Two way radios

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Tmooreheadf
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Two way radios

Post by Tmooreheadf » Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:15 pm

While on tour, it would be nice to have a descent set of walkie talkies to be able to communicate from car to car. While a cell phone works OK, it would be nice to be able to announce Bear in the road ahead, so everyone would know it without having to call cell phones. And yes we had a bear in the road on Saturday while traveling on the Little Shepard Trail in KY!
Does anyone have any particular brand or model they might use that seems to work well?
Thanks


Dallas Landers
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Re: Two way radios

Post by Dallas Landers » Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:45 pm

Most are pretty good but be prepaired for interference from the magneto. Even my fire radio suffers from mag noise. Its a $1200 radio. The cheap one sound the same. We use them when several cars are on tour so everyone knows whats going on.

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TWrenn
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Re: Two way radios

Post by TWrenn » Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:54 pm

On top of that is the engine and road noise, the fact that you will now be a "distracted driver", becoming str8 up illegal in a lot of states. Don't mean to rain on your parade and idea but....


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Tmooreheadf
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Re: Two way radios

Post by Tmooreheadf » Mon Jun 14, 2021 1:01 pm

I understand the law aspect, but most of the time, a passenger is the operator. I don’t know how the law feels about that. We seem to have more than one brand that our members own. And for whatever reason ( exclusivity I guess), one brand won’t talk to the other. One feature is a call alert that will get even hard of hearing people’s attention!
Thanks for the responses thus far!

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TWrenn
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Re: Two way radios

Post by TWrenn » Mon Jun 14, 2021 2:19 pm

Yeh, after I posted i did think that in some cases there may be a passenger to handle the radio. Still got the noise issue, and I believe most radios can be tuned in to another one...just gotta figure what frequencies they run on.

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Oldav8tor
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Re: Two way radios

Post by Oldav8tor » Mon Jun 14, 2021 2:45 pm

You get noise even with FM? Hmmm.... I'll have to try one of the radios the sheriff's department gave me. A simple solution for monitoring is an earpiece or headset with mic. When we convoy with our military vehicles the first vehicle has one and so does tail end charlie. That way if someone falls out, the lead gets the word to pull over until it is decided how to proceed. There are commercial, no-license frequencies you can use although often we have some Hams in the group and can operate on two meter frequencies.

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Re: Two way radios

Post by Divcoone » Mon Jun 14, 2021 3:59 pm

Cell phone coverage is sometimes limited in the boondocks. We use Motorola and get about 1.5 mile range.


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Re: Two way radios

Post by Norman Kling » Mon Jun 14, 2021 4:12 pm

I don't know about FM or shortwave, but I have started up a T in my garage and driven a car with AM radio and the interference from the magneto goes about 1,000' from the T to the radio. Someone with experience with walkie talkies or other types of radios might be able to answer this.


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Re: Two way radios

Post by jiminbartow » Mon Jun 14, 2021 4:28 pm

Go to an outdoor store such as Dick’s or Cabellos, that cater to hunters and hikers, they have small, powerful, reasonably priced radios that have a range of several miles that hunters use to keep in touch with eachother. When you are actually there in the store, a salesman can answer all your questions and you can choose the radio set you want after reviewing the specs and comparing prices. Years ago, before cellphones, we used “Ritron-Jobcom” radios at the Railcar shop to keep track of our field crews that repaired railcars out in the field. They were very good radios with a very long range. Go online to Grainger (www.grainger.com) and type “Ritron Jobcom” in the search box to read more about them, where, depending on the radio, cost about $170.00 apiece. Jim Patrick

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Re: Two way radios

Post by varmint » Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:23 pm

Oh My...
Have we forgotten about CB radios?
I mean, yeah, need a 12v power supply but you can make them hands free all day long.
There are hand held units also.
And you will never have to worry about whether everyone can get on the same channel, no so with walkie-talkies.
Vern (Vieux Carre)

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TWrenn
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Re: Two way radios

Post by TWrenn » Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:35 pm

$170 apiece!?!...too rich for my blood. I'll stick with cell phones IF I ever want to contact someone. Gotta be mighty important for me/us out touring to even want to. Got enuf to do just keeping an eye on the idiots out there trying to kill us in our Ts.
Seems every day I'm being passed by multiple cars in dangerous no passing zones.

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ewdysar
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Re: Two way radios

Post by ewdysar » Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:21 pm

TWrenn wrote:
Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:35 pm
$170 apiece!?!...too rich for my blood. I'll stick with cell phones IF I ever want to contact someone. Gotta be mighty important for me/us out touring to even want to. Got enuf to do just keeping an eye on the idiots out there trying to kill us in our Ts.
Seems every day I'm being passed by multiple cars in dangerous no passing zones.
A while back, the FCC created Family Radio Services as a big step up from the walkie talkies that we used as kids.

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-div ... ervice-frs

I’ve got a pair of radios that I bought well over 10 years ago and they work great. If you share the channel and sub-channel, you can get plenty of radios to communicate as a group. Range is pretty good, maybe about a mile in practice. I’ve never tried them around my Ts, so magneto interference might be an issue. They are available at all the regular places, outdoor suppliers, big box stores, amazon, etc. Here’s an example online:

https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-T600-Ta ... 8ZBV07FS10

Keep crankin’
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Re: Two way radios

Post by kmatt2 » Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:49 pm

Back in the 1980's the Model A driver's that drove across country in small groups used CB radios. They were running 12 volt negative ground systems or stand alone 12 volt system for CB and would charge CB battery at night. The group leader could talk to all cars at one time.
Today I would think passengers could do that with a cell phone.


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Re: Two way radios

Post by kmatt2 » Mon Jun 14, 2021 6:50 pm

I don't know how the T mag would effect this but I think there was at one time cell phones that could transmit phone to phone if no cell service.

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perry kete
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Re: Two way radios

Post by perry kete » Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:41 pm

I think in order to keep communication period correct between the front car and the back car you should mail letters to each other ! :? :? :roll:
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Re: Two way radios

Post by DLodge » Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:53 pm

Years ago, our Model T club used CB handheld radios to communicate on tours. We had one member who always saw to it that he was one of the ones who had a radio and he yammered away during the entire tour. I decided early on that I would not be in the lead or take up the rear, and that I would politely refuse the offer of a radio. Tours were fine after that.... :D

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Re: Two way radios

Post by Novice » Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:56 pm

There are a lot of inexpensive hand held radios on the market. what You want are the ones for FRS/GMRS radio service. Family radio service and general mobile radio service they share some of the same frequency's between 462.55 Mhz & 467.71 Mhz.
use of the FRS frequencies is license free. GMRS require You pay a fee for a GMRS license. FRS limit of 1/2 watt. GMRS 50 watts. for a mobile unit. some GMRS stations use their own or public repeaters / relay stations to cover up to a 30 mile radius. but for car to car communication the .5 watt FRS/GMRS radios are fine.
I have used them for years around the house aligning roof top antennas and with the Boy Scouts car pooling to camp. some will have better noise rejection than others. never ran one in a model T. They all have squelch which turns off speaker when no signal is present but can be activated by some noise. and most all have tone squelch. Motorola called it private line. PL which kinda stuck 32 different sub audible tones from about 60 cycle range to 250 cycle range keep Your radio from receiving noise or other stations outside Your group operating on the same frequency. DPL. Digital private line. uses a tone burst at the beginning of a transmission with up to 252 ? different 3 tone combinations for use in highly congested areas where all the PL tones are in use.
You have most likely heard it on commercial two way radios sound like a short tone blurp. at the beginning and end of transmission.
I have both Midland and Motorola FRS/GMRS radios. cobra makes one for about $35.00 should work fine. and academy sells a bunch of HTs as well for deer hunting. There are a lot of business walkie talkies available for sale I would stay away from those and go with the standard channel FRS/GMRS radios they will cover a half mile or more most of the time. Use the built in battery do not connect to Model T battery. I advise getting the external mike and ear piece / headset. so You don't haft to pick up the radio to use it.
Finally don't believe the 10 to 35 mile range manufactures state on their radios. BALONEY! Ad below for
COBRA Handheld Two Way Radios.

Cobra® handheld 2-way radios are ideal for a variety of applications. The analog radios are available in a 462.55 to 467.71 MHz frequency, with up to 22 channels. Waterproof models are available.
Cobra ACXT 145 Analog FRS/GMRS 22 0.5 W No 33UG10
Regular Price$35.98 / each
Last edited by Novice on Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Two way radios

Post by Mark Gregush » Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:58 pm

Never been on a T tour that there was a need for a radio. If one car drops out, the others keep going and the trailer of shame picks them up.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

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Re: Two way radios

Post by Novice » Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:08 pm

They call it a Vulture Wagon in Texas.


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Re: Two way radios

Post by rofirestone » Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:33 pm

Divcoone wrote:
Mon Jun 14, 2021 3:59 pm
Cell phone coverage is sometimes limited in the boondocks. We use Motorola and get about 1.5 mile range.
What model / number have you had good service with?

Roy


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Re: Two way radios

Post by Scott C. » Tue Jun 15, 2021 1:05 am

On our trips down in Baja we use the BAOFENG UV-5R. They are cheap and very tuff.

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Re: Two way radios

Post by Novice » Tue Jun 15, 2021 2:32 am

Scott. The UV-5R are good radios I have a number of them. but manual programming can be a chore. and programing it on a computer requires software. programming cable and practice. but after You program one radio the rest can be cloned best I remember. lots of cheap accessories. speaker mikes ect. But most car guys will need help. a ham or radio shop to set it up and make sure its programmed for GMRS frequencies. make sure the radio has the FCC part 90 certification sticker on the radio frame under the battery. Many cheap China radios are not legal in the U.S. not that anyone cares. but do subject You to a possible FCC citation and monetary fine if they find out and choose to pursue it. as long as You operate on GMRS frequencies Your probably ok. but if You accidently set up Your radio to transmit on a unauthorized frequency such as police. Fire. public safety. or Joe's concrete. bad things are going to happen. But having a radio in the lead car along with the last car or service vehicle can be helpful.


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Re: Two way radios

Post by Loftfield » Tue Jun 15, 2021 6:46 am

Wow, what age can do to you. When I read that the radios could be used to alert to a bear in the road, I immediately conjured ancient CB radio use in which Smokey The Bear (usually shortened to "bear") in the road meant law enforcement ahead, slow down. I wondered just what kind of Model T driving would require an alert to slow down for law enforcement? We have plenty of bears (of both kinds) in our area, not certain either would actually require an alert while driving a Model T. Now if you were in Grizzly bear country where the beast could just reach into an open touring car or roadster and get you for lunch it might be a different matter.

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Re: Two way radios

Post by Craig Leach » Tue Jun 15, 2021 1:37 pm

Has anyone found a good inexpensive wireless headset communication system for car to car or navigator to driver in open cars?
Thanks.
Craig.

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Re: Two way radios

Post by TRDxB2 » Tue Jun 15, 2021 3:32 pm

Craig Leach wrote:
Tue Jun 15, 2021 1:37 pm
Has anyone found a good inexpensive wireless headset communication system for car to car or navigator to driver in open cars?
Thanks.
Craig.
Multiple users may be an issue but there are many low end walkie-talkies designed for kids and outdoors men that have 3 mile or less range more than enough. Really no need to spend big bucks for a toy and that it what it really is in today's technology
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There are phone apps too - want those that use Bluetooth communication (only about 300 foot range)
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Then there are old school methods :lol:
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Re: Two way radios

Post by DHort » Tue Jun 15, 2021 6:25 pm

I have been on two tours where the last person in the group was left behind. I always thought the understanding was you keep an eye on the car in front of you and behind you. Then if there is a break down everyone stops. Apparently certain people never get that memo. We are not talking newbies either.

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Re: Two way radios

Post by Craig Leach » Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:53 am

I have a box of walky talkies that work car to car but not so good driver to passenger. They are cumbersom for some one driving a T. Sitting to close for a megaphone. As far as for people stopping to render assistance on one speedster event they passed out little red & green flags. If you where in need of assistance you displayed the red flag. If it was just a nature break or other reason that you would not need assistance you displayed the green flag so everyone knew you where OK. It did save having 10 cars stop in a blind corner to watch someone pour water into a radiator.
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Re: Two way radios

Post by TRDxB2 » Wed Jun 16, 2021 12:14 pm

I have seen some motorcycle intercoms- driver to passenger. They even have them for bicycle to bicycle intercoms. BUT they are all helmet attached and/or require a walkie talkie handset.
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Re: Two way radios

Post by Bob McDaniel » Wed Jun 16, 2021 1:48 pm

Keep the car behind you in your mirror and stop if he stops. Best tour I was ever on did it that way. Worst tour, you are on your own and if you got lost, you were lost! We need to help eachother to make it fun for all.
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Re: Two way radios

Post by speedytinc » Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:12 pm

All true, Bob. In practice newbies & seasoned drivers screw up the system & the "cats" scatter.
Orange county club has used radios for over 10 years. As a board member, at the time the club purchased, I was not so keen as to there necessity.

Especially in our heavy traffic, they are handy keeping the "cats" herded together. The elected tour chairman is in charge of their care & upkeep for his term.
On a typical tour, we have 4 -5 handhelds spaced evenly from front to rear. They are especially handy to regroup before a turn.

I believe they are motorola's. 2 channel side band. No other users on these channels. They are not effected by T magnetos. Good for about a mile? We have a few small hand mic's that are handy to clip on a collar for solo driver use. I usually have the wife along, gives her something to do. CB's are too full of static & other users.

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