Walkie Talkies

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Sanjøy
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by Sanjøy » Mon Sep 11, 2017 5:56 pm

Dominic wrote:
fd wrote:
Dominic wrote:Slightly off topic, but still about transmitters and receivers...

We have a bit of a first world problem. The aerial for our remote control electric gates on our drive way is not ideally located, in as much as it works great from inside the gates, but less so from outside. The aerial is mounted on the inside of the wall and is shorter that the wall. It is mounted with the control unit for the gates so would not be too easy to relocate. It looks like an average car aerial, so I bought a longer car aerial, only to discover that the size of the thread to screw it in is slightly different. I have also tried some adapters, and other aerials for remote control cars. They are all the same type of screw in fixing, but non fit. The manufactures do not supply directly to the public. The local installers are either "too busy for months" or "don't supply that part".

Before I give up on it,.. I wondered if it is feasible to solder on an extension to the existing aerial???

TIA.
The length of the antenna is critical, making it arbitrarily longer (or shorter) will probably make it less efficient assuming the designer knew what length to make the antenna in the first place. It's to do with the frequency (and thus wavelength) of the radio waves being transmitted or received. There will be multiple 'good' lengths as 1 wavelength, 1/2, 1/4 wavelength antennas all work well . . .

You could exactly double it and hope they knew what they were doing. You could find out the frequency used - it's probably marked on the device by law, 4** MHz or 868 MHz would be common licence free frequencies. From that you can figure out the correct length.

Of course you could knock the wall down as that's what's causing the problem . . .
Cheers Fergus.

Steveweegie had a look at the weekend, seems like a sensible suggestion (other than wall demolition), is to re position the aerial mast higher up the wall using the manufactures extension kit. Or just get used to the idea of waiting a bit longer for the gates to open. :roll:

Or you could use IFTTT to use your location and automagically open the gates when you are at a predetermined distance from some GPS co-ords.

https://www.gogogate.com/ifttt.html
https://ifttt.com/applets/374304p-when- ... arage-door


S
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Sanjøy
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by Sanjøy » Mon Jan 13, 2020 5:41 pm

I did not picked up a Baofeng GT-3TP recently and did not have a great time in the woods with the kids who have the Motorola T41s when up in Aviemore recently.

I've programmed in the 16 PMR channels and the Marine channels to have a listen to when WFH as I am next to the Forth.

Any other interesting frequencies to consider? Was going to bash the Mountain SAR freqs in there too.

Next on my reading will be understanding the need and how repeaters work.

S
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campbell
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by campbell » Sat Jan 25, 2020 12:59 am

I can confirm that I have not bought a pair of these on your recommendation. And that I will not be trialling them for car to car comms in support of a forthcoming Big Road Trip.

Thanks Sanj!
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Sanjøy
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by Sanjøy » Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:11 am

You can setup IFTTT to notify you when ISS is overhead and then tune into their frequency 145.80 MHz.
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by campbell » Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:22 am

Lol

Killer feature!

Decent 2-5km range and clear audio is all we need
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Sanjøy
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by Sanjøy » Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:23 am

I listened to the Aberdeen coastguard giving the weather forecast earlier this evening when I left it scanning my preprogrammed marine frequencies. Not sure if it was off a repeater though.
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robin
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by robin » Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:02 pm

That must have been thrilling chat :-)
I is in your loomz nibblin ur wirez
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Sanjøy
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by Sanjøy » Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:20 pm

robin wrote:That must have been thrilling chat :-)
Was waiting for the birthday announcements. Do they still do that on Grampian?
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by rawsco » Sat Jan 25, 2020 10:43 pm

Sanjøy wrote:
Sat Jan 25, 2020 1:23 am
I listened to the Aberdeen coastguard giving the weather forecast earlier this evening when I left it scanning my preprogrammed marine frequencies. Not sure if it was off a repeater though.
Love the shipping forecast, reminds me of a good time when i crewed yacht racing and listening intently for the malin conditions...

“Rockall, Malin, Hebrides. Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, veering west, severe gale 9 to violent storm 11. Rain, then squally showers. Poor, becoming moderate."

Such an institution in the UK. The above would be the premise of a day of hell on the sea spoken by the BBC in less than 350 words with no inflections indicating positive or negative. Just fact punctuated with the odd ‘perhaps’... southwest 4 perhaps gale!!! 😮
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campbell
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by campbell » Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:17 pm

James finally got ours rolling today. Impressive sound.

Range only tested to 200m so far

Hope to try couple km later this week tho.
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Sanjøy
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by Sanjøy » Mon Jan 27, 2020 1:12 am

campbell wrote:
Sun Jan 26, 2020 11:17 pm
James finally got ours rolling today. Impressive sound.

Range only tested to 200m so far Image

Hope to try couple km later this week tho.
I could loan you this but so cheap might as well order one.

Can send you the CHIRP file I used for the PMR, SAR and Marine frequencies.

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Sanjøy
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by Sanjøy » Fri Apr 03, 2020 2:56 pm

Lapel mic/speakers ordered now. Using them daily these days to talk to the kids when WFH and they need help on their school work etc.
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campbell
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by campbell » Fri Apr 03, 2020 7:08 pm

Might be interested to see those.

Linky?
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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by Victor Meldrew » Fri Apr 03, 2020 11:07 pm

We use the cheapest PMR from amazon, clipped onto the front of the shirt.

I have a lead to plug it into the Autocom system but you only need an earpiece in a car with no roof.
Well it moves... might as well make the most of it....

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Re: Walkie Talkies

Post by fd » Sun Apr 05, 2020 12:34 am

We have a set of Motorola XTNid PMR's with remote mics, they are completely indestructable, 4Km range in the mountains. Change the codes so you don't hear all the plebs if you're in a high usage area (skiing/boarding) . . .

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