[stanproc]

Hi all!

In most of the travelogues I find that the inter communication is put on to the Cellular coverage, and do not know how frustrating it will be to find the no coverage blank screen....

I wish to have the feed back and comments from all you on how it will be good if the riders or drivers can keep in touch all the way, through the use of Amateur Radio or Ham Radio.

Inviting you all to another crazy hobby ..........

Rgds
Peter

[hitanshu]

www.starcom.com

any cheaper alternatives to the same?

[Rossiter]

Hitanshu,

That link doesn't work.

Try this :

http://www.starcom1.com/

Found this to be similarly priced:

http://www.collett.mb.ca/

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Sir is there any portable system which can communicate for a distance of 15-20kms and that too in hills and even if the other person is on the other side of the hill?

If yes, what would be the approximate cost and what kind of license one would need?

Ps. Thread moved to Travel and automotive gear section.

[anupamkansal]

Can ny one enlighten me on the legalites of owing a wakie-takie in India. A pair of Motorola 10KM range handsets is around 50 to 100 dollars and it uses the free spectrum in US. These are available in India also, but what about licensing requirements. I believe as of now you have to obtain a license (which is a pain) to use these wakie takie sets.

BTW Garmin Rino series is a wakie takie plus GPS combined unit.

[stanproc]

The walkie talkies what we see now in the hands of the cops and others are work in the frequency band of VHF and UHF. (Very High and Ultra HIgh Frequency).

Our old radio sets at home are utilizing the HF. The new FM boom is in VHF but in the lower frequency band ( not to take your brains out!)


HF use the ground waves and reflected waves from the ionosphere, hence very large area can be linked using proper timing and frequency.
Whereas, the small walkie talkies are limited with power( the mopeds!!) and the communication is possible only at limited distance of line of sight.

As Yogesh asked, we cannot predict the coverage of two walkie talkies , since it depends on many factors. Not 10 to 20, but 100s are possible, if one of the equipment is at high altitude. In the olden motor rallies, the controller used to sit at the highest peak which will cover the sectors below and Radios are used to link with the TCs.

In India, to keep a communication equipment you need license, issued by the Ministry of Communication &IT. Even the Motorola PMR , mentioned by anupam require Commercial operating license, but easier to get it cleared.

Ham Radio or Amateur Radio is a hobby all around the world, where radio is used for establishing friendship. Again license is a must. As per the present rule, a girl or boy above 13 years can attend the qualifying examination and obtain the license. If you want to operate the HF for international contacts then higher grade of the licence is required and study of Morse code become essential. The written exam is two part. Basic electronics as first part and Radio operating procedure as second part. It is simple....13year student means normally standard viii !! License fee and all are nominal Rs. 20-40 per year for 24 hour of communication, (the cheapest of the possible?).

Yes it takes little pain to go through all these... But once you cross, then you get a unique identity-the call sign and a photo licence card with the Asoka chakra marked on the top-valid all over the country as a proof of identity.

The equipment will cost less than 10,000 for the Walkie talkies and almost same for the fixed/mobile mounting equipment. The second one require antenna and power supply. If it is mobile the power is taken from the vehicle.

Headsets with automatic (called VOX-voice operated transmitter)transmission are available and can be mounted inside the Helmet. If you can restrict the range to 2-5 kilometers in average terrain, communication without break will be possible and in the Ghat sections the advantage of height difference can be utilized by proper planing. In many places the group of Ham operators collectively put up Repeaters for the use of licensed operators to enhance the coverage. Then 200-400kms are possible according to the height of the Repeater antenna.

As per rule, which is yet to be amended, mobile operation requires special permission, which is normally issued for 90days..

[rahulzzz]

just a simple question walkie talkies are easily availble in stores and need no license to buy one. iam talking about not very high range ones' the one which can manage till 10km can be easily bought..

i really dont know about the license procedure. I dont think license is needed for the one easily available.

is it?

for bike riding hjc chatterbox is what is most recommended and has mp3 plugin support.

[stanproc]

As per the present GOI Law, all equipments, including the aero modeling controls require license.

More than an intercom to talk each other, a link between the riders at little distance, in emergencies it made lot of support in our cases. Most of my co travelers were HAMs, including my family. Before the influx of the cellphones, we used the radios extensively to keep in touch!

[Sunilg]

@Stanproc: Thanks for bringing this subject up on the forum. Perhaps you don't know that you've really opened a Pandora's box (containing all the goodies this time) and who can be the best person other than you to teach a thing or two about wireless communication to dimwits like me. I hope this thread will go longer and longer (just like "the headlight thread") and lead to lots of positive outcomes.

Personally, I am very much interested in knowing about the Ham Radio. I have read a lot about its benefits in case of disasters/calamities like Tsunami, storms, earth-quake etc. Can you shed some more light as to how to apply for the license, where can be buy the equipment from? Is it feasible to carry the Ham radio equipment on bikes? and any other things that you would like us to know.

[hitanshu]

and most importantly, if like I falll - then is it any use - assuming a quicker rider ahead is galloping away some 5km and further with each passing second!!