Walkie Talkie for family

[ainmradio]

I am trying to find a good 2 way radio set for my son and myself.

This would probably be a standard FRS/GMRS radio.

The price range would be around 50 dollars.

One feature that I would like to find is to be able to have conversations with my son that are on a sub-channel, and so not audible by anyone else. Just plain ol' privacy.

The other feature that I am trying to find is to be able to lock out channels at will on my son's unit so he cannot switch to another channel and hear foul language or worse. He is 6.

Is this asking too much?

Thanks.

Mac

 

[n9mxq]

If you go FRS or GMRS the channels you get will be public to all. Some FRS radios have built in voice inversion scrambling, but chances are somebody out there could listen to that too.

If you want a truly private convo with the boy get him a prepaid cell phone. That way if it gets destroyed, you're not out a bunch of cash.

 

[mmckenna]

"Subchannels" don't provide any communications security at all. Subchannels are just a CTCSS tone that control the squelch so you don't have to listen to any radio traffic that isn't using the same CTCSS code.

I might be wrong, but I think encryption is not allowed on GMRS. Voice inversion isn't much of a encryption protocol, so don't rely on it for security. GMRS requires a license anyway, so unless you have that, using it would be a violation.

$50? I'd say stick with the higher end consumer grade FRS/GMRS radios. Most of these radios have a keypad lock function that should do what you need, at least until your son figures out how to operate it.

Another option would be to find yourself some suitable commercial radios that are 2 channel only. Set them up so both channels are identical. That way the only real functions are on/off, volume and the PTT button. This is something that many users overlook. They get caught up in having the most functions and channels for the buck that they overlook the need for simple and reliable communications. Complex radios are fun for a hobbyist, but for the average user, less functionality is better. It's way to easy to change a setting that cripples communications.

 

[RayAir]

Might want to go on eBay and buy a few Nextel i570's or other Nextel with Direct Talk off network capability.
Just make sure you get SIM cards for them otherwise they won't work.

Direct Talk is an off network feature that makes the phone a Walkie talkie.
1 W Digital 900MHz with freq hopping (900 ISM band).

I think they have 10 channels with 15 privacy codes for each channel.

No body uses these anymore and scanners can't pick them up because they are digital ( VSELP) and hop frequencies. 900 MHz ISM band use age requires freq hopping.

Or, you could buy some Motorola DTR radios ( also digital freq hopping).

 

[robertmac]

Not sure why any family wants to have encrypted two way radios. But one can fill in the blanks. Cellphones, but then again, Big Brother may be listening, or reading.

 

[Rudester]

"Subchannels" don't provide any communications security at all. Subchannels are just a CTCSS tone that control the squelch so you don't have to listen to any radio traffic that isn't using the same CTCSS code.

I might be wrong, but I think encryption is not allowed on GMRS. Voice inversion isn't much of a encryption protocol, so don't rely on it for security. GMRS requires a license anyway, so unless you have that, using it would be a violation.

$50? I'd say stick with the higher end consumer grade FRS/GMRS radios. Most of these radios have a keypad lock function that should do what you need, at least until your son figures out how to operate it.

Another option would be to find yourself some suitable commercial radios that are 2 channel only. Set them up so both channels are identical. That way the only real functions are on/off, volume and the PTT button. This is something that many users overlook. They get caught up in having the most functions and channels for the buck that they overlook the need for simple and reliable communications. Complex radios are fun for a hobbyist, but for the average user, less functionality is better. It's way to easy to change a setting that cripples communications.

Encryption is against the law in GMRS.

 

[ainmradio]

M. McKenna:

Can you recommend any "suitable commercial radios that are 2 channel only" ?

Thanks.

best,
Mac

 

[KB7MIB]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (BREW; Opera Mini/6.0.3/27.2338; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 320X240 LG VN530)

Not sure why any family wants to have encrypted two way radios. But one can fill in the blanks. Cellphones, but then again, Big Brother may be listening, or reading.

His kid is 6. He probably doesn't want their conversations monitored by the wrong kind of person, let alone have his kid talk to them. I don't know if pedophiles have trolled FRS/GMRS for that purpose, but other criminals have been known to use the radios, so...

 

[robertmac]

And thus the reasons to never rely on "radios" for "private" conversations. And one of the reasons if you give your kids a GMRS/FRS/MURS radio to always be "monitoring". Same would apply to cell phone use or computer use with your kids. Although in scanner listening for decades, cannot say I have ever heard anything like that on radios. But would not be surprised if it happens.

 

[mmckenna]

M. McKenna:

Can you recommend any "suitable commercial radios that are 2 channel only" ?

Thanks.

best,
Mac

Motorola HT1000 would be a good choice, but I don't know if it has part 95 certification or not. They are a big radio though, and might be bigger than what you want.
Icom F21, F21GM, F4, F4s all would be good options, and they have the part 95 certification necessary for GMRS.
There's lots of others, but there's a good place to start.

 

[RayAir]

Digital is the way to go! Motorola DTR or old nextel's capable of off network Direct Talk will give you good privacy and prevent nosy amateurs from eavesdropping.

I used to use DES encrypted ICOM radios but switched to the DTR radio.

 

[robertmac]

And how do you know nosy amateurs aren't listening? Or for that matter, the Police State? Everything over the air can and is monitored.