Communicating between Cyclist

[ETAF]

I'm thinking of getting a couple of walkie talkies for when we are out with the bikes on the forest trails
I have looked at the midland range - which comes with a headset and uses VOX
Does anyone else use walkie talkies and is VOX any good or even does it work, probably in the end will just stop and so headset not necessary and use the PTT

or any other suggestions

The Midland XT70 model twin pack (probably the adventure - comes with case )- which also comes with MA21L headset (not sure if that headseat supports VOX , i have sent midland a message)

 

[Drago]

To be honest, if you're using PMR446 you're probably going to be close enough to communicate verbally with them directly anyway.

 

[ETAF]

ok, thanks , what would you suggest as an alternative ?

 

[Dogtrousers]

Many years ago some friends of mine got walkie talkies for communicating while out and about. It was a fun toy but the novelty quickly wore off. Too much faff.

These days mobile phones and instant messaging, unless you're going somewhere with absolutely zero network coverage, would seem to fulfil the need. Most will also allow you to track each other locations too, if you want that.

 

[mjr]

These days mobile phones and instant messaging, unless you're going somewhere with absolutely zero network coverage, would seem to fulfil the need. Most will also allow you to track each other locations too, if you want that.

Voice notes are quite quick on some instant messaging apps.

If you're close enough together, setting one phone as a wifi hotspot and connecting the others might let you use a "push to talk" app but that seems to be a dying thing. The messaging apps are slicker and most people don't care about the privacy losses.

 

[ETAF]

no phone coverage when in forest of dean - hence why we thought about walkie talkies
No idea what the new forest is like, as we are doing a few day trips around the new forest area

Hotspot seems an idea , i wonder what the range is - I also looked at bluetooth , but no apps

 

[classic33]

How are you intending to carry them, if you're using headsets?

 

[ETAF]

one is in a front mounted basket , and i will put the other into the back pocket of circle jacket
OR maybe on the handle bars , if they worked really well or velcro on to the down bar - we have stepthrough ebikes

 

[classic33]

one is in a front mounted basket , and i will put the other into the back pocket of circle jacket
OR maybe on the handle bars , if they worked really well or velcro on to the down bar - we have step through ebikes

Not wired headsets then?

Consideration needs to be given to how you want to use them, versus how you can actually use them. Stood still, possibly in various locations whilst you assess them, won't be accurate for how you intend to use them.

It sounds as though you want to use them on the move. Which might mean more thought has to be given on where the handsets are kept when not actually being used. Safety first.
What sort of range are you expecting them to operate at/within. Are they water resistant without buying additional cases. Batteries, can they be swapped for a standard set of batteries if needs be.
If you haven't contacted Midland yet, these are points worth asking them.

They may end up being used once or twice then get stored in a drawer simply because they spoil your ride, or don't live up to your expectations.

 

[Psamathe]

The messaging apps are slicker and most people don't care about the privacy losses.

Use Signal. Functionality matches most other similar apps but with pretty secure privacy and they are not interested in collecting data about you or anybody else.

Ian

 

[mjr]

Use Signal. Functionality matches most other similar apps but with pretty secure privacy and they are not interested in collecting data about you or anybody else.

Only until the operating company is captured. Matrix and XMPP based systems are better in resisting that.

But if there is no network signal, none of them will work.

Hotspot range varies by device but should be 100+m on most. I've done that range on old bluetooth devices but ones now seem lower range to save power because few people go tens of metres from their phones in use. There's even less current software for bluetooth comms than wifi, I think.

What are you wanting to communicate anyway? On the road, some groups have simple bell codes: one for ok? / ok! and range checking, two rings for warning or not-ok, many rings for broken/stopping/please stop. If we want to chat, we ride bunched or stop, but I guess that's harder on trails.

 

[ETAF]

not sure what we want, just to be able to talk to one another - in case of issues , or generally
we did try the bicycle bell as a a warning

Not 100% need to be on the move, that was a nice to have option

its just an idea we are still thinking through

I have found a cheap Walkie Talkie that is NOT on the PMR446 free and needs a license - BUT thats only £75 for 5 years - so no big deal
and its 3W - so should have a better range

Also we dont get mobile signals around the city Chichester pretty useless on both vodafone and EE networks and so often arange a time and place to meetup again - so maybe useful for that , if not to big and heavy

Biking would be around forest trails , old railway lines and bike paths (not mountain biking)
New forest , forest of dean, south down, maybe scotland

 

[T4tomo]

no phone coverage when in forest of dean - hence why we thought about walkie talkies
No idea what the new forest is like, as we are doing a few day trips around the new forest area

Hotspot seems an idea , i wonder what the range is - I also looked at bluetooth , but no apps

signal is good in the new forest, some of the more senior ponies carry data signal transmitters...

if there is just 2 of you, cycle together or if you leave someone behind, wait if there isa junction where they may go wrong.

it sounds like you're pottering around on ebikes so riding at roughly the same pace shouldnt be an issue.

 

[Alex321]

Only until the operating company is captured. Matrix and XMPP based systems are better in resisting that.

But if there is no network signal, none of them will work.

Hotspot range varies by device but should be 100+m on most. I've done that range on old bluetooth devices but ones now seem lower range to save power because few people go tens of metres from their phones in use. There's even less current software for bluetooth comms than wifi, I think.

What are you wanting to communicate anyway? On the road, some groups have simple bell codes: one for ok? / ok! and range checking, two rings for warning or not-ok, many rings for broken/stopping/please stop. If we want to chat, we ride bunched or stop, but I guess that's harder on trails.

It is unlikely to be 100m+ with typical consumer devices. If you have had that range it will mostly have been using industrial level devices rather than consumer.

Only class 1 Bluetooth has that high a range. Most consumer devices are class 2 or 3, and unless using the latest bluetooth 5.0 specification, class 2 only has an official range of 10m, though it quite often gets up to 3 times that.

With bluetooth 5.0, class 2 CAN have a range of up to 800ft, but most still don't.

Though most phone hotspots don't use Bluetooth anyhow, they are creating a WiFi hotspot - and again typical range is more like 10m.

 

[Drago]

not sure what we want, just to be able to talk to one another - in case of issues , or generally
we did try the bicycle bell as a a warning

Not 100% need to be on the move, that was a nice to have option

its just an idea we are still thinking through

I have found a cheap Walkie Talkie that is NOT on the PMR446 free and needs a license - BUT thats only £75 for 5 years - so no big deal
and its 3W - so should have a better range

Also we dont get mobile signals around the city Chichester pretty useless on both vodafone and EE networks and so often arange a time and place to meetup again - so maybe useful for that , if not to big and heavy

Biking would be around forest trails , old railway lines and bike paths (not mountain biking)
New forest , forest of dean, south down, maybe scotland

The business lite licence (or whatever its called now) is for businesses,charities, and such organisations. Unless you fib a bit, and it has been known to happen, you won't be granted one.

You'd do better sitting rhe foundation test and getting some DMR handles and setting up your own walk group. There are a few of us licenced hams on CC's hallowed times.