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Communications Connecting - internet cafes, laptops, smart phones - how to connect, use, which one, and intercom/radio systems.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 17 Nov 2005
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PMR Radios
Thinking of buying a set of those Walkie talkie things.

Can all PMR radios talk to each other, ie is it worth buying one of the cheaper sets or will it not be able to talk to the more expensive ones.

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  #2  
Old 18 Nov 2005
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All of the "cheap" PMR's have a limited range, they suggest up to 3km but rarely achieve that on anything other than flat terrain. Anything more expensive, with more power, will probably operate on a different frequency.
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  #3  
Old 18 Nov 2005
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PMR is standardised, so they should all talk to each other. Power output is very low, so is the range.

Whatever you buy make sure it uses standard AA or AAA batteries.
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  #4  
Old 7 Dec 2005
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Hi, I wasted more money than enough on radios / intercomms before I bit the bullet and bought an Autocom and linked it with a Kenwood TK3201. The sound / transmission quality is superb. But when riding the bikes the range of very good reception is limited to approx 1 mile between bikes. More than enough.
The radios can be had on Ebay for £70.00.

Mike.
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  #5  
Old 8 Dec 2005
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I too have the Autocom system with cheap Cobra radios from Maplins. Works well but I am going to upgrade to a radio that can be bike powered as the Cobra eats through 4xAA batteries at an alarming rate.

Note on the Autocom: I have done 20,000miles using this system as Rider-to-pillion system and now can't see the point of letting a pillion sit in dumb silence. Can't recommend it enough.

Have recently started using it as bik-to-bike and am still fine tuning the vox but happy all round.
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Old 9 Dec 2005
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I've been using these beauties since they became popular as 'Talkabouts' in the States in 1998. The record on PMR446 radios as far as I know is 322 miles--over water (the North Sea) to Amsterdam. In practise it's often only line-of-sight, however I once achieved about four miles in Spain.

I have mine hooked up on VOX through an Autocom system which means you can even have pillion-to-pillion conversations. Not sure if that's a good thing, though.

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Old 16 Dec 2005
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does anyone know of a long range (5km +) bike powered, 2 way radio that works with the autocom or am i wasting my time looking??
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Old 16 Dec 2005
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5km range with PMRs would only be in line of sight and in ideal weather conditions. We have yet to get a system that beats 1 mile range with good reception.

Some people I know are running "illegal" 5Watt output PMR frequency radios and around mountain roads they are still only getting around 1 mile range.

Mike.
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Old 16 Dec 2005
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Nothing legal. But marine radios (walkie talkies) should do the trick.

I've been told that bikes are difficult, because there is no ground plane for the antenna. What do the cops use?
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