RE: Radios
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TonyandVan Moore
Aug 10, 2025, 11:08:26 AMAug 10
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Hiya,
I was wondering if anyone could help? Do any of the regular self drivers take radios? If so, which models?
Fro the research I have done, I think
Botswana requires a licence for all radios and Zim, SA and Namibia for all radios except “walkie talkies” .
Many thanks in advance
Vanessa
I was wondering if anyone could help? Do any of the regular self drivers take radios? If so, which models?
Fro the research I have done, I think
Botswana requires a licence for all radios and Zim, SA and Namibia for all radios except “walkie talkies” .
Many thanks in advance
Vanessa
Chris Boreham
Aug 10, 2025, 11:40:42 AMAug 10
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Licences required for Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. You can contact ORRA. Off Road Radio Association . We were never asked in Zimbabwe.
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Chris Boreham
Aug 10, 2025, 11:44:34 AMAug 10
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I have a Motorola which has worked fine so far.
TonyandVan Moore
Aug 10, 2025, 8:32:37 PMAug 10
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Thanks Chris - would you mind letting me know what model?
Thank you
On 10 Aug 2025, at 23:44, Chris Boreham <chrise...@gmail.com> wrote:
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Mike Slater
Aug 10, 2025, 11:22:50 PMAug 10
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Hi.
--
Not answering your question, but for 15 years I have been using RTS VHF base stations and very happy. No frills, but very reliable and effective.
In my experience as good as much more fancy digital types from Kenwood etc.
See screenshot attached
Thanks Chris - would you mind letting me know what model?Thank youOn 10 Aug 2025, at 23:44, Chris Boreham <chrise...@gmail.com> wrote:
I have a Motorola which has worked fine so far.
On Sun, 10 Aug 2025, 17:40 Chris Boreham, <chrise...@gmail.com> wrote:
Licences required for Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. You can contact ORRA. Off Road Radio Association . We were never asked in Zimbabwe.
On Sun, 10 Aug 2025, 17:08 TonyandVan Moore, <tonyan...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hiya,
I was wondering if anyone could help? Do any of the regular self drivers take radios? If so, which models?
Fro the research I have done, I think
Botswana requires a licence for all radios and Zim, SA and Namibia for all radios except “walkie talkies” .
Many thanks in advance
Vanessa
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"Kupotea njia ndio kujua njia". Swahili proverb.
Best wishes
Mike Slater
Best wishes
Mike Slater
TonyandVan Moore
Aug 10, 2025, 11:54:45 PMAug 10
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Great thank you Mike
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<Screenshot_20250811-051744.png>
Leon Fouche
Aug 11, 2025, 1:44:45 AMAug 11
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Good morning
I have used Kenwood, Kirisun and the RTS VHF range for a number of years, all give good service.
However, you will have to be licenses to use the VHF frequencies. The best is to go to the 4x4community forum and apply through them for a license. It is not that expensive.
You would however need to apply for a license in Bots and Nam, separately from the one obtained in SA through 4x4Community; there are links on the forum with contact details to who you can contact to apply for the resepecive licenses.
Link to Radio and Licensing board: https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/forumdisplay.php/252-Radios-amp-Licensing
Link to apply: https://www.4x4community.co.za/radiolicense/
Hope this helps,
Best,
Leon
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Pieter Gouws
Aug 11, 2025, 2:19:02 AMAug 11
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Morning Vanessa
License
For Radios programed with the ICASA UHF free/open frequencies (446.00625, 446.01875, 446.03125, 446.43750, 446.05625, 446.06875, 446.08125, 446.09500, 463.97500, 464.12500, 464.17500, 464.32500,464.37500) you don't need a licence in RSA, NAM, BOT (I can't talk about the other countries). These are typically the walkie talkies you referred to, but there are UHF mobile radios that can be programmed for these frequencies on low output.
For the ICASA approved VHF frequencies 161.15000, 160.45000, 161.50000, with tone 131.8 and 118.8, also known as ORRA channels/frequencies, gives you the nine licensed frequencies.
You can obtain a license by joining an ORRA affiliated club and they will help you with a VHF license for Namibia and Botswana, by joining 4x4 Community.co.za but you have to apply yourself for a license for Botswana and Namibia (I am doing it myself and get this within a week) or by contacting ICASA directly (but goodluck with this).
Radios
This is a long discussion and it depends on your requirements, space in the vehicle, space for the antenna and how much money you are prepared to spend (Antenna can easily cost you R4/5 000 or R700).
My suggestion is that you find more than one, two way radio supplier in your area and talk to them, look at the radios and antennas.
Handheld radio (Walkie Talkie)
You get these radios in UHF (for the free channels) and VHF (for the licence channels)
These radios have lower output (for example 0.5W) as the mobile radios.
Using it in the vehicle can limit the range from 1km to 2 km.
Using it with an external antenna (like a mag mount) and a handheld speaker mic can increase the range a lot depending on the terrain. (We talked to each other in the Namib desert over 5km's)
Lots of ICASA approved radios on the market.
Mobile Radio (Radio that you typically build into your vehicle)
You get these radios in UHF (for the free channels) and VHF (for the licence channels)
These radios have higher output (for example 15W to 25W) than the handheld radios.
Lots of ICASA approved radios on the market.
This is a favorite two way radio due to its size (15w). We talked over 12km with each other in Botswana with a Mag mount antenna.
Example of another two way radio
https://radiosmart.co.za/index.php?route=product/product&path=33&product_id=52
Asked for it to be programmed.
Antenna
Antenna decision is important and can get complicated.
As suggested, talk to the two way radio suppliers in your area.
Whip antenna,for example, needs to be trimmed depending where it is installed and in which frequencies you use it.
Enjoy it and have lots of fun.
Pieter
License
For Radios programed with the ICASA UHF free/open frequencies (446.00625, 446.01875, 446.03125, 446.43750, 446.05625, 446.06875, 446.08125, 446.09500, 463.97500, 464.12500, 464.17500, 464.32500,464.37500) you don't need a licence in RSA, NAM, BOT (I can't talk about the other countries). These are typically the walkie talkies you referred to, but there are UHF mobile radios that can be programmed for these frequencies on low output.
For the ICASA approved VHF frequencies 161.15000, 160.45000, 161.50000, with tone 131.8 and 118.8, also known as ORRA channels/frequencies, gives you the nine licensed frequencies.
You can obtain a license by joining an ORRA affiliated club and they will help you with a VHF license for Namibia and Botswana, by joining 4x4 Community.co.za but you have to apply yourself for a license for Botswana and Namibia (I am doing it myself and get this within a week) or by contacting ICASA directly (but goodluck with this).
Radios
This is a long discussion and it depends on your requirements, space in the vehicle, space for the antenna and how much money you are prepared to spend (Antenna can easily cost you R4/5 000 or R700).
My suggestion is that you find more than one, two way radio supplier in your area and talk to them, look at the radios and antennas.
Handheld radio (Walkie Talkie)
You get these radios in UHF (for the free channels) and VHF (for the licence channels)
These radios have lower output (for example 0.5W) as the mobile radios.
Using it in the vehicle can limit the range from 1km to 2 km.
Using it with an external antenna (like a mag mount) and a handheld speaker mic can increase the range a lot depending on the terrain. (We talked to each other in the Namib desert over 5km's)
Lots of ICASA approved radios on the market.
Mobile Radio (Radio that you typically build into your vehicle)
You get these radios in UHF (for the free channels) and VHF (for the licence channels)
These radios have higher output (for example 15W to 25W) than the handheld radios.
Lots of ICASA approved radios on the market.
This is a favorite two way radio due to its size (15w). We talked over 12km with each other in Botswana with a Mag mount antenna.
RTS DV-2135s
Example of another two way radio
https://radiosmart.co.za/index.php?route=product/product&path=33&product_id=52
Asked for it to be programmed.
Antenna
Antenna decision is important and can get complicated.
As suggested, talk to the two way radio suppliers in your area.
Whip antenna,for example, needs to be trimmed depending where it is installed and in which frequencies you use it.
Enjoy it and have lots of fun.
Pieter
To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/276FC134-9A03-43D6-85BF-41D989471245%40gmail.com.
TonyandVan Moore
Aug 11, 2025, 2:22:28 AMAug 11
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Thank Pieter and Leon, all your advice is very much appreciated
Sent from my iPhone
On 11 Aug 2025, at 14:19, Pieter Gouws <pgo...@gmail.com> wrote:
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