Dunedin rides

[Ruralman]

On something completely different - I followed up on an Advert in KiwiRider about a low cost bike to bike walkie talkie system.
It uses one of those small handheld radio transmitters and with a plug in headpiece and microphone to put in your helmet.
I emailed and asked a few questions including the price for 6-8 of them, and how they work. Basically for that number the price stays the same at $140 each but they will chuck in a battery charger with each unit and a set of NiMh batteries for each.
I thought it would be great to have a set of these things that most of us had one and we can talk to each other whether all of us are riding or whether only a couple of us are out for a ride. You can also use them as a rider to pillion system.
They apparently work best when on the outside rather than inside your jacket ( a couple of Km range vs a couple of hundred metres) - they are a small light unit that could be attached with velcro to a number of places. There is a PTT (push to talk) button that you put on the handlebar and you push that in when you talk and release to listen. The headset includes the ear speakers and a microphone. The units are battery powered.
Who would be interested in getting one? Has anyone any experience using them?

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

On something completely different - I followed up on an Advert in KiwiRider about a low cost bike to bike walkie talkie system.
It uses one of those small handheld radio transmitters and with a plug in headpiece and microphone to put in your helmet.
I emailed and asked a few questions including the price for 6-8 of them, and how they work. Basically for that number the price stays the same at $140 each but they will chuck in a battery charger with each unit and a set of NiMh batteries for each.
I thought it would be great to have a set of these things that most of us had one and we can talk to each other whether all of us are riding or whether only a couple of us are out for a ride. You can also use them as a rider to pillion system.
They apparently work best when on the outside rather than inside your jacket ( a couple of Km range vs a couple of hundred metres) - they are a small light unit that could be attached with velcro to a number of places. There is a PTT (push to talk) button that you put on the handlebar and you push that in when you talk and release to listen. The headset includes the ear speakers and a microphone. The units are battery powered.
Who would be interested in getting one? Has anyone any experience using them?

That would be a kewl idea... I would possibly buy a set (or two)

[Delphinus]

Yeah I'm interested Ruralman... Do you have a link/Pictures?

[Ruralman]

Yeah I'm interested Ruralman... Do you have a link/Pictures?

Link - page 210 in latest Kiwirider - come on don't be a cheapskate you know you want one!!!
they do have a websire which I haven't checked out

www.amalgamate2000.com/sales

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Link - page 210 in latest Kiwirider - come on don't be a cheapskate you know you want one!!!
they do have a websire which I haven't checked out

www.amalgamate2000.com/sales

Wonder it would work off these radios...?

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.sto...uct/View/D1893

for the price the seem to give a pretty good line of sight range... (most have 2 or 3 ks these have 4+ kms...)

That be a pretty hard site to follow... sheese

[phaedrus]

nifty, I've picked up a couple of throat microphones and cheep walkie talkies. if my testing works out I'll wire it into the bike. The pass light switch being the Ptt and powered by the bike.

[Virago]

Sound like a good idea, I've been interested for a while in exploring bike-to-bike communications.

I use PRS radios quite a bit for work, mainly for communication within buildings.

Don't be sucked in by some of the line of sight claims. They may reach the claimed range when transmitting from hill top to hill top, but best practical range is usually about half what is claimed. A good rule of thumb for practical line-of-sight range is that "watts = kms". Without line-of-sight the range drops of dramatically, and put a good solid building in the way - forget it.

Some of the bigger university buildings I work in will defeat even 5 watt radios.

Personal experience - Uniden and Motorola are good. Don't like the GME (aussie brand) radios - they are easily out-performed by Uniden units with only half the power.

With the plethora of cheapy multi-pack radios available now, the PRS channels get a bit conjested sometimes.....

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Sound like a good idea, I've been interested for a while in exploring bike-to-bike communications.

I use PRS radios quite a bit for work, mainly for communication within buildings.

Don't be sucked in by some of the line of sight claims. They may reach the claimed range when transmitting from hill top to hill top, but best practical range is usually about half what is claimed. A good rule of thumb for practical line-of-sight range is that "watts = kms". Without line-of-sight the range drops of dramatically, and put a good solid building in the way - forget it.

Some of the bigger university buildings I work in will defeat even 5 watt radios.

Personal experience - Uniden and Motorola are good. Don't like the GME (aussie brand) radios - they are easily out-performed by Uniden units with only half the power.

With the plethora of cheapy multi-pack radios available now, the PRS channels get a bit conjested sometimes.....

Yup I know all about line of sight comms... (ex Navy)

[Jantar]

I'm also slightly interested, but I think I'll wait untill we can get cordless comms into the helmet.

[Ruralman]

Yup I know all about line of sight comms... (ex Navy)

You've got one of those Nolan helmets - do they have speakers already built in to them? I know they have something on the side where you can plug stuff in , or is that just some models of their helmet.

I am wondering if all this PTT stuff is really needed - if you could just velcro the thing to the chest of your jacket where you can give the button a squeeze with your left hand then that should work OK - you'd still need speakers and microphone in your helmet though but we can probably get a set of these at Dick Smiths???

[Silverfern]

Ok you lot who's up for a Pot-Luck Mid-Winter feast one night ??? seeing the winter months are upon us and riding opportunities are slim!!!! We can have a get together and catch up minus wheels anyway !!!

Count me in, just say when, if we head inland to Ruralman's can we go by car (woosie speaking here?) but the latest BRONZ newsletter had the wind chill factor thingy and in case you haven't noticed, ice, winds and grit are here. Can offer my place on 14 July if being locally in Dunedin is better?

[FREE2B]

Id say where ever we end up car travel is guna be the preferred option. Im interested in the communication thingys too sounds like we have enough technically minded people to sort out whats good.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Id say where ever we end up car travel is guna be the preferred option. Im interested in the communication thingys too sounds like we have enough technically minded people to sort out whats good.

I'll have to go by cage... me baby is wrapped up for the winter...

[Virago]

......I'll go wherever that pork goes.....

[Ruralman]

Count me in, just say when, if we head inland to Ruralman's can we go by car (woosie speaking here?) but the latest BRONZ newsletter had the wind chill factor thingy and in case you haven't noticed, ice, winds and grit are here. Can offer my place on 14 July if being locally in Dunedin is better?

Great idea - bad date, well for me anyway. Got a big family get together for my fathers 85th that weekend.

......I'll go wherever that pork goes.....

It can go anywhere theres someone willing to cook it - even if it has to be me.