PMR Radio's

[roddy]

Gang your opinions please,

Looking at getting some PMR radio's soon to plug into my Intaride EVO system, and I'm doing my research but I'm getting bogged down in details,

The CTCSS function on radios is this enough to cut out the cross chatter you get when near a city or is the DCS function an worth while extra, basically I'm considering 2 radios

Wintec A80, 8 channels, 38 CTCSS, and LPD function though I don't think this will be much use on a bike, it has a small screen so easy to change setting on the move

or

Kenwood TK 3201 T2 same channels and CTCSS but has the additional DCS function but no LPD, no screen but voice menus, never used kit like that before unsure whether I would get on with it

both get good right up when you do a search price is similar if you add the 1500mAh battery pack to the A80 (but unsure how long this lasts) otherwise this wins on price, just. I'm open to suggestions on other models to consider, at the moment I'm messing about with a couple of cheap Binatone radio's with surprisingly good results, but untested on a moving bike yet.

Any help or advice would be gratefull.
cheers

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

Speak with Intaride! Their Wintecs cranked up to 2 watts with external antennas are the dogs!

 

[andyclift]

With PMR I wouldn't worry about cross chatter. I live in London and can only remember one occasion when somebody elses conversation came through - for about ten seconds. I use CTCSS and have never bothered with DCS as some radios I want to communicate with don't have it.

My original radios were cheap Binatones and were OK "on foot" but the sound quality was not good enough on a bike. Having looked at the expensive options I took the middle ground and bought a couple of Alan 456R radios. All the facilities you need at around £50 each. Super clear sound and good range.

One reason for my choice was that the Alans work on standard 3 X AA batteries rather than a dedicated battery pack. I normally use rechargable Ni-Mi batteries but, if I get stuck, I can pick up some AAs anywhere.

A twin drop in charger plus Ni-Cad batteries for two radios costs £20.00 but the capacity of the Ni-Cads is a little low. Probably better to buy a standard quick charger and some decent Ni-Mi batteries.

Here's the spec

-8 basic channels with 968 CTCSS and DCS privacy channel combinations
-Maximum range of 5 kms (dependant on terrain)
-Comes with Beltclip
-Battery life of up to 68 hours (90% standby, 10% conversation)
-In-built motorcycle intercom for passenger-pillion communications
-Backlit LCD Display
-Roger Beep
-Calling tone
-Power save to extend battery life
-Keypad lock
-Baby Monitor
-Voice Activation (VOX)
-Scan Functions
-Dual Channel Watch
-9 Channel memory


We use ours with an Autocom and the only problem we had was setting up the VOX. Not an Alan problem, the same with the Binatones. A little low and it was necessary to shout to get the VOX to open, a little high and one radio stuck on transmit all the time. Even when we got it working it was a pain as everything had to start with something like "Andy to Sarah" to open the channel, otherwise the first few words were lost.

Solution was a pair of Autocom push to talk (PTT) buttons which fit on the left grip. The system is now perfect and the PTT also has a little switch to select PTT, VOX or lock transmit.

 

[ebbo]

Don't get bogged down with detail, If you already have the Intaride EVO I'd go for the Wintec A80 radio with external antenna.

And the benefits are... Any problems, you only have to ring Intaride

P.S. the Alan 456r is a good radio,

 

[roddy]

cheers for the thoughts guys,

Andy- good point regarding the batterys but I intend to run the radio from the bike.

Shenzi- I like the idea of the 2 watt mod you can do on the Wintec's, that would cut through any cross chatter

 

[oblertone]

Ahem ...

... I have a couple of Intaride PMR radios (previous model to the Wintec) to spare. If Intaride still do bike power backs for them they'd make good starter radios; you're welcome to try them out before purchase as I've got a further two that I use.

 

[roddy]

Thats a very generous offer oblertone any details on the make/model, I find spec's out on the internet.

cheers

 

[oblertone]

Hmmm ...

Thats a very generous offer oblertone any details on the make/model, I find spec's out on the internet.

cheers

... I've just dug one out and the only discernible ID on them is 'Minitalk K-99', however Intaride may be able to assist as these were the units they used to sell before the Wintec one. If you do contact Intaride ask them if they still stock the bike power kits for these; all it consists of is a replacement battery cover with a connector for a bike power lead. I've got these on my other pair but am not sure about the pair on offer, otherwise you're back to 3 x AA.

PM me an address if interested.

 

[roddy]

Is this the model ?

 

[oblertone]

Thats ...

Is this the model ?

View attachment 82604

... the one, in the faster Black of course Plus, that picture is almost life size; these are tiny !

 

[andyclift]

the one, in the faster Black of course Plus, that picture is almost life size; these are tiny !

Surely yellow is faster - cos it's a lot lighter!!

 

[roddy]

... the one, in the faster Black of course Plus, that picture is almost life size; these are tiny !

oblertone,

I'll hold off for the time being, my mate is planning on going down the DCS channeled PMR radio's, since we ride together (that just sounds so) a lot it may make sense to have similar spec radios, but thanks for the offer all the same.

cheers

 

[divegod]

Riding Together

Just for the record - I'm the mate that is mentioned by Roddy and I can assure you the only riding we do together is aboard two GS's

PC

 

[roddy]

Just for the record - I'm the mate that is mentioned by Roddy and I can assure you the only riding we do together is aboard two GS's

PC

we've got a good sense of balance, though the other half does have to sit side saddle so I can see where I'm going

 

[(RIP) Shenzi]

Just for the record - I'm the mate that is mentioned by Roddy and I can assure you the only riding we do together is aboard two GS's

PC

Not according to the rumour which is now spreading fast