Can anyone suggest the best and most economical method of inter-vehicle communication during a convoy expedition of between 3-8 vehicles. Are good quality and powerful hand held walkie talkies better than say a CB device? Do CB's cause any problems with local regulations and especisally the police.
Can anyone recommend a robust and reliable walkie talkie system and what kind of range can you get from good quality walkie talkies?

Thanks in advance for any advise and suggestiomns.

Cheers!

I bought a pair of cheap-and-cheerful small hand-held walkie-talkies (I think they're digital) here in the UK for approx. GBP60 (90 Euros). I have to say the clarity is amazing, none of the hiss you used to get. I think you can also add units to them, but I'm not sure whether you can call one person specifically.

They'll work fine up to a mile or so, probably further in the Sahara. My only complaint is that they are not rechargeable, i.e. they use normal batteries. If you can get ones with similar to a mobile phone battery I think they'd be a lot better, especially on a long trip.

These were some obscure make, but I've seen Motorola ones also since, which are probably far more widely available.

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I use handheld and mobile VHF (116-147 MHz)(best range for the desert - not so good in towns), 5-50W. Good, but an investment. Your best bet are any of the cheap Motorola and equivalent units (0.5W but generally adequate up to about 1km in real world).

Get around the battery problem by buying a cheap inverter (12v DC to 240v AC) and then using rechargeable batteries. The inverter can be cheap because the charging requires very little power. Only charge whilst driving.

Keep them out of sight when around mil/police etc.

Lastly, don't forget the easiest: watch your mirrors for those behind, and if you want the car in front to stop:

DAY: Lights on full beam, left on (not flashed).
NIGHT: Flash lights between full beam and OFF.


Sam.

Andy, the email addres you are registered with bounces - please correct your profile in link above,

thanks,

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
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Ive used Motorola units with rechargable batteries - obvious limitations there unless you have an in-car charger. Most Saharan countries (Libya, Egypt) require licensing of these units but as someone's said, keep them hidden and you should be ok.
The Motorolas are fine but we were limited to line-of-sight comms for most of the time, I think due to battery performance. Maybe also the vehicle roofracks and metalwork blocked some of the signal.

Ideal solution is shortwave kit but thats expensive and very apparent to observers. (big whip aerial on front bumper!)

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I've also had better results with Motorola handheld VHFs. I hired a batch for a tour for 15 quid a week incl. spare bat and in-car charger. Useful away from the car too
On the trip before last I decided to try CBs. 250 quid down the drain for a pair with a range just above shouting distance..

I was also curious about these tiny new PRMB (??) Motorola etc 'toy' looking 'action lifestyle' radios Ian C mentioned - maybe they are fine after all... Any reComms?

Ch

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I would skip any VHF or CB setup. They’re expensive, will most likely get you in trouble and you won’t need the extra range.

I’ve had great luck with the small, almost toy like, FRS based radios. I think they’re called something else in the UK. A top unit won’t cost you an arm and leg and actually sounds better than VHF and CB since they use FM waves. As mentioned above the only problem is their limited range. However I’ve had little problems even when I led a 15 car convoy once on a day trip. Every car had one of these units and they performed flawlessly.

I personally use and root for Cobra. I got the top of the line weather resistant model with rechargeable batteries and in car charging. I paid for 2 sets batteries, mains and car charger and push to talk headphones / mikes less than the price of one VHF or CB.

The best thing about them is that you can hide them easily and use them just as well when exploring on foot.

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A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.

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A.B.
OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.

These are interesting:
http://www.garmin.com/products/rino/
combined GPS and radios with the ability to "beam" your location from one to the other.

Haven't seen or used them. It might in some circumstances be handy to be able to easily transmit your location, but if nothing else they are two gadgets in one.

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The Garmin 'Rino' that you are talking about has not got to Europe yet.

Is it an advantage having both in one unit?

Sam.

One unit as opposed to two, to:

Conceal more easily as and when necessary,
"Worry about", i.e. not to lose,
Charge/change batteries, and have on "standby".

Having never travelled in a convoy in the middle of nowhere though, I don't really know how much, but would it not be useful if you beacame separated to be able to quickly transmit your location to your fellow travellers which they could use as a GOTO? OK, you could radio them and give co-ordinates, which they could enter on their GPS, etc., but it's got to be a time-consuming and error-prone process in comparison to pressing a button (which I assume you can do with these).

Having said all that, perhaps you're unlikely to be out of sight and still within radio range? And of course if the unit breaks or gets lost or stolen then you've lost two devices.

Going back to the cheap "toy" radios, I can only vouch for the ones I bought just under 3 years ago, being very sceptical that they'd be any use at all. Admittedly they're only used on occasions, surveying on construction sites, and have been fairly well used and abused in all weathers - rain, mud, dust, etc. etc., and they're still going strong! The make of these is actually "Telcom", made in Thailand, bought from Dixons as I recall. I would have thought the Motorolas must be better, though not sure in what way.

[This message has been edited by IanC (edited 26 February 2003).]

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It's not that "bad" or slow once you know how to do it... well, if the other car is burning everything is too late...

[quote]Originally posted by Chris Scott:
On the trip before last I decided to try CBs. 250 quid down the drain for a pair with a range just above shouting distance..

Chris,

That's shouldn't be as bad as that. Across wide open spaces, a CB with a properly installed aerial has a range of few dozen miles. The trick is to have both rigs(RX and TX) tuned up to the optimum spec.

Quote:

I was also curious about these tiny new PRMB (??) Motorola etc 'toy' looking 'action lifestyle' radios Ian C mentioned - maybe they are fine after all... Any reComms? Ch

Not tested yet "for real" but I've bought a pair of T5522's to take with me for my next trip (nudge - nudge!). Good built quality, look like they will take reasonable abuse, pretty light on battery power, easy to carry about. Should be pretty useful for guiding around obstacles or telling what's on the other side of the dune. The best price I've seen on the net for a pair with Ni-Cad charger is at http://www.radios-uk.com/.

Rgds,
Roman

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Roman (UK)

Interested to hear if anyone has any new impressions on this topic since last year...

Chris S

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I have had a pair of Motorolla license free walkie talkies for over 2 years now - orignally bought to make my own bike-to-bike communication but in reality the helmets were too loud so gave up for now on that - instead I have used them for every ski trip I go on, with schools and my own - the range is intermittent in the mountains but if in the same valley no problems.... For vehicle to vehicle they are fine aswell - tested on many drives, along crags in the uk and abroad aswell....

when I got mine they were the end of the motorola AA battery type - takes 3 AA batteries - chosen as I can get them whilst on the road in most countries.... I was told they wouldn't be compatible with other motorolas esp. their new range with built in batteries - but they were lying as all my freinds have them now and we can all communicate...

Ok - so none of it is private and 1-to-1 is not a realistic option but they are very effective and very cheap....

I also now know that nearly all the ones you can get (maplin were doing a pair for £30!!) are compatable aswell.... there are enough chanells so as long as you agree in advance the ones to use... no problems - they can also scan to see if anyone is tranmitting on the channels - useful before you commit to using a channel...

the new ones come with cradels for charging from 240v but there are also ones designed for car chargers available....

I know loads of people still use CB in this country but the further afield you go it can pay to be discreet and agreeing to turn off before you arrive at a border post is as simple as you need to pocket them out of the way - no signs of them.... job done.

Hope this helps.

tony.

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Thanks Tony, thumbs up for PMRs then, it seems.

CS

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