Radios

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Tegyrius

If you can say, Paul, could physical damage (or EMP, per the other current thread) compromise that synchronization without totally breaking the radio?

- C.

Well...let's just say they are EMP-hardened, but EMP is still very much an unpredictable element in small electronics. EMP can literally push just a few a few atoms around in an electronic device and do something unpredictable.

The interior of a SINGCARS radio, though, doesn't look the inside of like a PRC-77 -- The old PRC has a lot of gizmos and components that look like they have no rhyme or reason to my un-commo-MOS. The inside of a SINGCARS is smaller and looks basically like layered circuit boards -- even a grunt like me can fix one with the right parts.

So yeah, you could probably break the hop module without ruining the radio -- but there are features to prevent it from transmitting if the hop module itself is compromised.

[chico20854]

Years back, somebody developed a set of pretty workable radio range rules - take a look at http://www.reocities.com/david_km/table.htm

[Caradhras]

Thanks for the informed replies people.

I know the basic rules give some set numbers of ranges but obviously there is going to be more to it as you have shown. I will take more account of terrain (and weather maybe too?) especially urban or players using hills to aid range/reception int he future.

Battery life will by an issue also, if rechargables are not available. Sounds like a VHF backpack radio with a good antennae is a must for a T2K party/group.

Another question - if anyone is bored - my players also try to 'listen in' to other units who thay may know are operating in the area. I know the rules have a mention of built in encryption radios too but guess these are not foolproof (do they counteract each other?). My basic way of dealing with this is to have a hidden roll/chance of the enemy radio being in use at the time and of how useful the info may be and make the player roll a difficult electronics and relevant language skill. Any other ideas/input welcome.

[Nowhere Man 1966]

I'd say a backpack radio is a must but if you are resourceful, even a handheld radio hooked up to a good antenna will do wonders. I've gotten out to 25 miles using a good antenna on my handie-talkie running 1 watt and 50 when I kick it up to 2.5 watts or higher, depending on the voltage I feed it. I get 2.5 with 7.2 volts, 4 with 9 volts and 5 with 12 volts. I did talk to Canada across from the shore at Lake Erie with 1 watt and a rubber duckie antenna, my signal went close to 80 miles but the weatherm ust have been good that day and radio crosses over water much easier.

Well, if you are hard pressed, a handie-talkie hooked up to a good base or vehicle antenna will work wonders along with a good power supply.

In radio terms, a $100 radio with a good/great antenna will out perform a $1000 radio with a poor antenna.

Chuck M.

[Caradhras]

Your help here was appreciated, I have a follow-up query tho now

My players want to listen in on enemy radio traffic (and maybe my npc's want to do the same to them?), I have no experience with this equipment and dont want to rely on movies etc.

Questions are :-

How easy is it to use a backpack radio with good antenae to intercept radio traffic within it's range? Use a normal 'electronics' roll? Or is it harder than it sounds?

Other than moving frequencies or using an unusual language (2 of my group use Welsh ), is there other ways to stop interception/understanding of a radio message - at least at T2k group level (I appreciate that encryption can be used at higher level but guess not in the field?).

Any other input greatly welcomed.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Caradhras

Other than moving frequencies or using an unusual language (2 of my group use Welsh ), is there other ways to stop interception/understanding of a radio message - at least at T2k group level (I appreciate that encryption can be used at higher level but guess not in the field?).

Any other input greatly welcomed.

Oh yes, there are field encryption modules. I don't know what they're using these days, but we used the VINSON module (an encryption module) along with FH radios. You should have heard how pissed off the North Korean intel guys were when we started doing that (you could hear their broadcasts in the TOC) -- they were absolutely livid when our broadcasts went for all intents and purposes silent.

[headquarters]

The an prc 77 and 1077 used rechargables when i was in ,one plugged in and a spare in the batteri compartment .Reloading had to be done by a cord in the NM-135 / M113 variant we used.

It gave app 5 km range in good conditions but could do better if lucky .

Foliage ,terrain,buildings ,weather would easily cut range in 2 or 4 .

The An-Prc whats its name handheld 2,5 km radio was strictly LOS in many cases.Sometimes it would do better if lucky ,but I recall talking with the guys who used them a lot and they said to make sure of contact you would have to be abl eto see the other guy !

Old version this .

Couldnt say about more modern stuff.The AN pRC 77 we had in our IFVs using long whip antennas and vehicle powersource I guess could do 20 km or more if lucky .

All American made stuff.

Tried Motorola handsets later got a good 2 km out of them if not to much obstacles ,but this dropped with above mentioned conditions .Used a civvie VHF radio in our APC too ,got a good 20-30 km out of it -more if lucky .

Sometimes radios sound crystal and sometimes like mush even if the weather is the same and the radio location too.

Go figure.