Intercom/telephone

[Gordon Chesterman]

With the family down below in the warm and dry as I stand on the back in the rain steering, I'm looking for a 12volt telephone/intercom system so that I can call them on deck with lock handle, a cup of tea or another biscuit. Are there any 'off the shelf' systems you can recommend? It needs to be idiotproof, waterproof and childproof and easy to install. Thanks, Gordon

[tomsk]

With the family down below in the warm and dry as I stand on the back in the rain steering, I'm looking for a 12volt telephone/intercom system so that I can call them on deck with lock handle, a cup of tea or another biscuit. Are there any 'off the shelf' systems you can recommend? It needs to be idiotproof, waterproof and childproof and easy to install. Thanks, Gordon

 

 

Why not just get a pair of walkie talkies?

[Barry]

Is this where those cheap VHF radios come in useful?

 

 

edited to add - otherwise known as "walkie talkies" you pipped me Tomsk

Edited August 20, 2007 by Bazza2

[Gordon Chesterman]

Thanks for this, I had thought about walkie-talkies. They need batteries, the kids will borrow them and they'll never come back, they'll get lost (like the TV remote) or, more likely, I'll be on the back in the rain having forgotten to bring the thing out with me...

[DHutch]

How about an electric horn, you should already have one...

[Gordon Chesterman]

Yes, I've been using the horn to send messages in morse code, but the simple request, for example, 'Can I have another cup of tea please and one more of those lovely chocolate biscuits' can take two or three minutes, wears out one's thumb and upsets other canal users.

[John Orentas]

You don't need any of that lot, I have a button on the control panel of my boat, above it is engraved 'Tea' a small electronic buzzer sounds in the cabin. Miraculously a cup of tea usually gets passed up.

Edited August 20, 2007 by John Orentas

[Scotty]

With the family down below in the warm and dry as I stand on the back in the rain steering, I'm looking for a 12volt telephone/intercom system so that I can call them on deck with lock handle, a cup of tea or another biscuit. Are there any 'off the shelf' systems you can recommend? It needs to be idiotproof, waterproof and childproof and easy to install. Thanks, Gordon

Do you mean a wired intercom like this?

I saw this one on Maplin a few days ago just £9.99

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...14&doy=20m8

[Gordon Chesterman]

This looks good, many thanks, I'll check it out. But, does it allow the crew (down below) to contact the helmsman with, for example, the question 'you've been standing in the rain steering for the last three hours, would you like one of us to take a turn' Gordon

[DHutch]

Yes, I've been using the horn to send messages in morse code,...

Ahh, we just have one message. Horn sounds = "I want something come and make it happen".

 

 

Works for me.

[bottle]

 

Link to Maplin page

 

None of these are weatherproof though, maybe you could find a protected place to fit it

Edited August 20, 2007 by bottle

[Windjammer]

The cheapest solution would be the Maplins intercom.

 

Other ideas are the baby intercoms where you can wear one on your belt and the other

is fixed to the wall socket. Many of these allow handsfree two-way communication.

 

i think you find it hard to find a dedicated handset style intercom with a handset at each end.

 

Other ideas are a lift intercom if you can find a supplier.

 

Failing that, you could always buy a marine poit-point telephone. Google Phontech and look at their single line

power or sound powered telephone handsets - now they can be splashproof.

[andy the hammer]

We are having a door intercom fitted in The Maisibert for the reasons you have mentioned. The system is a basic battery powered door entry system with the internal part fitted between the galley and saloon.

 

Regards

 

Andy

[Big Steve]

You could use a dect phone with an extension or two. It doesn't need to be connected to BT to work as an intercom, and they are very cheap these days. Still have the "gets lost, batteries get borrowed" though. And you'd need a 12v to 3v power supply (Maplins again) to power the base unit. Wish I hadn't mentioned it now!

[ChrisPy]

Is this where those cheap VHF radios come in useful?

no no for VHF - unless both users have received the training and abide by the restrictions.

[Barry]

no no for VHF - unless both users have received the training and abide by the restrictions.

 

these cheap walkie talkies that you can buy in Argos and places like that - Are they not VHF? - I know very little about this sort of stuff as you can tell

[5thHorseman]

these cheap walkie talkies that you can buy in Argos and places like that - Are they not VHF? - I know very little about this sort of stuff as you can tell

 

 

http://www.446user.co.uk/

 

Everything you need to know (and more)

 

We use them and find it useful when someone "walks on" at a flight of locks also if you are off shopping and of course, rousting out the crew for lock duty,cups of tea etc. The type we use have sub-channels which cut out a lot of interference, if you buy the cheap 8 channel versions be prepared for x-talk and jokers.

 

Got a couple of these necklace things you get at shows with an identity card on and replaced the card with the radio - job done

 

The are a number which are rechargeable using a cigar lighter socket and adaptor see linky

 

Edit:- sorry, realise the "adaptor" bit was not clear. The one shown on the link requires 9 volts, but TTi can proved a cigar lighter gizmo which steps down the voltage and plugs into the charger

HTH

Edited August 22, 2007 by 5thHorseman