- How far will PMR446 radio go?
- UHF Radio waves travel in straight lines, so the radio will work best in line of sight. If buildings, hills, trees etc are in the way then it will cut the range of the unit. Weather and geological conditions can also affect the range of a two-way radio.
Typically, when used on a bike, the best range you should expect to gain (line of site and if the radio is well sited) should be about 1 mile or so. - Can I use Alan 446 radios with other brand 446 radios?
- As all PMR446 radios operate on the same 8 basic 446 Mhz channels, you can use Alan, Midland and Albrecht PMR446 radios with all other manufacturers models.
- Can I use Alan/Midland/Albrecht headsets with foam earplugs?
- We recommend that all riders wear some form of hearing protection whilst on a bike regardless of whether or not they are using an intercom or headset.
Our conventional and Bluetooth headsets are suitable for use with foam earplugs and the Backchat/ViXEN headsets are supplied with silicone hearing protection plugs as standard. - Why can I hear lots of interference on my radio when I’m on my bike?
- All electrical systems on modern motorcycles should be shielded from producing too much RFI (Radio Frequency Interference), however some bikes still produce interference from their ignition and electrical systems. This is usually characterised by a “whirring” noise heard on the radio when the engine is revved.
You may also receive interference from other radio users in the form of snippets of conversation and static (residual and background radio waves coming from distant transmissions).
To resolve this issue, try using other frequencies or CTCSS/DCS tone codes.
If all else fails, contact your local dealer for advice. - How do I get the best range out of a bike to bike radio?
- The best thing to do is try to ensure that the radio antenna is mounted as high as possible on the bike/rider/pillion and not to put it in metallic panniers or under the seat.
Wearing the radio in a bum bag or in the top of a small rucksack is ideal.
If you are only planning on talking to other riders up to a 200 meter radius, then it should be ok to place the radio in panniers or under a seat and still be able to stay in range. - Are the radios waterproof?
- Unless the radio is carrying an IP54 standard (weatherproof) or IP67 standard (waterproof at 1m for 30 minutes) then the radio should be treated the same way as a mobile phone and thus protected from bad weather.
- Why does my Midland BT intercom not work when I try it in my living room?
- The Midland BT Intercom uses noise cancelling technology that constantly samples levels of background noise.
When it hears none (ie in living room or showroom) it assumes it is not needed and goes into standby mode to save battery life.
This is signalled by 2 beeps heard in your headset.
When there is background noise (ie from wind noise or bike engine) the intercom circuit stays on and you or your pillion should be able to experience full duplex conversations. You can also get round this by using the "Always On" function. - Can I use the Bluetooth Intercom kit to talk bike to bike?
- The maximum range between the two headsets supplied in the Intercom Kit is 10 metres and as such is not suitable for effective bike to bike comms. However by purchasing a Two Way Radio and a BPA100 Bluetooth adaptor, it is possible to pair the riders headset with the radio. Please note that the pillions headset will ONLY pair with the rider headset and cannot be used on its own.
- How does the pillions headset pair with a mobile phone/GPS?
- The Bluetooth connection to an external device is made through the riders headset (which acts as a "hub"). The riders headset is paired with the pillions headset thus allowing the pillion to hear what the rider can hear from the external device.
- Is the Bluetooth Intercom waterproof?
- Although there is no official IP rating for the bluetooth Intercom, the actual Bluetooth unit itself is rubberised and is sealed from water and dust ingress. The contacts between the headset assembly and the Bluetooth unit are spring loaded and as such there is no seal to be broken anytime the headset and Bluetooth unit is connected.
- Can I pair a Albrecht/Scala rider headset with another Bluetooth headset?
- No, the only way to talk rider to pillion (in the current format) is by buying a Midland Bluetooth Intercom. Stand alone headsets such as the Scala/Albrecht rider can only be paired with Bluetooth enabled remote devices (ie mobile phones).
