Walkie Talkie Privacy Codes: CTCSS/DCS Setup & Tips
How CTCSS and DCS privacy codes filter out chatter on FRS/GMRS radios, plus setup steps and troubleshooting for clean comms.
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Latest Articles
Long-Range Walkie Talkie Guides & Off-Grid Communication
How Far Do Long-Range Walkie Talkies Really Work? (Real-World vs Box Claims)
Ever wonder how far your “30-mile” or “35-mile” long-range walkie talkies actually work in the real world? I break down real distances, what kills your signal, and what you can do to get the most range out of your radios.
How to Boost Walkie Talkie Range
Practical tweaks like antenna placement, elevation, channel selection, and GMRS power that can noticeably increase your real-world radio range.
Best Channels for Long-Range Communication
Not all channels are equal. Here’s how I pick the best GMRS and FRS channels for distance, clarity, and avoiding interference.
Best Walkie Talkies for Mountains
The radios I’d actually take into steep terrain, ridgelines, and valleys when cell service taps out but communication still matters.
Best Long-Range Walkie Talkies for Hiking, Hunting & Emergencies
Whether you’re deep in the woods, sitting in a tree stand, or riding out a power outage, these are the long-range walkie talkies I trust most.
GMRS vs FRS: Which Has Better Range?
A plain-English comparison of GMRS and FRS radios so you know when it’s worth getting a license and when FRS is enough.
GMRS License Explained
How much it costs, who is covered in your household, how to apply, and whether a GMRS license actually makes sense for your situation.
Do Walkie Talkies Work Without Cell Service?
A beginner-friendly guide to how walkie talkies communicate completely off-grid—no towers, Wi-Fi, or data plans required.
Digital Notebooks & Smart Writing
Handwriting to Text: Best Smart Notebook Conversion Tips
Improve handwriting-to-text accuracy with the right templates, pen weights, and app settings for clean exports.
E-Ink vs LCD Digital Notebooks: Battery & Eye Strain
Battery life, eye comfort, and latency differences so you can pick the right screen for your writing style.
Stylus Tips for Smart Writing Tablets
Better handwriting with the right nibs, palm rejection settings, and grip for digital note-taking.
PDF Annotation Workflow on Digital Notebooks
Pen tools, layers, and export tips to mark up PDFs faster on e-ink tablets and smart notebooks.
Organize Notes: Tags, Folders & Sync on Digital Notebooks
Simple naming, tags, and cloud sync habits that keep smart notebook notes searchable and backed up.
Night Vision & Thermal Imaging Guides
Night Vision: Helmet Mount vs Handheld
Pros and cons of helmet-mounted versus handheld night vision for navigation, security, and wildlife.
Night Vision vs Thermal: Best Choice for Wildlife & Security
When to use night vision for detail vs thermal for detection in wildlife, security, and search scenarios.
Thermal Sensor Resolution & Refresh Rate Guide
How resolution, NETD sensitivity, and refresh rates affect thermal clarity and detection range.
IR Illuminators for Night Vision: Range & Safety Tips
Pick safe, effective IR wavelengths and beam patterns to boost night vision performance.
Battery & Cold Weather Tips for Night Vision & Thermal
Battery choices, warming tricks, and runtime habits to keep NV and thermal running in winter.
Handheld GPS Guides & How-Tos
Multi-Band vs Single-Band Handheld GPS: Accuracy Tests & Picks
Field-tested drift and lock-speed checks comparing dual-frequency and single-band handheld gps units.
Handheld GPS Battery Survival: Cold-Weather Tests & Power Tips
Cold drain results for Li-ion vs AA handheld gps units plus simple power-saving steps.
How to Load GPX on a Handheld GPS (Garmin GPSMAP/eTrex)
USB folder paths and map prep so your gps handheld device is ready offline.
Handheld GPS vs Smartphone Apps: When to Trust Each
Split duties between phone apps and a hand held gps for better battery, accuracy, and SOS.
Best Handheld GPS Settings for Hiking, Hunting, and Overlanding
Track intervals, WAAS, expedition modes, and map fields tuned for different trips.
inReach SOS Setup: How to Prep Your Handheld GPS Before a Trip
SOS checklist for messaging, contacts, and weather pulls on inReach-equipped handhelds.
Gaming PC Build & Tuning
Best GPU/CPU Combos for 1080p, 1440p & 4K
Bottleneck-safe pairings with PSU guidance for today's games.
Air vs AIO Cooling for Gaming PCs
Compare temps, noise, and reliability to pick the right cooler for your CPU.
Power Supply Sizing for Modern GPUs
Wattage headroom, ATX 3.0, and 12VHPWR guidance for safe builds.
Safe BIOS Tweaks Before Overclocking
Stability-first BIOS steps: XMP/EXPO, power limits, and fan curves.
Cable Management & Airflow Guide
Simple routing and fan layouts to cut temps and noise in gaming PCs.
Radar Guns, Pitching Speed & Baseball Training
Best Radar Gun for Youth Baseball: Honest Parent’s Guide
A straightforward parent’s guide to choosing the right radar gun for young pitchers—with real testing, simple explanations, and models that actually help kids improve safely.
How to Use a Radar Gun in Baseball Practice
Learn how to use a radar gun the right way during bullpen sessions, backyard throwing, and team practices—without adding pressure or hurting mechanics.
Pocket Radar vs Stalker: Which Radar Gun Should You Buy?
A side-by-side comparison of Pocket Radar and Stalker baseball radar guns—accuracy, features, durability, and which one fits your level of play and budget.
Calibrate a Baseball Radar Gun for Accurate Speeds
Placement, distance, and verification steps to keep radar gun readings honest for pitchers and hitters.
Most Accurate Baseball Radar Guns (2025)
Coach-tested picks with tight accuracy, fast lock times, and the side-angle tolerance you need in games.
Best Budget Baseball Radar Guns Under $150
Affordable radar gun picks, accuracy expectations, and setup tips to get dependable readings.
Radar Gun Drills to Build Pitching Velocity
Warmups, plyo throws, and bullpen structure that add velocity safely using radar feedback.
Radar Gun Buying Guide for Coaches & Scouts
Accuracy specs, beam angles, app logging, and durability to match a radar gun to your program.
How a Radar Gun Helped My Son
Baseball has always been a huge part of my life. As a kid, I spent hours throwing in the backyard—and now I get to watch my son chase his own velocity milestones with a radar gun.
Evolution of Radar Guns
It is amazing how the radar gun came to be and has evolved over the years—from clunky early units to the smart, connected tools used today.
Night Vision & Thermal Imaging Stories
Night Vision Adventure
As a kid, I spent countless evenings outdoors. Night vision gear took that feeling of exploration and cranked it up to a whole new level.
Thermal and Night Vision History
Night vision and thermal imaging products have changed a lot over the years. Here’s how we got from early prototypes to the gear we can actually afford today.
Outdoor Tech, Gear & Real-World Adventures
Outdoor Tech Kit Guide
Discover the ultimate gear setup for exploring the outdoors—featuring night vision goggles, radar guns, walkie-talkies, gaming PCs, and smart notebooks for the modern adventurer.
Chasing Clues and Legends: The Rush of the Hunt
Every clue sparks a rush. Every theory spins you deeper into the unknown. This isn’t just a treasure hunt—it’s a full-blown adventure packed with late-night research, wild connections, and boots-on-the-ground breakthroughs.
Family, Kids & Tech
My Sons First gaming PC
How my 10-year-old got his first gaming PC—and turned it into a passion for Fortnite, Minecraft, and even a bit of coding.