Cheap alternative to Race Radios?

speedworks · 03-18-2012, 08:43 PM

Hey, I am too cheap to spend $600-1k on race radios, but would really like to be able to communicate to my crew while on track. Anyone out there find a cheap alternative? I was wondering if there was a way to use maybe the Voxer app (walkie talkie) and somehow make that work with 2 iphones? Not an electronics geek at all, so really unsure if that could be even done. Any other suggestions would be great (must be cheap).

cossie1600 · 03-19-2012, 10:00 AM

Most race tracks have spotty coverage, you are going to have a tough time to do it that way. You might be able to connect via wifi, but I still believe coverage is an issue since most tracks go through hills

ryan0 · 03-19-2012, 11:34 AM

some people are having success with FRS radios.

vividracing · 03-19-2012, 11:56 AM

How cheap is cheap?

cossie1600 · 03-19-2012, 12:22 PM

2.4Ghz radio is going to be rough in race track terrain

vividracing · 03-19-2012, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossie1600

2.4Ghz radio is going to be rough in race track terrain

Yeah, you NE guys have those pesky trees and hills to contend with. I'm pretty sure a string and some cups would be do-able at most of the tracks here.

speedworks · 03-19-2012, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vividracing

How cheap is cheap?

Honestly, under 200. My budget is small enough - I'd rather spend on tires (800/set) and test days (200-300per)at each track.

90 ST · 03-19-2012, 04:29 PM

cell phone with bluetooth...

sig11 · 03-20-2012, 12:00 PM

Check out the LeMons forums. There is a fella there selling kits for FRS radios for ~$100. I think that's a pretty good option for communication from at least part of the track.

Edit: http://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/vi...c.php?id=12990

cossie1600 · 03-20-2012, 02:01 PM

You might as well use a cell phone and deal with a 15 sec delay

speedworks · 03-20-2012, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sig11

Check out the LeMons forums. There is a fella there selling kits for FRS radios for ~$100. I think that's a pretty good option for communication from at least part of the track.

Edit: The 24 Hours of LeMons Forums / $100.00 NASCAR Radio Packages for Midlands and Motorolas

Interesting stuff, I plan to contact him, thanks. Rep for you.

Japanjay · 03-29-2012, 01:37 AM

Buddy has it on his bike ans swears by. We are currently tryign to figure out how to adapt to snowboarding on the mountains for communication while still listening to music. Can apply to being at the track with the 5 mile range one or the cheaper 2 mile one for around $240. Nothing to push to talk. Just start talking and it relays it automatically. All you need and fits the budget and long *** range. You would have to be on the nurburgring to loose coms.
http://chatterboxusa.com/?page_id=37

AutoX Z · 03-29-2012, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sig11

Check out the LeMons forums. There is a fella there selling kits for FRS radios for ~$100. I think that's a pretty good option for communication from at least part of the track.

Edit: The 24 Hours of LeMons Forums / $100.00 NASCAR Radio Packages for Midlands and Motorolas

We use a similar set-up in our lemon's car and it works great. You can talk to the driver on the back straight at TWS which is ~.75 mile away on the backside of a hill.

The only problem we've had is during driver changes the radio will sometimes not recognize the new headset when you plug it in but otherwise it's great.

speedworks · 04-01-2012, 08:47 PM

I ended up working with Troy (Lemons guy), and he is making me a full set. Seemed affordable enough, looking forward to the results. First race in 3 weeks. Finally today, the car is almost ready.

03-18-2012, 08:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
speedworks Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 550 Drives: PW purchased 01/09 Rep Power: 18	Cheap alternative to Race Radios? Hey, I am too cheap to spend $600-1k on race radios, but would really like to be able to communicate to my crew while on track. Anyone out there find a cheap alternative? I was wondering if there was a way to use maybe the Voxer app (walkie talkie) and somehow make that work with 2 iphones? Not an electronics geek at all, so really unsure if that could be even done. Any other suggestions would be great (must be cheap).

03-19-2012, 11:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
ryan0 Base Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: 2" off your rear deck Posts: 120 Drives: 86 Ford Festiva Rep Power: 13	some people are having success with FRS radios. __________________ ... needs more NOS.

03-19-2012, 11:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
vividracing The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilbert, AZ Age: 38 Posts: 7,306 Drives: 350Z,370Z,GTR Rep Power: 39	How cheap is cheap? __________________ Rocky @ Vivid ♦ 480.966.3040 x236 ♦ Rocky@vividracing.com Email, PM, or call me directly for aggressive The370Z.com member pricing!!!

03-20-2012, 12:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
sig11 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Detroit Posts: 1,294 Drives: 09 370Z Red Sport-MT Rep Power: 18	Check out the LeMons forums. There is a fella there selling kits for FRS radios for ~$100. I think that's a pretty good option for communication from at least part of the track. Edit: http://forums.24hoursoflemons.com/vi...c.php?id=12990 Last edited by sig11; 03-20-2012 at 12:03 PM. Reason: added link

03-29-2012, 01:37 AM	#12 (permalink)
Japanjay Track Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Puyallup Posts: 856 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z MB M6 Rep Power: 14	Buddy has it on his bike ans swears by. We are currently tryign to figure out how to adapt to snowboarding on the mountains for communication while still listening to music. Can apply to being at the track with the 5 mile range one or the cheaper 2 mile one for around $240. Nothing to push to talk. Just start talking and it relays it automatically. All you need and fits the budget and long *** range. You would have to be on the nurburgring to loose coms. http://chatterboxusa.com/?page_id=37 Last edited by Japanjay; 03-29-2012 at 01:43 AM.

03-19-2012, 10:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	Most race tracks have spotty coverage, you are going to have a tough time to do it that way. You might be able to connect via wifi, but I still believe coverage is an issue since most tracks go through hills

03-19-2012, 12:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	2.4Ghz radio is going to be rough in race track terrain

03-19-2012, 04:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 421	cell phone with bluetooth...

03-20-2012, 02:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
cossie1600 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: californee way Posts: 5,380 Drives: 370, Leaf Rep Power: 30	You might as well use a cell phone and deal with a 15 sec delay

04-01-2012, 08:47 PM	#14 (permalink)
speedworks Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 550 Drives: PW purchased 01/09 Rep Power: 18	I ended up working with Troy (Lemons guy), and he is making me a full set. Seemed affordable enough, looking forward to the results. First race in 3 weeks. Finally today, the car is almost ready.

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