Portable Wireless PA System for Track Meets (Under $150)

The Problem

At small school track meets, you need a way to make announcements. Call athletes to the line. Announce results. Tell parents where to pick up their kids.

Professional PA systems cost $500-2000+. Renting isn’t much better. And running cables across a track is a safety hazard and a hassle.

I needed something: - Wireless (no cables to trip over) - Portable (I’m setting up and tearing down myself) - Loud enough for a few hundred people - Cheap

Here’s what I built for under $150.

The Setup

Total cost: ~$120-150 (prices fluctuate)

Equipment:

• 2x Pyle Bluetooth PA Speakers - ~$50-70 each
  • 400W, 8” subwoofer
  • Rechargeable battery
  • Has aux input
  • (these sound like JUNK for music but are great for announcements)
• 2x Baofeng 888S Walkie Talkies - ~$18/pair
  • Get at least 2 pairs (4 radios) to have spares
• 2x Audio adapter cables - ~$4.75 each
  • 2.5mm male to 3.5mm male
  • Connects walkie talkie audio out to speaker aux in

Optional but recommended:

• Extra walkie talkies for your team (field event judges, etc.)

How It Works

The magic is using walkie talkies as wireless microphones.

1. Dedicate a channel for PA - I use channel 16
2. Connect walkies to speakers - Plug the audio adapter from the walkie’s 2.5mm earphone jack into the speaker’s aux input
3. Position the speakers - I spread them along the football field (in the middle of the track), facing the stands
4. Give walkies to key people:
   • Timer
   • Starter
   • Meet director (me)
5. Use a different channel for internal comms - Channel 15 for staff communication
6. Switch to channel 16 to announce - Anyone with a walkie can make announcements

When you key up on channel 16, your voice comes out of both speakers simultaneously. Wireless. No cables.

The Adapter Situation

The Baofeng 888S has a 2.5mm earphone output jack. Most speakers have a 3.5mm aux input. You need an adapter.

2.5mm male to 3.5mm male audio cable

Setup Tips

Speaker placement:

• Face the stands, not the track
• Spread them out for better coverage
• Keep them elevated if possible (on a table or bleacher)

Volume levels:

• Start with both walkie and speaker volume at about 50%
• Play with volumes on both till you are happy
• Step far away and test before the meet starts

Battery life:

• Charge speakers the night before
• Speakers and walkies will last a whole meet with no issues

What It’s Good For (And Not)

Works great for:

• Small dual meets (2-4 schools)
• Middle school meets
• Practice meets
• Crowds of a few hundred people

Not ideal for:

• Large invitationals (500+ spectators)
• Football games with packed stands
• Anywhere you need professional audio quality

The speakers sound fine for voice announcements. Music quality is mediocre - but you’re announcing race results, not DJing a party.

This matches RaceApp’s sweet spot: smaller meets where you don’t have a big budget or a dedicated timing crew.

Shopping List

Prices fluctuate - check links for current pricing. Look for “renewed” or “open box” deals on the speakers.

Related

• DIY Air Horn Starter (~$55) - Another budget DIY for meet day
• Hardware Mod: Desensitize Your Mic for FAT Timing - Keep your FAT timing from false-triggering
• DIY Printing Timer - $30 alternative to the $300 Seiko