STUFF. Feb 2000. Tennis Rackets
Walkie-talkies aimed at the public are a
relatively new phenomenon in the UK. That's because the Government
only opened up the licence-free service, known as PMR446 (Private
Mobile Radio446) in April last year. Before this, the only similar
service was a business system called Short Range Business Radio,
which was subject to an annual £30 licence fee.
The new service brings the joys of walkie-talking home to everyone,
and once you start using your handset, you'll soon realise why
those blokes in uniforms in shopping centres look so pleased with
themselves. There's nothing like hearing that crackle of static
followed by your girlfriend asking what time you'll be back from
the pub for your dinner.
We tried pairs of PMR446 radios out in open countryside and in
urban areas, assessing each for design, ease of use, features
and performance. All prices given are for two units.
1
Icom IC-446S
£229
The Icom looks pretty basic given the lack of visible controls,
but there's more to it than meets the eye, including some useful
functionality, such as the Smart Ring function which can be used
to confirm whether a call has reached the receiving party, though
there's no auto-scanning function. Set-up and day-to-day use are
painless and, uniquely among our models on test, the Icom has
a fold-down aerial. This may not seem much to get excited about,
but it makes the handset easy to stick in a pocket. Reception
is very good in both urban and rural areas, though in town, it
dropped out of range beyond 3/4 mile. There is a little background
hiss but the conversation remains perfectly intelligible
Stuff Says: A neat, well thought-out little package that performs
very well.
5 stars
2
Maxon SL25
£376
These big Maxon handsets are aimed at the more serious user. You
wouldn't give your kids one of these to play with unless they'd
just secured jobs as exhibition organisers. The size of these
handsets does count against them for domestic use, but if you
want something that is up to slightly more serious usage, this
is the one to go for.
In terms of sound quality and reception, it is easily the pick
of the bunch, with a range of a couple of miles in open countryside
and around a mile in town. Dialogue is as clean as a whistle and
operation simple and intuitive. We liked it a lot.
Stuff says: The pick of the bunch, if your pockets are big enough
and deep enough.
5 stars
3
Motorola Talkabout
£250
On looks alone, the Motorolas win hands-down. Perhaps a bit too
toy-like for some, but we love the design. They're well specified
too, and powered by a rechargeable battery. Each handset comes
complete with its own charger.
Sound quality in urban areas is good, though there is a degree
of background noise, and the range is a little limited too, to
around half a mile in urban areas, a mile and a half in the open
countryside. That said, conversation remains for the most part
intelligible.
Stuff Says: The best-looking of the bunch, the Motorolas perform
well and are packed with useful features.
4 stars
4
Audioline FRS 3000
£99
The Audioline is neat-looking little handset and lightweight too,
at just 154g all-up. The specification is basic, but you do get
all the essentials, including 8-channel/304 sub-channel reception,
channel scanning, a backlit screen and low-battery indicator.
Each handset is powered by four AAA batteries, though rechargeables,
plus charger, are available. Reception is average; conversation
is intelligible, but once you get more than a quarter of a mile
apart in town, you start to get quite a lot of background clutter.
Stuff Says: Not quite as cute as the Motorolas, but a lot more
affordable.
4 stars
5
Kenwood TK-3101
£398
The Kenwood is a tad smaller and lighter than the Maxon and pushes
it hard in terms of sound quality. But it doesn't quite scale
the Maxon's high standards in this respect and while it matches
it for range in open countryside, it couldn't compete in town,
dropping out of range after half a mile, despite claims for up
to two miles urban coverage in the manual.
Confusingly, the Kenwood has a 15-channel dial, though there are
only eight in reality: channels 9-15 double up on 1-8, but are
set to different squelch tones.
Stuff says: Another serious handset but the range in built-up
areas could be better.
3 stars
6
Ross
£99.99
The Ross handset looks like a downmarket version of the Motorola.
It's smallish, but still a bit on the big side for a consumer
model and a shade heavy too. It does, however, come with a host
of useful features, including a Range Check function, which tells
you whether you're within communications range of other users
set to the same channel and Squelch code and Field Strength Indication
to tell you how strong the signal is. Reception, though is pretty
scratchy once you get more than a quarter of a mile apart in built-up
areas.
2 stars
Stuff Says: Not great to look at and not great in terms of performance
either.
7
Goodmans Tracker
£99.99
The Goodmans is the same unit as the Ross in a body which is slightly
different cosmetically. But while the Goodmans' silver finish
is more appealing than the Ross blue, it scores poorly in user-friendliness,
due to the fact that on the Ross, the controls stand slightly
proud of the case, while on the Goodmans, they are slightly recessed
and as a result, fiddly to access. Performance is similar to the
Ross, so not particularly inspiring.
2 stars
Stuff Says: Lots of bangs for your buck, but no match for the
more expensive models.
Rating: 2 stars
Stuff Verdict
The models tested here fall into two camps, with the Maxon and
Kenwood aimed at more serious users and the rest as the casual
user. If size doesn't matter, the Maxon is easily the best of
the walkie-talkies on test here while the Kenwood sounds good
but is a little awkward to use. But size probably does matter,
and for our money, the Icom offers the best balance between manageable
size and decent performance. And we love that foldaway aerial.
The Motorola and Audioline are both decent performers but with
the Ross and the Goodmans, you seem to get what you pay for -
something cheap and cheerful.
Stockists
Audioline 01527 583800
Goodmans 02392 391100
Icom 01227 741741
Kenwood 01923 655292
Maxon 01442 267777
Motorola 0500 555555
Ross 0161-702 5010
Auto Power off
Switches the power off after a given time without any activity
to conserve battery power
Backlit Display
Handy for after-dark use
Battery type
Some models take standard (or rechargeable) AA or AAA batteries
while others work from rechargeable-only battery packs. The charger
is not always included.
Channels
To communicate with another walkie-talkie, you must be on the
same channel. PMR446 radios have eight to choose from.
CTCSS
Stands for Continuous Tone Controlled Squelch System and best
thought of as a set of sub-channels for each channel. Each channel
typically has 38 sub-channels, giving over 300 in total, though
some of the more business-oriented radios don't bother with CTCSS
on the basis that it's unnecessary.
Key Lock
Prevents accidental operation when you're on the move.
Monitor
Defeats the CTCSS system and allows you to monitor all communication
on the selected channel
Push to talk
Obvious, but you push it to talk.
Scan
Allows you to scan all channels for communication activity. Handy
if you don't know what channel a friend or group of friends is
using.
Voice Activated Transmission
If you walkie-talkie has this facility and you have it switched
on, you can communicate without pressing the Push-to-talk button.
Just speak and you will be heard.
Don't say it again
Something weird happens to you the first time you pick up a walkie-talkie.
Whether it's some secret hankering we all have to work as a Security
Guard or whether we've all just seen too much television, the
fact is that walkie-talkies bring out the verbal bollocks in people,
so try saying the following to the person with the other handset
and get it out of your system fast:
Roger, Wilco
Nanu Nanu
Do you hear me, Roger? (To which the only answer is: 'Yes, but
don't call me Roger.')
Over and out
10-10
We have no idea what any of this means, but take our word for
it, the sooner you get it all off your chest, the sooner you'll
be able to start talking normally again.
Walkies v mobiles
Pay-as-you go mobile phone deals have proved incredibly successful
over the last 18 months, but even a non-contract mobile phone
is virtually useless without the vouchers you have to pay for
to make calls, unless you only want it for people to call you.
With a walkie-talkie, once you've bought the handsets, that's
it. A much better deal all round then? Well, in purely financial
terms, walkie-talkies are more attractive. They're also very easy
to use. Just press to talk. On the other hand, you can only use
them with other users transmitting on the same frequency, and
within a very short range of a couple of miles. Mobiles, for all
the extra expense involved, win hands down in most instances,
with their intercontinental coverage and sophisticated network
services like text messaging, answering services and of course,
Internet access.
So unless you only have one or two friends and the three of you
tend to stick within two miles of each other, if it's a choice
between a walkie-talkie and a mobile, we'd have to plump for the
mobile.
Accessories
Most walkie-talkies come with the option of a hands-free kit similar
to those sold for mobile phones. These are reasonably affordable;
prices for the kits for the Goodmans radio, for example, start
at just £15.
The handsfree kits serve two functions: firstly, they enable you
to use the walkie-talkie while keeping both hands free; and secondly,
they enable you to keep the radio frequency electromagnetic energy
emissions from the walkie-talkie a safe distance from your head
- the manufacturers recommend that the antenna is at least 2.5cm
from your head.