Non-motoring > Two Way Radios. Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Fullchat Replies: 16
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 Sun 10 May 26 19:21 
 Two Way Radios. - Fullchat
Heading back to the country still suffering a 'Special Military Operation' with a convoy of 8 ambulances in a few weeks. Last year some very cheap licence free PMR two way radios were sourced which weren't very poor as the convoy stretched a bit.
I've been tasked at revisiting the comms side (shouldn't have complained :)).
The PMR radios are very limited due to being restricted to 0.5 Watt output. And of course they are working inside a steel structure.
Looking at whats available there are packs of radios for very little money but looking for better performance you soon get into the amateur radio sphere which require a licence.
These radios will be left with the vehicles at handover.
CB is a possibility which will require some wiring and mounting but doable with the cheapest kit coming in at around £60. Packs of multiple PMRs can be bought for similar money.
Any experience/advice of such forms of simple comms?
Last edited by: Fullchat on Sun 10 May 26 at 19:24
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 Sun 10 May 26 19:29 
 Two Way Radios. - Zero
Depends how much you want to spend. I'd be looking at Baofeng UV5r at about 15-20 quid a set.

5 watts at PMR frequencies. (and a huge spread of frequencies - might be illegal in some countries), but then so is PMR 446 in some countries.
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 Mon 11 May 26 08:23 
 Two Way Radios. - smokie
Don't mobile phones do a similar thing? You can use WhatsApp to group chat and video call too!! :-)
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 Mon 11 May 26 11:34 
 Two Way Radios. - Robin O'Reliant
>> Don't mobile phones do a similar thing? You can use WhatsApp to group chat and
>> video call too!! :-)
>>

Two way radios are quicker to use, and one message gets to everyone at the same time.
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 Mon 11 May 26 11:54 
 Two Way Radios. - legacylad
In the Spanish mountains last october I found myself helping a local guide for a week. The large group on a one week walking holiday had differing abilities so were split into two, necessitating two further guides.
Over the week we used eSynic walkie talkies so the sweeper could keep in touch with the leader. Despite not being in line of sight we were able to keep
in touch 100% of the time.
I’ve no idea what the max range was but they were a cheap indispensable piece of safety kit. 16 channel UHF i think, similar, if not the same, as Baofeng.
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 Sun 28 Jun 26 10:34 
 Two Way Radios. - Fullchat
Update.

We went for a bulk pack of the legitimate (in UK) PMR e-synic radios. Requirements were a longer antenna, and the abiity to USB charge on the move.

The Baofeng UV5r sets were extremely tempting with their higher output and the ability to increas the antenna length.

These worked reasonably well over the convoy distance with the centre vehicle occasionally having to relay from back to front if things stretched out. Overall good.

Communication is a massive benefit on a journey around 1200 miles

"Victor 8 out."
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 Sun 28 Jun 26 13:36 
 Two Way Radios. - CGNorwich
It’s a bit chilly at Harlow Carr. Hope it warms up a bit
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 Sun 28 Jun 26 16:03 
 Two Way Radios. - Zero
>> It’s a bit chilly at Harlow Carr. Hope it warms up a bit

Its Nice at Wisley.....
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 Sun 28 Jun 26 16:51 
 Two Way Radios. - CGNorwich
Well it did warm up. That’s the good news. The bad news is that my car is showing a warning light for the “front assist”. When I checked the sensors I found that some scumbag has ripped off the VW logo badge which conceals the sensors. Driving home I passed through a speed trap. Was doing 34 speedo in a 30. Not my day.
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 Sun 28 Jun 26 17:05 
 Two Way Radios. - Zero

>> sensors. Driving home I passed through a speed trap. Was doing 34 speedo in a
>> 30. Not my day.

You will be fine,. Your actual speed will be 31, well below the threshold for prosecution.
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 Sun 28 Jun 26 17:10 
 Two Way Radios. - Zero

>> I found that some scumbag has ripped off the VW logo badge

Well behind the times up there, the Beastie boys thing is well old.
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 Sun 28 Jun 26 17:13 
 Two Way Radios. - CGNorwich
If the radar sensors are damaged it’s a £1,200 pound job to replace and realign apparently.
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 Sun 28 Jun 26 20:09 
 Two Way Radios. - Zero
>> If the radar sensors are damaged it’s a £1,200 pound job to replace and realign
>> apparently.

Indeed, makes minor front end damge expensive to fix. independent specialists are now croppingup tho, its not just an EV issue.
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 Thu 2 Jul 26 16:36 
 Two Way Radios. - CGNorwich
Now Home and done some investigation on repair/re-alignment.

The sensors look OK. Not visibly damaged or scratched so hoping only recalibration necessary. Found local recalibration specialist company who charge £135 for recalibration. Ordered new badge from VW main dealer - £71. Can get cheaper on eBay but specialist warned that cheap versions can interfere with radar if wrong plastic or too thick
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 Sun 28 Jun 26 17:14 
 Two Way Radios. - tyrednemotional
>> Was doing 34 speedo in a 30. Not my day.
>>

Enforcement guidelines* are still exceeding the limit by 10%+2, i.e. 35MPH.

As Z says, your speedo won't be under-reading, and most likely will be over-reading, so you should be safe.

*it is however a (widely adopted) guideline for enforcement, the offence is still committed at 1MPH over.
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 Fri 3 Jul 26 16:35 
 Two Way Radios. - car4play
One thing I would consider would be Lora, specifically Loramesh or Meshtastic.

- low power, batteries last weeks
- range up to Km - no cell towers needed.
- small devices, cheap.
- no licensing issues

But.... not for voice - only text messages. It is very low bandwidth short stuff, but that might be all you need for emergency operations

See for example
www.researchgate.net/publication/383601289_Design_and_Feasibility_Analysis_of_a_LoRa_Based_Communication_System_for_Disaster_Management
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 Fri 3 Jul 26 16:36 
 Two Way Radios. - car4play
.. sorry - just seen you sorted it! Ignore!
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