Summary: Walkie-talkies are a type of two-way mobile communication tool that allows for communication without the need for any network support, incurring no call charges, and are suitable for relatively fixed and frequent communication situations. Walkie-talkies can be classified in various ways, but the most commonly used types in our daily lives are channel-based walkie-talkies and frequency-based walkie-talkies. Let's explore the usage of walkie-talkies.
Usage of Channel-based Walkie-Talkies
1. Generally, there is a power switch and a volume control button that can be rotated clockwise to power on/increase volume and counterclockwise to decrease volume/turn off.
2. There is also a channel (frequency) selection button, rotating it allows you to choose different channels (frequencies).
3. After turning on the walkie-talkie, you can "listen" to calls from other walkie-talkies on the agreed-upon channel. To respond, press the Push-To-Talk (PTT) button with your mouth a few centimeters away from the walkie-talkie (not too close, as it may cause distortion and is unhygienic, but also not too far, as the sound would be too soft).
4. Before using this type of walkie-talkie, it's best to contact the supplier and have them read out all the channel data from the device, including the frequency of each channel, whether receiving and transmitting use different frequencies, and whether each channel employs CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System) or DCS (Digital-Coded Squelch). Make sure to note down all this information (preferably carrying it with you). This is a free service. If you need to participate in a convoy, make sure to inquire about the convoy's frequency and the use of CTCSS or DCS in advance. Then, go to the supplier and have them program one of the channels with the convoy's frequency, CTCSS, and other parameters (though in most cases, both receiving and transmitting use the same frequency and do not use CTCSS/DCS).
In general, the frequency band of channel-based walkie-talkies is fixed, and there is only one frequency band, such as VHF (Very High Frequency) or UHF (Ultra High Frequency). You cannot change the frequency of a VHF walkie-talkie to a UHF frequency and vice versa unless the internal circuit board is replaced by the supplier, converting it from VHF to UHF or vice versa.
Not all brands and types of channel-based walkie-talkies can have their frequency bands changed by replacing the circuit board. Only walkie-talkies of the same brand and with similar model numbers (belonging to the same series) have this potential.
Usage of Frequency-based Walkie-Talkies
1. Frequency Setting: To set the frequency on a frequency-based walkie-talkie, you need to switch the operating mode to the frequency mode, also known as VFO (Variable Frequency Oscillator), using a function key (e.g., F, FUNC) along with a numeric key (e.g., 0, 1). Some devices have a dedicated VFO key or a VFO/MR combination key for direct mode switching.
In this mode, the display screen won't show channel numbers but mainly displays the frequency. You can input the desired frequency by using the keyboard, entering the digits from left to right. If the walkie-talkie specifies the length of displayed frequencies, you may need to add leading or trailing zeros to the frequency value, and the decimal point need not be input (e.g., for 145.35 MHz, if the machine requires both integer and decimal parts to have three digits, you would input 1, 4, 5, 3, 5, 0).
If there is no keyboard, you can use the UP and DOWN keys or other specially designated keys (e.g., A, B, C, D) to step up or down the frequency value, following the machine's preset frequency step size (e.g., 5 kHz) from the current frequency until you reach the desired frequency. For example, if the current displayed frequency is 144.000 MHz, with a 5 kHz step size, adjusting upwards would be: 144.005 → 144.010 → 144.015, and so on.
2. Storing Frequencies and Parameters/Channel Operations: After setting the frequency and various parameters in frequency mode, it's best to save commonly used frequencies and parameters in a "channel" for easy recall.
Frequency and Parameter Storage: First, set the frequency and other parameters (if necessary) in frequency mode. Then, press the designated storage function key, and the channel number will typically flash. Use the UP and DOWN keys or the numeric keypad to change the channel number where you want to store the frequency. Press the storage function key to save the set frequency and parameters to the specified channel.
Channel Recall: In the future, switch the operating mode to channel mode using the mode-switching function key (e.g., F/FUNC+0/1, MR key), input the channel number using the numeric keypad, or adjust the channel number using the UP and DOWN keys. This allows you to recall the previously stored frequency and various parameters and communicate using that frequency and its associated parameters.
3. Scanning Operations: In situations where you don't know the frequency and CTCSS/DCS code used by the other party, you can use the walkie-talkie's scanning function. Typically, you can enable scanning by using the function key combined with the UP or DOWN keys. Scanning can be done in frequency mode, where the scanner steps up or down based on the machine's preset frequency step size, searching for the frequency used by the other party (when they are transmitting). You can also perform scanning in channel mode, where the scanner searches through the frequencies stored in the channels on your walkie-talkie. Once the scanner finds the other party's frequency, the machine will pause for a few seconds. You can stop scanning by pressing any key and start communicating on the found frequency.
Similarly, you can enable the CTCSS/DCS code scanning function on the machine (note that operation methods may vary among different devices, but it's typically done with a function key combined with numeric keys). This allows you to scan for the CTCSS/DCS codes used by the other party, and the operation method is similar to scanning frequencies. After scanning and finding the other party's frequency and CTCSS/DCS code, it's advisable to store all the parameters in a designated channel for easy future use. Some channel-based walkie-talkies also feature a scanning function, which can be activated by pressing the designated function key (e.g., SCAN). However, these devices usually scan based on the frequencies pre-set on your walkie-talkie.
Note: It's important to refer to the specific user manual of your walkie-talkie for precise instructions and operating details as different models and brands may have varying procedures.