Making a two-way radio does require a good knowledge of technology, but you can still make your own walkie talkie which is much easier to make. You can make a simple walkie talkie out of a tin that can also be a craft activity, or turn your smartphone into a push-to-talk device and talk to your friends remotely via your phone. Report accepted! Change!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Using Paper Cans or Cups
Step 1. Gather the necessary materials
For this simple project, you will need:
- Two tin or aluminum cans, or two paper cups
- String or wire 5 to 10 meters long
- hammer
- Nail
- Walkie-talkies made with tin or aluminum cans last longer than walkie-talkies made with paper or plastic cups because the bottom of the cans won't break or tear easily when hit by strings.
Step 2. Use nails to punch holes in the bottom of the can or glass
Make sure the holes are big enough for the strings to pass through.
Step 3. Attach the string to one of the cans
Insert the string into the hole of one of the cans you are using. Make sure you thread the string from the outside of the can into the hole in the bottom of the can until the end of the string is inside the can.
Each can will function as a sound receiver
Step 4. Make a knot at the end of the string you have threaded into the hole
Pull the strings to make knotting easier so that there is a section long enough for you to make a strong knot. Plus, you don't have to put your hand in the can to make a knot.
- If one knot isn't big enough to hold the end of the string out of the hole, make another knot.
- If you are using a plastic cup or paper cup, tie the end of the string to a nail and leave the nail in the glass. This can keep the strings in the glass because the strings tend to tear holes in the surface of the glass so the holes become larger and the strings can come out of the glass.
- Make sure you've tied or knotted the end of the string in one of the cans before inserting the other end of the string into the next can because, if you don't make a knot, the end of the string can be pulled out when you attach the other end of the string to the next can.
Step 5. Repeat the third and fourth steps on the next can
After you've attached one end of the string to the first funnel, attach the other end to the second funnel and make a knot so that the end of the string doesn't pull out of the hole at the bottom of the funnel.
As with the first funnel, if you're using a paper cup as a receiving funnel, provide one more nail to hold the end of the string so it doesn't pull out
Step 6. Stretch the strings tight
All sound is produced by sound waves traveling through an intermediary. Voices, such as the human voice and, even, stringed instruments such as the violin and guitar are also produced in the same way. Therefore, to allow sound waves to move more effectively, stretch the strings until they are tight, like a violin string or a guitar string being tightened.
Make sure you don't tighten the strings too tightly so they don't break or end up sticking out of the hole in the receiving funnel. Tighten just enough so that the strings can sound when plucked
Step 7. Talk to someone through the receiving funnel
After you have finished creating your walkie talkie, use the walkie talkie to communicate. Speak to your friend through the receiver while your friend listens through the receiver. Try sending secret messages to your friends.
- When using the walkie talkie, do not pull the strings connecting the two receivers too tightly. Too much traction can cause the strings to disconnect from the receiving funnel.
- If you are making the funnel out of a tin or aluminum can, be careful when speaking or listening through the mouthpiece, as there may be sharp edges in the can that could injure you.
Method 2 of 2: Using a Smartphone (Smartphone)
Step 1. Buy a smartphone
Although most people now own a smartphone, it's important to remember that buying a smartphone for use only as a walkie talkie may not be the most effective (financially) option.
- If you don't have a smartphone, you can still make a walkie talkie by following the first method (cans or paper cups).
- Push-to-talk applications are available for almost all major smartphone operating systems, including iPhone (iOS), Android phones, and Windows phones.
Step 2. Download the push-to-talk app
Open the app store on your phone and look for a push-to-talk app. There are several push-to-talk apps available, including:
- iPTT. iPTT is one of the original push-to-talk apps available on the App Store (iOS). This app provides group communication features (eg one person with many people). In addition, there is also a one-on-one in-group communication feature (known as whisper), or a one-on-one live chat feature outside the group. This application is easy to use and can be downloaded for free for iPhone users.
- TiKL Touch Talk Walkie Talkie. TiKL is a push-to-talk application that is easy to use, but has features that are no less sophisticated. All it takes is your contact list and a data plan on your phone (this means you need to be connected to the internet to use this app). TiKL provides group messaging and push-to-talk calling features. This application can be downloaded for free for both iPhone users and Android users.
- Voxer. Although it has a function that resembles a walkie talkie, this application has a different system. Voxer sends the voicemail you created to the recipient and, once the message is sent, the recipient must open the voicemail so that the messaging system is not a real-time dispatch system, like a walkie talkie. This application can be installed on mobile phones with iOS and Android operating systems. Besides being able to be downloaded for free, this application can be used using any data connection, including Wi-Fi. You can send text messages, location information and photos via Voxer.
- HeyTell. This app is similar to Voxer, but has more modification settings for you to choose from. HeyTell offers privacy settings with three levels, so you can add or block friends from your Twitter or Facebook. Like Voxer, this application also requires a data connection to work. HeyTell can be downloaded for free and can be installed on phones with Windows, iOS and Android operating systems.
- Zello. For mobile application developers, Zello can function as an additional system that provides push-to-talk features in the applications they develop. But for ordinary users, Zello can be a walkie talkie application for your phone. Like Voxer, Zello saves messages for later replay (messaging is like email, not chat). This free downloadable application can be installed on iPhones, Android phones, and Blackberry phones.
Step 3. Install the push-to-talk app and create an account
The push-to-talk app does not use your phone number or data plan. In order for others to find you on the app, of course, you'll need to create an account.
Step 4. Invite your friends and family members to download the app
One of the general rules for using push-to-talk apps is that whoever you want to contact via the app must have a smartphone and use the same push-to-talk app (for example, if you use HeyTell and want to call your sister, then your brother should also use the HeyTell app).
- As the use of smartphones expands, it becomes easier for you to ask your friends or family members to download a push-to-talk app instead of buying and giving them a walkie-talkie device.
- Most push-to-talk apps have a group messaging feature that can make it easier for you to chat with many people at once.
Step 5. Press the talk button and start sending messages
Once you and your friends or family members use the same push-to-talk app, you can easily contact them by selecting the person you want to call from the contact list, then press the 'Talk' button and say your message.
- Since the push-to-talk app doesn't use much of the data connection on your phone, you can contact anyone through the app even if you don't have a data plan. If you use the app over Wi-Fi, you won't be charged any internet charges at all.
- You can also send messages and photos to any user around the world as long as they are using the same app.
