walkie talkie recommendations pls?
- Thread starter Superdrazy
- Start date
Nowhere near. Less than 30 but with digital base station, service contract, man down, lone working and many other system features with option for expansion.
I was drawn to the ability to issue each service provider with a team radio colour such as red for security, blue for engineering and green for waste/recycling. To name but three.
K
In fairness, this application looks a far cry from the OP's [solo] status.
On a budget, for personal use, I suspect that a lesser solution is required.
Green for waste/recycling!!!!! I would have expected a higher caste for that colour
S
Just recommending a good brand with colour options that are a viable alternative to the ubiquitous and admittedly fine offerings from Motorola.
K
No. Green is good and will be found in all matters ESG. I have a Green
award that acknowledges exemplary continual improvement in all areas of sustainability and as linked to the retention of ISO14001 accreditation.K
The OP was wanting a steer as to a handset that might accomplish both his water sports, and his hunting usage.
"Wanting to get a good walkie talkie for hunting and water sports."
There is, currently, no such thing.
Yes you can programme up a dual band handset, at whatever price point, to sort of, but not entirely correctly, do both. Which is what Zambezi was suggesting. I disagreed. then we had a bit of a ding-dong about that, which messed up the thread.
But you can never legally use it it on the free PMR channels. Way too powerful, amongst many other legalistic considerations. Of course it will work very well, whilst blasting over the legal users. Not very polite.
You can however, for a very modest fee, about £14 per year, run decent things at decent power, on both UHF and VHF, relatively uncongested business bands. This is UK only. Don't try using them abroad, you could get into hot water. These will get you out much further, or just more reliably, than a PMR446 handset can. One license covers probably far more handsets than you will ever need.
VHF with an optimised antenna such as pukka marine radios have, (not the one size does everything, that comes as standard on dual band sets) probably the best choice of bands. Particularly if you are having a go at a DIY marine band lash up.
You cannot however, legally, turn it into a Marine VHF, though it is probably quite capable of that. Up to a point. These have to be certified. So just buy a proper one, designed for the job.
As to "Is it possible to just buy a set and go? For use over 2-3km?"
Well try a set of good PMR446 and see how it works on your land. Don't bother even considering the digital ones. They can only output 10 milliWatts, and, being digital, once the error rate goes beyond a certain level it's game over. These are ultra short range things, for users who cannot live with the congestion and lack of privacy on the analogue bands. Again, the digital spectrum is a UK only thing.
Could be adequate. If there is anything much in the way (line of sight) they may not be. Even only at 2-3 km. Even just trees in the way. Ignore the wild manufacturers' claims. They all put out the same power, (500 milliWatts) near enough. The fixed antennae designs, intentionally inefficient, are of variable quality/performance. The receivers (probably the most important part), vary hugely in their sensitivity. Respected brands are usually, but not always, superior. This matters.
Respected brands, who actually design their own stuff, like to keep their reputation. As with most things, you get what you pay for.
A decent PMR446 will probably cost much the same as their same thing targeted at UK Business Light people.
So, the choice is yours.
PMR446, 500 milliwatts on UHF. 8 frequently congested channels. No license.
UK Business Light. £14/year. Plenty of power allowed in the handheld. 5 Watts.
Seven UHF channels.
Seven VHF mid-high band channels
Five VHF low band channels (no a Baofeng et. al can't tune to these). But they are in use, by those who appreciate their properties.
PS: But, put your tinfoil hat on now, some antis use PMR446 to coordinate their activities. Do you really want them listening in to what you are up to ?
I don't expect that they are clever enough to setup a scanning radio to cover all options. But I could be wrong. Or turn it around and listen out for them. BTW I think that you are allowed to scramble your voice on Business Light. Certainly my Baofengs can do that in a very primitive manner.
Oops, I confess to owning a Baofeng. Top model at the time. And another, the cheapest. Bought purely from interest into how cheaply they could make such a thing and yet it still seem to operate well. Which, to my astonishment they did and still do.
Which is why I can pontificate about it's other inadequacies, from a position of knowledge. Based on a sample of one of each model. And access to calibrated test equipment at the very highest end of the market. A little after-hours experiment. But nobody will care about that minutiae. Mostly they work. well enough. Not great on receiver sensitivity though, mostly rather deaf.
I don't expect that they are clever enough to setup a scanning radio to cover all options. But I could be wrong. Or turn it around and listen out for them. BTW I think that you are allowed to scramble your voice on Business Light. Certainly my Baofengs can do that in a very primitive manner.
Oops, I confess to owning a Baofeng. Top model at the time. And another, the cheapest. Bought purely from interest into how cheaply they could make such a thing and yet it still seem to operate well. Which, to my astonishment they did and still do.
Which is why I can pontificate about it's other inadequacies, from a position of knowledge. Based on a sample of one of each model. And access to calibrated test equipment at the very highest end of the market. A little after-hours experiment. But nobody will care about that minutiae. Mostly they work. well enough. Not great on receiver sensitivity though, mostly rather deaf.
Thank you for that. Very useful.
Who do you apply to?
Will they issue a license to individuals, or does it have to be a business or organisation?
Yes, individuals may apply for a license, from Ofcom. They require that you be a "legal entity". Which, even an individual, is.
So, for example, a syndicate might not be a legal entity. Some individual member would have to stick their neck out to make the application.
Or, thinking more positively, a professional guide might wish to own a number of handsets to issue out to clients, to communicate amongst each other. If so, I'd lock them to only one channel. To prevent fiddling about and getting onto the wrong channel that is being used by everyone else. Push button. speak. release button, listen.
The paper application form, which covers all categories of business licenses can be downloaded here, though they would far prefer you to do it online. And I'd suggest that it is a much better way for you as well. There are a lot of parts of the form which are not relevant to the Simple UK Light category so it might at first seem a little confusing:
See the guidance section:
Question B2 – New customers A licence can only be issued to a legal entity (including an individual person)
Go to A.1 You will be wanting a Business Radio (Simple UK) Licence.
Now see B.2 and enter your name.
Move on to B.4 Under Trading name, enter your name. Then enter your address and contact details (phone, mobile, email.)
Ofcom recognises the following types of entities and you should provide your name and
answer any other details as appropriate to the legal entity:
Individual or sole trader (Please provide full name and go to Question B.3):
Then carry on through the form.
Here is a sample of the sort of license that you will get. It's a bit out of date, four more UHF frequencies have since been added, as the first three were becoming heavily congested in some areas.
Technical conditions The maximum permitted ERP for mobile stations is 5 Watts; The frequencies listed in this schedule shall be used in single frequency mode only; The use of base stations is not permitted.
There is no limit on the number of handsets that you, as the individual legal identity, are responsible for managing. One license fee covers as many as you like. You could even split that £14/year fee amongst your users. I would advise you to keep records of who the other people are that are using them, under your responsibility. And the evidence that their handsets are compliant with the requirements.
3. Interface Requirements for the Radio Equipment use
Use of the radio equipment shall be in accordance with the following Interface Requirement:
IR 2044 for “Business Radio Land Mobile Services, covering Area Defined, Technically Assigned
and Light Licence Authorisations”;
or for equipment first placed on the market before 8 April 2000, is required to be type approved in
accordance with the appropriate published technical performance standards authorised at the date
of installation of the Radio Equipment, subject to any modifications authorised by Ofcom.
The Licensee shall provide acceptable documentary evidence of conformity on request within 28
days, for all or any part of the systems, to an Ofcom representative.
Here is an example of a certificate of conformity for a Baofeng handset. It does not quote the UK IR 2044 requirement, but IR 2044 is largely flowed down from EC requirements. And, if you source an EU market one, it should carry the (much abused) CE mark on it's label. I haven't looked into the paper chase necessary to understand the fine detail of read-across, if any, from this example CofC to IR 2044.
They can, and have done, rejected new applications in some areas where the business-light channels are now heavily congested. Parts of London for example.
The entry portal for an online application is here:
Online Licensing Services
This page provides information on the Online Licensing Services, answering FAQ's.
www.ofcom.org.uk
Their guidance notes are here:
That's extremely useful - thank you.Yes, individuals may apply for a license, from Ofcom. They require that you be a "legal entity". Which, even an individual, is.
So, for example, a syndicate might not be a legal entity. Some individual member would have to stick their neck out to make the application.
Or, thinking more positively, a professional guide might wish to own a number of handsets to issue out to clients, to communicate amongst each other. If so, I'd lock them to only one channel. To prevent fiddling about and getting onto the wrong channel that is being used by everyone else. Push button. speak. release button, listen.
The paper application form, which covers all categories of business licenses can be downloaded here, though they would far prefer you to do it online. And I'd suggest that it is a much better way for you as well. There are a lot of parts of the form which are not relevant to the Simple UK Light category so it might at first seem a little confusing:
See the guidance section:
Question B2 – New customers A licence can only be issued to a legal entity (including an individual person)
Go to A.1 You will be wanting a Business Radio (Simple UK) Licence.
Now see B.2 and enter your name.
Move on to B.4 Under Trading name, enter your name. Then enter your address and contact details (phone, mobile, email.)
Ofcom recognises the following types of entities and you should provide your name and
answer any other details as appropriate to the legal entity:
Individual or sole trader (Please provide full name and go to Question B.3):
Then carry on through the form.
Here is a sample of the sort of license that you will get. It's a bit out of date, four more UHF frequencies have since been added, as the first three were becoming heavily congested in some areas.
Technical conditions The maximum permitted ERP for mobile stations is 5 Watts; The frequencies listed in this schedule shall be used in single frequency mode only; The use of base stations is not permitted.
There is no limit on the number of handsets that you, as the individual legal identity, are responsible for managing. One license fee covers as many as you like. You could even split that £14/year fee amongst your users. I would advise you to keep records of who the other people are that are using them, under your responsibility. And the evidence that their handsets are compliant with the requirements.
3. Interface Requirements for the Radio Equipment use
Use of the radio equipment shall be in accordance with the following Interface Requirement:
IR 2044 for “Business Radio Land Mobile Services, covering Area Defined, Technically Assigned
and Light Licence Authorisations”;
or for equipment first placed on the market before 8 April 2000, is required to be type approved in
accordance with the appropriate published technical performance standards authorised at the date
of installation of the Radio Equipment, subject to any modifications authorised by Ofcom.
The Licensee shall provide acceptable documentary evidence of conformity on request within 28
days, for all or any part of the systems, to an Ofcom representative.
Here is an example of a certificate of conformity for a Baofeng handset. It does not quote the UK IR 2044 requirement, but IR 2044 is largely flowed down from EC requirements. And, if you source an EU market one, it should carry the (much abused) CE mark on it's label. I haven't looked into the paper chase necessary to understand the fine detail of read-across, if any, from this example CofC to IR 2044.
They can, and have done, rejected new applications in some areas where the business-light channels are now heavily congested. Parts of London for example.
The entry portal for an online application is here:
Online Licensing Services
This page provides information on the Online Licensing Services, answering FAQ's.
Their guidance notes are here:
Once you have the licence, do you then approach a retailer and specify your technical requirements and present the licence?
Like you our stalking syndicate wanted a simple reliable set of radios to when 2-4 of us where out in the same area we could stay in touch, we don’t need “ Industrial grade” Bought a set of 4 Motorola T82’s perfect for what we need, small good battery life, simple to use, manufacturer says 10K range but in real world they are good for 2-6K depending on topography they were circa £120 on Amazon black and yellow
I cannot advise. No knowledge.
Clued up retailers of business light radios doubtless have to make a living, which will be reflected in the prices. They might even understand exactly what you want, rather than what they have on the shelf. They might even sort you out by applying for the license for you, at a markup. Request a custom programming option, and of course that will take them further effort/time to do which you should expect to pay for.
I have done quite a few as freebies for pals. And insisted that they first show me their license. Just my personal choice. I have no skin in this game.
Take it to PM if you would like further advice.
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