If you point out that these radios do not offer free usage, the company will block you from their page so you cannot comment. The truth is that when you buy a set, you prepaid for a SIM card that runs for one year. If you want the units to function after that, you must buy another prepaid SIM card for $50 per radio per year - 2 radios $100, 3 radios $150, etc. So their practices are shady. Add to that fact that if a cell tower goes down, or you’re out of cell phone range your “radio” is useless.
Their website also says nonsense like “With the on-going crisis in the Middle East & Europe, the threat of Cyberattacks on the USA, and the uncertainty of WW3 you simply CAN NOT RELY on Cell Phones and Internet for Communications in the Future!”. This is complete BS because these radios rely on the same cellular networks lol.
These radios Require Outside Infrastructure That You Have NO Control Over. Traditional VHF/UFH radios can Simplex, radio to radio, no third party involved. Or you can talk through repeaters. I feel that people thinking of these for "prepping" have no idea how these work OR Would Not Work.... Rapid Radios are PTT Cell Phones, in a very basic sense.
Correct. These radios are essentially cell phones that use the Internet for communication. If Internet connection is not available, or no cell tower is in range, they're not any good.
some of these comments kill me (most of them). As a licensed amateur radio operator, GMRS, and tech enthusiast, I still know these have a purpose. And Eddie clearly shows that in the video. These are NOT SHTF devices. These are for every day use communication, same as your cell phone. We all know cell phones will not work if SHTF. But we all still have one. These aren't designed to replace a ham radio or a cell phone. They are simply for quick easy convenient communications, good for businesses or quick chats with people you frequently talk to. They serve a purpose, but doesn't cover all scenarios. If that's what you are expecting, get a satphone.
Do they have channels? Who all can hear your transmission? Will they send text or hold missed transmissions (aka, leave a message)? Please and thank you.
CORRECT! HOWEVER THE COMPANY IS MISLEADING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THIS WILL WORK REGARDLESS IF THE CELL TOWERS ARE DOWN. AND THEY SAY 0 SUBSCRIPTION AND YOU HAVE TO PAY $50 A YEAR. SCAM!!! ONLY SUCKERS BUY THESE.😂😂😂😂
@@Robbie-sk6vc Thanks for the response. Does this mean that the user has to deal with other people's traffic and that everyone can hear my transmission?
@@ronfox5519 Your welcome! You only have to deal with the traffic from your group. I don't think others can hear you. You can put other people on your plain. But I don't think the general population can hear what's going on. That's my understanding anyway. I hope this helps!
I used to love these when I had a Nextel. Theres also apps that do similar things with your phone. So long as everyone understands this is cell phone infrastructure and technology. Its true that if your cellphone can't connect, this may, just as when your cell phone doesn't connect, but someone elses can. These may even have roaming network agreements so can work on one service if the other is down. However, if theres no cell tower in range, or that tower doesn't have power, these are incapable of working.
I saw an ad on facebook for these and tried asking about the no fees or contracts saying but after 1 year you have to pay 50 bucks a year per radio forever. Within 30 seconds my comment was deleted. So, I will not order from them if they do business like that. They should show every question and answer them accordingly to be fair. Felt like bad business to me.
Yep, it's very deceptive that they claim they "never charge monthly fees", but you do have to pay a $50 annual fee to keep using these expensive radios after the first year.
@@donalderickson-si8wwThat's not accurate. You're thinking of vhf/uhf ham radios, which do in fact use repeater towers (like gmrs). However, ham radios have so many more capabilities and bands, from ssb, digital, am, and when using HF can go hundreds and thousands of miles with no tower, no infrastructure of any kind.
Well There are several modes in ham radio. Yes you can use a repeater for VHF or UHF and Even on HF bands. They also have digital modes like DMR, Dstar, C4FM etc.. to many to list. Once you get in the world of ham radio you won't give these radios a second look.
I sent the company an inquiry on how these would work. I travel and hike in areas where there is no cell phone service from any company and wanted to know if they would work. I thought I was talking with a politician. Told me everything but what I asked. Then, after having to force it out of them it felt like, they admitted there was an annual fee even though they advertise as no monthly usage fee. If a company works this hard to hide information, they are not for me no matter how good their product may or may not be.
If y’all would watch the whole video, he tells you that they use cell towers and won’t work when they’re down and you’d have to use something different they work great for what they’re intended for
I had this on my Nextel cell phone back when they merged with Sprint years ago. It is basically a cell phone and works over cell towers. You most likely need to pay for cell service to use these.
Many people do not realize on their smart phone they can use voice messaging. It is not direct communication. But you can send a voice message to an individual and the reciever can answer you back at their convenience or they can answer back in seconds.
I would highly recommend staying away from rapid radios any company that falsely advertises you have to really question plus again if the self service goes out completely, these are completely useless
They want you to click on the link’ it’s just an AD! Once you click on the link, all the info is there! People are just too lazy to do their own research.
What happens if the cellular services were to no longer exist for whatever reason? Do these still work …I have to assume they wouldn’t work meaning it’s not useful in a catastrophic situation.
I was curious so I asked on their FB add if there were any fees ever. They blocked the question almost instantly. I took a screen shot but I was unable to paste it here.
I have 3. I love them and the company is great. You can add new people to your group by coordinating that with the company. They will make it happen for you.
The company is so great that they block people for pointing out the fact that there is an ongoing cost. I was going to get one but due to that fact alone they can go F-off.
I had netel during the Hurricane Rita evacuation of Houston Rita only communications that was stable was Nextel cell service was overwhelm and not working
Eddie thanks for the great information. This is not a SHTF radio which what I expected. But it did bring up my awareness that I need to get a satellite phone
I use these for business and they are awesome for what they are. 50 bucks a year is cheaper than any cell on a business plan and it’s quicker than a cell when running machinery
Idk why this is so confusing to people….. it’s a portable radio. Just like any other. Instead of using 100-800mhz frequencies in an analog or digital fashion it uses digital cellular frequencies. Instead of using radio to radio (simplex) for short range and 100-800mhz repeaters for long range. It just only uses cellular repeaters (cell towers) to talk that’s it….. it’s just a radio that rx and tx on a cell frequency rather than a traditional lower frequency……. The upside is nationwide connectivity. You don’t need a permit you don’t have to set up your own repeaters or talk to man children ham operators and ask for permission to talk on their repeaters you can just… talk. Even if the signal goes down it can still operate on a 1g level instead of 4g. Downside is that if you have a legit total blackout you can’t use it at all.
Just bought two, to test run. I understand what I bought. The price is very reasonable for what you are getting. I feel peoples expectations are unrealistic!
I agree with most of your comments but when i was in high school i had no objection to studying for a ham radio license and supporting repeaters financially and with sweat equity. Cellular phones were non-existent but I could make phone calls via my HT and it was worth following the rules to be able to do that. Never had a bad experience with other hams back then. I see childish behavior by a lot of so called adults now, not just amateur radio ops.
@@markbogen8970 This is my thoughts as well. I plan to buy the 2 pack and just make sure the family has one at home and I have one on me. The fact that it will hit multiple cell-towers/carriers is a lot better than just relying on your cellphones during a major emergency. EMP proof? Probably Not. For the price range and the peace of mind it can give families like mine for when the cell service is shot, these are perfect for that.
Getting excited about talking 10, 20 or 50 miles on one of these is like being amazed that you can talk across town on a cell phone. These "radios" are cellular devices that have "no monthly fee" but cost $50 each a year. That's right, if you have 3 that's $150 a year. Best part, try going somewhere like the back country where your cell phone is dead. No cell service, no talkie. Your $50 a year "radios" can't even talk 100 yards without cell service. These are only as reliable as the cellular network. I wonder if you let you subscription lapse... Is there an additional "reconnect" fee? What if Rapid Radio goes under, do you now have expensive paper weights?
I have 11 radios we talked from nevada ,cal and idaho simultaneously, clearer than cell signal at this point , battery really strong ,we keep them in a Faraday bag just in case cellular phone gets attacked from EMP and no cell phones left after stores are empty , not perfect but cheap backup
What I'm very disappointed with is There is no phone connection with the company themself. I've never been able to leave a message email. Is your only chance. Concerning
These radios are not free to use. $50 per year PER PHONE. This TH-camr is one of the few that is actually stating this in his promotion, so thanks for that.
I can talk 50 miles with only 10 watts rms on the 10 meter band and the antenna 15 feet off the ground. If it wasn't for all the trees the distance would be grater.
In the nineties i was a Telephone internet installer tech in Tucson, AZ. All techs were issued similar radios by the company, supplied by Motorola. You would get them at your local commercial radio store.When you talked, all other techs can hear and reply to you. The supervisors had a private channel or could talk to any individual tech, or make an All Call. This is nothing new. But anyone with a business with employees in the field can purchase them. For fast communications, they are an asset. I would imagine they cost a lot less then Motorola. My guess is Motorola designed and marketed this system.
nice thing about these, they are not on only one system, the sim card they have uses All the major systems, and these look for the next strongest system if one goes down, they told me strongest signal is what it seeks.
Their website says they will work on cruise ships, nope. Took them on the Icon of the Seas in November 2024 and not only do they not work on the ship, they don't work out of the U.S. in any Latin America countries, very disappointed. Other than that, we still use them in the U.S. Not a deal breaker.
I hope they fail. Their CEO signed off on marketing saying "No Monthly Fees-No Subscriptions" No Hidden Fees" but there are yearly fees. What a joke. Their business model is to put that in the fine print then after a year you go to use it, it doesnt work, you call em and have to pay $50 each for them to work again.
CMCT does not stand for Comcast. It stands for Concurrent Multi-Channel Transmission. It never changes from CMCT because the SIM card the radio is using is programmed for multiple cell carriers.
Many cell towers have generators as a backup in case of power outages so these MAY work in certain locations. But the local GMRS repeater in my area does not have a power backup. I guess it’s always good to have a couple of ways to communicate. Still on the fence on RAPID RADIO…
omg i have been seeing these damn things all over my fb. and as a HAM with real radios, it has been pissing me off seeing the lies this company pukes out and all these people buying into it. this is not a radio for emergency. it is a ptt cell phone very much like the old Nextel PTT phone back in the day. i tried to catch their marketing team in the lie, asking them that if the "cell service is out" then how is their "radio" going to work. ugh it just chaps my ass lol thanks for clearing the air and bringing truth
Sounds like the 2nd beep after is when the repeater pings the other persons 2-way. Thanks for the review. Products good to me. Can't beat the Yearly cost.
That's incorrect.They run on all carrier 4G-LTE networks, Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, and others. They don't use the same frequency. Cell service could be down but these ride a carrier frequency from which all towers have battery backup in outages. Cellular outages have no effect. HAM radio is still the best but these for what they are can go way farther for way cheaper than HAM. PTT like Nextel was limited to their towers. These run on all towers so they do get service in mountains. There will be dead spots but pull up a 4G LTE map with the 3 big carriers. You can get out immediately across the nation. Again, these are not perfect but for any serious comms people this is a must have tech for your tool box for when the SHTF
@@PropertyInsuranceClaims nice sales pitch, the carrier frequency is the cell service. Power backup is pointless if the backbone is down. These rely on someone else, carriers, to move the traffic. That is the failure of this expensive device.
Coming in for a second comment. Great job on the video. You have experienced some of the same pros and cons that I have. Like you said, mostly pros. I was unaware of what the CMCT meant. Thank you for that. Again, I love them. With the battery life, as I’m sure you know, transmitting will deplete the battery faster but it still lasts a long time. It seems that there is also no problem with using the radio while plugged in and charging.
Were we ride there are dead areas with the cell phone. Would the company be good about us returning it if this device gets the same dead spots? Because if this device also does not work in out areas it useless.
Won't this type of service have the same problems as mobile phones? As in when something happens, everybody jumps on the phone, and nobody can get through reliably. At least with ham radio and private repeaters, the system won't be overwhelmed or jammed.
@@billbrady3998 I think they use a different band than regular cell phones. So even during congestion they should work. Yes you need a cell service but for example when AT&T went down, your AT&T phone also went down. These would jump to a different carrier. They are really a more robust cell phone but are badly marketed with some misrepresentation making people think they are like movie radios that work anywhere imo.
The Motorola phones had push to talk way back in the 90s. As long as you had the persons phone group in yours, you could speak to them just like these. Anyone in the group can hear your conversation. These are nothing new. At least CBs, GMRS, and FMRS, don’t require cell service as long as you have line of site.
The fact that they are being shady about the cost is a big negative, then that they let people add your group name is not very secure, then the fact that if I had one and we wanted to connect, we have to have the company do that. I can see where these have some great uses, like a small company that has a few drivers and instead of giving them cell phones that they would be using to talk to all their friends and have a 25.00 a month bill. I was interested until I saw how shady they are about the price, yet I would not have a problem with that price, and the fact "I" can't add friends.
I have many radios, and I ended up ordering 6 of these Rapid Radios. Tested for almost a month. I returned them. Don't buy. Reception was bad, if you want to add contacts, you have to contact the company. The operating system is trash, and they are definitely not a "if all else fails" option. Don't waste your money on these. For claiming they use multiple towers, the reception is horrible! When you don't have reception, you can't even enter the menu. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME, OR MONEY!
I ordered a set of six. How long did it take you to receive your radios because I’m afraid that I won’t get them but they they took my money. How long did it take you to receive your radios?
All I know is if I need to use a radio vs cell phone its most likely cause I only need to speak within a few miles etc. If I need to speak to someone beyond that I use my cell phone. So it seems like a gimmick, and it depends on carriers. Which means at any time in the future a carrier or carriers can decide not to allow the service on their networks, this thing becomes a paper weight. At least a Nextel had both cell service and radio service combined.
If you want a radio that you can talk to anywhere get yourself a ham license and get yourself a nice little hand held 2 meter radio and you'll be able to talk around the world without having to worry about cell phone towers or anything literally 2 meters you can talk to Australia without connecting to any towers or worrying about having signal because it's guaranteed you're going to reach out and talk to somebody on two meter radio
I purchased under false advertisement .. Im wanting a radio that I can communitcate w/ family when shit hits the fan for Emergencys .. No cell service or ways to contact loved ones . Does anyone know of a radio that will work like that ??
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If you point out that these radios do not offer free usage, the company will block you from their page so you cannot comment. The truth is that when you buy a set, you prepaid for a SIM card that runs for one year. If you want the units to function after that, you must buy another prepaid SIM card for $50 per radio per year - 2 radios $100, 3 radios $150, etc. So their practices are shady. Add to that fact that if a cell tower goes down, or you’re out of cell phone range your “radio” is useless.
Kinda silly they would hide those charges. It's not like $50 a year would be a deal breaker.
yes that's what they do. lets stop this company ready for a class action suit
Ahhhh... so no monthly fees cause you prepay for a whole year.... very shady advertising.
Their website also says nonsense like “With the on-going crisis in the Middle East & Europe, the threat of Cyberattacks on the USA, and the uncertainty of WW3 you simply CAN NOT RELY on Cell Phones and Internet for Communications in the Future!”.
This is complete BS because these radios rely on the same cellular networks lol.
Agree just easier to get your amateur radio license or gmrs license.
These radios Require Outside Infrastructure That You Have NO Control Over. Traditional VHF/UFH radios can Simplex, radio to radio, no third party involved. Or you can talk through repeaters. I feel that people thinking of these for "prepping" have no idea how these work OR Would Not Work.... Rapid Radios are PTT Cell Phones, in a very basic sense.
Yeah I. The end of times these are useless but for now these are great
Correct. These radios are essentially cell phones that use the Internet for communication. If Internet connection is not available, or no cell tower is in range, they're not any good.
@@sambrooks7510 I run GMRS, VHF/UHF and HF radios at the base station and Mobile. World wide comms that Always Work!
I really don't see a use case for these. Also, the advertising is misleading
They have a set that are VHF/UHF that do work well. I own a set of both as we camp and hike often. They work well.
This was not designed as a SHTF device. It is primarily for businesses or families that like the PTT feature.
Thumbs up!
some of these comments kill me (most of them). As a licensed amateur radio operator, GMRS, and tech enthusiast, I still know these have a purpose. And Eddie clearly shows that in the video. These are NOT SHTF devices. These are for every day use communication, same as your cell phone. We all know cell phones will not work if SHTF. But we all still have one. These aren't designed to replace a ham radio or a cell phone. They are simply for quick easy convenient communications, good for businesses or quick chats with people you frequently talk to. They serve a purpose, but doesn't cover all scenarios. If that's what you are expecting, get a satphone.
Do they have channels? Who all can hear your transmission? Will they send text or hold missed transmissions (aka, leave a message)?
Please and thank you.
CORRECT! HOWEVER THE COMPANY IS MISLEADING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THIS WILL WORK REGARDLESS IF THE CELL TOWERS ARE DOWN. AND THEY SAY 0 SUBSCRIPTION AND YOU HAVE TO PAY $50 A YEAR. SCAM!!! ONLY SUCKERS BUY THESE.😂😂😂😂
@@ronfox5519They don't have channels.
@@Robbie-sk6vc
Thanks for the response.
Does this mean that the user has to deal with other people's traffic and that everyone can hear my transmission?
@@ronfox5519 Your welcome! You only have to deal with the traffic from your group. I don't think others can hear you. You can put other people on your plain. But I don't think the general population can hear what's going on. That's my understanding anyway. I hope this helps!
I used to love these when I had a Nextel. Theres also apps that do similar things with your phone.
So long as everyone understands this is cell phone infrastructure and technology. Its true that if your cellphone can't connect, this may, just as when your cell phone doesn't connect, but someone elses can. These may even have roaming network agreements so can work on one service if the other is down. However, if theres no cell tower in range, or that tower doesn't have power, these are incapable of working.
Nextel used to offer the PTT style phones on the Sprint network years ago
I miss the nextels
A lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I used to love Nextel. I miss Nextel so much.
I loved them for work.
...Nextels... Great, I would call up my wife while working in Honolulu and she was at the house in Oregon
Just a modern day Nextel that shift carrier towers
Yup, won’t replace a sat phone. Which is far far better. These aren’t shit
Miss those days
I saw an ad on facebook for these and tried asking about the no fees or contracts saying but after 1 year you have to pay 50 bucks a year per radio forever. Within 30 seconds my comment was deleted. So, I will not order from them if they do business like that. They should show every question and answer them accordingly to be fair. Felt like bad business to me.
Yep, it's very deceptive that they claim they "never charge monthly fees", but you do have to pay a $50 annual fee to keep using these expensive radios after the first year.
You need to research ham radios. So versatile and reliable. You can track, text, email with them. Distance is as far as you need.
thay operate on a tower as G M R S does
@@donalderickson-si8wwham and gmrs don’t work on “towers.” They run on frequencies and repeaters.
@@donalderickson-si8wwThat's not accurate.
You're thinking of vhf/uhf ham radios, which do in fact use repeater towers (like gmrs). However, ham radios have so many more capabilities and bands, from ssb, digital, am, and when using HF can go hundreds and thousands of miles with no tower, no infrastructure of any kind.
Well There are several modes in ham radio. Yes you can use a repeater for VHF or UHF and Even on HF bands. They also have digital modes like DMR, Dstar, C4FM etc.. to many to list. Once you get in the world of ham radio you won't give these radios a second look.
Learning what if it's across country
I sent the company an inquiry on how these would work. I travel and hike in areas where there is no cell phone service from any company and wanted to know if they would work. I thought I was talking with a politician. Told me everything but what I asked. Then, after having to force it out of them it felt like, they admitted there was an annual fee even though they advertise as no monthly usage fee. If a company works this hard to hide information, they are not for me no matter how good their product may or may not be.
It's a network cellular radio, like Zello is. Digatalk has this also. And yes, Nextel did this Years ago! Remember the BlackBerry?
I KNOW ALL THE CORRUPT POLITICIANS KNOW BLACKBERRY .. JUST ASK 'BLEACH BIT KILLERY(WITH A HAMMER!)'
Both have terrible reviews
Great video, great explanation of what one would/should expect. I order mine tonight and look forward to getting them.
If y’all would watch the whole video, he tells you that they use cell towers and won’t work when they’re down and you’d have to use something different they work great for what they’re intended for
Dude is range testing a cell phone? You can do with with a free app on your phone. It comes in Apple Watch. What a scam.
This works under cell tower, is like NEXTEL back in the days.
If you tell the truth on any of their advertisements they will delete it and block you ..that in it self says a lot of that company
they removed all my comments
Thank you, for your honesty!
I had this on my Nextel cell phone back when they merged with Sprint years ago. It is basically a cell phone and works over cell towers. You most likely need to pay for cell service to use these.
Many people do not realize on their smart phone they can use voice messaging. It is not direct communication. But you can send a voice message to an individual and the reciever can answer you back at their convenience or they can answer back in seconds.
Just ordered 4. Will be a pleasure to use them at work.
They actually worked during recent att outage
So did most cell phones
😂😂😂😂 ATT&T Sucks.
I would highly recommend staying away from rapid radios any company that falsely advertises you have to really question plus again if the self service goes out completely, these are completely useless
It’s just a Nextel …I remember being in class and a buddy would page over some obnoxious shit and would always catch me with it on. 😂
After the first year, it will cost you $50 per radio to renew the cellular data plan. The manufacturer does not tell you that in its ads.
Big Deal - $50 a year ... A whole $4.16 a month. Bunch o haters man
Yes they do its clear as day it tells you when your buying it
it says it on the website... in multiple places
@@PropertyInsuranceClaimsThen why do they have to mislead people? Yes hating companies that lie.
They want you to click on the link’ it’s just an AD! Once you click on the link, all the info is there! People are just too lazy to do their own research.
it's a cellular ptt device NOT a radio.
It uses radio waves. It’s a radio.
@@rapidradios It's still a radio, it transmit and receives.
Technically a cell phone is a radio signal.
What happens if the cellular services were to no longer exist for whatever reason? Do these still work …I have to assume they wouldn’t work meaning it’s not useful in a catastrophic situation.
Exactly they dont. @raymondfournier4104
Requires annual sim card (cellular) annually.
I was curious so I asked on their FB add if there were any fees ever. They blocked the question almost instantly. I took a screen shot but I was unable to paste it here.
Why didn’t you just click on the link to their website? It tells you everything you need to know!
I have 3. I love them and the company is great. You can add new people to your group by coordinating that with the company. They will make it happen for you.
The company is so great that they block people for pointing out the fact that there is an ongoing cost. I was going to get one but due to that fact alone they can go F-off.
We use the Motorola brand for our security company. Cellular ptt
These handheld radios won't be of any use in areas without cellular coverage.
Ikr 😂🤣
So if the cell service gets knocked out, you won’t be able to use these?
Correct. Also, they will not work in areas with no cell coverage.
I had netel during the Hurricane Rita evacuation of Houston Rita only communications that was stable was Nextel cell service was overwhelm and not working
damn ,yah it seems cool until you realize how expensive it would cost a family to maintain 4-8 of these every year
For 4 it’s $200 a year which is like $16.66 a month. For 8 it’s $400 which is $33.33 a month. Who I believe is rather inexpensive!
Eddie thanks for the great information. This is not a SHTF radio which what I expected. But it did bring up my awareness that I need to get a satellite phone
I use these for business and they are awesome for what they are. 50 bucks a year is cheaper than any cell on a business plan and it’s quicker than a cell when running machinery
My dad got some called nxt radios and currently in Jalisco and I’m in Orange County and it’s clear as day and its over 1,000 miles away
I am in the Outer Banks of NC and I talk to my brother and my niece in Daytona Beach and Edgewater Florida with no issues!!!
try Zello on your cell phone... same concept, more cellular bands and you get to control the contacts right on the app
Idk why this is so confusing to people….. it’s a portable radio. Just like any other. Instead of using 100-800mhz frequencies in an analog or digital fashion it uses digital cellular frequencies. Instead of using radio to radio (simplex) for short range and 100-800mhz repeaters for long range. It just only uses cellular repeaters (cell towers) to talk that’s it….. it’s just a radio that rx and tx on a cell frequency rather than a traditional lower frequency……. The upside is nationwide connectivity. You don’t need a permit you don’t have to set up your own repeaters or talk to man children ham operators and ask for permission to talk on their repeaters you can just… talk. Even if the signal goes down it can still operate on a 1g level instead of 4g. Downside is that if you have a legit total blackout you can’t use it at all.
Just bought two, to test run. I understand what I bought.
The price is very reasonable for what you are getting.
I feel peoples expectations are unrealistic!
@@markbogen8970 let me know how you like them. Heard it’s only free for a certain amount of time then you gotta pay a subscription.
@@evosolutionsllc.910first year it’s free, then $50 a year per radio after that first service
I agree with most of your comments but when i was in high school i had no objection to studying for a ham radio license and supporting repeaters financially and with sweat equity. Cellular phones were non-existent but I could make phone calls via my HT and it was worth following the rules to be able to do that. Never had a bad experience with other hams back then. I see childish behavior by a lot of so called adults now, not just amateur radio ops.
@@markbogen8970 This is my thoughts as well. I plan to buy the 2 pack and just make sure the family has one at home and I have one on me. The fact that it will hit multiple cell-towers/carriers is a lot better than just relying on your cellphones during a major emergency. EMP proof? Probably Not. For the price range and the peace of mind it can give families like mine for when the cell service is shot, these are perfect for that.
So basically, they reinvented Nextel
Yeah, the distance between devices doesn't matter on cell devices.
This is a cool review. I live out in East County and have been looking at these radios. Now I know they work great in my area.
Reminds me of the station to station function of the early 90’s Motorola Startac.
“I don’t know how this works but I recommend it” Why do we tolerate this?
The catch is $50 per year each device after one year.
No monthly fee but yes yearly fee.
These radios are basically upgraded version of the old Nextel phones
Getting excited about talking 10, 20 or 50 miles on one of these is like being amazed that you can talk across town on a cell phone. These "radios" are cellular devices that have "no monthly fee" but cost $50 each a year. That's right, if you have 3 that's $150 a year. Best part, try going somewhere like the back country where your cell phone is dead. No cell service, no talkie. Your $50 a year "radios" can't even talk 100 yards without cell service.
These are only as reliable as the cellular network.
I wonder if you let you subscription lapse... Is there an additional "reconnect" fee?
What if Rapid Radio goes under, do you now have expensive paper weights?
I have 11 radios we talked from nevada ,cal and idaho simultaneously, clearer than cell signal at this point , battery really strong ,we keep them in a Faraday bag just in case cellular phone gets attacked from EMP and no cell phones left after stores are empty , not perfect but cheap backup
What I'm very disappointed with is There is no phone connection with the company themself. I've never been able to leave a message email. Is your only chance. Concerning
GREAT review EXCELLENT in my opinion. Because of your video I will be purchasing the Rapid radios👍🏾
These radios are not free to use. $50 per year PER PHONE. This TH-camr is one of the few that is actually stating this in his promotion, so thanks for that.
I can talk 50 miles with only 10 watts rms on the 10 meter band and the antenna 15 feet off the ground. If it wasn't for all the trees the distance would be grater.
I run. My gmrs. Ham. Cb. Vhf uhf no celltowers needed
In the nineties i was a Telephone internet installer tech in Tucson, AZ. All techs were issued similar radios by the company, supplied by Motorola. You would get them at your local commercial radio store.When you talked, all other techs can hear and reply to you. The supervisors had a private channel or could talk to any individual tech, or make an All Call. This is nothing new. But anyone with a business with employees in the field can purchase them. For fast communications, they are an asset. I would imagine they cost a lot less then Motorola. My guess is Motorola designed and marketed this system.
So these are similar to what Nextel was. Once the company dissolves so does your radio/cell phone.
At least you gave a honest review
nice thing about these, they are not on only one system, the sim card they have uses All the major systems, and these look for the next strongest system if one goes down, they told me strongest signal is what it seeks.
If the cellular network (LTE) (5G) (3G) goes down they are a paperweight.
Their website says they will work on cruise ships, nope. Took them on the Icon of the Seas in November 2024 and not only do they not work on the ship, they don't work out of the U.S. in any Latin America countries, very disappointed. Other than that, we still use them in the U.S. Not a deal breaker.
I hope they fail. Their CEO signed off on marketing saying "No Monthly Fees-No Subscriptions" No Hidden Fees" but there are yearly fees. What a joke. Their business model is to put that in the fine print then after a year you go to use it, it doesnt work, you call em and have to pay $50 each for them to work again.
Cellular service only, they do not connect to raido or HAM repeaters.
I just got ordered 4 of them and less than 24 hrs one of them got deactivated won’t work no service at all
Hi Eddie
Great video. Can you tell me the price of 1 handset and where you purchased it, please?
CMCT does not stand for Comcast. It stands for Concurrent Multi-Channel Transmission. It never changes from CMCT because the SIM card the radio is using is programmed for multiple cell carriers.
Well according to the company when I asked them they said it was comcast
Many cell towers have generators as a backup in case of power outages so these MAY work in certain locations.
But the local GMRS repeater in my area does not have a power backup.
I guess it’s always good to have a couple of ways to communicate.
Still on the fence on RAPID RADIO…
Thats a good point..
Without cell towers, it dont work...so it's a cell phone
omg i have been seeing these damn things all over my fb. and as a HAM with real radios, it has been pissing me off seeing the lies this company pukes out and all these people buying into it. this is not a radio for emergency. it is a ptt cell phone very much like the old Nextel PTT phone back in the day. i tried to catch their marketing team in the lie, asking them that if the "cell service is out" then how is their "radio" going to work. ugh it just chaps my ass lol thanks for clearing the air and bringing truth
Sounds like the 2nd beep after is when the repeater pings the other persons 2-way. Thanks for the review. Products good to me. Can't beat the Yearly cost.
There’s a catch. It’s a cell based device. When the cell network drops, no talky-talky…. These are trash
That's incorrect.They run on all carrier 4G-LTE networks, Verizon, ATT, T-Mobile, and others. They don't use the same frequency. Cell service could be down but these ride a carrier frequency from which all towers have battery backup in outages. Cellular outages have no effect. HAM radio is still the best but these for what they are can go way farther for way cheaper than HAM. PTT like Nextel was limited to their towers. These run on all towers so they do get service in mountains. There will be dead spots but pull up a 4G LTE map with the 3 big carriers. You can get out immediately across the nation. Again, these are not perfect but for any serious comms people this is a must have tech for your tool box for when the SHTF
@@PropertyInsuranceClaims nice sales pitch, the carrier frequency is the cell service. Power backup is pointless if the backbone is down. These rely on someone else, carriers, to move the traffic. That is the failure of this expensive device.
Coming in for a second comment. Great job on the video. You have experienced some of the same pros and cons that I have. Like you said, mostly pros. I was unaware of what the CMCT meant. Thank you for that. Again, I love them. With the battery life, as I’m sure you know, transmitting will deplete the battery faster but it still lasts a long time. It seems that there is also no problem with using the radio while plugged in and charging.
Have you renewed your sim cards yet? I want to make sure after the first year and I pay the $100 it's still going to work
@@cameroncameronh5098 I have not yet. They are only about three or four months old.
These radio are connected by the cell phone towers. As long as you have cell phone coverage the walkie talkies should work
Will these work in the Rocky mountain wilderness which have no cellular service for instance?
So if you already have cell phone you do not need this radio. THANK YOU for explained
And it wasn't until much searching that I found that without cell service, no service at all. Defeats any use for us.
Were we ride there are dead areas with the cell phone. Would the company be good about us returning it if this device gets the same dead spots? Because if this device also does not work in out areas it useless.
I HAVE A RAPID RADIO AND TALK TO MY DAUGHTER IN FLORIDA FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
Thank you for the information! ❤
this is Not going to work in an emergency if you lost cell service or if your in a no cell zone like up in the mountains... i went with Rocky Talkie
Any Discount Code? Thanks😊
This was some GOOD Information to know about these Radios. I think they're a GREAT TOOL to have.
Found the exact unbranded ones on alibaba for cheaper.
Did they have the year of service?
@@drwheycooler8423 I don't think so. But they are over $200 cheaper.
Won't this type of service have the same problems as mobile phones? As in when something happens, everybody jumps on the phone, and nobody can get through reliably. At least with ham radio and private repeaters, the system won't be overwhelmed or jammed.
Another question that must be asked, & answered.
@@billbrady3998 I think they use a different band than regular cell phones. So even during congestion they should work. Yes you need a cell service but for example when AT&T went down, your AT&T phone also went down. These would jump to a different carrier. They are really a more robust cell phone but are badly marketed with some misrepresentation making people think they are like movie radios that work anywhere imo.
yes its using the cellular network.
Yep. Not a traditional short wave. If the cellular network goes down, so do these radios.
The Motorola phones had push to talk way back in the 90s. As long as you had the persons phone group in yours, you could speak to them just like these. Anyone in the group can hear your conversation. These are nothing new. At least CBs, GMRS, and FMRS, don’t require cell service as long as you have line of site.
It does seem to be a useful tool for specific circumstances, but it's not a SHTF radio.
The fact that they are being shady about the cost is a big negative, then that they let people add your group name is not very secure, then the fact that if I had one and we wanted to connect, we have to have the company do that. I can see where these have some great uses, like a small company that has a few drivers and instead of giving them cell phones that they would be using to talk to all their friends and have a 25.00 a month bill. I was interested until I saw how shady they are about the price, yet I would not have a problem with that price, and the fact "I" can't add friends.
We had this but better with nextell since it was built into a normal cellphone
Put Zello on your phone. Same thing.
Have you tried it in the desert iam curious how it’s going to work out in glamis, i ordered mine yesterday
I have many radios, and I ended up ordering 6 of these Rapid Radios. Tested for almost a month. I returned them. Don't buy. Reception was bad, if you want to add contacts, you have to contact the company. The operating system is trash, and they are definitely not a "if all else fails" option. Don't waste your money on these. For claiming they use multiple towers, the reception is horrible! When you don't have reception, you can't even enter the menu. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME, OR MONEY!
I ordered a set of six. How long did it take you to receive your radios because I’m afraid that I won’t get them but they they took my money. How long did it take you to receive your radios?
Couple days
I have the same feeling, I reached out and they said my radios would tentatively sent out within the next few weeks
@@adrock0113 I finally received mine they work great they work great
Distance means nothing, these are LTE radios, if you're near a cell tower, you're talking.
Any Cell Phone will do the same thing. All dependent on Cell Signal Strength, useless in the wilderness or after the SHTF goes down.
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what was the kenwood radio you spoke of
Nextel was good !!
Which Ham Radio would you recommend?
anytone 878, or new one this summer anytone 890
Have you tried out the KayoTom or the Wuri models
Please inform me as I am new to all this new stuff but. Want to get one or two for. Privacy
All I know is if I need to use a radio vs cell phone its most likely cause I only need to speak within a few miles etc. If I need to speak to someone beyond that I use my cell phone. So it seems like a gimmick, and it depends on carriers. Which means at any time in the future a carrier or carriers can decide not to allow the service on their networks, this thing becomes a paper weight. At least a Nextel had both cell service and radio service combined.
I use a gmrs radios I prefer or a ham radio
I'm sure it is stated somewhere and I'm just missing it; can someone tell me how to create a group with a friend who also has a radio?
If you want a radio that you can talk to anywhere get yourself a ham license and get yourself a nice little hand held 2 meter radio and you'll be able to talk around the world without having to worry about cell phone towers or anything literally 2 meters you can talk to Australia without connecting to any towers or worrying about having signal because it's guaranteed you're going to reach out and talk to somebody on two meter radio
I think the big difference is its private and ham radio everyone can hear you.
If there is no cell service will they still work
A question that must be asked, & answered.
No, they will not. Since they work on a number of different carriers it's possible that they would still work if one network and not others are down.
yes
@@PropertyInsuranceClaims How, if they are wholly dependent on cell service to operate?
I purchased under false advertisement .. Im wanting a radio that I can communitcate w/ family when shit hits the fan for Emergencys .. No cell service or ways to contact loved ones . Does anyone know of a radio that will work like that ??
I use kenwood radios out in the desert, and so far they have worked great
You can buy a garmin inteach device that will allow you to communicate through satellite. Subscription is $10 a month.
A cell phone without distractions. I’ll take it 🙌🏽