Walkie-Talkies?

[Xalon]

Greetings,

I've been reading up alot about airsoft lately, having 2 seperate group of friends who are into it, and I plan to buy my first AEG within the next 2 months. (most probably a TM G36C)

In the meantime i'll be participating in a few more painball events, and for an upcoming one me and a friend thought it might be a cool idea to buy walkie-talkies.

Basically since we play BF2/WoW over Skype (voice comm like rogerwilco etc), we figured we could hopefully translate that to paintball (and eventually airsoft).

So I mosy-on-over to Future Shop, and for 80$ I pick up a pair of Audiovox walkie-talkies. There were some Motorola pairs at the same price (which seem better quality), but the Audiovox actually came with 2 small headsets (earbud+mic) which saves us $$ and having to find small headsets.

So here is the question: Since I have'nt read any mention of walkie-talkies in the threads i've gone through; is there anyone that has tried it and has comments, or has reasons to not want to?

I've tested them, and so far so good.
-They apparently have a range of up to 9.6km (which gets dumbed down if you put on energy-saving-mode)
-They have a voice activation (called VOX, which works OK, but you always get the first word cut off, like there is a delay before it realizes you are talking) but the sound quality is actually suprisingly good.
-The mic is'nt sensitive enough (or maybe the voice activation is'nt) to pic up/activate upon whispers.
-Like most, it has a bunch of channels to choose from.
-Ear bud does'nt hold well in the ear, but I found wearing a bandana with part going over that ear to hold it in place works fine.

So, any suggestion for/against? Idea? Experiences? Comments? Questions?

I have'nt ben to one airsoft event yet, so i don't know how its usefulness could be different in an airsoft game vs a paintball match.

edit: oups i guess this does belong in "gear" more then "general" forum.

[Lisa]

You didn't look too hard

here's three threads on comm's

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=6118

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=16810

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=15399

And if you look in the classifieds you will see various walkietalkies for sale.

[firemachine69]

I'm gonna buy a UHF model off Ebay. I'll let everyone know how it goes.

(Cheap KYD, I know, I know, but have you seen the ending price on a Saber III off of Ebay? Besides, I can program the Simplex channel on the spot to match up whatever will come out of the Saber.)

[Xalon]

Thanks for the reply, and links.

Indeed i did'nt "look too hard", having not noticed the search function until now (only appears once registered). And having just read random post on everything/anything had'nt seen one mention of comm devices in general.

Seems people are using pretty high-tech stuff, I was expecting someone to say something like: they're too bulky, prone to breakage, cumbersome earpeices, etc. But apparently it's used pretty commonly.

I'm just hoping my chepo ones will do the trick for now then. I'll read further.

Actually, most people use cheap shitty FRS comms. Most people don't get much use out of their cheap shitty FRS comms beyond a couple hundred meters, mostly because they're cheap and shitty and they don't communicate anywhere NEAR the advertised "9.6km" range, which assumes a direct line of site with no obstructions.

All kidding aside however, if they are able to communicate using the standard FRS/GMRS frequencies, they'll be fine. Keep in mind that communications extends beyond you and your buddy - you generally want something that allows communication to anyone on your team/side of the game.

Some people use higher-end equipment, others use cheap stuff that meets their immediate requirement.

[Lerch]

Also keep in mind that to use the VHF or UHF radios, you do need a lisence. I've used the VHF alot and I know how much the police and military stations moniter those channels. So if you don't have a lisence :wink: just read up on the proper procedures and you'll be fine. When the cops hear punk-ass kids yackin' away on VHF channels, they tend to get pissed.

[[EUG] TAZ]

Myself and a few other members have been using this GPS/FRS and it works well even at long ranges (you get what you pay for)

http://www.gpscentral.ca/products/garmin/rino120.htm

[firemachine69]

Originally Posted by Black Hawk

Also keep in mind that to use the VHF or UHF radios, you do need a lisence. I've used the VHF alot and I know how much the police and military stations moniter those channels. So if you don't have a lisence :wink: just read up on the proper procedures and you'll be fine. When the cops hear punk-ass kids yackin' away on VHF channels, they tend to get pissed.

I've heard of MURS frequencies in the states, which requires no license. Do we have the same thing in Canada?

Anyways, I HIGHLY doubt the cops will be scanning... Maybe at 3am when their done their Timmies coffees and bored senseless out of their minds... Otherwise, I'd have to say "no"...

[JohnnyDo]

cops don't monitor unlicenced radio brodcasts .. Industries Canada does. They are the same people that enforece laws such as RF interferance, licencing, power output, bandwidth use (what frequency you use and so forth) etc.

and yes they do monitor the air waves, it's their job.

If they want to go to the trouble of triangulating the signal while I'm humping the bush in Muskoka, all the power to them. Good luck with that.

[firemachine69]

Exactly what I was thinking. :lol:

[Lerch]

So I took my Motorola radios along on my trip to HMCS Esquimalt this weekend and from my 2i/c at the CO's house to Gods Little Cemetary I had clear reception.
I got myself a nice throat mic aswell and it works great, I was using it while I was on leave in Victoria.