Hello.

Here in the US we have part 15, a section of the rules that allows very low power operation across a very broad part of the spectrum.
And, real radio? this is for short range license free communications as well as a bit higher powered but still short range radio.
The VX-3R is the most popular hacker radio by far, the firmware has been reworked to allow frequency hopping as well as several other functions not legit on an Amateur Radio.
But, people are doing unusual mods, and in the interest of experimenting I like to see what is happening.