Thread: Walkie talkies/comms

Originally Posted by BushChook

I believe it is AREC (amatuer radio emergency communication) who manage SAR comms. They most likely are using Tait radios.

We do up here

All Govt departments (DoC, SAR, NZDF, Customs etc) generally use VHF freqs in the ES band (136 - 149mhz if memory serves me right) not the PRS part of the UHF spectrum (476-477mhz) that all the GME's, Unidens etc operate on. Defence buy the most expensive, so operate Motorolas. Taits also get used as they are NZ assembled I believe. But again, far more expensive than GME's etc.

Originally Posted by XR500

All Govt departments (DoC, SAR, NZDF, Customs etc) generally use VHF freqs in the ES band (136 - 149mhz if memory serves me right) not the PRS part of the UHF spectrum (476-477mhz) that all the GME's, Unidens etc operate on. Defence buy the most expensive, so operate Motorolas. Taits also get used as they are NZ assembled I believe. But again, far more expensive than GME's etc.

Correct. Department of corrections use Motorola DMR radios on their own encrypted repeaters with GPS system and panic/man down buttons on them.
Not a cheap set up! The forestry down here have moved to a similar setup, without the encryption stuff. Their own repeater systems though. costing hunters a bit of coin that have access to the forestry blocks. Something I've been considering...

Is it possible to use the same repeaters that DOC use, with a non encrypted vhf/uhf ?

No. Not legally. DoC paid to have the repeaters installed, and pay an annual fee to Radio Spectrum NZ or some such Govt dept for the use of those frequencies.

In high usage areas (Auck, ChCh) there may well be UHF repeaters operating. But everyone hears everyone else.

You almost certainly won't have access to a repeater when sitting high in the Kawekas, but I have picked up boaties in the HB yakking about their latest catch from the tops of the Kaimanawas, when doing a scan.

Originally Posted by XR500

No. Not legally. DoC paid to have the repeaters installed, and pay an annual fee to Radio Spectrum NZ or some such Govt dept for the use of those frequencies.

In high usage areas (Auck, ChCh) there may well be UHF repeaters operating. But everyone hears everyone else.

You almost certainly won't have access to a repeater when sitting high in the Kawekas, but I have picked up boaties in the HB yakking about their latest catch from the tops of the Kaimanawas, when doing a scan.

Cheers for the reply XR500
I was actually specifically talking about the Kawekas The repeater on the summit of North Kaweka.
Have used that repeater a few times with a DOC radio to report back to Makahu base while doing work with the BCT, works really well.

Originally Posted by Sika 8

Cheers for the reply XR500
I was actually specifically talking about the Kawekas The repeater on the summit of North Kaweka.
Have used that repeater a few times with a DOC radio to report back to Makahu base while doing work with the BCT, works really well.

I'm unfamiliar with that region, but I know here in Canterbury almost all repeater sites have various repeaters for different businesses etc. here in chch you can pay a monthly subscription fee to use a repeater through various radio companies. You would need to pay a licence fee as well to be allowed to use it, and also have programmable radios, it is probably not economically viable to use a repeater unless it is for business use.
There is public repeaters around on PRS channels but as already stated, they are busy and limited to the region of where the repeater has coverage.

We have used these AliExpress 5W rechargeable units for about 2 years
Lightweight, seem to have good range and charged batteries seem to last for ages

Abbree Ar-63 Portable Mini Walkie Talkie