Walkie Talkie

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Walkie Talkie
WalkieTalkie2 Model.png
WalkieTalkie3 Model.png
WalkieTalkie4 Model.png
WalkieTalkie5 Model.png
WalkieTalkie1 Model.png
WalkieTalkie1 Model.png
General
Encumbrance
Moodle Icon HeavyLoad.png
Function
Listening to radio broadcasts and communication in multiplayer
Technical
Item ID

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

An example of the interactive radio interface.

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.png Aluminum 0-4 Not affected by electrical skill
Amplifier.png Amplifier 0-1 Is affected by electrical skill
ElectricWire.png Electric Wire 0-4 Not affected by electrical skill
ElectronicsScrap.png Scrap Electronics 1-5 Not affected by electrical skill
LightBulbGreen.png Green Light Bulb 0-1 Is affected by electrical skill
LightBulb.png Light Bulb 0-1 Is affected by electrical skill
RadioReceiver.png Radio Receiver 0-1 Is affected by electrical skill
RadioTransmitter.png Radio Transmitter 0-1 Is affected by electrical skill
Headphones.png Headphones 1
(if present)
Always given if present
Earbuds.png Earbuds 1
(if present)
Always given if present
Battery.png Battery 1
(if present)
Always given 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:

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.
  • The player can set any frequency they want and save it to their presets. They can then access the preset on any other radio.
  • There are 'hidden' broadcasts on non-commercial frequencies, which include civilians noting military presence, and military broadcasts.
  • 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.
Icon Tile Name Encumbrance Noise range (tiles) Frequency range Transmit range (tiles) Item ID
Mic. Volume Minimum Maximum
WalkieTalkieBudget.png WalkieTalkie1 World.png Toys-R-Mine Walkie Talkie 1.0 5 8 75 MHz 150 MHz 750 Radio.WalkieTalkie1
WalkieTalkieCivilian.png WalkieTalkie2 World.png ValuTech Walkie Talkie 1.0 5 10 50 MHz 200 MHz 2000 Radio.WalkieTalkie2
WalkieTalkieCivilian2.png WalkieTalkie3 World.png Premium Technologies Walkie Talkie 1.0 5 12 25 MHz 300 MHz 4000 Radio.WalkieTalkie3
WalkieTalkiePolice.png WalkieTalkie4 World.png Tactical Walkie Talkie 1.25 5 14 10 MHz 500 MHz 8000 Radio.WalkieTalkie4
WalkieTalkieMilitary.png WalkieTalkie5 World.png US Army Walkie Talkie 1.5 5 16 0.2 MHz 1000 MHz 16000 Radio.WalkieTalkie5
WalkieTalkieBudget.png WalkieTalkieMakeShift World.png Makeshift Walkie Talkie 1.0 5 8 75 MHz 150 MHz 1000 Radio.WalkieTalkieMakeShift

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

Code icon.png Code snippet! This section contains source code from Project ZomboidShow / Hide

WalkieTalkieBudget.png Toys-R-Mine Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.78.16
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,
	}

WalkieTalkieCivilian.png ValuTech Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.78.16
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,
	}

WalkieTalkieCivilian2.png Premium Tech. Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.78.16
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,
	}

WalkieTalkiePolice.png Tactical Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.78.16
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,
	}

WalkieTalkieMilitary.png US Army Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.78.16
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,
	}

WalkieTalkieBudget.png Makeshift Walkie Talkie
Source: ProjectZomboid\media\scripts\items_radio.txt

Retrieved: Build 41.78.16
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,
	}

See also