclaine: This is the same thing, dual band, pero more features.

Philippe: So, what’s the difference between…

Mclaine: More band coverage. 

Philippe:  For commercial? More band coverage for commercial?

Mclaine: Sa mga beginner, medyo parang malulula kapag sinabi ko sa’yo na, siguro kahit ikaw, sabihin ko, this can operate from 20 MHz up to 1300 or 1300 MHz.  

You can listen to… trunk, yung mga ginagamit ng mga… sa police.Frequency.  Tapos, meron siyang copy, frequency copy.

Philippe: Okay.

Mclaine:  Pero that is for VHF and UHF. Frequency copy means, pag sinet mo ito sa frequency copy, once may nag-transmit within the range, makukuha mo yung frequency na ginagamit nila.

Philippe:  I see. So, it’s good for monitoring.

Mclaine: For good purpose use lang, o pwede mo pang monitor. Pero if you’re going to use it in a bad way, huwag naman sana.

Philippe: So, this is what we see in the movies, yung nag-monitor sila ng police frequency. Is that illegal, to monitor?

Mclaine: To monitor, hindi. 

Philippe: Really? 

Mclaine: Oo. Kasi makakabili ka ng mga scanning devices.

Philippe: So, wala tayong batas na, for example, let’s say, FMDA or police gumagamit, hindi bawal mag-monitor ng frequency nila? Wala tayong batas yan?

Mclaine: Hindi ako sure kung bawal, pero…  Sa akin, pero kasi parang nandanan itong, parang eavesdropping ng andating yan.  Or, ano ba tawag doon?

Parang wiretapping na ba? Pwede mo i-consider kasi naglilisten ka sa isang frequency, social station, na hindi ka naman dapat nandoon. 

Philippe: Tsaka ang frequencies, it’s open, right?

Mclaine: Yes.

Philippe: Basta you tune into it, open sya, parang syang radio frequency.

Mclaine: I guess, kung radio station, open talaga sya for listening. Pero, doon sa mga government agencies, I’m not really sure kung mayroon talagang batas na bawal kang makinig sa frequency nila.  Kasi, if there is a scanning device, or if this has a listening capability, I guess, as long as hindi ka nag-interrupt o nag-disrupt ng..you’re not violating anything.

Again, hindi ako sure. Hindi ako familiar sa batas. Kung mayroon talagang batas na gano’n.  Or, I guess, even in the USA.  Kasi, sa USA nga, yung mga street racer, yung mga hypercars, bumibili talaga sila ng radio scanner, police scanner. Tapos, pag nakikita sila, nakikita yung mga police scanner. Hindi naman din sila…

Philippe: Tsaka legal, kasi binibenta sa mga gas stations. 

Mclaine: mayroon talaga. 

Philippe: Pero that’s in the U.S. Ang tanong, kung hindi nga strictos sa U.S., hindi rin street.

Mclaine: Definitely, siguro baka…

Philippe: But for example, may operations, right? And criminals could be listening in.

Mclaine: For sure.

Philippe: So dapat, although hanapin nila yung frequency, di ba?

Mclaine: Kailangan nila mag-scan. Kaya mayroon frequency scanner. Mayroon mga portable radio na walang transmit capability. It’s just for scanning. So talagang scan lang talaga.  So ito yung mga… Ito na yung isa sa cheapest na napakadaming feature. 

This would… This actually sells from 800 to 2,000.And again, sa mga beginners, sa mga hindi familiar, this can listen from 20 MHz up to 1,300 MHz. So yung mga cover na nito, yung wala radio station, so pwede ka na mag-listen for a radio station up to yung mga ginagamit ng mga kapulisan, sa mga security agencies.

Philippe: Saan na bibili to?

Mclaine: It is…  Ano? Meron sa shop yan na sana online.

Philippe: Yan din. Meron din. 

Mclaine: So basically, lahat na mabibili mo sa Shopee na sana.

Philippe: What’s the next after this?

Mclaine: After nito, meron mga higher power output. Ito, power output nito is 5 watts.  Sa VHF, sa UHF, is 4 watts. Pero, meron mga dual band na meron ng… 

Actually, itong version na ito, in-upgrade na nila ito. Merong 5 watts version, merong 8 watts, merong 10 watts version, merong 12 watts version, at lumabas pa na meron silang nilabas na 15 to 20 watts. Same unit.

Philippe: Same unit. Siguro different chipset lang.

Mclaine: For sure. O baka ganoon lang. So yan. So, after this, lalabas na yung mga high-end na. Okay.  Like, Hytera, yan na yung talagang very costly.

Philippe: How much yung ano nila

Mclaine: One portable…  Isang portable ng Motorola actually cost for about 25,000. Yung original and then license. Kasi, sa Motorola, yan, merong license kasi meron siyang digital and analog.  

So, digital meaning it can actually connect to the internet or via signal ng..Para siyang may WiFi.  Ginagamitan siya ng hotspot.

Philippe:  Pero why is it so expensive? What is the factors? Kasi ito, 2,500. E yung mga 25,000 pataas. What’s the difference?

Mclaine: Waterproof.  So, barami siyang features na talagang…  It pay…You get what you paid for.

Philippe: Shockproof din siya pag binato mo?  So, pang ano lang talaga?

Mclaine: So, makikita mo sa mga police sa US, what they’re using is Motorola.  I think, dito, ang price range natin dito is 200,000 ang isa.

Philippe: Per unit?

Mclaine: Per unit. Unit pa lang siya.  Wala pa siya yung mga accessory na microphone. Wala pa yung extended battery.

Philippe: So, who uses these types of…  Do we use this in our police force, NBI?

Mclaine: Yes.  Sa police, mostly gamit nila nakahightera.  And then, ibang police naman, depende sa level yata. Pag medyo ranking na siya, maggamit na niya mga APX, yun yung mga costing around 40 at the minimum.  Tapos, pataas na siya.  

And then, yung mga military natin, meron silang Motorola din. Pero, depende.  Merong ibang sundalo na uses Motorola.  Ibang magamit ng ibang brand. Harris.  Yun, mga top of the line na gamit.

Philippe: So, yun yung mga 40,000 pataas? Up to 200,000?

Mclaine: Yes. O, yun na. Yun na yung mga ganun price. Kaya, very expensive.I guess, dapat naman. Kasi, kailangan nila ng talagang robust na radio equipment, lalo pagdating sa battlefield.

Philippe: Yes, yes.  So, waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, all that.

Mclaine: Yes.

Philippe: So, pag nilubog mo, tapos nilubog mo sa tubig, let’s say, or nasa…

Mclaine: Kahit, kahit nasa, ano sila, sa ilog sila mag-responde, kahit nakasok-sok sa kanya, hindi sa basa-basa masisira.  Unlike this.

Philippe: Masisira agad.  So, talagang, ano, military grade pagdating.

Mclaine: Pero, merong mga, merong mga ganito, like this one.

Philippe: Okay.

Mclaine: I do a water test this.  Pinaulanan ko to for about 5 minutes.

Philippe: Pero, ulan?

Mclaine: Ulan.  So, this is actually IP54.

Philippe: Okay.

Mclaine: Water-resistant, dust-resistant, and shock-resistant. So, hindi siya ibig sabihin, pag water-resistant, pwede mo siyang ilubog. Water-resistant, IP54. So, ratings, depende yan eh. So, splash, pwede lang yung mga splash. Pero, yung direct na, tututukan mo siya ng hose.

Iba kasi yung splash, tsaka tututukan mo ng hose.  Tapos, iba yung lumubog.  Kaya, hindi siya ganun ka…yung waterproof level nga. Magkakaiba.

Philippe: What’s after the high-end? Is that the all three tiers of, meron tayong UHF, tapos dual UHF, VHF, and then yung high-end lang?  Are they dual also? Yung high-end?

Mclaine: No. Okay. Yung Motorola, meron digital and then analog. Pero, merong dual or multi-band.  Yun nga yung gamit ng mga police force.  Especially sa US. UHF, 700MHz, 900MHz, or 800MHz. So, tri-band na siya.

Philippe: When it comes to, sabi mo kasi may analog and digital, what’s the digital part? Kasi analog, we all know na…  what’s the digital?

Mclaine: Yun nga, nabanggit ko. It could actually connect through a hotspot. So, meaning, parang naka-Wi-Fi.  So, meron siyang talk group. Familiar with talk groups.  Parang, parang sa chat, parang sa mga chat group.  

May group na rin siya.  In a digital form.

Philippe: ano to? They don’t use any bandwidth. They use the internet to communicate. Okay. What do you call those types of radios?

Mclaine: Yun nga, sa Motorola. Motorola, Hytera, yan.  May mga iba-ibang brand na gumagamit ng digital mode. They call it DMR. Digital Mobile Radio.  So, anything that connects to the internet, considered as digital na.  Like this one. Digital na siya.  Yung mga ganito.

POC radio. So, ito na yung pumapatok ngayon. Yung POC. Push to talk over cellular. Pero, balikan ko yung digital and analog. So, yung mga digital analog na yun, meron din siyang capability.  Like si Motorola. Meron, naglabas na rin sila ng mga unit na meron din POC. Pero, sarili nilang platform.

Philippe: So, what is, that’s another type of POC. What is POC?

Mclaine: Push to talk over cellular.  It actually use network.

Philippe: Cellular network.  So, hindi siya frequency?

Mclaine: No, hindi siya.  Actually, frequency pa rin siya.  Pero, yung bandwidth niya is from 1,300 or 1,300 megahertz up to 5 gigahertz. So, magdidepende na lang yan kung anong band yung gumagamit.

Philippe: Can an analog scan a POC?

Mclaine: No. Hindi yun. Hindi na kaya. Kasi, mataas na yung band na.

Philippe: So, in terms of security, which is much safer? Yung sa POC? Yes. Yung POC, walang ibang makakapag-listen unless you have access to the group.  So, since this is private, hindi naman siya pwede.

Mclaine: Katulad, analog na, ah, itong frequency na ito, punta ka, makakakalisten ka na. With this one, oh, anong group ka?  Oh, ito yung talk group namin, ito yung group namin.  Ay, teka, hindi ka naman nakasama doon sa group ng seller. 

Depende pa yan, Pag bumili ka ngayon ng POC, depende pa yan sa seller or depende sa brand. Ah, sabihin na natin, ito, Iconic, ah, ako, isa ako sa naghahandle ng platform ng Iconic.

Mclaine: Pero, pag bumili ka sa akin, under ka sa akin. Pero, merong isang seller ng Iconic, ay, gusto ko makausap yun doon. Ay, hindi, doon ka lang. bibigyan sila ng specific platform. Same din sa iba. May signals, global VTT.

Philippe:  private for each, ano?

Mclaine:  private na.  So, hindi siya basta-basta mamomonitor.The only one kong monitor is the admin.

Philippe: Admin?  Question, does this have to be license, do you need a license for a POC?

Mclaine:  no, no. Ah, kasi nga, ah, you’re using cellular. So, ah, I’m not sure kung ano yung specific, ah, ah, tao-tao dito. Rules ng NTC. Pero, ah, ang paliwanag, anything that uses cellular, ano na siya.

Hindi na kailangan ng license. Kasi you’re, parang, you’re already paying for the network. Kasi pag nag-purchase ka ng SIM card.  So, kasama na doon.

Philippe: So, ito yung mga radio na pwede SIM card?

Mclaine:  Yes, ah, SIM card.

Philippe: Any SIM card?

Mclaine: Any, yes, any SIM card. Most, most of the POC radio naman is ah, open line. Meaning, any network could do. You can do SMART, ah, GLOBE, GOMO.

Philippe:  anong, anong consumption dyan sa cellular?  Like, when it comes to, let’s say, pwede prepaid?

Mclaine: Yes, pwede prepaid. Mostly, prepaid talaga eh.  Ah, yung mga combo meals. Eh, ah, combo meals talaga. Ah, combo promo, like, like sa SMART, meron silang magic data.  Si GOMO naman, meron din, ah, these are non-expiring, no expiring. Meaning, ah, as long as activated yung SIM card, the data will, Ano yung consumption ng data?

Philippe: For example, like, give us, give us an example.

Mclaine: Ah, kung narin, nag-transmit ako.  Ah, go ahead, ah, over. Yung, ganun kaiksi, it only transmits for about one, ah, three to four bytes.

Philippe: Bytes?

Mclaine: Bytes lang siya. Pero, depende, no?  Merong mga POC na merong Zello, like this one.

Philippe: Okay.

Mclaine: May Zello siya.  So, Zello, ibang consumption ng data, kasi, ah, this is actually running specific software. Or, meron siyang, marami siyang nagrirun sa apps niya.

Philippe: What, what is Zello?

Mclaine: Ah, Zello is a, ah, an app, na, it’s a free app na pwede mong i-download sa phone mo.  So, pwede kang mag-access ng Zello through phone.

Philippe: So, on an Android, iOS phone, pwede?

Mclaine: Any Android, any iOS, pwede kang mag-download Zello.

Philippe: And, can you communicate this with the radio?

Mclaine: Yes.  Ah, if the, if yung unit mo is merong Zello capable, which is, aside sa POC, naglabas din si, yung mga ibang brand ng Zello radio. Meaning, Zello radio is capable of, ah, using Zello, aside from the POC. Like this one, meron siyang POC, meron siyang Zello.  So, we could, ah, ah, kunwari, you’re using POC, and yung unit ko may POC. Tapos, yung isa-isa naman, naka Zello.

Pwede tayong mag-usap. Pwede ko kayong, pwede kayong makapag-usap. Pero, yung ibang ginagawa, na walang capability yung POC nila. Medyo technical na to, no? Ah, POC, nilalagyan nila ng link sa Zello, or link naman sa, ah, Zello to Analog, or POC to Analog.  

Mclaine: Pero, meron mga certain unit, na meron na siyang one, ah, one use.  Eto, IP, or POC, na may Analog. This could, ah, communicate, eto pwedeng gamitin, para makapag-communicate ng POC at ang Analog. You’re just using this. Meron siyang repeater, repeater capability. So, back to back.  POC to Analog, Analog to POC. Just using this.

Philippe: Magkano yung mga ganyan?

Mclaine: Eto, medyo pricey na siya. This is around P10,000 pataas.  So, yung mga, this one, around P6,000. Medyo pricey. Eto, mga ganito Analog, eto P2,000. P1,800 to P2,000.

Philippe: In situations like emergencies, typhoons, floods, earthquakes, what would you best suggest or recommend to have this one?

Mclaine: Ang hirap kasing, ano eh, kasi, for me, you know, syempre, I’ll go for the cheapest. May mga cheapest na lumalabas at for us, P1,600, ng POC. So, less than P2,000, meron ka ng POC.

Philippe: Yan yung nilalagyan ng SIM card.

Mclaine: Yan yung nilalagay ng SIM card. Ang POC kasi, kaya ng, as long as merong signal sa area, pwede kayo mag-communicate. Unlike with Analog, Analog is just kilometers lang eh, range. Very limited range.  With POC, pwede mo makausap ibang bansa, as long as merong network or, yan, signal ng network.

Philippe: Pero what if natural disasters? Na wala yung network, wala ano, what would you best recommend?

Mclaine: Any Analog.

Philippe: Any Analog.

Mclaine: Any Analog radio na, kasi, depende kasi yan kung saan ka maglilisten eh. Hindi naman, especially kung you are trying to or also coordinate with your LGU. Kasi hindi ka naman basa, hindi naman porkya meron ka two-way radio, pwede ka naman basa makapag-listen. Kasi meron ka mawapakinggan dahil since malakas yung signal nila o yung transmission nila, mawapakinggan mo sila pero hindi ka nila mawapakinggan. 

Pero unlike within your area of responsibility or within your vicinity, if you are especially coordinating with the LGU, pwede ka makipag collaborate sa kanila na, in case of emergency po, I could, pero this, hindi siya basta-basta na punta ka sa barangay na, ah, ano po yung frequency ninyo?  

Mclaine: Siyempre, you need to coordinate properly. Bakit mo hinihingi yung frequency?  Siyempre, hindi naman nila basa-basa ibibigay yun. Kasi nga, these are used internally. So, hindi ka basa pwedeng, even if you’re consider yourself as volunteer, pero siyempre, meron pa rin level. 

Dito, ka muna makipag-coordinate.  Hindi ka pwedeng direkta makipag-coordinate. Unless, meron kayo memorandum or agreement, if you’re in a certain group, meron kayong MOA, na, you could actually directly get in touch with them through their frequencies.

Philippe:  What’s next after POC?  Meron na ba?  O ano? Ano yung naririnig ko dati mga satellite, radio, is that different?

Mclaine: Yes, yun, ang isa sa pinakamagandang investment. Pero, isa sa pinaka, isa din sa mahal. Kasi, Csmart, meron siyang dedicated SIM intended for satellite phone. Ang isang sat phone, the cheapest would be, ito, second hand na siguro sa marketplace, mga 6,500.  Hmm?  Oo.

Philippe: That’s cheap.

Mclaine: Oo. Pero, para lang siyang ordinary cellphone na, ano, yung mga Nokia, ganoon, mga old school. Meron yung mga high-end na yun, mga Thuraya, costing around 80,000 to 200,000 depende pa.

Philippe: So, yung satellite phones, they’re not touchscreen, they’re just standard?

Mclaine: Yes, standard.  Meron, meron, hanggang, How big are they? Meron, meron, meron siyang, sa iOS, sa iOS, meron siyang specific na, parang bibilin ka na gadget na i-insert mo, parang maging sat phone.

Philippe: Okay. 

Mclaine: So, I’m not really sure kung magkano siya, pero nakita ko lang siya since I was looking into, ano, different type of, ano, sat phone. So, yun, pwede sa Android, pwede sa iOS, pero yung mga nabibili talaga na, mga sturdy na, rugged, yung mga nakikita natin sa movie, yun na yung mga, yung may flipable antenna, yun na yung mga mahal, 100,000 pataas na siya.

Pero, those are just manual na, pwede ka mag- So, yan yung, for example, ginagamit ng mga presidente ng mga nations, in case of ano, let’s say, na-ambush sila, so that they could easily communicate, kasi satellite. And, walang nakaka- walang nakakamonitor.

Philippe: I’m curious about sat phones, let’s say yung sinabi mo sa smart, ano ba yan?  Line?

Mclaine: Parang prepaid siya.

Philippe: Oh, prepaid.  So, who do you call with a sat phone? Any other lines? Basta gamit ka sa sat phone?

Mclaine: basta gamit ka na, pero I think, parang nasa $2.50 yata ang per call, o per minute.

Philippe: Per minute, probably per minute. Pero, that’s good for emergencies.

Mclaine:  kasi for emergency, hindi ka namang kipagkwentuhan ng 4 hours.

Philippe: So, ibig sabihin, ibig sabihin, if we’re gonna, not sure if smart has their own satellite, baka nakikiride on lang sila just like in the cell sites, di ba? May mga satellites na they could, you have a subscription to it, and then, may communication wherever you are, nasa desert ka, nasa jungle ka, na walang, ano, cellular signal, so.

Mclaine: Pero nowadays, meron ng Starlink.  So, si Starlink, nagiging parang hotspot na siya.

Philippe: Sabagay.

Mclaine: So, the best thing is, kung meron ka Starlink, good for you. Kasi, pwede mo siyang, hindi siya nadi-disrupt kasi nga, since we’re using satellite.

Philippe: And, umigo naman yung satellite si Elon Musk, o ano. Let’s look up yung Starlink. Ano yung pinakamurang Starlink? Kasi alam kong may Starlink na, yung parang maliit, yung pang portable.

Mclaine: I think, 14,000 yung nakita kong pinakamura, eh.  May 2,500 ang, um, per month, yan, na subscription.  Tapos, iba pa ang subscription, if you’re, merong subscription para sa mobility, eh.

Philippe: Yun nga, yun nga.

Mclaine: I think that’s 3,500 or 1,000 on top of the base.

Philippe: Parang 3,000, ah, 3,000, nakita ko rin, 3,000 per month, yan. Pwede ka mag-roam anywhere in the world daw.  Pag residential, 3,800.

Mclaine: Pero yung device itself, before they, the startup is 30,000 yata, tapos ngayon binabahan nila to 15,000.

Philippe: Okay.

Mclaine:  I’m not sure, baka promo siya.  Pero, lately, parang yun pa rin nakita ko, 14,000 to 15,000.  Since marami nang nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, nag, I have a friend who bought it for, I think, 35,000.

Philippe: The actual Starlink, the big one.  Yung sinasabi mo 15,000, I think, yung mini Starlink.

Mclaine:  Ah, okay.

Philippe:  Kasi there are two types daw, but I think he bought the bigger one.  So it’s like 35,000.  And then, yung monthly niya is about 3,000.

Mclaine: Ah, for, I guess that’s for mobility.

Philippe: Parang one location na.  For mobility, it’s like 3,000 plus.

Mclaine: Ah, okay.

Philippe: Plus. Pero it’s, they’re both, I mean, for the average person, it’s quite steep pagdating sa price.  But, for businesses and sa mga, I think, emergency response units, diba? Dapat meron, no? Dapat talagang meron.  But that’s interesting kasi the, buti na lang may Starlink.

Kasi dati, yan eh, that’s what we could rely on.  Now, the question is, can the average person, let’s say me, I want to buy a UHF radio. And, of course, this is now public.

Philippe: They’re gonna know that.  Unless we use it just for personal use, I think it’s safe enough to say na, okay naman, diba, within our vicinity, but as long as it doesn’t disrupt any communications, let’s say, MMDA police, PNP, the Army, I think we’re safe there. 

Kasi I don’t think we’ve heard a lot of the, wala masyadong batas dun tungkol sa radios. And, like you said, confiscation lang. But, we’re not quite sure yet.  So, siguro ano on, we could have another session. And let’s see, let’s talk about the resolutions, the laws to regard…

Mclaine: Merong directive si NTC, again, I’m not really 100% sure, pero during emergencies, inaalaw gumamit ng certain frequencies, si NTC inaalaw. Yung mga ibang civic group, I’m not really sure kung this is entirely open para sa lahat.  

Pero again, siyempre, emergency na nga, disaster na, kailangan mo bang paalam? Sir, paalam po ako, pwede po ako mag-transmit. Pero I guess, common sense naman lang siguro.  Siyempre, buhay muna before… 

Philippe: Yes, yes. 

Mclaine: Life is more important kaysa yung permission.

Philippe: What are the things that narinig ko dati na parang pwedeng mag-set up ng base?  What are those?

Mclaine: Kung totoosin, hindi ka naman talaga basta pwede mag-set up ng base kasi meron siyang kailangan permit. So, papasok pa rin siya doon sa license mo. Sa license mo kasi, maglalabas doon. Katulad ko, yung license ko na Class D, ROC pa lang siya, Ranging Operators Certificate.  It’s just a certificate. Wala pa ako naka-register na unit doon sa certificate ko.

Pag nag-register ka na ng unit or ng radio sa certificate mo, hindi na siya ROC. Hindi na siya Radio Operating Certificate. Magiging ARSL na siya, Amateur Radio Station License. So, meaning ko sa’yo na meron ka ng specific. Kunwari, let’s say this one, niregister ko under my license.  

Mclaine: Ito na ngayon yung legal kong gamitin. Parang car. So, kung ano yung car na naka-register sa’yo, yun yung pwede mo gamitin. If you have the ORCR, pwede mo na siya gamitin.  Just the same with this one.  Pero pagtatayo ng setup sa bahay, actually meron.  Kailangan mo talaga ng permit para magtayo. Pero since nabanggit ko kanina, hindi ganun ka-strict yung NTC natin.  

And hindi nila masyadong binibigyan at pinagtutunan ng pansin yung magtatayo ng ganyan.  Sa ibang bansa, ang bilis nila sa ganyan.  If you violate something, talagang pupuntahan ka nila.  Yung mag-transmit ka nga lang sa frequency, they could actually monitor. 

Mclaine: Pero iba ang US, iba sa Pilipinas. Anyone could actually set up for the purpose of listening lang  para mapalawak yung receive, coverage mo. Pero if you’re going to transmit, doon nagkakaroon ng violation. Anyone, ang daming gumagawa ng magtatayo ng sarili.

Nag-DDIY, they create their own repeater system.  You just need to buy two-way radio, tapos papagwa ka ng interface para mag-communicate na maging repeater system siya. Kasi kung bibili ka ng repeater, kailangan mo ng permit to purchase. If you’re going to get legal, before ka bumili,  kailangan mo ng permit to purchase from NTC. 

Philippe: And you can’t buy this off Lazada, yung repeaters?

Mclaine:  Meron. Pero if you’re going to register it, hindi mo siya maire-register. Kasi kailangan, bibili ka doon sa authorized ng NTC. 

Philippe: So you can’t buy it and use it out of the box? You can.  But it’s illegal na?

Mclaine: Yes.Kasi wala siyang license. Pero again, the bottom line, wala talagang manpower o hindi pinagtutuonan ng pansin ni NTC.  Yung pag-isa-isa dito. Kasi kanina, tanong mo, bakit ang dami nagbibenta sa online?  Eh nag-file sila ng DTI. So dapat si DTI mag-monitor.

Philippe: Sabagay.

Mclaine: So labas na si NTC doon. Si NTC papasok lang if they use it in a certain band na hindi naman sila allowed.  Pero yan nga, sabi nga nung ibang amateurista or mga radio operator enthusiast,  wala kasing pera. Walang pera doon sa, walang kita. 

Kasi tulad nito, bili ka nito, P500.  Pag kinumpiskate ni NTC, bili ulit ako another one. So ganun lang. Ganun lang. Ganun ka basic, ganun ka simple. Yun yung parang remedy.

Philippe: At pointless naman kasi pag nagbuho sila ng resources na wala naman malaking penalty na makukuha nila. Unlike pag cellular, malaki atin pag cellular. If you’re operating like a repeater or a cell side na illegal cell side, yun yung malaki. 

Mclaine: Doon talaga, kasi you’re violating sa… 

Philippe: Kasi there’s big money involved.  Kasi yung mga nagbuha ng licenses for those cell sides.

Mclaine:  Cell site, oo

Philippe: O bagay.  And like you said before, this is old school.  But I don’t think so as of now. Kasi nag-evolve siya. It has POC, it has digital and analog. I think it’s best. Parang I’m really… Let me see this. So ito yung may analog, digital, and POC.

Mclaine: Yes, oo. 

Philippe: So ito yung mga gusto kong bilhin. So this is because for the analog, para at least. Okay, so bulky siya.

Mclaine: Bulky.  Bulky, yes. Kasi it’s because of… Kailangan na ng longer battery life.  Kasi nga, since it actually operates as a repeater,  so magdegenerate na siya ng power. 

Philippe: How long nagla-last to?

Mclaine: Two days on standby. Pero if you’re going to… Kapag ginagamit na siya, hours na lang.  Four to six hours. Actually, eight hours ginagamit mo, good na yan.

Philippe: What about yung mga entry-level, yung UHF lang? How long does it…

Mclaine: For monitoring, it actually lasts for three to four days. For monitoring.

Philippe: What about if you use it…Event tayo.

Mclaine: Ano lang din.  Ganoon na. Anything na pag ginamit mo na, hours lang talaga ang bibilangin mo. Four to six hours. Depende pa. Kasi kung constant communication, baka hindi…  

Continuous. For continuous conversation,  back and forth lang ng mga two to three seconds na… O sige, yan dito na. Tuloy-tuloy, baka two hours, three hours lang. Pero for update lang, update sa station, okay naman.

Philippe: Kaya laging mga security guards pa na,  nakikita laging may docking sila para ma…

Mclaine: But those were the days. Ngayon, in-upgrade na nila. Yung mga batteries ng… Ngayon, type C na.

Philippe:  Okay.

Mcaline: So, all they need to do is..

Philippe: So, phone charger na lang? 

Mclaine:  Phone charger na lang or power back, pag may power back.  I guess lahat naman ngayon may access na sa power back.

Philippe: Yes, yes, yes.   Affordable pa

Mclaine: Very affordable, yes.

Philippe: Okay, that’s very good insights.  Thank you for educating us on the basics and the…  Sabihin natin yung mga laws about radiofrequency. It’s old school.  I think the laws are old but I think it’s good to have for emergency purposes. So, yan. Recommendation sa mga average na tao, diba? 

Buy the UHF. Four for one thousand? But what if you don’t need four? Meron naman two, diba? May two for five hundred, diba?  And any brands? What would you recommend as a brand? 

Mclaine: Sa akin, in case of emergencies, brand doesn’t matter.  As long as you have the access. Pero again, kung meron kang budget, go for the branded. Icom, Yesu. Pero that actually cost thousands na.

Philippe: Thousands.

Mclaine: Five thousand and above.

Philippe: I think it’s still, for in case of emergency. Right now, we’re always in a state of emergency.  We have calamities.  We have sunog. We have all these types of emergencies. We have DPWH emergencies.

Mclaine: Ang good thing about this is, pipindot ka lang ng button. Unlike with phone,  saan yung kakausapin mo? Wag wala kang contact number. Pero again, ano to,  if you don’t have direct access dun sa mga frequencies. Pero within the community, pag emergency na,  makukuha mo pa ba mag-dial? 

Pero if you are organized, sabihin mo sa family mo,nakaset na yung mga two-way radios mo in one channel,  or even let’s say, two to three channel for backup. In case of emergency, magkalayo-layo ko,  lahat kayo meron, naka-channel one kayo. Pag-communicate ka na lang. 

Mclaine: Ganun ka-efficient. So, hindi mo na,  ay, paano kung cellphone gamit mo?  Walang signal dun sa area. E nagtago yung anak mo sa isang building. No coverage. Pero within the area,  let’s say, within 200 meters,  makakapag-usap kayo na maayos. Kahit sabihin namin na tayo may kaguluhan.

Philippe: That’s good. That’s good to know. Yeah, so,  I think I’m gonna order one in Shopee right now. Before we end this session,  you mentioned kanina  that it’s quite hard to get a license.  

And, let’s revisit that.  What are the process of a license?  How much would it cost?  How long will it process?

Mclaine: Okay. Una, kailangan mo mag-undergo ng seminar. So, sa Facebook,  may maraming mga nagpo-post  sa mga amateur clubs  or different clubs na nag-sponsor ng seminar. 

Philippe: So, free?

Mclaine: The seminar is free. Pero,  on-site, mayroon kasing babayaran mo yung manual. Kailangan mo mag-purchase ng manual. It’s an SOP.

Philippe: How much is that? 

Mclaine: 200 to 300 or 350 yata. 

Philippe: Ganong makakapal ngayon?

Mclaine: Hindi naman, no. I think mga 100 pages.

Philippe: So, ano yan?  Ano meron?

Mclaine: Basically, kung ano yung nasa seminar,  yun din.  Actually, marami.  Marami kang matututunan doon. Even basic electronics.  Anything basic about two-way radio,  nakakonsistaman doon.

Philippe: Pati yung batas doon?

Mclaine: Merong mga batas  na naka-indicate doon kung ano yung  ano yung pwede,  ano yung hindi po pwede,  ano yung coverage.  I haven’t gone through doon sa…

Philippe: Nobody ever does?

Mclaine: Oo.  Parang manual.Nobody reads the manual from top to bottom.

Philippe: What’s the next step? 

Mclaine: So, after the seminar, you need to find the dates of the exam. Pwede ka magpunta ng NTC na sa any  regional office. 

Philippe: So, may exam?

Mclaine: Merong exam.  The exam is actually  doon din sa take-up na seminar. Okay.  Pero,  ano na lang dito.

Philippe: Formality na lang.

Mclaine: Well, hindi naman siya  totally formality. Kasi yung ibang  nagsaseminar, sinasabi na rin nila,  ito yung mga sagot. Ito yung mga tanong ansagot na lalabas sa exam. Pero, naging wise na si NTC.  Kasi nga,  merong mga iba  na nagleleak  ng exam. So, maraming pumapasa. Yung iba naman,  naglilick pa rin. The same question  actually appears on the exam.

Pero, NTC naging wise na sila. Ang ginagawa nila,  during exam,  niraramble na nila.  Kasi iba,  nakakabisado na nila. Question number one,  ito yung sagot. So, kakabisado na lang nila.  Answer sa one, answer sa two. So, B, B, yan, gano’n.  Pero, ngayon,  niraramble na nila. 

Mclaine: Every exam, niraramble na nila. But, the same question  appears on the exam. So,  pag nag-exam ka, merong element. They categorize it. Element two, three, and four.  Element two, parang doon sa,  nagkatama nga ba ako?  Basta, merong classification for class D,  class C.  So, two, three, four.  

So, yun yung coverage na. Ito yung nakakatawa. Pero, di naman sya totally nakakatawa.  I mean,  the weird thing,  pag na-perfect mo  ang element three and four,  tapos bagsa ka sa two, di mo napasa, hindi ka magkakaroon ng license D.  

Mclaine: Ito ang standard. Yung element two,  kailangan ma-perfect. Hindi mo na ma-perfect, mapasa mo sya.  So, parang item, yata nyo,  is one to fifteen. So, at least,  makakuha ka ng seven.  Pasado ka na.  Kahit bumagsak ka din  sa three and four,  okay lang.

Kasi nga,  pasado ka na, yung class D ka na. Pero pag ito napasa mo,  automatic, class C ka. Kasi ito yung coverage ng class C.  Tama nga ba?  I’m not,  sinasa na, sa mga, yung talaga ako,  hindi ko masyado talaga  pinagtuonan ng pansin  kung tama ba.

Mclaine: Pero ang alam ko, element two, three, four yan. So, isang part,  para dun sa class D, kailangan ipasa mo yun,  hindi ka magiging class C  kung hindi mo ipapasa yung class D.  Kahit i-ma-perfect mo itong questionnaire  for class C, for example,  item is 35.  35, tama lahat yan.

Pero kung dito,  five ka lang.  Bagsak ka pa rin.  Kailangan mong,  para student,  kailangan pumasa ng student. Hindi ka pwedeng mag non-pro agad. Pero,  may mga fixer-fixer dyan. We’re not promoting fixers na, huwag nating sanayin  sarili natin. Let’s do the proper. 

Mclaine: Ako,  nagra-radyo ako since 1990. 1995,  actually,  nag-start. Hindi ako kumuha ng license.  Kasi,  back then, sobrang mahal  magpakukumuha ng license at sobrang hirap. Lately lang ako kumuha. 2021,  ako kumuha ng license. 2022, pumasa ako.  

So, the reason why ako kumuha ng license is,  una, maging legal. Follow the system.  Kung ano yung tama.  Kasi nga,  una-una, nagpo-promote ako ng  two-way ratio. Tapos, hindi pala ako license. Tapos,  aside doon,  so, seminar and then exam. So,  pag kuha mo na exam, pag pumasa ka na, you have the option.  

Mclaine: Pwede kang  mag-request  ng special. Kung ano gusto mo,  kunwari,  APX. Depende yan sa classification  or district. Kunwari,  if you’re in  Manila, that is  DY1.  So,  meron siyang  clustering. So,  Metro Manila, District 1.  So,  there is a wide district.

Pag naman,  District 2,  yun na yung  sa District 2,  Ilocos, District 3,  Bulacan, Region 3.  So,  may mga ganun.  And then, you could request for  a specific call sign.  Let’s say, kunwari,  ikaw,  APX. DY1, APX.  

Mclaine: Depende, kung available sa system, walang gumagamit,  you could. Pero, pag nag-request ka na, pag pumasa ka na,  pag nag-file ka na do’n,  pwede mo ilagay yung  mga gusto mong call sign.

Philippe: Okay,  from  seminar  to exam, gaano katagal yung exam?  And,  gaano matagal  makuha  yung results? 

Mclaine: After exam,  the result, actually, minsan, one week lang. Three to four days,  minsan,  depende.  Pero,  if you,  pag nag-take ka dito sa main, the same day,  makukuha yung siya.  But,  you need to wait for at least  two hours, one to two hours.

Philippe: that’s fast.

Mclaine: So,  malalaman mo na agad,  kung pasado ka na.

Philippe: Let’s say pasado ka na,  what’s the next step?

Mclaine: Pwede mo na i-process,  kung maaga pa, kung bukas pa yung ano. Pwede mo nang tapusin.  Yung iba,  wala,  basta may license lang,  sige, pasa,  kahit ano.

Philippe: Ano yung main requirements? para ano?

Mclaine: The requirements is,  2×2 ID, and then,  magkano ba yun?  70 pesos yata,  for the,  processing.  For the processing. 

Philippe: And then,  yung license mismo,  magkano? 

Mclaine: Wala na, yun na yun.

Philippe:  So, overall,  makanang binayad mo overall?

Mclaine: So,  masamahal pa yung manual.  300 sa booklet, manual, and then,  yung exam. I think,  50 pesos sa registration, then 70.  So, 500,  more or less.

Philippe: For the whole process?

Mclaine: Oo, yun na.  Ang matagal lang talaga doon,  is,  mag-await ka ng seminar. Pero, I think, sa main, meron ng seminar doon.  So, pag nagpunta ka doon,  hindi automatic,  pag nag-seminar ka,  exam ka na,  no.  Babalik ka ulit,  the other.

Philippe: Ano yung,  okay,  500 for ano?  Is this,  yung license? How,  what’s, how long yung validity,validity of the license?

Mclaine: Okay, validity nga, for the, for the first issuance, is good for one year. And then,  pag, within the one year,so,  you need to renew, pag na-renew mo na siya,  good for three years na siya.

Philippe: And then,  lagi three years?

Mclaine: Oo,  every three years na siya.

Philippe: Magkano yung renewal? 

Mclaine: 300 plus.  Oo

Philippe: mahal din yung renewal.

Mclaine: Oo,  mahal din.

Philippe: Affordable pa din.  Oo.  Sa bagay,  it’s not that expensive,  kasi ano,  if,  wala masyadong,  sino yung mga nagtitake ng ganyan, seminar?  Security agencies,  kasama dyan yung mga military,  or is this just for the public?

Mclaine: okay. Yung nabanggit ko na exam,  this is for amateur pa lang ha. For amateur.  Pero, mas madali sa commercial, like yung mga security agencies,  kasi RLM,  Radio Land Mobile Seminar. So, ito,  yung seminar for RLM,  mas maiksito,  two hour seminar, and then after ng seminar, pwede ka na makakuha ng RLM.

Philippe:  Why is it easier for commercial?

Mclaine: Kasi nga,  unlike with amateur,  meron ka pa, merong seminar,  and then may exam. Si,  sa commercial,  walang exam. Attend the seminar for two hours,  two to three hours,  that’s it. How do you qualify? Processing ka na.

Philippe: How do you qualify for, as a commercial?

Mclaine: Anyone could actually have,  can apply for RLM. Basta,gagamit,  if you want to use the radio,  especially the commercial, yung,  commercial is,  one, four,  six,  and then above, and then the 440, yung nabanggit ko kanina, 440 megahertz pataas. Commercial frequency, na naka-allocate.

Philippe: If I want,  if, okay,  so can I bypass the amateur  and just go commercial?

Mclaine: Yes, pwede. But, sa commercial, one frequency lang. Unlike with amateur,  sa amateur,  you could roam from 144 to 146 megahertz. Pwede kang lumipat doon.  Any frequency within that band. I see. Sa commercial,  you are going to be assigned with one frequency only.

Philippe:  Of your choosing?

Mclaine: Yes. Na-ya-allow sa’yo.  Ah, okay You choose, pero you need to ask permission  to NTC na,  ito yung gagamitin namin frequency. Pero hindi siya naka-indicate doon sa RLM ID 1. Pero,  I think, merong certification,  like the security agency.  

Siyempre,  security agency,  hindi mong palipat-lipat  ng frequency, doon lang sila. Yung lang ya-assign sa kanila. Like the,  like the civic group din.  Pag nag-apply sila,  yun lang din yung,  i-assign. Pero, mas maraming gusto sa amateur.  Kasi,  madami. Less ang bayarin dito.

Philippe:  Talaga?   Magkano sa commercial? 

Mclaine: Sa commercial,  pag kumuha ka ng RLM,  mas mura. Pero, if you’re going to set up for legality,  para to register your group, mas mahal. Registering your group, and then yung setting up your  radio towers, doon mas mahal. Sa amateur, parang,  una,  process, get a license. 

Seminar, license,  so, lisensado ka na,  pwede ka na mag-operate ng radio mo. I guess, pwede ka na rin magtayo ng setup mo,  depende sa class,  depende sa class mo na lang.  Dito, yun.  Ah, ayun.  Sa amateur pala,  kailangan mo i-register,  kung pwede kang,  pwede kang maging  sole, parang,  pwede kang hindi sumali  sa any amateur club.  Pag-amateur.

Philippe: So, pwedeng solo na?

Mclaine: Pwede kang, as long as you have license. So, amaturista ka na yan. Ah, sa, and then, if you’re going to join a club,  ah, syempre,  yung club na bahala kung mag-re-register sila  ng,  if you’re going to set up their own repeater.  Pero, yun. Laging, ang process noon, yung pay permit to purchase,  tapos, bibili ka lang doon sa authorized dealer, para ma, ma-approve ng NTC, and then, you pay for the dues,  and then, yung pagpaparegister ng, group. 

Sa pagpaparegister ng amateur group, kailangan ng 25 active member. So, kailangan may 25. Sa civic, ganun din. pero ang sabi sa akin nung isang attorney, amateur and then civic din sya,, mas magastos nga, which is mas magastos nga. Kasi dito kailangan mo ng SEC registration sa civic group, ang kailangan ng NTC is SEC registration, actually si amateur din, kailangan din ng SEC registration, pero mas mabusisi dito sa civic eh,

Philippe: Pg amateir kailangan SEC, hindi lang DTI?

Mclaine: Ah, hindi kailangan ng DTI, SEC registration, and then yung amateur club registration.

Philippe: Ah, for the amateur, akal ko parang,. Kahit solo ka dapat SEC registration.

Mclaine: No, pag solo ka you don’t need to join any club, for as long as you have the license, pero syempre saan mo gagamitin yung ano mo, kung wala kang. Yung iba,, like ako, before, hindi naman ako kumuha ng license para sumali sa club eh, I just want to be legal sa pag operate ng radio, in case na ma question ako, kasi yung iba, kinuquestion nila. Sabi ikw? my lisensya ka na ba?

Wala pa. O, ang tagal tagal mo ng nag raradyo, tapos, ilegal ka pala.isa ka sa kolorum. Yun tawag nila dun, mga kolorum.

Philippe: Thank you for the fundamental knowledge of radio communications, We have Mclaine here. Let’s do another round of session after, lets look at the real life application of how to use this if there’s a national disaster or there’s any calamity. Very very beneficial yan.

Maybe we have a back up on every household and importante talaga sya in case of power cell sites go down, that’s our last resort pag wala na yan, I don’t know what’s our last resort. Baka ano na lang fire signals.

Philippe: Alright. Thank you Mclaine.