Creation of common biker 2-way radio channel?

[Jcxss]

I was thinking if anybody is into the idea of the creation of a common biker 2 way radio channel to update other bikers in the vicinity of problems such as accidents, traffic hold ups or general chats? It would be on the normal CB radio range but with private codes so other ppl don't interupt. Anybody rekon a good idea?:scooter:

[PirateJafa]

You mean to warn of cops, right?

Besides, I bought my bike so I wouldn't have to talk to people.

[Jcxss]

Thought nobody would pick up on it, especially biker cops. Instead of the head tap (which can be quite tricky sometimes) it would be a lot more discreet shall we say. On longer journeys I think it would be nice to say hi to the oncoming biker every once in a while =)

[Hopeful Bastard]

Heh.. Sounds quite good.. Specially when you are in need of a helping hand :)

[p.dath]

Thought nobody would pick up on it, especially biker cops. Instead of the head tap (which can be quite tricky sometimes) it would be a lot more discreet shall we say. On longer journeys I think it would be nice to say hi to the oncoming biker every once in a while =)

I doubt many bikers would use a two way radio. It doesn't hold much appeal for me.

Perhaps tourers?

[imdying]

Besides, I bought my bike so I wouldn't have to talk to people.What he said.

Why would I want to talk to you when I'm passing you on the highway? Who the fuck are you? What makes you think anything you have to say in a brief five second pass would interest me?

[CookMySock]

Why would I want to talk to you when I'm passing you on the highway? Who the fuck are you? What makes you think anything you have to say in a brief five second pass would interest me?While everyone is probably thinking the same, I doubt they would have phrased it so bluntly.

The CTCSS tone squelch will cause you more interference than it saves, as it masks who is on the same channel and removes any mechanism by which you might work in with, or around them. It is confusing enough for experienced radio operators when this happens, let alone non-operators. It's really only any use to prevent others from waking you up at night when you are forced to leave the radios on - maybe the kids are up the back of the farm in tents or something, or to prevent non-owners triggering some piece of hilltop equipment.

There are repeaters all around NZ that you can use to call for assistance or just generally yak on, but I think your cellphone would be more reliable than the former. Though there is usually some person who will adopt their local repeater and make sure important things are attended to.

I see the 4WD boys have adopted a call channel. It's different for them, as its trivial to install and use any two-way radio, so much so they all just do it as matter of course. Not so for bikes and bikers.

For comms between a touring group of between bikes, you would be best served to choose one of the simplex channels between 9 and 30, avoiding the calling channel 11, and 22, 23 telecommand channels. You should also probably never transmit on channel 5, even if you discover a usable repeater on it, as it is published as an emergency channel.

By all means use a repeater if you are in that area, and you have good reason to, and you know what you are doing with it, but if you are continuously moving/touring then trying to use the repeaters will just be a pain in the arse, where simplex will be crystal clear. It might be different in an area where there is a massive coverage repeater such as the klondyke site, you will need quality external antennas on your mobile installation to use that system reliably.

Steve

[vgcspares]

given the new surveillance laws thread this might not be such a bright idea

[Road Guardian]

Hang on, when I put my helmet on, It means I dont really want to talk to some one else, its my quiet time, well not really quiet, but you know what I mean

[CookMySock]

given the new surveillance laws thread this might not be such a bright ideaNo one should be discussing private details on an open unencrypted channel of any type.

Steve

[vgcspares]

I wasn't thinking so much private as incriminating - like mentioning current position, velocity and direction ...

[Hiflyer]

I wasn't thinking so much private as incriminating - like mentioning current position, velocity and direction ...

Haha "Far man I blitzed you going 200 round that 75kmh corner it was awesome, to bad that no-one ..... Oh crap i'm getting pulled over, catch you later when I walk home."

[vgcspares]

what happened to the new surveillance laws thread anyway ??

[Grasshopperus]

jcxss, I've been toying with the idea of using a mesh-network style communicator using the 2.4GHz (802.15) range. It'd be perfect for group rides or the 'bikes that pass in the night' scenario you mentioned.

It's a free spectrum, allows multiple senders at the same time and can be implemented on a relatively small (compared to CB) package.

If you're interested PM me, I've got a interest in electronics and a background in software.

[Dodger]

Our group used radios on last years trip down to the burt munro, and will be doing the same again this year.
Was very helpful at times but almost useless at speeds of greater than 70km due to wind noise.

We used channel 7

[CookMySock]

jcxss, I've been toying with the idea of using a mesh-network style communicator using the 2.4GHz (802.15) range.That would be interesting to hear about, from a techie point of view anyway.


We used channel 7Channel 7 is one of the repeater outputs. Use a channel between 10 and 30.

Steve

[Hitcher]

Land sakes alive, looks like we got ourselves a convoy!

[Slicksta]

jcxss, I've been toying with the idea of using a mesh-network style communicator using the 2.4GHz (802.15) range. It'd be perfect for group rides or the 'bikes that pass in the night' scenario you mentioned.

It's a free spectrum, allows multiple senders at the same time and can be implemented on a relatively small (compared to CB) package.

If you're interested PM me, I've got a interest in electronics and a background in software.

2.4 is rather crowded/directional for voice chat isn't it?

[CookMySock]

2.4 is rather crowded/directional for voice chat isn't it?Nah if its just voice its quite narrow-band and theres hundreds of MHz available. Yes theres a lot of stuff on 2.4 but its quite low power or tightly focussed. It will need to be frequency-agile so it can scoot around interference.

2.4 won't go over hills like VHF will. Even 450MHz UHF CB cuts off real hard in heavy terrain, even with high power and big antennas, so pretty much you are screwed either way.

If you are going to play with 2.4GHz and write code, then a huge amount can be done. Store-and-forward messaging would be fun - could be used to warn of road hazards and cops and the like.

Steve

[Grasshopperus]

2.4 is rather crowded/directional for voice chat isn't it?

Yeah, it's not much good unless you have line-of-sight. However, as it's a digital signal you can sacrifice usable bandwidth for extra distance and as as voice doesn't require much bandwidth (when encoded efficiciently) a balance could be found.

I suspect this would be much more useful in group rides than as a full CB style setup.

[Azi Dahaka]

I can just imagine riding along and all I hear in my helm is hi,hi,hi,howzit,hello,gidday mate (that stupid aussie biker would say) all being said at the same time as every biker in a 10km radius is saying hi to each other. By that point I would gladly throw myself off my bike to stop the voices in my head and chalk one up to ACC. I mean it is a nice idea but logically come on.