Vodnik za nakup voki-tokija

Voki-tokiji so še pred desetletji veljali za eno najučinkovitejših oblik komunikacije, čeprav se mnogim zdijo dandanes že nekoliko zastareli. Kljub temu se dvosmerni ročni radio še vedno uporablja v številnih panogah, podjetjih in dejavnostih v prostem času, saj ponuja alternativo dragim mobilnim telefonom in navigacijo po potencialnih črnih točkah pokritosti, kar pomeni, da niso tako zastareli, kot se predstavlja .

Ko gre za izbiro nabora walkie-talkijev, boste še vedno našli veliko možnosti, kar pomeni, da morda ne bo tako preprosto, kot ste prvotno upali. Če želite zožiti postopek odločanja in kaj bi morali upoštevati, berite naprej in izvedeli boste vse, kar morate vedeti o walkie-talkiejih v tem vodniku Canstar Blue.

Kaj je walkie-talkie?

Walkie-talkie je ročni, prenosni dvosmerni radijski oddajnik, ki vam omogoča komunikacijo z nekom na določeni razdalji z uporabo frekvenc valovnih dolžin. Voki-tokiji, ki so bili prvotno razviti med drugo svetovno vojno, so danes slušalke v obliki pravokotnika, ki vključujejo prilagodljivo anteno, gumbe za nadzor frekvence, baterijsko napajanje, mikrofon in zvočnik. Na majhnem zaslonu bodo prikazani tudi frekvenca, moč signala in drugi odčitki, da se zagotovi pravilno delovanje enote.

Kako deluje walkie-talkie?

Walkie-talkie deluje prek frekvenčnega pasu, ki prenaša zvoke – na primer vaš glas – po radijskih valovih v drug walkie-talkie. Na voljo je več frekvenčnih pasov, ki so sicer znani kot "kanali", kar vam omogoča, da nastavite frekvenco ali kanal, ki vam pomaga pri komunikaciji s predvidenim prejemnikom. In če želite komunicirati, boste morali držati gumb "pritisni in govori", ki preklopi z zvočnika enote na mikrofon, pri čemer spustite gumb, da se walkie-talkie vrne v način "poslušanja".

Kakšna je razlika med walkie-talkiejem in dvosmernim radijskim sprejemnikom?

Voki-toki in dvosmerni radio sta izraza, ki ju lahko uporabljamo zamenljivo, saj je dvosmerni radio preprosto radio, ki lahko sprejema in oddaja radijske signale – kar je točno to, kar zmore voki-toki. Edina resnična razlika je v tem, da je walkie-talkie verjetno bolj prenosljiv, a če nekdo omenja dvosmerni radio, bo več kot verjetno opisal walkie-talkie in obratno.

Kakšna je razlika med UHF in VHF?

Ultravisoka frekvenca (UHF) in zelo visoka frekvenca (VHF) sta pogosta izraza, ko gre za raziskovanje sveta radijskih sprejemnikov in walkie-talkijev, toda kaj točno sta in ali obstaja velika razlika med njima?

Kot že ime pove, UHF deluje na višji frekvenci v primerjavi z VHF in je bolj primeren za komunikacijo v gostejših, bolj pozidanih območjih, saj lahko višja frekvenca lažje prodre skozi zgradbe in beton. Po drugi strani pa je VHF najprimernejši za komunikacijo na daljših razdaljah ali na prostem zaradi svoje daljše valovne dolžine, zaradi česar je bolj primeren za uporabo, ko se odločite iti v gozd.

Blagovne znamke Walkie-Talkie so na voljo v Avstraliji

V Avstraliji je na voljo več blagovnih znamk voki-tokijev, spodaj pa je povzetek glavnih blagovnih znamk. Walkie-talkie je mogoče kupiti na spletnem mestu blagovne znamke ali pri prodajalcih elektronike.

Uniden walkie-talkie

S ponudbo različnih tehnologij – vključno z varnostnimi sistemi, brezžičnimi telefoni in varuškami – ima japonska blagovna znamka Uniden široko paleto walkie-talkiejev, ki jih ponuja tistim na trgu za modele UHF in VHF. Modeli segajo od UH35, ki ima doseg do 3 km in čas delovanja 20 ur, do UH850S, ki ima doseg 17 km in vodotesno zasnovo, ki vam pomaga ostati v stiku na težkem terenu. Uniden ponuja tudi pakete za tiste, ki želijo kupiti nekaj voki-tokijev, z dodatnimi polnilnimi kabli in dodatki, ki vam pomagajo kar najbolje izkoristiti nakup.

Motorola walkie-talkie

Bolj znana po svoji paleti mobilnih telefonov, je Motorola vlagala tudi v druge oblike komunikacije, vključno z vrsto dvosmernih radijskih postaj. Tiste, ki iščejo nekaj bolj preprostega, bo morda zanimal prenosni dvosmerni radio SL2600, ki vključuje povezljivost Bluetooth in zmogljivosti Wi-Fi za pomoč pri komunikaciji v naseljenih območjih ali za prostoročno komunikacijo. Other models in the Motorola range include the Motorola Clip 107 two-way radio, which allows you to keep your hands-free while staying in the loop thanks to a wired earpiece and belt-clip holster.

GME walkie-talkies

An Australian brand, GME offers radios, antennas, radios and all types of accessories for all sorts of Aussie lifestyles, including farming, boating and 4WDing. For general use, the TX6160XO handheld UHF radio may suit those who enjoy their time in the bush, including up to 30hours of battery life, an in-built LED torch and belt clip to help keep your hands free. Other options also include the GX800W VHF Marine Radio, which features a protection rating of IP67, LCD display, floatable design for when you accidently drop it in the drink as well as international channel pre-programmed in.

Oricom walkie-talkies

Offering a wide variety of fixed and portable two-way radios, Aussie brand Oricom’s range of portable models includes the PMR780, which features 80 channels, a 3km range as well as a power-saving mode for when you need to stretch the battery life. Other Oricom models include the UHF5500-1, which includes a metal chassis construction, 240v and 12v charging adaptors, backlit LCD display, removable flexible antenna as well as a 2.5mm jack for use with the headset or speaker mic to help keep your hands free.

What to consider when buying a walkie-talkie

While they may all appear to do the same thing, there’s enough point of difference between walkie-talkie brands and models to warrant a bit of thought as to what you really need out of your walkie-talkie purchase. To help narrow down your search, here are some of the main areas to consider before purchasing:

• Frequency: With walkie-talkies generally falling into the UHF or VHF camps, it’s important to consider which one will best fit your needs, as each frequency has its strengths and weaknesses. If you plan on being in the outback, VHF may be a better fit, while UHF may be better suited for those operating in a city environment. You’ll also have to familiarise yourself with the operating channels, as some channels in Australia are reserved for emergency and law enforcement agencies.
• Power Supply: Walkie-talkies are generally powered by either removable batteries or rechargeable batteries, but either way you’ll have to consider how much use you get out of your unit before you have to change or charge the battery. After all, you don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere and then have your walkie-talkie give out.
• Budget: As with any purchase, how much money you have to spend may impact on which brand, type and model of walkie-talkie you walk away with. However, it’s always important to remember that just because it has a large price tag doesn’t always equate to good quality, and that you may get better value for money out of the cheaper, base models, depending on what you plan on using it for.

Are walkie-talkies legal in Australia?

Walkie-talkies are legal to use in Australia, although there are some bans on certain models and brands, with regulations and laws in place with regards to the use of certain frequencies. The Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) states that certain channels – specifically channel 5 and channel 35 – are used strictly for emergencies only, while others are used by law enforcement, with fines applying for unauthorised use.

However, there are channels known as Citizen Bands, which are more for public use, and are traditionally used by those travelling in remote areas such as truck drivers or motoring clubs to help keep in touch in the case of an emergency or accident. If you’re worried about the legality of walkie-talkie use in Australia, it’s best to buy from a reputable Australian retailer, and to ask any questions at the time of purchase, or to check the ACMA website for additional details.

Is it worth buying a walkie-talkie?

Communication technology has come a long way over the past few decades, with getting in touch with someone – even if they’re in another country – easy to do nowadays. But while many of us aren’t without our phones for long, Australia is also (unfortunately) home to multiple blackspots, making communication difficult at times – unless you have a walkie-talkie. As a result, if you’re potentially working in a remote region, or underground where it’s difficult to get mobile signal, a walkie-talking may be well worth researching further, as they are generally cheaper than the latest mobile phone too!

Ultimately though, whether you decide to pick up a walkie-talkie – and which type of walkie-talkie you choose – will depend on individual factors, such as where you plan on using it, as well as price and even the design on the handheld unit. But if you’re looking for a way to keep yourself in the conversation, a walkie-talkie could be just the ticket.

Photo Credit:Phawat/shutterstock.com, rickyd/shutterstock.com, SVRSLYImage/shutterstock.com, CookieStudio/shutterstock.com