Need advice on buying walkie talkies/CB radios

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Need advice on buying walkie talkies/CB radios

noob

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# 138135 21-Dec-2013 12:57

Hi
I'm doing an interactive walking tour experience in Wellington that will require about 6 crew to be in communication with each other over the Wellington waterfront area. I've been looking at Uniden's CB radios and thinking they might do the trick. I'm a complete noob with this kind of technology so would appreciate some pointers/advice. I need people to be able to communicate as a group and/or in pairs, in a reliable way, without interference (and without line of sight).

(I'm also planning to use something with a radiofrequency remote as part of the show, not sure if that would create interference?)

Is Uniden the best way to go? (And if so, which model would be best?) Or would something else be better?

I was going to have my crew communicate with prepay phones, but I'm thinkingCB radios I can buy and keep and use again would be a better idea.

Thanks for your help on this!

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# 955802 21-Dec-2013 13:34

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If you go with radio (unless you go for an encrypted solution) there's nothing stopping someone else using the same channel and interrupting your communication. If that person is a complete prick, they'll amuse themselves by following you to whatever channel you go to.

Location: Dunedin

noob

33 posts

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# 955845 21-Dec-2013 14:41

Good to know, thanks. How would I organise an encrypted solution?

dukester

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# 955897 21-Dec-2013 16:23

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With 80 channels available on uhf CB I'm sure you would find one channel you could use. Hand helds have a range from 3 to 5kms depending on power out put. Hopefully you could borrow a pair to test out in the environment you want to use them. Here is a couple of examples and prices off trademe, although you may be able to source elsewhere cheaper
http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/radio-equipment/amateur-radio/auction-675854138.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/radio-equipment/amateur-radio/auction-677152791.htm

johnr

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# 955898 21-Dec-2013 16:26

Wow old School I use to be in CD radios back 25 years ago

noob

33 posts

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# 955914 21-Dec-2013 17:07

Thanks guys... sorry to keep asking ignorant questions (there's a reason I signed up as 'noob')! - but how do I actually create an encrypted channel? Do I find a channel that's not being used and lock it off somehow? What feature do I need on a radio to be able to do that? Would I have to search and lock off channels each night of the show?

I'm looking at the new Uniden transcievers - they seem to be quite a good deal (hope this link posts ok) http://uniden.co.nz/NEW_ZEALAND/p_index_transceivers_handheld_radios.asp

Would any of those be suitable? The distance between radios would be less than a km but it's in a built-up area.

Thanks again!

dukester

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# 955915 21-Dec-2013 17:15

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You can't do encrypted channels on the public CB service. The only radio service in NZ that I know of that have encryption is the Police.

noob

33 posts

Geek

# 955917 21-Dec-2013 17:25

Hmm... wondering how much I need to worry about encrypting/scrambling... any thoughts? The Uniden models I've been looking at are a lot cheaper than Motorolas but I don't think they have the scrambling technology that Motorolas have.

kyhwana2

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# 955920 21-Dec-2013 17:33

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You'd need to buy encrypted digital radio's. I'm not sure if there's general usage spectrum from that, you might need to use something like TeamTalk to do it..
Otherwise you can use CTCSS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_Tone-Coded_Squelch_System on all the radios, to get around other "hearing other people". (It wont stop them from hearing you, though)

noob

33 posts

Geek

# 955927 21-Dec-2013 17:54

Thanks! Most of those Unidens seem to have CTCSS. Looks like that is what I need to use. The Unidens go from 0.5 watts to 5 watts in terms of the different handsets. What strength should I go for to be sure of communicating within a km in a builtup area?

Most of them also have 80 channels, one of them has 80 'narrowband' channels.

blackjack17

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# 955931 21-Dec-2013 18:08

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noob: Hi
I'm doing an interactive walking tour experience in Wellington that will require about 6 crew to be in communication with each other over the Wellington waterfront area. I've been looking at Uniden's CB radios and thinking they might do the trick. I'm a complete noob with this kind of technology so would appreciate some pointers/advice. I need people to be able to communicate as a group and/or in pairs, in a reliable way, without interference (and without line of sight).

(I'm also planning to use something with a radiofrequency remote as part of the show, not sure if that would create interference?)

Is Uniden the best way to go? (And if so, which model would be best?) Or would something else be better?

I was going to have my crew communicate with prepay phones, but I'm thinkingCB radios I can buy and keep and use again would be a better idea.

Thanks for your help on this!

I am not an expert but maybe you are taking the wrong approach.

What is wrong with using cellphones and a skype/voip group call? Each of your 6 crew could have a blue tooth/wired headset, coverage at the waterfront should be fine

No interference, no specialized equipment, nice and easy.

Talk to vodafone/telecom/2degrees about a small business plan

noob

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# 955933 21-Dec-2013 18:18

Hmm... could be the way to go.

sonyxperiageek

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# 955934 21-Dec-2013 18:29

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But if doing this tour for a long time, then I think radios may be the way to go as they could save you money in the long run. Plus if you are using Skype, then every person will have to put up with every one of yous' (Six!!) background noises, and also to know when to let another person speak etc.

Sony

NZ TechBlog | A bit about me | Follow me on Twitter | My Geekzone blog

noob

33 posts

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# 955935 21-Dec-2013 18:31

Yes... I think radios could be better in the long term. Plus I could just hand each person a radio.

sonyxperiageek

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# 955936 21-Dec-2013 18:33

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^Exactly. Very beneficial.

And the 0.5 watt ones say they can go typically 3+km (which is plentiful) but if you want to have 'Peace of mind' then you should go for the 1W ones. (I see they also have a 0.7W as well!)

Sony

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sonyxperiageek

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# 955937 21-Dec-2013 18:36

Do you think you'll be buying ones with the earpieces or speaker microphones?

Sony

NZ TechBlog | A bit about me | Follow me on Twitter | My Geekzone blog

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