Handheld Radio/Walkie Talkies

[MatthewL]

In need of a set of the above for next week, any recommendations for somewhere online for a set of license free (PMR) ones. Ideally looking for Motorola handhelds not the smaller cheaper ones but the more commercial looking ones.

 

Thanks

[CamelMan]

We used these guys - always seemed great with us: https://www.radioactivecomms.co.uk

[MatthewL]

Thanks. Might have to go to plan B, bit more than I was expecting and having budget for for the use they will get. Have enquired about hire locally, at most they are only ever going to be used for an odd day here and there.

[IrritableTech]

Amazon and eBay are awash with the Baofeng BF-888S. They are a little, fairly rugged and very cheap hand held radio from a Chinese manufacturer. If you buy the programming cable (and download the free programming software Chirp) you can program them to send and receive PMR446 frequencies and program them with CTCSS tones.

 

Now their stats say in low power mode they output 1amp, which is twice the legal limit for PMR446, but in reality they have over exaggerated stats and the real output is probably much closer to half an amp.

 

At £10-12 a pop they are disposable enough even if you just test a couple. But make sure to get the ones with a USB charging dock - the mains ones don’t really pass any UK standards.

Edited September 12, 2018 by IrritableTech

[timbo343]

We purchased the retrevis ones from amazon and they seem to do the job for us.

[MatthewL]

I was going to go down the Baofeng route as I already have one of these programmed for another purpose. I've got the frequencies so was going to either get some more of these (which I already have) or order this lot.

 

Several radio places online have advised against them but for what use I want I think they will be perfect. The second lot as linked here cannot make out weather they are on PMR or will need these frequencies setting in. I've got the cable and software so might just do that. You mention CTCSS what is that, not something I am up with really.

[IrritableTech]

I was going to go down the Baofeng route as I already have one of these programmed for another purpose. I've got the frequencies so was going to either get some more of these (which I already have) or order this lot.

 

Several radio places online have advised against them but for what use I want I think they will be perfect. The second lot as linked here cannot make out weather they are on PMR or will need these frequencies setting in. I've got the cable and software so might just do that. You mention CTCSS what is that, not something I am up with really.

 

For me the 888s are best. They only have a single lithium cell so can be charged via usb - they won’t need to get past a PAT. Most of the mains ones I’ve seen (on the two lithium cell models like the other one you show) have either a European wall power supply or single insulated mains cable - neither are great in a professional environment. They are far more simple than many alternatives - which is good in an untrained user environment.

 

The usb cable is about a fiver and chirp is free. I’d be happy to send you a configuration file to program each of the channels if you like.

 

CTCSS are sub tones transmitted to help segregate traffic. PMR only has eight frequencies you can use, but then 38 (testing my memory now) tones which can be used. Someone could have their radio tuned to the same channel as you, but it won’t pick up the audio because they are set on a different tone to you. In reality they don’t offer and security or much use, each channel can only be transmitting at one time and without them enabled you can just hear everything on the channel.

 

If it’s only occasional use the 888s will be grand. If you want something to use everyday I’d look at Motorola like you original mentioned. We use them both at school (DP1400) and at the festivals I work at (DP3400).

[rad]

Brentwood Communications we use. Poss more expensive than what you want to,spend but decent signal and quality

[Chris_Cook]

The baofeng radios are great, but the last lot I got wouldn't program with chirp. This seemed to be a common problem on the chirp website. Its been a couple of months since I tried though.

 

I believe the default channels are illegal to use in the UK, so you need to make sure you program them before use.

[MatthewL]

For me the 888s are best. They only have a single lithium cell so can be charged via usb - they won’t need to get past a PAT. Most of the mains ones I’ve seen (on the two lithium cell models like the other one you show) have either a European wall power supply or single insulated mains cable - neither are great in a professional environment. They are far more simple than many alternatives - which is good in an untrained user environment.

 

The usb cable is about a fiver and chirp is free. I’d be happy to send you a configuration file to program each of the channels if you like.

 

CTCSS are sub tones transmitted to help segregate traffic. PMR only has eight frequencies you can use, but then 38 (testing my memory now) tones which can be used. Someone could have their radio tuned to the same channel as you, but it won’t pick up the audio because they are set on a different tone to you. In reality they don’t offer and security or much use, each channel can only be transmitting at one time and without them enabled you can just hear everything on the channel.

 

If it’s only occasional use the 888s will be grand. If you want something to use everyday I’d look at Motorola like you original mentioned. We use them both at school (DP1400) and at the festivals I work at (DP3400).

 

Thanks for that. I think the 888's are going to be the way forward, I have a cable and chirp already, been re configuring one of the others today. If you have a file already setup a copy would be grand. In an ideal world Motorola would be my go to for radio but for this project these will do. Just need something for an event here and there and have no funds as such. At least with this is will be easy to add more to without massive expense and not worry if they get lost/damaged.