Text message capable 446

[pstephens1]

Hi im wondering if anyone knows of any brand of 446 that has the ability to send text messages amognst the groups. Im asking this as im working at a camp for the hearing impaired this year and it would be great to have some sort of communication with other staff members. If anyone can post a link it will be very helpfull.

Thanks in advance

[superdave]

I believe you will need to go digital if you want SMS functionality.

The Motorola DTR series radios work on the licence free 446 band and have selective calling and SMS capability but they are fairly expensive. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130762768774

I don't know of any other PMR446 sets which have text messaging

EDIT:

worth mentioning the radio I linked to on ebay operates in the 2.4GHz band which is also licence free (for WI-FI etc) and only 100mW ERP

[pmr446man]

as far as i know non on analog

[mr_h4ck3rm4n]

Yep the only other option other than DMR ect could be amateur sets with the aprs tnc built in, these could be used on 446 with messaging and gps tracking.,
kenwood tm-d710 / th-d72 or yaesu ftm350 / vx8ge

...i dont know about the legal side of non 'type' approved sets on 446 ( but who really cares )


the mobiles are 50w max with x-band repeater built in also.


....also not cheap!!

[Bogget]

There are other units that txt called Cybiko try ebay they were around £10 have about 100 to 200 yards range if that is enough?

Bogget

[pstephens1]

The site we use is about 1km by about 800mtr and pmr worked for us two years ago. But this year i would like to be able to include people who are deaf and allow them to call for security medical etc without the need of either finding a hearing perosn with a radio or sending someone to the controlroom.

[radio_ryan]

Try these about 10 Billion Channels.

comes with point to point calling,
group calling,
one to one calling

they are Digital with hopping channles, no one will be able to listen in, unless they have the right channle number is their radio.

I have 2 of them they work OK. you may just need a USA step down for uk power. they are light and can take a know. coverage about the same has 446 price start from about £30 for 2. up to about £100 for 2. so you need to shop around.

http://www.amazon.com/TriSquare-TSX300- ... B000WY8JRU.


or could you use WiFi and use a app on a smart phone, on scout camps i have dune there been WIFI for staff may be cheeper to run.

[superdave]

Isn't 900mhz used for mobile phones?

[radio_ryan]

Isn't 900mhz used for mobile phones?

Not sure where mobile are these days. that's was where you could hear them some years ago now. but i think it in a band that is free to air like the 446.

[pmr446man]

Isn't 900mhz used for mobile phones?

nope 950mhz up for 02 and voda 1800mhz up for orange n t-mobile

[BK]

Isn't 900mhz used for mobile phones?

The 900MHz ISM band (region 2 only) covers 902-928MHz

In the UK this spectrum is used by
O2 base receive (below 915MHz)
MoD (915-917MHz)
Unused (917-921MHz)
GSM-R base transmit (921-925MHz)
Vodafone base transmit (above 925MHz)

There are plans to release the MoD and unused spectrum for short range devices, but that still leaves the O2, vodafone and GSM-R spectrum (which is used for railway signalling so interfering with this would attract attention)

[radiosification]

Motorola DTR uses 2400MHz which will have a range of about 20 metres.
Trisquares use 900MHz and can't be used in the UK
The digital PMR446 radios by Icom could be used, search for "ICOM IC-F4029SDR"
These are digital though, not analog, so won't be compatible with other analog radios unless used in analog mode which won't allow you to send short texts

[Bogget]

So basicly the short answer is NO

Bogget

[RogerD]

Flood the place with WiFi, and let them use http://www.whatsapp.com/ on their smarts

[radiosification]

So basicly the short answer is NO

Bogget

No, the short answer is YES. I'm pretty sure I mentioned the digital 446 radios in my post?