The best two way radios to use on your bike

[richardg]

I thought this might be useful to list the pros and cons of some of the bike to bike radios we have tried, whats good whats bad etc.

To start the ball rolling I have three radio's all at diferent prices and quality.

Binatone Cheepee (B&Q £19.99 a pair)
Don't do it, these radios are CR4P. I tried these with some cheap helmet head set and they were useless above 40mph and fell apart

Cobra MT525 (MT 725) (EBay £29.99 a pair)
Good biuld radios, very good battery life + came with own double bay charger. Audio is good if used with an Autocom system but failed to give good disance when mounted anywhere other than up high on the handlebars etc less than 1 mile. Not compatable with some other PMR 446 radios (Kenwood tk 3201s) for some reason?? nice and light

Kenwood TK3201 (also TK 3207 and TK 3202)
What can I say here, all these radios are top notch stuff but watch out for cheap Chinese coppies, they are suspect. The Genuine Kenwoods audio is clear. The only gripe about the 3201 is the low audio level (can be re set) and the fixed antenna and very low power at 500mw. If you can use the TK 3202 or TK 3207 (with a licence) these are full power units and can be connected to a motorcycle antenna which will increase the bike to bike distance from 1-2 miles at best (tk 3201) to (if the condition is right) over 80 miles bike to bike (TK 3207 and 3202 with 1/2 wave bike type antenna). I have used a pair of 3207's bike to bike at 75 miles. anyway, build quality is top notch on all and the 3201 has a very good Squelch system that cuts noise instantly TOP RADIOs and very tough

 

[Blackal]

Have a look at the tti TX-1446 PMR

Here

There is a simple (alledgedly ) modification that takes it back up to 4w power. Not legal to modify it, of course

Al

 

[terayon]

If you can afford one

Icom F4029SDR - DIGITAL RADIO £249.00
Digital Radio
A new era in licence-free communication.
Icom proudly announces the debut of a new category of digital radio, the IC-F4029SDR. A first in the market, the IC-F4029SDR is a digital PMR 446 radio compliant to the ETSI TS 102 490 and EN 301 166-2 specifications. The IC-F4029SDR provides digitally modulated clear sound and group communication. Status message is possible, bringing a new dimension to the licence free arena.

By changing the channel setting, the IC-F4029 SDR can be used on existing analogue PMR 446 channels and gives you the transition from analogue PMR 446 to digital PMR 446 in one unit. This product will create new market for commercial and private users alike.

This radio enables existing users of all types of PMR446 radios not just existing Icom users, to upgrade to a digital radio. The radio has 4 personalities (Zones), the first 3 zones are set up to work with different types of existing pmr446 radios, so if you already use an Icom for example you switch the radio to zone 1 and it will be fully compatible, if you are using different manufacturers pmr446 radios you simply select the zone which is compatible with your existing radio and communicate, In Zone 4 the radio works in digital mode with enhanced audio and reception, status messaging and secure communications. We like the idea of different zones as it allows existing analogue users to upgrade to digital radios gradually if they so wish.

A first for Europe and the World*
6.25kHz ultra narrow channel spacing
No licence is required to use the radio
Digitally modulated secure conversation for commercial and private users
32-code status messages for exchanging a short message

Common ID code for group communication
Compatible with existing analogue PMR 446 channels with CTCSS/DTCS tones
Large capacity Lithium-Ion battery with 2-step power saver
Compact, lightweight design and tough body
Hands-free operation with optional headset
Optional programming software allows quick and simple settings of radio parameters



If not any decent kenwood or icom

 

[ebbo]

Alan 456r
Works quite well up to around 50mph with radio in your top pocket and basic MH300 headset & PTT (no noise cancelling). Runs on AA cells that can last up to four days riding.
Up side of this system is: Its cheap, simple, reliable and interference free,
Down side is: wind noise kills it pretty much over 50mph unless you have a very quiet helmet and/or screen.

Cheapest I’ve seen the MH300 headset & PTT kit is Knights CB http://www.kcb.co.uk/ at around £20. Buy the radio where ever at around £55, I can’t seem to find it anywhere significantly cheaper.

Puxing 777 plus

Tough alloy chassis Chinese radio available via Ebay at around £40 – This is in effect a cheap alternative to the Intaride Wintec A80 radio, but just like the A80 set to 4w with an external antenna this would be illegal to use in the UK and Europe.

Make sure you buy the right one, UHF 400-470mhz as PMR is on 446mhz. PMR channels must be programmed in by the key panel or by a Kenwood programming lead and Puxing software on the PC. TX can be set at legal 500Mw or illegal 4w.

The antenna can be unscrewed and an external antenna fitted, see Ken Goodwin who will cut an antenna to the correct length for you and fit a SMA-F radio connector to the coax.
http://www.ken-godwin.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_15&products_id=856 (the radio antenna mount is SMA-M so you would need a SMA-F fitting on the end of the antenna coax to fit)

The radio can be plugged in to an Autocom with a standard Kenwood radio lead and seems to work fine, or at least it does with my Autocom.

The radio can be bike powered with a 12v battery eliminator sometimes available on ebay, it clips on the back of the radio instead of the standard 7.4v/1200ma battery, but beware of earth loops causing interference due to Autocom and radio both being feed from the same battery. I do not have a fix for that. Oh, and don’t cut the eliminator cig lighter plug off… it has the electronics in it

Kenwood TK-3107
Beware the Chinese made copy that was all the rage on ebay a couple of years ago. A complete bitch to program with the PC (the only way it can be done) as the program keeps crashing. No way to turn down 4w to 500Mw that I know of. And on our three radios CTCSS/DCS or what ever they are supposed to be doesn’t work Thank God, these now seem unobtainable

Please watch out for cheap Kenwood radios on ebay, these are likely Chinese copies with knobs that drop off and features that don’t work

PMR FAQ
http://www.446user.co.uk/faq_cat_1_PMR446.html

PMR Forum
http://www.446user.co.uk/forum_index.html

Review of Chinese radios
http://www.transmission1.co.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=92

 

[richardg]

I haven't yet come face to face with the China made copy TK 3207s yet so can't comment on dificulties programming them, however, as a small point of correction above all the genuine Kenwood TK 3207's the power for each of the 16 channels is switchable between low and high power, which I understand is 500mw and 4 watt (I have not tested the low power option). Again from my own experience (using a TK3201 with an sma socket fitted, (outside the EU of course)) the low power option is fine for Bike to bike when using an external bike antenna such as the ones Ken Goodwin sells (link above). 500mw with antenna is still good for 10-15 miles line of sight.

 

[Wapping]

Serious question:

I use a Kenwood at the moment. V happy with it.

What's the advantage of the digital radio shown? Clearer, more powerful, better range when used bike-to-bike?

 

[terayon]

wapping. Main advantages are clearer sound, longer distance reception/transmission. And most of all, more frequencies meaning less congestion.
Also no one else can listen in on conversations, as it's digital and not everyday analogue.

Plus it's backwards compatable, unlike some of the other digitals

 

[Bigtwin]

I got Motorola PMRs - they have vox op and a decent range, and rechargables with a mains (transformer) option. Nice and compact too.

 

[Wapping]

wapping. Main advantages are clearer sound, longer distance reception/transmission. And most of all, more frequencies meaning less congestion.
Also no one else can listen in on conversations, as it's digital and not everyday analogue.

Plus it's backwards compatable, unlike some of the other digitals

Thanks

 

[Berin]

If you can afford one
View attachment 76411
Icom F4029SDR - DIGITAL RADIO £249.00
Digital Radio

or here for £175.00!

Seems very cheap - should I be suspicious?

 

[Berin]

Just to resurrect this - Autcom say they support the Kenwood TK3201 for bike power, or the older ICOM F22SR.

Assuming I wanted to go with either ICOM digital radio as above, or the Intaride A80, any ideas on how to power them from the bike - rechargable is not much use for trips longer than a couple of days.

Thanks,