Walkie Talkie
A walkie talkie is an interactive item that allows the player to listen to radio broadcasts, including music stations, news reports, and military stations. As a walkie talkie is a two-way radio, it can be used for distance communication in multiplayer games through text and voice chat, or simply to "throw your voice".
Usage
Walkie talkies require batteries to function. They will spawn with a battery already installed, however, having the walkie talkie turned on will drain its battery until it is consumed. Some radios can be found already turned on, these will have their batteries drained based off how long they have been turned on.
To use a walkie talkie, right-click it in the inventory or the world and select "Device Options". This will open the radio control UI. Here you can see information about the radio's specifications and current settings, power it on or off, remove/replace the battery, adjust the volume, add earbuds or headphones, mute the microphone, and select and edit preset frequencies.
Walkie talkies are two-way radios and will transmit and reproduce voices at a distance. This includes both the Shout command (default Q), chat messages, and voice chat (Default Lalt). Accidental transmission can be prevented by muting the microphone in the device options.
Noise received by a walkie talkie, either in text or voice form, will attract zombies. The range zombies will be attracted from depends on the type of walkie talkie and its volume setting. This can be avoided by putting earbuds or headphones into the appropriate slot in the device options menu.
Walkie talkies are particularly useful on multiplayer servers that have disabled global chat, and for those that enjoy role-play or more immersive game play, Though they can also provide a single-player advantage by throwing your voice.
Walkie talkies can also listen to the Automated Emergency Broadcast System (AEBS) radio station, which is randomised every game. Once the player finds a radio with the AEBS preset saved, they can then use it on any other radio. Paired with earbuds, the player can then listen to the current weather, and possible helicopter event and power shutoff events stealthily while away from home.
Stationary or portable
Walkie talkies can be used either as stationary furniture, or as portable equipment. When placed, the player should make sure they are within the specified transmitting distance from the walkie talkie when they want to transmit.
When portable, the walkie talkie must stay equipped in either the players' primary or secondary hand to be used.
Strategy
- Place a radio in a preferred location, power it on, and tune it to the same frequency as your walkie talkie. Make sure it has no earbuds, and turn up the volume. From a safe distance (within range), make noise using the shout command or voice chat.
- Nearby zombies should converge on the receiving radio where you can evade them, shoot them, toss a Molotov, etc.
Disassembly
All radios can be dismantled with a screwdriver, producing a variety of components as well as a 0.5 electrical XP.
The obtainable items are as follows:
Icon | Name | Amount | Affected by electrical skill |
---|---|---|---|
Aluminum | 0-4 | ||
Amplifier | 0-1 | ||
Electric Wire | 0-4 | ||
Scrap Electronics | 1-5 | ||
Green Light Bulb | 0-1 | ||
Light Bulb | 0-1 | ||
Radio Receiver | 0-1 | ||
Radio Transmitter | 0-1 | ||
Headphones | 1 (if present) |
||
Earbuds | 1 (if present) |
||
Battery | 1 (if present) |
The odds of receiving items affected by electrical skill:
50 + (Electricity Level)*5)%
Distribution
Walkie talkies can be found in containers as lootable equipment, or sitting on counters and desks as furniture. The Toys-R-Mine, Premium Tech, or ValuTech walkie talkies can also be looted from zombie corpses.
Frequencies and broadcasts
Most radios will be found with one or more preset frequencies, usually one of these local commercial stations:
Frequency | Station name | Purpose |
---|---|---|
89.4 MHz | Hitz FM | Music station. |
93.2 MHz | LBMW - Kentucky Radio | News, music. |
Random MHz | Automated Emergency Broadcast System | Weather, emergency. |
98 MHz | NNR Radio | News station. |
101.2 MHz | KnoxTalk Radio | Talk show, music. |
Random MHz | Civilian Radio | Commentary, chatters. |
Random MHz | Classified M1A1 | Unknown. |
Random MHz | Unknown Frequency | Unknown. |
- The player can set any frequency they want and save it to their presets. They can then access the preset on any other radio.
- Throughout the first week of the infection, news media and music stations will report on The Knox Event, and give the player outside information on world events, including riots, curfews being put into effect, and eventually, the breaking of the quarantine.
Types
Walkie talkies are one of the three types of communication devices.
- Consumer radios: Receive only, lightweight, commercial frequencies only.
- Walkie talkies: Short-range two-way, lightweight, more frequencies.
- Ham radios: Long-range two-way, exceedingly heavy, most, or all frequencies. Earbuds cannot be used. Ham radios are best used as stationary furniture in a safe location.
Trivia
- The 3D models of the walkie talkies do not appear when dropped and when choosing the "Place item" option, they are placed as a tile instead.
- Toys-R-Mine Walkie Talkie and Makeshift Walkie Talkie use the same model currently.
Code
Toys-R-Mine Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt
item WalkieTalkie1
{
DisplayCategory = Communications,
Type = Radio,
Icon = WalkieTalkieBudget,
Weight = 1.0,
DisplayName = Toys-R-Mine Walkie Talkie,
UseDelta = 0.007,
UseWhileEquipped = FALSE,
DisappearOnUse = FALSE,
TwoWay = TRUE,
TransmitRange = 750,
MicRange = 5,
BaseVolumeRange = 8,
IsPortable = TRUE,
IsTelevision = FALSE,
MinChannel = 75000,
MaxChannel = 150000,
UsesBattery = TRUE,
IsHighTier = FALSE,
WorldObjectSprite = appliances_com_01_16,
Tooltip = Tooltip_item_Radio,
StaticModel = WalkieTalkieToy,
AttachmentType = Walkie,
}
ValuTech Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt
item WalkieTalkie2
{
DisplayCategory = Communications,
Type = Radio,
Icon = WalkieTalkieCivilian,
Weight = 1.0,
DisplayName = ValuTech Walkie Talkie,
UseDelta = 0.008,
UseWhileEquipped = FALSE,
DisappearOnUse = FALSE,
TwoWay = TRUE,
TransmitRange = 2000,
MicRange = 5,
BaseVolumeRange = 10,
IsPortable = TRUE,
IsTelevision = FALSE,
MinChannel = 50000,
MaxChannel = 200000,
UsesBattery = TRUE,
IsHighTier = FALSE,
WorldObjectSprite = appliances_com_01_24,
Tooltip = Tooltip_item_Radio,
StaticModel = WalkieTalkieValue,
AttachmentType = Walkie,
}
Premium Tech. Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt
item WalkieTalkie3
{
DisplayCategory = Communications,
Type = Radio,
Icon = WalkieTalkieCivilian2,
Weight = 1.0,
DisplayName = Premium Tech. Walkie Talkie,
UseDelta = 0.009,
UseWhileEquipped = FALSE,
DisappearOnUse = FALSE,
TwoWay = TRUE,
TransmitRange = 4000,
MicRange = 5,
BaseVolumeRange = 12,
IsPortable = TRUE,
IsTelevision = FALSE,
MinChannel = 25000,
MaxChannel = 300000,
UsesBattery = TRUE,
IsHighTier = FALSE,
WorldObjectSprite = appliances_com_01_32,
Tooltip = Tooltip_item_Radio,
StaticModel = WalkieTalkiePremium,
AttachmentType = Walkie,
}
Tactical Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt
item WalkieTalkie4
{
DisplayCategory = Communications,
Type = Radio,
Icon = WalkieTalkiePolice,
Weight = 1.25,
DisplayName = Tactical Walkie Talkie,
UseDelta = 0.010,
UseWhileEquipped = FALSE,
DisappearOnUse = FALSE,
TwoWay = TRUE,
TransmitRange = 8000,
MicRange = 5,
BaseVolumeRange = 14,
IsPortable = TRUE,
IsTelevision = FALSE,
MinChannel = 10000,
MaxChannel = 500000,
UsesBattery = TRUE,
IsHighTier = FALSE,
WorldObjectSprite = appliances_com_01_40,
Tooltip = Tooltip_item_Radio,
StaticModel = WalkieTalkieTactical,
AttachmentType = Walkie,
}
US Army Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt
item WalkieTalkie5
{
DisplayCategory = Communications,
Type = Radio,
Icon = WalkieTalkieMilitary,
Weight = 1.5,
DisplayName = US Army Walkie Talkie,
UseDelta = 0.014,
UseWhileEquipped = FALSE,
DisappearOnUse = FALSE,
TwoWay = TRUE,
TransmitRange = 16000,
MicRange = 5,
BaseVolumeRange = 16,
IsPortable = TRUE,
IsTelevision = FALSE,
MinChannel = 200,
MaxChannel = 1000000,
UsesBattery = TRUE,
IsHighTier = TRUE,
WorldObjectSprite = appliances_com_01_48,
Tooltip = Tooltip_item_Radio,
StaticModel = WalkieTalkieUSArmy,
AttachmentType = Walkie,
}
Makeshift Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt
item WalkieTalkieMakeShift
{
DisplayCategory = Communications,
Type = Radio,
Icon = WalkieTalkieBudget,
Weight = 1.0,
DisplayName = Makeshift Walkie Talkie,
UseDelta = 0.007,
UseWhileEquipped = FALSE,
DisappearOnUse = FALSE,
TwoWay = TRUE,
TransmitRange = 1000,
MicRange = 5,
BaseVolumeRange = 8,
IsPortable = TRUE,
IsTelevision = FALSE,
MinChannel = 75000,
MaxChannel = 150000,
UsesBattery = TRUE,
IsHighTier = FALSE,
WorldObjectSprite = appliances_com_01_64,
Tooltip = Tooltip_item_Radio,
StaticModel = WalkieTalkieMakeshift,
AttachmentType = Walkie,
}