Midland Base Camp Radio

[Doc]

This looks interesting:

http://www.midland-direct.net/midland-base-camp/prod_105.html

It's a PMR 446 transmitter/receiver.
It's a torch.
It's an FM/AM radio.
It's a marine VHF band receiver - handy for weather from HM Coastguard.
You can wind it up to recharge the battery.

Perhaps a bit gimmicky, but it does give you quite a lot in one box.

 

[ocean1975]

Anybody ever used one of these or seen one

 

[rickyamos]

Hi all

and again it all depends what you want the radio for? As stated it works on 446Mhz please see link for tech info:-

http://www.alan-uk.com/cb/manuals/news_basecamp.pdf

if you want a radio for just tunning round and finding radio 1 then its fine, but as you can see it has a RF power output from 10mw to 500mw and the small rubber duck style antenna will not get you far for real comms. It's licence free so no trouble with that one, but to be honest I would just sit your foundation licence amature radio exam and get a dual band 2 meter and 70cm hand held radio. Most will put out about 5w RF power, make a slim jim antenna out of some 300 ohm ribbon cable sling up in a tree with about 8' of coax and you will be supprised how far you can get. Remembering that on these 2 bands there are a good deal of repeaters that will extend your coverage(Repeaters are a bit like your mobile phone masts). and with 5w RF output the power consumption an external 7amp/hour battery will last you days. Anyway if you need any more info then please contact me and I will help you find the details about getting a licence. its just a 30 question exam, show that you know how to transmit and use a radio and a morse exercise thats it. Don't worry there is no need to pass a morse test anymore its a few words are sent to you and you send a few words back, you may use a crib sheet and its not a pass or fail exercise.

Thanks

Rick

73 DE M0ZAV

 

[phill_ue]

I have a couple of small PMR walkie talkies and they are pretty good over open ground. This would be a fun item for a base camp if people are going out on walks in the local area after a wild food trail or something or other and they can keep in touch with the main camp. You could send the kids you with the small walkie talkies and keep in touch with them via the base camp radio whilst also being able to listen to the radio. Seems like a decent bit of kit, but it is a bit specific and may not be to everybody's tastes.

 

[tommy the cat]

I have a couple of small PMR walkie talkies and they are pretty good over open ground. This would be a fun item for a base camp if people are going out on walks in the local area after a wild food trail or something or other and they can keep in touch with the main camp. You could send the kids you with the small walkie talkies and keep in touch with them via the base camp radio whilst also being able to listen to the radio. Seems like a decent bit of kit, but it is a bit specific and may not be to everybody's tastes.

Yep I find the walkie talkies you describe used quite often by families with kids in the woods. I have used them a fair bit whilst in France to keep in touch with my buddies on the mountain whilst snow boarding. They do have limits though.
I'm not sure the radio in the link was suggested for this purpose mind.
D

 

[Doc]

Hi all

and again it all depends what you want the radio for? As stated it works on 446Mhz please see link for tech info:-

http://www.alan-uk.com/cb/manuals/news_basecamp.pdf

if you want a radio for just tunning round and finding radio 1 then its fine, but as you can see it has a RF power output from 10mw to 500mw and the small rubber duck style antenna will not get you far for real comms. It's licence free so no trouble with that one, but to be honest I would just sit your foundation licence amature radio exam and get a dual band 2 meter and 70cm hand held radio. Most will put out about 5w RF power, make a slim jim antenna out of some 300 ohm ribbon cable sling up in a tree with about 8' of coax and you will be supprised how far you can get. Remembering that on these 2 bands there are a good deal of repeaters that will extend your coverage(Repeaters are a bit like your mobile phone masts). and with 5w RF output the power consumption an external 7amp/hour battery will last you days. Anyway if you need any more info then please contact me and I will help you find the details about getting a licence. its just a 30 question exam, show that you know how to transmit and use a radio and a morse exercise thats it. Don't worry there is no need to pass a morse test anymore its a few words are sent to you and you send a few words back, you may use a crib sheet and its not a pass or fail exercise.

Thanks

Rick

73 DE M0ZAV

It's a good point, and anyone half interested in radio should do the Foundation licence. My son passed it when he was nine. I think 7 year olds have passed it.

A good bushcraft option, once you have an amateur ticket, is a VHF/UHF handheld transceiver that Rick mentioned. They are getting cheaper (Chinese models available new for £70) and let you monitor VHF marine band which is handy for weather from HM Coastguard. Many will also transmit on VHF marine - not legal as they are not type-approved for this, but if you are drowning you might not be overly concerned with the Wireless Telegraphy Act.

I used to work France from the South Downs, and Scotland from the lake District via the Isle of Man repeater.

Of course, if you just want cheap comms over a mile or so, PMR 446 is still a useful option, and no licence needed.