+lordelph Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 We thought some PMR walkie talkies would be handy for the Shrops bash, found a cheap pair in Tesco for just £15. Range is advertised as 3km in open country, I tried them this evening and managed at least 1.5km through woodland and rooftops. Perfect for keeping in touch on a campsite! Quote Link to comment
+stora Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 (edited) We thought some PMR walkie talkies would be handy for the Shrops bash, found a cheap pair in Tesco for just £15. Range is advertised as 3km in open country, I tried them this evening and managed at least 1.5km through woodland and rooftops. Perfect for keeping in touch on a campsite! Do you all use a certain channel ? Edited August 30, 2006 by stora Quote Link to comment
+lordelph Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 Do you all use a certain channel ? I guess a "camp channel" might be useful! Shall we say channel 1? Quote Link to comment
+Moote Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I guess a "camp channel" might be useful! Camp Channel?? Will everybody on that one be saying things like "OH! Matron" and "Shut that door"? Quote Link to comment
andy_the_rocketeer Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 I guess a "camp channel" might be useful! Shall we say channel 1? Was using such devices out on the Scottish moorland last week. OK mine are cheapo Binatone or similar, but cost about the same. We certainly got a good mile range on them, but even in such a remote location we had to move to a 3rd channel to avoid interference from other genuine users. Quote Link to comment
+Learned Gerbil Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 (edited) You should specify a sub-channel or you could be drowned out by anyone else using PMR on channel 1. BTW, Channel 1 is traditionally the childrens's channel as they tend to use the first available channel and drown out anythign else. I assume the Tesco PMRs support the 37 sub channels each channel has or they will be very limited in use. I believe the designated geocaching channel is 2 according to GC.COM FAQ. The main channels 1 to 8 are for listening to all the sub channels in that channel, actual use should be done on a sub-channel. Edited August 30, 2006 by Learned Gerbil Quote Link to comment
+lordelph Posted August 30, 2006 Author Share Posted August 30, 2006 These cheap ones don't support CTCSS tones, so as you say, they'll hear the entire channel. Perfect for a busy event though! (For anyone not familiar with PMR, sub-channels aren't really separate channels, only one person can talk at a time on each of the 8 PMR channels, it's just a way for receivers to squelch out people transmitting with a different squelch tone.) Quote Link to comment
+The Bolas Heathens Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 LOL - seriously though, these are great - we use them all the time when in the USA as we can easily stay in touch with one another - some even have 6 miles coverage and are really handy if you are shopping and someone is at home and needs something Camp Channel?? Will everybody on that one be saying things like "OH! Matron" and "Shut that door"? Quote Link to comment
+Munkeh Posted August 30, 2006 Share Posted August 30, 2006 We thought some PMR walkie talkies would be handy for the Shrops bash, found a cheap pair in Tesco for just £15. Range is advertised as 3km in open country, I tried them this evening and managed at least 1.5km through woodland and rooftops. Perfect for keeping in touch on a campsite! what where you doing on the roof? Quote Link to comment
+John Stead Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Several of us from the North West have used PMR at events to keep in touch between caches and use 3-33 which I would suggest is suitable for use assuming everyone can use sub channels. Quote Link to comment
+adambro Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 LOL - seriously though, these are great - we use them all the time when in the USA as we can easily stay in touch with one another - some even have 6 miles coverage and are really handy if you are shopping and someone is at home and needs something The US equivient of the PMR446 service we have in the UK is called FRS or Family Radio Service. FRS works on different frequencies are not compatible with PMR446 and are illegal to use in the UK. Its very similar to the UK allocation though so you can use it to get an idea of what range you can achieve. In the US there is also the GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service), which allows for higher powers and therefore higher range but this does require a licence. Quote Link to comment
+The Bolas Heathens Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 (edited) I know - we keep the radios in one of our homes in the USA and only use them there - I've heard stories that they may interfere with the emergency services frequencies in the UK (could be an urban myth?) so would never try them here. The US equivient of the PMR446 service we have in the UK is called FRS or Family Radio Service. FRS works on different frequencies are not compatible with PMR446 and are illegal to use in the UK. Its very similar to the UK allocation though so you can use it to get an idea of what range you can achieve. In the US there is also the GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service), which allows for higher powers and therefore higher range but this does require a licence. Edited August 31, 2006 by The Bolas Heathens Quote Link to comment
markandlynn Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 We use a pair from Maplin £14.99 with sub channels ours werer £9 with no sub channels. Quote Link to comment
+AB&MB Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 (edited) We have had some excellent service from a pair of Binatone radios that we got from the scrap bin in Maplin for £4.99, the only problem was a broken battery wire which took 10 seconds and 1 spot of solder to fix. We did a hill top to hilltop test and had no problems over 5Kms range. Nice to see that the difference between RF channels and CTCSS(sub channels) was pointed out earlier in the thread ( the number of arguments I have had with supposedly educated people about multiplying RF channels by CTCSS is beyond belief!!) cheers ab&mb ps I get the feeling there are a lot more amateurs out there than let on!!!! Edited August 31, 2006 by AB&MB Quote Link to comment
+Birders Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Do remember that the range depends on lots of factors. Six miles might just be achievable in open country but you'd be lucky to get a few hundred yards in a built up area. We use ours at home more than outdoors... Bren's hearing isn't what it was and if one of us is in the garden it's easier to communicate by radio rather than hollering! Quote Link to comment
EagleOwl Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 We picked up some Binatone ones from ASDA a coupleof wees ago 4 in the set for £10. Only just read this thread though and didn't even turn them on at the Shrops event Quote Link to comment
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