PoC RADIOS vs Shielded Signals

You’ve probably seen them: inexpensive handhelds claiming “AES-256 End-to-End Encryption” and “Works even when cell service is down.” They sound impressive until you look under the hood.

These are PoC (Push-to-Talk over Cellular) radios. They’re not radios in the traditional sense. They’re smartphones in disguise, running a cloud-based app that needs LTE, 5G, or Wi-Fi to function. And that’s where the illusion of resilience falls apart.

Their use of “AES-256” is not the same as Shielded Signals. For them, it usually means “AES between device and vendor server.” Even LTE is only 128-bit carrier-controlled encryption, and encryption is illegal on their “fallback” of FRS or GMRS channels. Meanwhile, the vendor can see or decrypt all traffic as it moves across their network and through their servers.

If you can’t reach a cell tower, PoC “radios” become nearly useless. They are just more expensive versions of the already insecure FRS radios.

Feature	PoC Radios (Push-to-Talk over Cellular)	Shielded Signals (PRaaS™)
Frequency Band	LTE / 5G / Wi-Fi — uses public cellular data networks	Licensed VHF spectrum under FCC authorization
License Required	✘ No FCC radio license, but requires SIM registration and data subscription	✔ Covered under Shielded Signals’ FCC license; no SIMs or carrier plans required
Encryption / Privacy	✘ Typically AES-256 between device and vendor cloud; not true end-to-end. Vendor can see or log traffic. Encryption illegal on their “FRS/GMRS” fallback.	✔ True AES-256 end-to-end encryption at the radio level; unique keys per customer or family
Range	Dependent on carrier coverage and internet connectivity. No service if cell or Wi-Fi fails.	VHF handhelds typically a couple of miles depending on terrain; extendable through licensed repeaters
Infrastructure Dependence	✘ Fully dependent on cloud servers, cellular towers, and vendor authentication	✔ Independent, off-grid operation under Shielded Signals control
Typical Use	Commercial dispatch apps, delivery fleets, or novelty “network radios”	Private, secure coordination for families, teams, and organizations
Reliability	Fails when cell service, data, or vendor servers go offline; limited fallback options	Operates consistently without internet or carriers; repeaters add range, not dependency
Professional Legitimacy	Dependent on third-party apps and overseas servers; claims of E2EE rarely verifiable	FCC-compliant, legally licensed service under U.S. oversight; transparent, auditable security