How does a walkie talkie work?

What is a walkie talkie?

A walkie talkie is a hand held, portable radio communication device that can be used to connect between a transmitter and one or more receivers. They are battery powered and do not require a network signal to work, unlike a mobile phone.

Walkie talkies work on a half duplex channel. This means that while there can be only one transmitter sending signals, one or more receivers can listen to it at the same time.

Physical Features

A typical walkie talkie contains a small portable body with an antenna to receive signals, a speaker to hear the voice signal and a microphone to speak. They are identified by the push-to-talk button which needs to be pressed every time a person needs to speak and released to hear from the other side.

Based on the requirement, they also come with additional features to help the user. TalkPRO is a top player in the handie talkie field and along with the basic features, they offer other specifications like a high powered torch, dust resistant, water resistant, bullet proof body, long lasting batteries and other additional accessories like a multi unit charger, adapter, noise cancelling headsets, surveillance accessories etc.

Frequency Bandwidth

All walked talkies work on a pre defined frequency bandwidth. This can be a free range allowed by the government (27 MHZ) or paid channels (around 350 MHZ). TalkPRO, for example, works on the 350 MHZ bandwidth with 16 channels. This gives the user a lot of options for communication. Few channels can be dedicatedly used for a single receiver, making it private, while few channels can be grouped based into different units.

Working

• A user who wants to communicate first presses the push-to-talk button
• He then speaks through the microphone
• The analog voice signal is superimposed onto a carrier wave
• This radio signal is now transmitted across the specific channel
• The receiver’s antenna captures the signal
• The carrier wave is now separated from the actual analog signal
• The receiver’s push-to-talk button is released
• The receiver can hear the voice signal through the speaker

Every time a transmitter needs to say the word ‘Roger’ marking the end of the signal and releases the push to talk button. To make this process easier, TalkPRO comes with an in-built ‘Roger beep tone’ that is transmitted at the beginning and end of every conversation.

Uses of walkie talkies

Walkie talkies are now being used in a variety of fields as they are much cheaper and work even in places where there is no network signal for a mobile phone to work. The Armed forces, Police and Fire fighters, railway and airport in-charge personnel, security networks around the world, hotels, resorts, large industries etc. are all regular users of this device.

How does walkie talkie benefit the common man?

• For people living in large houses, walkie talkies can ensure easier communication between its residents.
• They are a perfect choice for communication during family trips, vacations
• They are ideal to be used in trekking as mountains and other rough terrains are usually not connected by mobile network
• With the development in long distance internet connectivity, walkie talkies can even connect between two different cities and can be used as effectively as one uses a mobile phone, with just a fraction of its cost incurred.

Iconet, India’s oldest radio communication company adds another feather in its bonnet with the success of TalkPro-a one if its kind walkie-talkie developed in 2010.