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communicating between car abroad (cheaply)
Fizzer - 30/5/13 at 03:27 PM

Going to Italy on saturday with some friends, we'll have 2 cars and we wondering if anyone has tips on locost (free)? communication between cars.
obviously we can get roaming bundles from our mobile providers that include texts, but is there an app that can do it for less? or even bluetooth???


ChrisW - 30/5/13 at 03:35 PM

Are PMR radios no good?

Chris


YQUSTA - 30/5/13 at 03:38 PM

if you both have I Phones there is a walkie talkie app.

never used it but its free so worth a try


cliftyhanger - 30/5/13 at 03:49 PM

Texts are usually cheap. Well, about 10p a pop.


Fizzer - 30/5/13 at 03:52 PM

just found this...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidintercom


Fizzer - 30/5/13 at 04:07 PM

and tested it in the office, works really well and the range is good


pif - 30/5/13 at 04:08 PM

we do convoys into Europe a few times in recent years and just use walkie talkies of the type from maplins etc. Cheap as chips and usually work across different brands ie binatone to G7

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000XUO5QW/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9550947189&ref=asc_df_B000XUO5QW


Nickp - 30/5/13 at 04:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Fizzer
and tested it in the office, works really well and the range is good


Fine if you have WIFI, but I guess you won't in the car while crossing europe


steve m - 30/5/13 at 05:26 PM

We use a pair very similar to these, when we go convoy with the car/caravans combo
I also used them, on a lemans trip a couple of years ago,
and when the grandkids come over, they play with them while playing hide and seek
There cheap, and for what the do, very good value

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sop=2&_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=pmr446&_pgn=3&_skc=100&rt=nc


Aaron_n_Sim - 30/5/13 at 05:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Fizzer
Going to Italy on saturday with some friends, we'll have 2 cars and we wondering if anyone has tips on locost (free)? communication between cars.
obviously we can get roaming bundles from our mobile providers that include texts, but is there an app that can do it for less? or even bluetooth???


u2u sent, reply if you want to borrow my setup! you'd have to collect from north hants/surrey area

HTH

Aaron


britishtrident - 30/5/13 at 06:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Nickp
quote:
Originally posted by Fizzer
and tested it in the office, works really well and the range is good


Fine if you have WIFI, but I guess you won't in the car while crossing europe


True Dolomites are truly very jaggy mountains.



Aaron_n_Sim - 30/5/13 at 06:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by Nickp
quote:
Originally posted by Fizzer
and tested it in the office, works really well and the range is good


Fine if you have WIFI, but I guess you won't in the car while crossing europe


True Dolomites are truly very jaggy mountains.






absolutely beautiful


MakeEverything - 30/5/13 at 06:25 PM

Teamspeak is good, as long as you have a mobile signal.


owelly - 30/5/13 at 09:57 PM

We bought a pair of cheap Cobra walkie talkies from Maplins for car-car use whilst on a recent road trip. They were so good we've bought another pair so we have four forGoodwood! £29.99/pair and the rechargable batteries last over 12hrs. Iirc 8km range.


Aaron_n_Sim - 30/5/13 at 10:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by owelly
We bought a pair of cheap Cobra walkie talkies from Maplins for car-car use whilst on a recent road trip. They were so good we've bought another pair so we have four forGoodwood! £29.99/pair and the rechargable batteries last over 12hrs. Iirc 8km range.


Think that's what I'm offering with push button, helmet mic (bike mic) free to borrow you gotta collect or pay postage!


ChrisW - 30/5/13 at 11:13 PM

I still stand by PMR radios being the best choice. All these apps that do a 'walkie talkie' function are based on wifi, which won't give you any range in a car even if you manage to get an ad-hoc network working (does iPhone even let you do that?)

If you have money to spend these are excellent:

http://www.thunderpole.co.uk/2-way-radios-walkie-talkies/intek-mt5050.html

I have a modified one (10 second job with wire cutters) which will easily give 10km range. Operating inside a car will drop this somewhat, but they are still excellent radios. Mine is a 4-year Le Mans veteran, will be 5 years in a month's time, and still going strong.

Disclaimer: to use in modified state the law says you must have an RSGB license and can't use it on the regular PMR channels.

Chris


Aaron_n_Sim - 30/5/13 at 11:25 PM

Basically what I have is same as Chris is on about, the only time they are expensive is when you're a bike licence examiner you need no licence to use for private purposes. If you've done your bike test, you'll have used something almost identical, you'd have had plenty of interference whilst learning that's cos you don't pay for private channels like when you did the actual test it was silent bar your instructor! Cos he paid a hefty fee


Aaron_n_Sim - 30/5/13 at 11:59 PM

Why's my MSG about Chris not being able to organise a t-shirt in a linen factory been removed???? Had lengthy helpful post here!

My previous post disappeared, Chris doesn't like people pointing about his failings obviously, unless Someone else has site credentials to remove my posts!

[Edited on 31/5/13 by Aaron_n_Sim]

[Edited on 31/5/13 by Aaron_n_Sim]

[Edited on 31/5/13 by Aaron_n_Sim]