Crew to helm walkie talkies suggestions?

[sarabande]

I used the Airwave system for >5 years. I had an idea that it was being developed for emergency locations where the main aerials did not work. IIRC a small wifi base unit out to individual's radio/earpiece/mike.

Tait Communications seem to know a lot about it

Tait Communications -Your Critical Communications Partner

Could it be worth getting in touch with the LandRover AC HQ and asking what systems they use ?

The concept of having encrypted comms with the foredeck or dinghy has definite appeals

 

[Adios]

Why is the minimum age for Marine Radio Short Range Certificate SRC 16 years?

Those ^^^^^^^^^^^.

Cheap, waterproof and float if you drop them in.

We're still happy with them batteries seem to last a long time and very clear voice. More than enough for around the boat and designed exactly for the job. Headsets available with PTT switches inline TALKABOUT T92 H2O Waterproof Two Way Radio - Motorola Solutions - Europe, Middle East and Africa which if both users have them could make for very discrete marina entries. £60 a pair plus the headsets would be a bit more.

 

[Mark-1]

I agree with the above that a simple phone bluetooth connection is by far the cheapest.

Good point. It's free and zero effort assuming the OP and Mrs OP have headphones with mic. If not, worst case is a few pounds.

One android solution here, I'm sure there are dozens:

Intercom for Android - Apps on Google Play

 

[Mark-1]

Not totally relevant to this thread but why didn't I think of this 4 years ago? Comms with up to 6 kids on the water with stuff I have lying around the house...

 

[Uricanejack]

I

Presumably using mobile phones relies on you actually having a mobile phone signal and a SIM that’s recognised by the local provider.
It’s not so easy in lots of parts of the world if you’re away blue water cruising and that’s what we’re prepping for.

I live just beyond the pale for cell service.
My Bluetooth functions work ok out side of cell service.
I Don’t use a ear piece or mike so not 100per cent sure.
I expect earpiece and Mike would work to any phone they’re paired with. If within Bluetooth range

 

[SaltIre]

As per the thread title. Any idea what radios might be suggested? Reasonably robust and ideally water resistant/proof and capable of using an earpiece with a boom microphone with VOX operation.
Two way so that crew on the bow can (for example) direct the helm how the cable lies when manoeuvring up to the anchor or pointing out coral heads etc.

Bluetooth earpieces with Mic, linked to your mobile phones, would work. Something like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07XZBC15H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You are obviously dependant on the phones having signals, though...

 

[tudorsailor]

There are many motorbike/referee intercoms like this available for a range of prices. Make sure it doesn't need a motorbike helmet to keep it in place.

Thats what we use. Make sure you get the referee type ear piece. They work really well and are truly duplex

TS

 

[Mark-1]

You are obviously dependant on the phones having signals, though...

Nope:
Intercom for Android - Apps on Google Play

...but it might be necessary to use a wired connection to the headphones rather than BT.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Nope:
Intercom for Android - Apps on Google Play

...but it might be necessary to use a wired connection to the headphones rather than BT.

With any of the intercom apps do you get an indication if the phones go out of bluetooth range.

If so they could be used for a MOB indicator also.

 

[Mark-1]

With any of the intercom apps do you get an indication if the phones go out of bluetooth range.

If so they could be used for a MOB indicator also.

I haven't looked, but I'm sure there would be something that does that. (Might be some false alarms. ) BUT better to use GPS, there are plenty of proximity alarms, I'm sure one or more of them would work as a MOB alarm.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I haven't looked, but I'm sure there would be something that does that. (Might be some false alarms. ) BUT better to use GPS, there are plenty of proximity alarms, I'm sure one or more of them would work as a MOB alarm.

Yes there are plenty of MOB alarms in fact I have one made by our very own Angus Mc Doon.

Its just if we can have a single device that will perform 2 functions all the better. Also Mobile phones these days do have a GPS so could also indicate where the signal was lost.

It seems a very simple piece of software to add to an existing function

 

[Mark-1]

Yes there are plenty of MOB alarms in fact I have one made by our very own Angus Mc Doon.

Its just if we can have a single device that will perform 2 functions all the better. Also Mobile phones these days do have a GPS so could also indicate where the signal was lost.

It seems a very simple piece of software to add to an existing function

Yes, I meant use the GPS on the Phone as opposed to loss of Bluetooth on the mobile phone. But on reflection that wouldn't work because you still need the phones talking to each other over Bluetooth to communicate the distance change to indicate the MOB so you might as well just use the loss of BT as your indication of the MOB since it's going to happen anyway.

So I was "differently wrong". ?

 

[easton]

+1 for sabre and sena; shame they didn't have any in stock. We used them for the first time last season and they make a huge difference. Just being able to talk normally and be heard rather than shouting (into the wind) is great.

I think you can link them to a radio too, or for music but haven't quite worked out how to do it.

Of course, you could use hand signals, semaphore, midshipmen, a brass speaking trumpet or burning tar barrels...my personal favourite would be voicepipes rigged to the foredeck, and one down to the engine room.

 

[john_morris_uk]

+1 for sabre and sena; shame they didn't have any in stock. We used them for the first time last season and they make a huge difference. Just being able to talk normally and be heard rather than shouting (into the wind) is great.

I think you can link them to a radio too, or for music but haven't quite worked out how to do it.

Of course, you could use hand signals, semaphore, midshipmen, a brass speaking trumpet or burning tar barrels...my personal favourite would be voicepipes rigged to the foredeck, and one down to the engine room.

According to an engineer who I met when I joined the navy and had actually served on one of the last ships with an open bridge and voice pipes, one trick they used to get up to was to send boiled sweets down the voice pipe to the engineers from the bridge to bribe them to sort the machinery out.

I think they sold themselves cheaply...