Buying radios

.22 Lover

Hi yall is there any point to buying two way radios for airsoft do people ever use them and do they give you any real advantage over the anything?

Leftyflip

.22 Lover wrote: »

Hi yall is there any point to buying two way radios for airsoft do people ever use them and do they give you any real advantage over the anything?

I use them, they are great for getting information on enemy positions from other team members and finding out where everyone is, a lot of people do use them and they can give you a good advantage. They are also dead handy for marshalling!

Stonewolf

Mine's proved invaluable in milsim, but of limited utility in skirmish

Firekitten

Indeed, Radios can be grand in skirmish, but only if others are using it. At milsim games, its pretty much a requirement, especially for unit commanders and specialist units. Although at some sites its hard to get signal due to either significant volumes of concrete, or scaleys.

Leftyflip: I'd say radio coms are VITAL for marshals tbh, its communication for first aid, marshaling reasons, and for general communication keeping everyone on the same game page.

.22 Lover

Thanks guys and girl ill consider buying one then.

thermo

if your getting a radio get the best one you can afford, dont skimp and make sure its headset compatable!

Sod'o swords

thermo wrote: »

if your getting a radio get the best one you can afford, dont skimp

Excatly, lidl/Aldi radios are grand for 30 min skirmishes, but for anything over a decent range or length of game, they're pants.

You won't be heard and you'll have some very disgruntled team mates.

lochdara

Motorolla xtr are pretty good. Vey handy for night games too.

tonyj_mc

you could have a look at some of the chinese radio, i got set of <Snip> a while back and they had decent range in a built up area tried them down at HRTA and they where fine, work out about €50 quid delivered so not too bad

Rew

tonyj_mc wrote: »

you could have a look at some of the chinese radio, i got set of <Snip> a while back and they had decent range in a built up area tried them down at HRTA and they where fine, work out about €50 quid delivered so not too bad

There illegal here without a license and cant be used on the PMR frequencies

Damo 2k9

Rew wrote: »

There illegal here without a license and cant be used on the PMR frequencies

How come there illegal?

horgan_p

been done before-

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055253218&highlight=headset

all you need to know

Firekitten

Rew wrote: »

There illegal here without a license and cant be used on the PMR frequencies

Mmm, Not to step on toes Rew, those chinese PMR radios are on pmr frequencies... The one i have is a pmr 446, and is well within legal bands for unlicenced radios, or are you looking at another type?

horgan_p

Best radios i've seen are the motorola xtn446 and the xtnid (which require a bit more "reading the manual" - whatever that is)

Masada

I think its more to do with the power or some such, We are limited to a 5mw output of power before needing licencing here i think.,

horgan_p

thanks for the clarification , edited my post so it doesnt mislead people

Lemming

Masada wrote: »

We are limited to a 5mw output of power before needing licencing here i think.,

5MW? or 5mW? There is a rather large difference. And both are incorrect.


0.5w, or 500mW (milliwatts) is the legal power output of PMR446, equivalent to roughly 5km over flat terrain with clear LOS, equivalent on a more practical level to 1km (or less) in what you might imagine to be "typical" outdoor airsoft environments.

Masada

Masada wrote: »

I think its more to do with the power or some such, We are limited to a 5mw output of power before needing licencing here i think.,

Oh well, I was right anyway, since my point was, its a power limit thing. not freq

Firekitten

mm not quite... the two are intrinsicly linked... and a 5mW (capitalisation of the correct part here does make a huge difference for the record, as M = mega, m = mili) is the legal limit, 5MW is so illegal you wouldnt walk straight for a month, or father children, ever.


Not to mention you'd get slapped by the UN like Iran atm for running an illegal nuclear reactor...

Rew

Firekitten wrote: »

Mmm, Not to step on toes Rew, those chinese PMR radios are on pmr frequencies... The one i have is a pmr 446, and is well within legal bands for unlicenced radios, or are you looking at another type?

PMR446 is a specific standard that relates to frequencies, power output and the antenna of the radio. They must be locked to the specific 8 PMR channels, they cant output more then .5w/500mW and the antenna must be fixed/integrated so that it can't be changed. The radios tonyj_mc meet none of theses (being able to transmit on 446mhz does not mean its ok!). Radios that are PMR certified are license exempt.

Rew

Masada wrote: »

[/B]

Oh well, I was right anyway, since my point was, its a power limit thing. not freq

Close but no cigar comes to mind!

Firekitten

cant see the link anymore rew... you removed it?

Is the radio in question the chinese motarola clone? I have that one... its deffinately legal... or is this the 5w uhf clone?

Puding

Is the radio in question the chinese motarola clone? I have that one... its deffinately legal... or is this the 5w uhf clone?

rew seems to know what he is talking about when it comes to radios, considering he has alreayd posted stating that it was an illigal version i think that would alreayd answer your question, then again maybe you should pm rew and offer your services to the mods as tech advice? :rolleyes:

Rew

Firekitten wrote: »

cant see the link anymore rew... you removed it?

Is the radio in question the chinese motarola clone? I have that one... its deffinately legal... or is this the 5w uhf clone?

Its a 2-4w UHF. I'd question whether any Chinese clones have been properly certified for use in Europe.

tonyj_mc

Rew wrote: »

PMR446 is a specific standard that relates to frequencies, power output and the antenna of the radio. They must be locked to the specific 8 PMR channels, they cant output more then .5w/500mW and the antenna must be fixed/integrated so that it can't be changed. The radios tonyj_mc meet none of theses (being able to transmit on 446mhz does not mean its ok!). Radios that are PMR certified are license exempt.

Rew defo knows what he is talking about we exchanged a few pms about this last night and i got on to Comregs website it is exactly as decribed by the good man himself. needless to say knowing this now these units will not be used and will prob find there way to the great electrical graveyard i call my box room.

Firekitten

Puding wrote: »

rew seems to know what he is talking about when it comes to radios, considering he has alreayd posted stating that it was an illigal version i think that would alreayd answer your question, then again maybe you should pm rew and offer your services to the mods as tech advice? :rolleyes:

har de har
I was trying to clarify which he meant... I've only seen one chinese radio, and didnt realise one was more powerful...

Rew wrote: »

Its a 2-4w UHF. I'd question whether any Chinese clones have been properly certified for use in Europe.

Cheers for that Rew, was just curious... the one i had was a china clone 446... was the motorola copy, was deffinately under hence my confusion, didnt know they'd made a second.

.22 Lover

Is 5Watt legal?

Rew

Firekitten wrote: »

Cheers for that Rew, was just curious... the one i had was a china clone 446... was the motorola copy, was deffinately under hence my confusion, didnt know they'd made a second.

There are quite a few different ones and manufacturers.

.22 Lover wrote: »

Is 5Watt legal?

Only with a license and not on the PMR channels.