David Lock

I have now built an office/study at the end of my garden about 30m away from house. It has power (on its own circuit) and phone on an extension.

What device/s can I get at low cost to be able to communicate with the boss in house? For example to relay a message that the phone call I have just picked up is for her?

I used to use a cheap but effective system that worked on the electric circuit but this clearly won't work on a separate circuit

A walkie talkie system seems ott and is too expensive. I either need to have a wireless facility or use the phone line as I don't want to run any more cable. Cordless phones don't work in the study btw as BT base unit is the wrong side of three stone walls.

Suggestions please?

(I am sure there is something obvious that I am missing )

David

boxst

You could use Skype if she has an Android or iPhone? Just an IM or if you must you could talk to her

ReallyReallyGoodMeat

CB radio

SJ_Skyline

Wireless doorbell?

Brun

I assume a cb setup would be way more than a walkie talkie?

Myles

iTrader: (40)

Field telephone.

ReallyReallyGoodMeat

Two cheap PAYG nokias

billythekid

A good quality DECT phone will work over about 50m.
I use Phillips ones off E-bay (CD145). The main unit plugs into the phone line and power.

The secondary units (3 of) then just need power, although you could even leave the base unit in the house at the battery lasts about a 4 days!

To contact the house, just dial "int 1" and the master phone will ring. We have 4 handsets, so can dial various rooms if needed.

Also allows me to carry a land line around.

Will this fit your needs?

David Lock

Well I thank you for your comments. Some might even be workable but we lack the technology like iPhones.

Mr Skyline's suggestion is front runner at the moment although I guess this would just be a one-way facility?

I am sure there must be some wireless buzzers around. I'll get on Google perhaps.

David

David Lock

Hey, that sounds good. I posted above before I saw your post btw.

I think I get the gist of that but will that make my current base unit and extensions redundant? I do prefer to use a landline where possible. Thanks, David

Brun

If you want 2 way - buy 2

billythekid

You dont *have* to put a phone line into it, as far as I know. So you can just buy a twin pack and use them as internal phones only.

Brun

Just unplugged my phoneline from the socket and you can indeed still call another handset

jono300

iTrader: (8)

Get yourself a set off pmr446 walkie talkies from Asda or Tesco, cost you anything from around a tenner upwards for a pair, work up to 1/2 a mile so will cover your short distance no problem, as I say licence free, choice off 8 channels and having used them for years work a treat.

anything else you need to know just give me a shout, licenced radio amateur here so thats my thing !!

Leslie

Sounds as good as anything to me.

Whats your call by the way?

Les

jono300

iTrader: (8)

GM1ZVJ les, licenced for a good few years as you can see !!!

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

As mentioned, a good DECT cordless phone has paging and intercom facilities. I reccomend Panasonic, we use them at work and they take a hell of a beating.

David Lock

Thanks very much indeed fellas. Plenty of good ideas and much appreciated.

Do you think adding a couple of cordless phones to the system will exceed the REN lmit (whatever that is)?

I already have broadband, Sky and a credit card terminal using the same line.

D

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

How about two baby monitors?

billythekid

Dect only uses 1 socket mate. The other phones use wireless.

hodgy0_2

David

forget all the modern stuff, it's a conspiracy by the yoof to make us oldies seem simple

below works -- and no batteries required

David Lock

Trying to catch me out eh?

Anyone can see that is a left ear model but I am right-eared

Back to the drawing board

David

tarmac terror

iTrader: (2)

Do you have a pair of cables free in your telephone cabling

jods

Simples

David Lock

I think the cable has 4 wires and 2 are used? Is that what you mean and what has that got to do with the price of wet fish REN numbers????


Very helpful. Next time I am landing at Tower Bridge I'll let you know. Put on a bit of weight I see

David

jono300

iTrader: (8)

Take it my idea off the walkie talkies at a tenner or so did not appeal to you ??!!

FlightMan

Maybe he missed it, as it seems perfect to me. Easily bought, cheap, and does what the OP asked for. Good shout that.

David Lock

On the contrary I spent quite a bit of time on Google looking at these and first of all learnt that the prm446 is not an actual manufacturer but rather a reference for the no licence agreement.

Going to the Tesco site revealed that they no longer have the cheap ones and the alternatives they offered were wholly irrelevant to what I wanted.

Looking at other prm446 phones they all seemed to be in the £40 plus range. Am I wrong on this?

But I have seen some cheapy cordless phones and a slight advantage with them is that I will also be able to use one of them around the house when the phone rings.

But happy to be corrected on any of this

David


This is what I Googled
pmr446 walkie talkies tesco

jono300

iTrader: (8)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Way-PMR-...item27b79ae2c6

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COBRA-MT80...item3f0da29d08

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALBRECHT-T...item2a122dc6cd

There you go mate just 3 random adverts taken from ebay, sorry did not realise that Tesco had stopped selling them, try Asda then they certainly had them in just a few weeks back , failing that Maplins, curries or via ebay.

just go for a cheap set they all offer the same number off channels / power output and range between them all is virtually all the same.

should certainly be looking to spend no more than £20 at the most.

as I say if you need anymore info on the subject please just ask.