Amateur Radio?

[euphoria^ 8]

My father is really big into Amateur radio and I think it would make a great concept for Day-Z Stand Alone. There are people all around the world who are into it so it would make since they would survive the Zombie Apocalypse. You could go around searching for items to repair radio equipment and scan different frequencies for other people broadcasting and you could make contact with these people. Would also work great with squads who are roaming around the area.

[nyk_nunya 40]

I support this. And despite the internet being out, plenty of libraries around to learn how to repair or build a ham radio.

[willey.erd@oundleschool.org.uk 506]

It would be awesome to replace the need for team speak with radio, it would be much tenser thinking when your squad talks on this one frequency, but anyone could be listening and your radios could break, etc. would turn comms into something more in the spirit of DayZ than an out of game Skype call.

[intensity 157]

I myself, would rather have to use an in-game radio instead of using Skype, Teamspeak, etc. Adds to the realism for sure, and means you need to be more careful about how you play while talking through the comms.

[shadowleaper 22]

Yes. Yes, and more yes.

Radio would be sOOooo frikin amazing to find and use. Love the idea, I did hear rumour about this coming to pass in SA.

[mr_chabowski@live.co.uk 2416]

I always thought it was strange that so few people see skype/TS/mumble as the kind of advantage that should be frowned upon.

I mean, it's a piece of 3rd party software, used to coordinate squads, potentially spanning MASSIVE distances, outside of the possibilities afforded to us in game.

Is that not a bit cheaty?

If telecoms were introduced to DayZ, in the form of radios etc. It would give more reason for players to stick to in-game VoIP.

Get's my vote, definitely.

[intensity 157]

An idea to add:

There could be two different types of radios.

• Civilian (Walkie-Talkies): Has a 300 meter radius to pick up signal, but begins to pick up static at 250 meters.
  
• Military: Has a 500 meter radius, picks up static at 400 meters.
  

Both will work with each other (e.g. if someone has a civi radio, you can hear them through the military radio, and vice-versa).

[Target Practice (DayZ) 1335]

As a slight adjustment to Intensity's idea, perhaps the Military Radios can have access to 'encrypted' frequencies and only certain players can access those channels - would make them much more desrirable and valuable.

As for ranges, the problem there is that 500m in Chernarus is still a very small area - not accounting for line-of-sight obstructions such as buildings/hills/forests etc, a commercially-available Marine-band VHF handheld radio has a minimum range of about 1.85 kilometers at sea level. Perhaps if you used that and then factored in the increase in range when on top of hills, it could be a fairly realistic representation of radio use - if you want to communicate with someone who's on the very edge of your radio's range, you'll both need to find higher ground.

[nyk_nunya 40]

Don't forget the need to scavenge for batteries, and make sure you don't get your electronics wet. Maybe the ability to fix up some antennae like you would a car to increase ranges, and cb radios in cars.

[cazador 45]

Yes please!!! I never use skype, TS or any other out of game comms because it feels cheap and unrealistic almost like side chat in game!

[euphoria^ 8]

As a slight adjustment to Intensity's idea, perhaps the Military Radios can have access to 'encrypted' frequencies and only certain players can access those channels - would make them much more desrirable and valuable.

As for ranges, the problem there is that 500m in Chernarus is still a very small area - not accounting for line-of-sight obstructions such as buildings/hills/forests etc, a commercially-available Marine-band VHF handheld radio has a minimum range of about 1.85 kilometers at sea level. Perhaps if you used that and then factored in the increase in range when on top of hills, it could be a fairly realistic representation of radio use - if you want to communicate with someone who's on the very edge of your radio's range, you'll both need to find higher ground.

Well I know on the 2meter bands alot of the time people have repeters set up. Which would also make another interesting concept, but at the same time I'm not really sure how far people are willing to go just for radio communication.

Edited February 13, 2013 by euphoria^

[jayman9696 14]

I would recommend having the radios cover the entire map because if they don't they will just be a hassle and most people will continue to use Skype

[Average Pegasus 646]

Lol i would love to see radio in the game. People could set up radio witch they could give information or micspam with music like in fallout NV (that i love that)

[Target Practice (DayZ) 1335]

Well I know on the 2meter bands alot of the time people have repeters set up. Which would also make another interesting concept, but at the same time I'm not really sure how far people are willing to go just for radio communication.

Repeaters would be a very interesting idea - they'd likely be on hilltops in exposed areas, so there'd be a fair bit of risk/reward in going to places like that to set them up and/or change the frequency they operate on - I can certainly imagine they'd be appealing targets to bandits, as anyone with a radio is probably going to have some fairly decent gear.

[OrLoK 16186]

I'd like to see us being able to make crystal receivers and the like. Fun and educational.

L

[euphoria^ 8]

I'd like to see us being able to make crystal receivers and the like. Fun and educational.

L

I dunno cystal radios wouldn't quite do it.

more like.

Edited February 13, 2013 by euphoria^