Cheap Radio Setup

[Simon T.]

I just wanted to share with you all a VERY budget oriented radio setup.

I was looking for something cheap to play with and ran across a headset that Midland sells for motorcycles, but figured it could just as easily work with cars.

It's a complete harness with PTT button, helmet mic, and earphones. It's about $50.00 sometimes less off eBay and you can match it with a variety of Midland radios, some of which are 36 mile range I believe. I've found radios on eBay for $15-$50 depending on the ones you get.

I've just quickly tested it and it works perfect. Very loud and crisp in the helmet, it's a little hard to find a good way to mount it but it's easily done.

The only downside I see is that for enduros you would have to have the other drivers using the Midland headset versus a conventional racing radio setup but for the price and if you look for ways to save money like me it's pretty cool. Even if you lose reception at far ends of the track (haven't tested it on a track yet) it can still be more beneficial than a pit board or at least good for SOMETHING! Of course anyone else could listen in or you could get walked on which also could be an issue.

Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you all in case someone was looking for a very cheap setup, it would be great for a LeMons/ChumpCar type team as well.

The harness:

PTT button:

Link to item: http://www.midlandradio.com/Two-Way-Radio-Accessories.NX9/AVP-H2

 

[Gregg]

Did you test w/ the car's motor running and at anything above an idle. We tried running this same setup at an enduro a few years ago and ran into a couple of large issues:

1. Very limited range (likely due to the antenna being inside the car)
2. Lots of interference
3. Low volume--don't underestimate how loud an IT car can get and the difficulty in correctly positioning those earpieces.

But other than those minor issues, the system worked great.

The following year we went w/ a proper radio/antenna setup, shared helmet kits where needed, and each driver bought/brought their own earpieces.

 

[Eagle7]

The range specs on those radios are pretty optimistic, and require line-of-sight operation. When you put the radio into your steel car and drive behind hills and trees things change dramatically. And since those radios don't have detachable antennas, there's not much you can do to enhance the signal.

OTOH, although not without it's faults, it should be beneficial. Let us know how it works out.

 

[raffaelli]

I just wanted to share with you all a VERY budget oriented radio setup.

I was looking for something cheap to play with and ran across a headset that Midland sells for motorcycles, but figured it could just as easily work with cars.

It's a complete harness with PTT button, helmet mic, and earphones. It's about $50.00 sometimes less off eBay and you can match it with a variety of Midland radios, some of which are 36 mile range I believe. I've found radios on eBay for $15-$50 depending on the ones you get.

I've just quickly tested it and it works perfect. Very loud and crisp in the helmet, it's a little hard to find a good way to mount it but it's easily done.

The only downside I see is that for enduros you would have to have the other drivers using the Midland headset versus a conventional racing radio setup but for the price and if you look for ways to save money like me it's pretty cool. Even if you lose reception at far ends of the track (haven't tested it on a track yet) it can still be more beneficial than a pit board or at least good for SOMETHING! Of course anyone else could listen in or you could get walked on which also could be an issue.

Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you all in case someone was looking for a very cheap setup, it would be great for a LeMons/ChumpCar type team as well.

The harness:

PTT button:

Link to item: http://www.midlandradio.com/Two-Way-Radio-Accessories.NX9/AVP-H2

I have the same set up. Flawless.

 

[jrx13]

$31 at Amazon. I have a set of Midlands I use for outings already. I may have to get a set of these. Thanks!

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Midland-AVPH2-Closed-Helment-Headset/dp/B000CMGJ0G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314311008&sr=8-1[/ame]