A walkie-talkie is a message conveying device that functions with the help of radio signals. This gadget is also known as ‘two-way radio’ due to its ability to send as well as receiving the communication signals upon a definite wavelength. Through this manner, a walkie-talkie operator might talk as well as hear, although not instantaneously.
There are enormous two-way radios structures that have remained in use ever since from the 1900s. Earlier, these devices were used by mainly installing onboard huge ships in order to communicate over the longer distances. The first actually handy two-way radio was designed in the year 1923 by Mr Frederic Downie. At that time, this device was widely used in emergency situations like wars, fights and rescue jobs. In the subsequent years, this gadget was established more and turns out to be an essential resource for defense force, police department, and the cargo and carrier businesses.
At present, two-way radios are utilized by everybody i.e. from fighter flyers to mountain climbers. A worthy radio can help in communication over several hundred feet without consuming much power that makes it perfect for the lengthy communication inside a group of persons. The process of building a walkie-talkie is a substantial challenge that needs a number of additional parts and integrated circuit technology familiarity. There are two most important ways of building a walkie-talkie. But before going into the detail about those procedures, it is also quite important to know that exactly how a two-way radio or a walkie-talkie works.
In what way Two-Way Radios Work
A walkie-talkie is a hand-held device that is becoming one of the famous gadgets that are commonly used by every age group people. But, some persons have the curiosity to know that how these devices work and convey the messages so easily without any additional cost. The process of working off a two-way radio includes the following steps:
A walkie-talkie works by conveying and getting the radio signals over a particular wavelength. In fact, 2 or more communicating walkie-talkies are regulated into the similar wavelength along with a PTT key (Push to Talk).
Push the PTT button
In order to use the gadget, a person pushes the PTT key and communicates with the other person through a microphone. This microphone saves the talker’s voice and converts it into the electrical signals that are directed towards the antenna.
After this, the antenna transfers this electrical signal onto the frequency bands from where it is consequently chosen up by a new radio that is adjusted to the similar frequency of wavelength. This walkie-talkie gets the signal and directs it to a circuit panel that transmits it to a speaker. As a final point, the speaker converts the electrical signal into the sound.
As soon as the PTT button is released, it gets the walkie-talkie back into the mode of ‘listening’. Most of the time, a two-way radio functions in ‘duplex’ style, i.e. it can either receive or send an electrical signal at the single point of time. Hence, dissimilar to a telephone, a concurrent communication on a walkie-talkie is not probable. Therefore, a radio operator generally uses a series of protocols in order to facilitate a hurdle-free communication.
How to Build a Two-Way Radio or a Walkie-Talkie
There are so many methods of building a walkie, but the two most commonly and extensively used are the two following methods:
I. General method of building a Walkie-Talkie
There are few steps that need to be followed in building a walkie-talkie through a general method:
1. Material required
One of the simple methods of building a walkie-talkie by a beginner requires few materials that are listed below:
Controllers, batteries, transistors, and capacitors are commonly accessible as the fragment of hobbyist walkie-talkie sets. These sets of equipment generally have a huge range of parts accompanied by complete guidelines regarding the correct usage of the device. However, for a novice, purchasing a hobbyist walkie-talkie kits is always suggested.
2. Guidelines of assembling a walkie-talkie
A walkie-talkie structure can vary from impartially simple to tremendously difficult method contingent on the abilities as well as features. In order to manufacture even a most simple walkie-talkie, a person must be familiar with the interpretation of diagrams and connecting circuits on top of a PC panel. However with the above list of material, it is easily possible to construct a walkie-talkie by following the below steps:
II. Building a walkie-talkie with old cordless telephones
Every person has old telephones at their homes. You can easily convert them into the intercom two-way radios by following certain steps. The below-given steps will help you in building a home-based walkie-talkie:
1. Required list of Materials
The following is the list of materials that you will be required during the [process of formation of a walkie-talkie:
2. Open up the coupler
The next important step is to open up your coupler. You have to put on the pressure in order to breakdown it and open from the center. This is just the similar method you have to break a stick. Now, you should press it up alongside the adjacent sides of the counter if it supports. After this, the four wires can be seen; these wires must imply red color, yellow, green as well as black. The red and the green wires are the important ones about which you should concern. The further two wires are for another link that will not influence this process at all.
3. Cut, strip as well as connect
The third step is to cut the red colored wire/cable from the center. Now, you will have 2 red colored wires. Then, strip the tops of the both red cables. At this stage, you will require certain simple connecting skills for entire building process of the walkie-talkie.
After this, connect the one side of the regulator to the end of the red colored wire. Also, connect the former end of the controller to the one end side of the nine-volt power connector and the preceding side of the nine-volt connector needs to be linked to the other red cable. While doing this step, you have to take off the extra wires from the resistor as well as the nine-volt power connector in advance of the connection. It must be remembered that all this has to set back in the coupler after the whole step is completed.
4. Analysis or testing
Now, in this step, you have to perform a rapid test. For this, you have to leave it and plug the 2 telephones into the both ends of the coupler that are placed in the 9-volt power battery and begin the talk. You can also use 2 old walls mounted telephones without any difficulty. However, if you want to use cordless phones then you must be assured that you have the power passing through them before beginning the function.
If the phones are in working condition, then seal the bare cable with a black color tape. You need to Dremel out a tiny split into either of the edges. This place will be located where the nine-volt power connector cables will leave the coupler. Now, seal up the coupler and be cautious that you do not break down any of the connection which you fixed previously. You have to get the tips out of the slit of the nine-volt connector.
After the above step, your walkie-talkie device is ready to use. However, you must cross check that all the things are functioning properly or not. This step is also known as troubleshooting.
You must find a telephone in which a dial tone can be heard. Now suspend up and swap the line with the wire you were preparing to use and check again to overhear a dialing sound now. If the tone is not heard, then your cable is not good.
You can provisionally interchange your home-based phone with the phone you are going to use in the process of making a walkie-talkie in order to check and listen the dial tone. After this, make a phone call in order to check the microphone as well as the speaker of the phone. In case, if the phone does not make any call, then this set is not wise to use in the building process of the walkie-talkie.
For checking the capability of a coupler, you have to take out the battery from it. Then verify that the connection on the phone is incorrect order i.e. Hedge jack- to wire- to the Coupler- to additional cable- to the telephone.
This will verify that you have linked the accurate cables in the coupler. Now, pick up the telephone and check if there is any sound or not. If you listen to a dial tone then the incorrect cables are connected, or there might be short-circuited in the coupler. However, while moving the coupler, if you hear the grazing noises then the connection shall be bad and require the re-soldering.
A walkie-talkie device is getting quite popular these days among the users due to its innovative technique and low-cost maintenance. This device came into existence long back ago during the warship times. But, now it has become a useful tool for communication in the big industries, offices or schools of children.
At last, we can say that it is not a compulsion to purchase a walkie-talkie from a market or online shopping websites always. You can also build these devices at your home by following some simple steps. In fact, a small kid can also make this gadget under the guidance of his/her parents. The above discussed two methods are the most commonly and widely used techniques that can easily assist you in building a walkie-talkie at very nominal price.