How to design home use wacky talky circuit on breadboard?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around designing a simple electronic walkie-talkie for home use, focusing on the feasibility of building such a device on a breadboard. Participants explore various aspects of the project, including component selection, regulatory considerations, and historical context.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks assistance in designing a "wacky talky," which is interpreted by others as a potential misunderstanding of "walkie-talkie."
  • Another participant suggests looking into simple electronics project kits, noting that radio communication can be complex and regulated, recommending starting with a wired system instead.
  • A participant recalls childhood experiences with simple walkie-talkies that used only a few transistors, recommending a search for "4 transistor walkie talkie" as a viable option.
  • There is a contention regarding the pronunciation of "walkie-talkie," with one participant asserting that "wacky talky" is a phonetic representation in American English, while another insists on the historical context and correct terminology of "walkie-talkie."
  • Discussion includes the historical development of walkie-talkies, mentioning their origins with the US Army and the importance of adhering to frequency regulations for hobbyists.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the terminology and pronunciation of "walkie-talkie" versus "wacky talky." There is no consensus on the best approach to building the device, with some advocating for simpler wired systems while others suggest exploring low-power radio options.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of radio circuitry and the regulatory environment surrounding radio transmissions, indicating that these factors may limit the feasibility of certain designs.

pmostafa
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I want to design a simple home use electronic wacky talky.

Please help.
 
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I assume you mean walkie-talkie, not wacky talkie.
 
I think "wacky" is a phonetic representation of the way it's said in 'American' speech. In English English it's said more like "wall key tall key".

I would suggest that pmostafa looks at sites selling simple electronics project kits. In the UK, Maplin, for example, sell all sorts of easy to build kits.
Using actual Radio Communication can be a bit problematical because there are regulations about what you are actually allowed to transmit - also, radio circuitry is fairly sophisticated, even in its most simple forms, and would be a difficult thing to start with. Start with something much more simple - like a system that uses wires, between rooms.
 
I remember as a kid playing with walkie talkies that had only 3 or 4 transistors. Try google "4 transistor walkie talkie". They're pretty simple and low power enough to meet regulations. I was surprised to find that you can still buy them pretty cheap also.
 
sophiecentaur said:
I think "wacky" is a phonetic representation of the way it's said in 'American' speech. In English English it's said more like "wall key tall key".

I'm sorry, Sophiecentaur, but no. 'Wacky talky' sounds in Amurrican English exactly as it sounds in English English (wacky, that is).

The portable hand-held radio transceiver is called a 'walkie talkie'. After all, the first Walkie Talkie was developed by the Galvin Mfg. Co. (later called Motorola) for the US Army, and it was a radio carried by a soldier in a back-pack. The device which everyone now calls a 'walkie-talkie' was originally known as a 'handie-talkie', because it was miniaturized enough to be held in one's hand like a telephone receiver, if anyone is still familiar with those devices.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkie-talkie

Walkie talkies can be built by hobbyists as long as they don't transmit on frequencies reserved for other devices. There are some parts of the RF spectrum in the US and Europe which are reserved for non-licensed transmitters.
 

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