Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => Gear Questions, Information, Reviews and Competitions => Topic started by: ChuckMcB on June 11, 2010
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Anyone ever looked at the above?
I've been thinking about them for a while for use in the mountains, no sure exactly why/when...just toying with the idea..
The stuff I'm reading covers the entire range of possibility:
1) Cheapy ones work fine
2) All cheapy ones are crap unless you have direct line of sight
3) Digital ones are better than analogue for range
4) All the ones legally used in the UK (is less than 5kw) are crap
5) Hi powered (ie. non-UK legal) ones from eBay (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=9&pub=5574670588&toolid=10001&campid=5336680959&customid=Pro-action+Hike&icep_uq=long+range+walkie+talkies&icep_sellerId=&icep_ex_kw=&icep_sortBy=12&icep_catId=&icep_minPrice=&icep_maxPrice=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229508&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg) are much better
6) Keep away from hi-powered ones, they will flood mountain rescue frequencies.
Anyone had any experience?
Money always talks so my options so far:
Motorola TLKR T3 Two Way Radio Twin Pack (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000WP77WW/ni-wiid-21) £18 pair
Binatone Terrain 550 Long Range Radio with Travel Pack (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002NQ7NYU/ni-wiid-21) £42.76 pair
NO (http://www.yogee.com.au/images/TG2007_DoraWalkie_A.jpg)! ;)
Update: We have a winner: Binatone Action 950 2 pack (http://www.anrdoezrs.net/tr67hz74z6MQWOVSNTMONPWRQVO?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fstatic%2FProduct%2FpartNumber%2F5531062%2Fc_1%2F1%257Ccategory_root%257COffice%252C%2BPCs%2Band%2Bphones%257C14418968%2Fc_2%2F3%257Ccat_15701358%257CTelephones%257C14418985.htm&cjsku=5531062) 4 Pack (http://www.dpbolvw.net/h8117dlurlt8CIAHE9F8A9BIDCHA?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argos.co.uk%2Fstatic%2FProduct%2FpartNumber%2F5531055%2Fc_1%2F1%257Ccategory_root%257COffice%252C%2BPCs%2Band%2Bphones%257C14418968%2Fc_2%2F3%257Ccat_15701358%257CTelephones%257C14418985.htm&cjsku=5531055)
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Dowser was discussing the possibility just today. The Binatone ones reviewed well.
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The dora one s look the ticket ::)
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Dowser was discussing the possibility just today.
Let me know how the discussion proceeds...I'm fighting the urge just to buy the Binatone one from Argos on the way home tonight....
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I'm certainly not going to stop you ::)
Dowser was discussing the possibility just today.
Let me know how the discussion proceeds...I'm fighting the urge just to buy the Binatone one from Argos on the way home tonight....
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I was just about to start a new topic on this when I noticed Chuck beat me to it. I've just reserved a set of Binatone Action 950 Two-Ways in Argos and was gonna collect them tonight, if I got a bit of positive feedback here. Fathers Days coming up... Timing couldn't be better. These ones seem to have a better range (10K rather than 8K) than the Binatone Terrain 550.
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500002201&langId=-1&searchTerms=5531062
I'm hoping to get these for the Iplod Marshalling this weekend and was gonna give one to Jonno's pair just so we can keep in touch. My main reason for buying them is to give one to the kids when we are camping so that they can go off playing and I can have a bit of Peace of Mind, by being able to check in on them now and again. They should never be more than 1km away so the range should be more than ample.
If I thought I could get even 5-6km over Terrain I'd be well happy.
Anybody ever used these things in the mountains?
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Thats a brilliant idea for the kids.
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I've used them while climbing on longer multi pitches, when its windy etc. saves having to shout and confusing rope signals! they worked allright then although I did pick up some conversation at one point but not sure where from.
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I've just reserved a set of Binatone Action 950 Two-Ways in Argos and was gonna collect them tonight
http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500002201&langId=-1&searchTerms=5531062
Anybody ever used these things in the mountains?
Well... I collected them this evening. The Action 950's look to be of very good build quality. The batteries supplied are only NiMH 600mAH so I've Ebayed a set of Energizer NiMH 1000mAH and will keep the 600's as spares.
I had a few drinks tonight so couldn't jump in the motor to try out the range, but the spec seems to suggest Up to 6 miles... Will let you know tomorrow.
They seem to have lots of functions built in: 968 Channels to choose from, VOX (Voice Activation - Hands Free), Channel Scanner to find other users (Good for emergencies if your mobile is in a dead zone), Key Lock, Docking Station, LCD Back Light... Too many to mention to be honest. Great piece of kit for 45 Quid.
For only a couple of quid more I would recommend these over the Terrain 550's. Better quality, few more functions and better range.
Each handset is only 140grams including the batteries. My only negative at this stage is that they don't appear to be waterproof/resistant, but that's nothing a sandwich bag won't sort out for now. There's bound to be a waterproof cover available on-line to suit these.
Looking forward to trying them out next weekend. I'll update my review after that.
Should have said... I do have a set of Terrain 550's on short term loan, that I borrowed off my brother, so I can compare the two handsets side-by-side. I defo prefer the look and feel of the 950's, they are 10grams lighter than the 550's and the function buttons are molded plastic with the function characters indented so they will never wear off. My brothers function buttons where just rubber buttons with the symbols printed on but the printing has now worn off with only very light use.
I know this all sounds a bit nerdy, and probably over the top, but if your thinking about getting something like this it may be of use.
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Let me know how you get on and if they're quality I'll get a set too - then we'll have one for each team. Can't resist a gadget!
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Let me know how you get on and if they're quality I'll get a set too - then we'll have one for each team. Can't resist a gadget!
Hmmm... First test wasn't too impressive to be honest... Not the 6 mile range that was promised on the box. Only got about 1.1 Miles, as the crow flies, before signal was lost. Google Earth does show that between point A and point B, where I tested them, there is nothing but houses and I was inside the car.
Still wasn't all that impressed :(. They will have a use, i.e. keeping in contact with the kids, but I don't think they will be much use on the likes of Iplod.
Might be different in a mountain scenario, if you are broadcasting from higher ground, but I'm not gonna hold my breathe.
I wouldn't recommend you rush out to buy these until we have tried them out in the mountains.
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They might be of use for the iplod if you can have some sort of signal repeater in the middle, but that's a bit of a cop out and defeats the purpose of a mobile walkie talkie!
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Until I can get into the hills and try these Walk Talk's properly here's an interesting review to keep you going:
http://www.qsouk.com/pmr-f7/binatone-950-review-t1242.htm
There's hope for them yet ;)
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Looks positive. Think radios just don't work well in build up areas.
Until I can get into the hills and try these Walk Talk's properly here's an interesting review to keep you going:
http://www.qsouk.com/pmr-f7/binatone-950-review-t1242.htm
There's hope for them yet ;)
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I've got a set of these now (the do look fairly professional). Means we'll have enough for each team at the iPlod and we can give them a testing.
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I've got a set of these now (the do look fairly professional). Means we'll have enough for each team at the iPlod and we can give them a testing.
Well... We're back from iPlod and I was well impressed with the Two-Ways. We were able to get crystal clear transmission from Hare's Gap to the top of Donard and were able to relay transmissions to the Bog of Donard via the team at the top of Donard.
They proved invaluable for co-ordinating the NI Wild volunteers. If it wasn't for the radios we could still be up there waiting for permission to come down off the hills :D
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Plus, who doesn't like playing with walkie talkies :)
I've got a set of these now (the do look fairly professional). Means we'll have enough for each team at the iPlod and we can give them a testing.
Well... We're back from iPlod and I was well impressed with the Two-Ways. We were able to get crystal clear transmission from Hare's Gap to the top of Donard and were able to relay transmissions to the Bog of Donard via the team at the top of Donard.
They proved invaluable for co-ordinating the NI Wild volunteers. If it wasn't for the radios we could still be up there waiting for permission to come down off the hills :D
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So where you guys just ignoring us at the Castles ;D , or did you not notice that you lost contact with us for most of the morning until the the fog cleared (we could hear all of you including the Hare's Gap, but most outgoing comms did not get a response...TBH our comms guys had next to no outgoing comms either, likewise he could hear incoming)
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We had intermittent comms with all the stations. With the wind we couldn't hear much and got drowned out when we spoke.
So where you guys just ignoring us at the Castles ;D , or did you not notice that you lost contact with us for most of the morning until the the fog cleared (we could hear all of you including the Hare's Gap, but most outgoing comms did not get a response...TBH our comms guys had next to no outgoing comms either, likewise he could hear incoming)
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I have a couple of Binatone 550’s, four binatone 650’s and a couple of the 950’s. I use them for all the leaders when taking groups in the mountains. I think the 650 and 950 models appear to perform the same and are slightly better than the 550. All of them are of course quite limited due to the power and frequency. If a mountain is in the way then they simply don’t work. As long as you know there limitations they can be effective. We think they are great, especially for the leaders when supervising remotely as we can spread ourselves out and watch a few groups progress from a distance and keep in good communication with the other leaders.
As an example of their use: You can chat clearly between the Commedagh castles and the Annalong forest. Or, I have sat at the top of Beg and relayed messages from someone on the other side of the Hare’s gap to someone at the edge of Annalong wood (but they could not speak to each other).
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Thanks for the extra info nematode.
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I have more.... I once used the 550's for crystal clear communication with a leader who was looking after a group passing through the col of Donard in wind and rain. I was sitting in Mauds with a piece of pie and an americano. I think that is OK to say as I don't think he is a member of this forum.
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(grin) That's the perfect location on multiple different levels :D ... you would have had near line of sight with your other leader from Mauds (that's the one on the corner beside the new bridge).
Seems that mad fog we had during the iWait could have been the thing that killed our comms, I'm over on another forum and there is lots of chatter about VHF vs fog: "UHF is mostly "line of sight". You'll also find that range decreases in rain, snow or foggy conditions."
Unfortunately I've now got my eye on a 4w imported PMR 446, it's a little bit naughty (read: illegal) to be using it in the UK, but I may get it to do some A-B testing with the Binatone 950, which seem more solidly made than the other two you mention...
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This guy http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTOROLA-MTH800-GPS-WAP-TETRA-RADIO-TERMINAL-TEA1_W0QQitemZ320551809212QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=0f6d23f51290a0aad5577e57fd9dd0fb (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTOROLA-MTH800-GPS-WAP-TETRA-RADIO-TERMINAL-TEA1_W0QQitemZ320551809212QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=0f6d23f51290a0aad5577e57fd9dd0fb) seems to be what the army boys were using. From looking about the net, it seems more trouble than it is worth trying to get something like this working LEGALLY.
(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/1/6/3/1/9/webimg/304816782_tp.jpg)
(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/1/6/3/1/9/webimg/348781323_tp.jpg)
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That does look like them. Tho if they use the cellphone network then I wonder if they're any cheaper to operate than a mobile. Plus if you're out of range you're fooked (as we found out).
This guy http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTOROLA-MTH800-GPS-WAP-TETRA-RADIO-TERMINAL-TEA1_W0QQitemZ320551809212QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=0f6d23f51290a0aad5577e57fd9dd0fb (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MOTOROLA-MTH800-GPS-WAP-TETRA-RADIO-TERMINAL-TEA1_W0QQitemZ320551809212QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=0f6d23f51290a0aad5577e57fd9dd0fb) seems to be what the army boys were using. From looking about the net, it seems more trouble than it is worth trying to get something like this working LEGALLY.
(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/1/6/3/1/9/webimg/304816782_tp.jpg)
(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/1/6/3/1/9/webimg/348781323_tp.jpg)
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To clarify: the legality is (generally) not with the radios.....but with the operator. To play by the rules you have to get yourself trained up and apply for a Amateur licence from Ofcom. (I wonder if my marine short-wave licence covers me for land based radios)
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i was looking at the licence last night. its 75 quid for 5 years. it lookas like they just give you the licence after the money clears.