Looking for a dual channel radio : what do I need to look out for?
 

I heard that some radios could be used to listen to 2 channels at the same time and talk on 2 channels too. Since I end up being the squad leader most of them time this would be handy for inner squad comms and comms with the CO.

What kind of radios do that? How does it work exactly? Is it called a dual channel radio or something else (so that I can search for one)?

Thanks everyone!

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.15365

Something like that? the only thing I would hate is the really long antenna.. Maybe Motorola makes a better one.. You'll have to search ebay or something..


Kit.

Get two radios :)

I have the same problem, and some times, I have to do UHF and VHF. One option is a dual comm headset with two radios. I have a custom dual-comm setup but it is for a Comtac replica, which is hot and bulky. I am trying to see if someone could wire up a dual PTT switch for a Bowman headset.

There are off the shelf dual comm headsets, and dual comm PTT switches, but those start at $300 USD and up. Mine was custom wired by a friend who works at a radio shop that specializes in Kenwood radios.

Eagledriver : so what you are saying is that you have a single earpiece that is linked to 2 radios on different channels. Depending on who you wish to reply to you can hit 2 different buttons and thus communicate to either channel?

I personally have 2 Cobra radios (yep, sue me!) with an earpiece each with a microphone hanging on the wire (forgot what is the actual english name for this type of microphone). With just some re-wiring I could have a single earpiece usable for both radios and have those two microphones to use depending on whom I wish to talk to?

I use a throat mic for inter-squad and a radio with no headset for command

I use the Liberator 3. I have it set up to go with my Icom as my primary and then I have a Rhino with a quick disconnect as my secondary. I like having the quick disconnect for when I dont need the second radio.

I also like that the primary radio is heard in the left ear, while the secondary is in the right. That way I always know who is talking.

Funny that, the military works the same way. We program our vehicle radios for different ears, usually troop channel in one ear, battery channel in the other, and vehicle intercom in both.

Man, the wire and the mic is already a pain with just one earpiece (it get stuck on branches, on the gun, ...), I can't imagine having to handle two of them! ;)

Get yourself a PRC then ;)

What is that?

Thats because Tactical Command Industries (the guys who make the Liberator 3) make the headsets for the military.

Personally, I would have rathered main coms in the right ear, but thats just because im a lefty, and would prefer the right side if I ever use a single sided ear piece.

Yes, I get two radios in one ear. I then have two PTT switches that each plug into a different radio. I am a former pilot and so I am used to sorting through different conversations on the radio at one time. What I would like to have is a "both-radio1-radio2" isolation switch. This is the way it works in my airplane's comm unit and it would be nice with the radios.

Use a Linton 6288 radio, then lock out all the channels except the two (or 3, or 4...) you want to monitor. Set the radio to scan (it will only scan unlocked channels) and you're set!

The only trick is when you transmit, you will have to double check which channel you're currently on, and change it if necessary.