Plug Adapter Plug Query.

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steve181

68 posts

Master Geek

#191706 13-Feb-2016 13:08

Recently I bought two Walkie Talkie's for friend who is a deer hunter (& doesn't have the internet). http://www.banggood.com/Baofeng-UV-5RE-Plus-Dual-Band-Handheld-Transceiver-Radio-Walkie-Talkie-p-907541.html

The product didn't have a AUS/NZ plug option but did have a UK option. I discovered the volts & hertz are the same in NZ as they are in the UK (230V, 50 Hz) so I also bought this adapter http://www.banggood.com/Australia-Universal-adapter-AC-2-pin-power-plug-travel-p-947579.html

I'm just a bit worried now that this might not meet NZ standards (I don't want my mates house to burn down & his insurance be void). Am I right to be worried & if so should I recommend my friend take it to a shop to get a NZ approved plug?

Thanks.

PeterReader

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sbiddle

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#1491591 13-Feb-2016 13:44

The best approach is simply to buy new plug packs for the required voltage. Those adapters are illegal to sell or use in NZ if they are as pictured.

Rather than your house burning down I'd be more worried about RSM pulling you up for using non type certified radio equipment in NZ.

steve181

68 posts

Master Geek

#1491603 13-Feb-2016 14:36

sbiddle:

The best approach is simply to buy new plug packs for the required voltage. Those adapters are illegal to sell or use in NZ if they are as pictured.

Rather than your house burning down I'd be more worried about RSM pulling you up for using non type certified radio equipment in NZ.

Thanks for that. Do you know of any physical stores where we can buy a plug pack? I assume they have a legit NZ plug & cable that will plug into the battery charger?

I will give my friend the radio spectrum management phone # & encourage him to call them.

richms

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#1491628 13-Feb-2016 16:20

You dont need to call them, find what freq the radios use and see if it is in the list here:

http://www.rsm.govt.nz/licensing/types-of-licences/general-user-radio-licences

CB, and short range devices will probably be the appropriate ones.

If the frequencies are in the list, then check the power output is within the limits.

Richard rich.ms

steve181

68 posts

Master Geek

#1491629 13-Feb-2016 16:28

richms:

You dont need to call them

Turns out that I e-mailed them with a link to the product.

sbiddle

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#1491642 13-Feb-2016 17:24

Thanks for that. Do you know of any physical stores where we can buy a plug pack?

Anywhere that sells plug packs. Jaycar and Dick Smith are two for starters.

Contacting RSM isn't going to do much - your radio won't have type approval for NZ but this isn't always necessary for PRS frequencies. What frequencies are you planning to use?

steve181

68 posts

Master Geek

#1491665 13-Feb-2016 17:41

sbiddle:

Contacting RSM isn't going to do much - your radio won't have type approval for NZ but this isn't always necessary for PRS frequencies. What frequencies are you planning to use?

My friend just wants them (one for himself & another for someone who accompanies him on a deer hunt) so they can communicate while separated. The attraction of that walkie talkie is it has a 5W output for an affordable price.

On the specs it says; "128 groups channels storage - 136-174MHz & 400-520MHz". According to this link https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2016-go446 there are no special conditions in the 136-174MHz range so does that mean my mate could use the walkie talkies within that range without drawing attention to himself?

Can you get longer range on some frequencies more than others out of interest? For example if 136MHz will transmit over 5km will 520MHz be the same?

richms

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#1491676 13-Feb-2016 18:08

It's not on that list so you cant use it without a specific license.

You would at best be able to use the 476MHz CB channels from something like that without a license. There is also the issue that you have to be using the right freq's in the allocated band and the right modulation type to make sure you are not going over the other channels.

Best way to be legal is to go to jaycar or similar and buy a compliant 80ch UHF CB set rather than something from aliexpress that might be legit with the right programming but you will never be sure.

Richard rich.ms

afe66

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#1491680 13-Feb-2016 18:25

Using your own reference, I think you are out of luck as it will try to broadcast on frequences which are limited/restricted including those "limited to biomedical telemetry and radio microphones." There are block available to use but not for the frequencies that you want to use.

136-174 Mhz
Only lists 160.35 and 173.4. (large block 174-230)

400-520Mhz

402-406 Conditions 5 (Limited to Biomedical Telemetry) and 14

433.05-434.79

444-444.925 Condition 5(Limited to Biomedical Telemetry)

458.54-458.61

466.8-466.85

470-470.5 Condition 5 (Limited to Biomedical Telemetry)
471-471.5
502-510 Condition 26 (limited to the purpose of radio microphones)
502-694 Condition 6 (limited to audio/video senders)

steve181

68 posts

Master Geek

#1491683 13-Feb-2016 18:29

afe66:

I think you are out of luck

It blows my mind to think there might not be a single frequency my friend can use with 2 walkie talkies in the middle of the southern alps that won't negatively affect anyone else.

hyperman

418 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1491687 13-Feb-2016 18:34

476.4250 to 477.4000 are the nz frequencies

transmitting outside these could defiantly get you in trouble with the RSM

The views expressed by me are not necessarily those of my employer

richms

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#1491701 13-Feb-2016 18:41

steve181:

It blows my mind to think there might not be a single frequency my friend can use with 2 walkie talkies in the middle of the southern alps that won't negatively affect anyone else.

There are probably heaps you can use without interfering with others, but the only legal ones are the ones that a GURL gives you the license to use. Otherwise you have no way to know if your use is screwing up others until an inspector finally shows up.

Richard rich.ms

afe66

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#1491711 13-Feb-2016 18:56

steve181:

afe66:

I think you are out of luck

It blows my mind to think there might not be a single frequency my friend can use with 2 walkie talkies in the middle of the southern alps that won't negatively affect anyone else.

Sorry but it only blows you mind because you didnt check before you bought them.

Googling using overseas radio transmitters in nz brings you quickly to http://www.rsm.govt.nz/consumers/buying-electrical-electronic-and-radio-products-from-overseas.

As for only using them in the bush..

What happens if you left them on in your bag when driving back through town, say past a theatre using radio microphone

Does a neighbour/hospital/ rest home use medical equipment broadcasting on those channels.

I assume you would check the batteries are all charged when you are home before setting out, which would involved turning the transmitters on and having a quick talk.

etc etc

steve181

68 posts

Master Geek

#1491715 13-Feb-2016 19:04

afe66:

It only blows you mind because you didn't check before you bought them.

It was not my duty to check, I will never own them or use them. I will pass the information over to my friend & what he does with them is entirely his business.

afe66

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#1491718 13-Feb-2016 19:11

mmm

You asked for advice here and we have told you their use in most likely illegal, and your saying its not your problem....

steve181

68 posts

Master Geek

#1491737 13-Feb-2016 19:22

afe66:

mmm

You asked for advice here and we have told you their use in most likely illegal, and your saying its not your problem....

A.

Of course it's not my problem. The product is his. For all I know he will end up using them only as a FM radio (they can receive FM radio stations) after I explain to him it could be illegal to transmit on them.