Stuffs Regarding 'Red" Thai Walkie Talkies.

[Holysteel]

Hi All,

I just brought a couple of 5 watts Red walkie talkie. Do i need to register them or get any licenses for it?

Please advise. As i dun want to get into any problem with the laws here.

Thanks

[Holysteel]

And one more thing to share. I was talking to one of the few Thai people in one of the channel with the 'red" walkie talkie, trying to strike some casual conversation with them. One of them turn aggressive and told me to 'screw" off to another channel as that was some kinda of a citizen watch group that i was in. I told them that i did not know. They further to threaten me that they will track my signal down and report me to the authority for nuisance. Is this for real?

I talked to one of my Thai govnerment friend. He told me to laugh it off. Everyone is entitled to use the Citizen band walkie. And that there are all kind of idoits in CB walkies. So long as i dun use and interfere with their 'black' government walkie talkie.

Anyone care to shine some light on it?

[webfact]

IIRC to use the red CB walkie-talkies is legal. Laws may have changed. Be aware that some "rescue services" use it. Black is police/govt. Don't touch it.

[simon43]

Although the red walkie-talkies are 'citizen's band', you still need a licence to use them, and the shop that sold you the WTs can complete the paperwork and issue you with the licence.

As you commented, there are always idiots on CB, in any country. However, I have to be honest and say that I have found many Thai CB (and amateur radio) users to be either racist or downright hostile to 'farang' users of the CB channels or VHF ham frequencies. It is as if they cannot believe that a foreigner has the legal right to use these channels/equipments in Thailand.

If you speak Thai, then you may be able to find others to chat with. Otherwise, you may be talking with yourself!

The black handsets usually cover the VHF 'ham' band and frequencies used by the police, ambulance etc. They do not cover the CB bands, so you cannot cause interference to these authorised channels when using your red handset.

I'm a licenced radio amateur, and legally possess the black handsets. But since the ham bands sound akin to CB ==> see my previous comments, I stay off these bands and just use my shortwave rig to chat with hams outside of Thailand, - all who seem much friendlier than many Thai VHF hams

Simon