Kenwood Free Talk

[jkhaus1]

Has anyone ever used the Kenwood Free Talk along with the Comm System on an 02 LTE? If you have or if you have information about using this radio, here is another question. Will the Kenwood match up a channel with a Chatter Box?


John

[ljjohns]

We had luck only on the Freetalk channel 1 (privacy setting 0) talking to our Chatterbox partners. That channel also worked with Motorola Talkabouts which we used in a chase car. The channel was usually clear.

[jkhaus1]

Thank you for the information. Ride Safe and Happy New Year.

[BMWprofessor]

I just bought a Kenwood Freetalk for my 06 LT. WIll it work just sitting in the front compartment or do I have to mount it externally?

[Tallyho]

You will have very limited range leaving it in the oddments box. Pretty much just bikes very close to you, say within 50-100 yards. You're better off sitting it upright in a tankbag with the antenna straight up. This will extend your range to about a half mile. Mounting up on the dash or handlebars so the antenna clears your shoulder front and rear will add another quarter mile. This is line of sight, of course. The Kenwood is limited in power to one watt maximum.

[spinedr]

You will have very limited range leaving it in the oddments box. Pretty much just bikes very close to you, say within 50-100 yards. You're better off sitting it upright in a tankbag with the antenna straight up. This will extend your range to about a half mile. Mounting up on the dash or handlebars so the antenna clears your shoulder front and rear will add another quarter mile. This is line of sight, of course. The Kenwood is limited in power to one watt maximum.

What would be an option for a stronger radio if installation is on the handlebars? :confused: I am thinking on buying two for my wife and me. But like to talk to others also. Distance is important and power, do I need to get a license to operate and there is a test or just an application and fee? What do you need to do to set this up?

[jhsonderb]

I just bought a Kenwood Freetalk for my 06 LT. WIll it work just sitting in the front compartment or do I have to mount it externally?It will work in the oddiments box. Range is not fantastic and the transmission is finicky depending on how the radio is positioned. Despite the draw backs, that is where I usually keep the radio and find it adequate.

[UncleMark]

You will have very limited range leaving it in the oddments box. Pretty much just bikes very close to you, say within 50-100 yards. You're better off sitting it upright in a tankbag with the antenna straight up. This will extend your range to about a half mile. Mounting up on the dash or handlebars so the antenna clears your shoulder front and rear will add another quarter mile. This is line of sight, of course. The Kenwood is limited in power to one watt maximum.
I have an '06 LT... Several problems were present in my Freetalk install... most notably the range with the unit in the oddy bow... that and dealing with volume/system RF noise etc. while the damn thing is in the box.

Eventually, I took the 3131 out and place it on the oddy cover using 3M's super velcro anchor tape. Worked better than when it was in the box, but as TallyHo said, it's limited in range. Your good for about 1/2 mile when alls well and good, then it goes to hell.

For cheap, the 3131 is the way to go, just don't count on it being able to Xmit three states over and you'll have keep the radio exposed as much as possible.

You'll need a license for the 3131 if your using the GMRS channels (and you will be). Altho I imagine that 97% of the users on this forum are unlicensed. It's not much, no test and an online application, good for five years... Makes it easier...

I am going to be doing an specialize ICOM installation in my trunk where the radio will be mounted, powered by the scooter and using a 1/2 wave "loaded" UHF antenna mounted where the LT CB antenna would normally go. That plus the ICOM power should insure that I disrupt FM radios about a mile around me... :D

I recommend ICOM... and I hate to say that but the guy I'm quoting has made me a believer... :cool:

[spinedr]

I have an '06 LT... Several problems were present in my Freetalk install... most notably the range with the unit in the oddy bow... that and dealing with volume/system RF noise etc. while the damn thing is in the box.

Eventually, I took the 3131 out and place it on the oddy cover using 3M's super velcro anchor tape. Worked better than when it was in the box, but as TallyHo said, it's limited in range. Your good for about 1/2 mile when alls well and good, then it goes to hell.

For cheap, the 3131 is the way to go, just don't count on it being able to Xmit three states over and you'll have keep the radio exposed as much as possible.

You'll need a license for the 3131 if your using the GMRS channels (and you will be). Altho I imagine that 97% of the users on this forum are unlicensed. It's not much, no test and an online application, good for five years... Makes it easier...

I am going to be doing an specialize ICOM installation in my trunk where the radio will be mounted, powered by the scooter and using a 1/2 wave "loaded" UHF antenna mounted where the LT CB antenna would normally go. That plus the ICOM power should insure that I disrupt FM radios about a mile around me... :D

I recommend ICOM... and I hate to say that but the guy I'm quoting has made me a believer... :cool:

I checked the ICON site, lots of radios on FM, VHS and UHF.

IC-F11 / F21Series

General
Frequency coverage

(Rx and Tx)*
IC-F11/F11S 146-174 MHz

IC-F21/F21S 400-430 MHz 440-470 MHz

Number of channels Total 16 (rotary type)
Total 4 (toggle type)
Channel spacing 12.5 KHz, 25 kHz
PLL channel step 2.5 kHz, 3.125 kHz (VHF)
5KHz, 6.25KHz (UHF)
Output power 5 W, 2W or 1W (VHF)
4 W, 2W or 1W (UHF)

:think:
This is one of them. good for two radios in one frequency but is there one that is more common for other bikers? wich one is the best for the motorcycles. You can see that I do not know much about this and know that I like to have distance and power and I am not interested on CB's lack of connectivity. Thanks for your help and patience to this confused nuvi :brick:

[spinedr]

I found this two units,

The IC-F33G

Wide frequency range and large channel capacity
The IC-F33G series covers a wide frequency range in one version (VHF 136-174MHz, UHF 400-470MHz or 450-512 (520) MHz). The 256 memory channel capacity with 16 memory banks allows you to divide and store a variety of flexible channel groupings. Easy memory channel selection with a simple rotation of the rotary channel knob.

IC-F21GM

General
Frequency coverage 462.550–467.725MHz
Number of channels 15

looking at the frequencys, do this talk to each other?? even when one is VHS / UHF and GMRS General Mobile Radio Service – simple license required Including 7 channels shared with FRS Family Radio Service channels

[Steve_R]

I checked the ICON site, lots of radios on FM, VHS and UHF.

IC-F11 / F21Series

General
Frequency coverage

(Rx and Tx)*
IC-F11/F11S 146-174 MHz

IC-F21/F21S 400-430 MHz 440-470 MHz

Number of channels Total 16 (rotary type)
Total 4 (toggle type)
Channel spacing 12.5 KHz, 25 kHz
PLL channel step 2.5 kHz, 3.125 kHz (VHF)
5KHz, 6.25KHz (UHF)
Output power 5 W, 2W or 1W (VHF)
4 W, 2W or 1W (UHF)

:think:
This is one of them. good for two radios in one frequency but is there one that is more common for other bikers? wich one is the best for the motorcycles. You can see that I do not know much about this and know that I like to have distance and power and I am not interested on CB's lack of connectivity. Thanks for your help and patience to this confused nuvi :brick:DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT purchase the radios that you see above. Those operate in the amateur radio spectrum. That requires a tested FCC license to operate and you won't find many hams on motorcycles but you will find a few of us. If you looking for a good GMRS/FRS radio for bike-to-bike communications, check out this unit (http://motogear4you.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=5&sort=2a&page=2&osCsid=a1b573d6312c351c398e468ba683b50f) on Raffy's website www.motogear4you.com (http://www.motogear4you).

[spinedr]

DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT purchase the radios that you see above. Those operate in the amateur radio spectrum. That requires a tested FCC license to operate and you won't find many hams on motorcycles but you will find a few of us. If you looking for a good GMRS/FRS radio for bike-to-bike communications, check out this unit (http://motogear4you.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=5&sort=2a&page=2&osCsid=a1b573d6312c351c398e468ba683b50f) on Raffy's website www.motogear4you.com (http://www.motogear4you).

Then that is the radios that require the BIG test for the license. I remember something like that in my CB days. Thanks steve for your help, I will stay with the GMRS/FRS radios. I have an Autocom system and have to see how to install the radio and make it work. Thanks again for your help :)

[Tallyho]

The ICOM radio to get is the F21GM, the same one Raffy sells. It is military grade and fully waterproof unlike the Kenwood. We have found that most FRS radios have common frequencies but they aren't necessarily the same channel number. "Most" will work together on channel one. Our riding group uses a GMRS channel and digital subchannel privacy codes to restrict communications within our group. All of us are licensed to operate in this band which I recently confirmed with the FCC. Some of us also monitor CB at the same time or while running alone.

By the way, the Kenwood TK3131 is no "low cost" alternative. It is pricey radio of limited capability. Buy one used if you can. The audio and microphone ports are the reverse of every other major manufacturer which also limits your ability to connect to any BMW comm system as they only support the Kenwood rigging. To run anything else you'll need to make an appropriate cable.

There are a number of ways to move the radio itself up to the handlebars or over to the dash. RAM mounts, BMR shelf, heavy duty velcro, etc. The trick will be getting the appropriate cable in the length you require.

[GBaker]

I use the Kenwood blade antenna with mine. Drilled a hole in the odiment box and ran the antenna under the tupperware and mounted the antenna to the under side of the top right handle bar tupperware.

Works great. No antenna showing and the radio fits inside the odiment box out of sight.

http://www.autocomamerica.com/product_details.cfm/productid/25774

No sure of the range but is more than a half mile. Mine is the 3130 I think. Military version no LED screen and has 2 watts.

[KeVRod_TX]

I was looking at the Kenwood blade antenna, but it seemed a little too pricey then I found a solution for a more cost effective alternative on the FJR forums: http://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=16420

If you live in Canada, Axtech have 1 on clearance for $20 but they have a min $100 order for US customers otherwise I would have snapped it up: http://www.axtechbatteries.com/products/product_details.php?id=SB450FME12&item=120