Two way Radios

[Wilkie]

Yis Guys
what is the correct two way radio to buy (to be installed into Patrol) and what channel and what licence is required....?????
it must be a simple as possible and have as little as possible buttons...

[Tinus lotz]

Errol a lot of guys use the bosvark ect uhf with external airial ....it works very good and doesnt have licence money ect other wise a vhf with orra frequency dont think the vhf speaks a lot further anyway we used it on river trip and i was very happy you can order online for about 1000 rand

[SJC]

Ek het my bosvark gekoop by www.vratvark.co.za
As jy meer wil spandeer koop n vratvark2 radio. Hy is uhf en vhf.

[Picasso]

Hallo Errol

My experience:

I used a set of UHF radios (Zarteck / cost about 1400R) in the past they worked ok over a shorter distance (~ 1km). However If one goes on a group trip the VHF radios appears to be the more commonly used.

The main requirement for the purchase of a VHF radio is that you need to be part of an Offroad-Club i.e. NORC or any other club for that matter

Christo Van Rensburg / our Radio Officer NORC assisted me greatly with the following info

Quote:

• We use VHF radios in our club (as do all the other 4x4 clubs). Don’t get an HF radio – you will have nobody to talk to! OR%A has 9 channels, so try to get one with at least 8 channels, and if possible go for 16 channels so that your radio can cope with all the ORRA frequencies.
• Browse to http://www.orra.co.za/approveddealers.html where you will find a list of places to get a radio. Pick someone close by & tell them that you want a handheld VHF radio. You may be lucky and they will give you the serial number over the phone to let you complete the ORRA application form. If you are not lucky they will ask you to pay them some money first.
• Browse to the http://www.orra.co.za/individuals.html to see the application process. You will also find the application form there. Download it, complete the form in Acrobat, print & sign it, then scan & e-mail (or fax) it to Rina at ORRA. Remember to attach my confirmation letter to the application you send to ORRA!
• Once you receive the license from ORRA (it goes to a postal address), you can legally collect the radio from the dealer. The dealer will have programmed the ORRA frequencies into the radio while you were waiting for the license.

Unquote:

The application process for the radio took about 1 week. / cost = 150 Rand

I was now entitled to officially purchase a VHF radio.
I bought two RTS Bosvark Radios. + an Arial extension + earphone etc. Total cost ~ 2400 Rand.
I had the opportunity to test the radio last week in Lesotho and the radio (with Arial extension) worked very well.
I guess the convoy was at times stretched out up to 5 km in mountaines terrain. And I always had good reception.

[Tinus lotz]

Errol die uhf vhf bosvark is n plan dan kan jy altwee tipes gebruik

[Pieter B]

Christo van Rensburg is Christoslang op die forum. Stuur hom 'n PM

[ChristoSlang]

Errol die uhf vhf bosvark is n plan dan kan jy altwee tipes gebruik

Ek moet erken dat ek die "varkerige" radios nie juis ken nie

Maar dit lyk heel lekker om verniet op UHF te mag gesels, en dan ook met dieselfde radio die gelisensieerde VHF kanale van ORRA te mag gebruik (mits jy natuuurlik jou jaarlikse lisensiegelde betaal, wat darem baie goedkoop is). Wen-wen?

Ek hou ook baie van handhelds, want hulle is net soos kameras. Die gesegde lui mos "The best camera is the one you have with you...", en handhelds is baie maklik om saam te dra...

[Carel]

Ek dink nie die bosvarke gebruik dieselfde frekwensies as die gelisensieerde radios nie? Ek het 'n Kirisun wat ook met bosvarke kan kommunikeer en hul frekwensie is 136 - 174 MHz 400 - 470 MHz

[Picasso]

When I shopped around for a radio (VHF) I was also offered a radio which can transmit on both frequencies UHF and VHF. I am not sure any more what the price was, but I think It exceeded my budget.

Irrespective as to what frequency the radio can transmit, my understanding is that as soon as you use the VHF ORRA frequencies you need a radio licence.

[Peter Connan]

I would love to understand how this is enforced.

Not from the point of view of trying to find loopholes, but rather to understand the possible legal implications of owning a Bosvark.

Mine is currently set up with only one channel, but i have no idea what channel it is, and whether or not i should be applying for a licence.