Walkie-Talkies

jdkid · Jul 21, 2001

Hi ya
I'd side with john here cell phone would be a better bet for what ya doing ,think of this ya out on ya tractor and ya wife gose to town shopping or to pick a kid up from school ,ya could call the guy next door or 911 if things are realy bad.with a walkie talkie if you have ya own band ya realy stuck if no ones home .a place i worked on had them and they were good/bad good cos ya did not have to ring and with 4 others on the place ya always got someone ,bad cos they worked on line of sight ie if ya were on the back side of a big hill sometimes ya could not get out with out changeing bands to a base set then someone may not be at home .i know a few people who have got pre payed cell phones (call time already payed for) and just stick them in the glove box of the car P/U etc etc good if ya wife get a flat on a dark road or kids run out of gas,call in a crash to 911 etc etc ,top them up once a year cheep addon to frist aid kit.
catch ya
JD Kid

Harv · Jul 22, 2001

Thanks, guys! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I knew I could count on you for advice (on pretty near any subject, it seems).

John, JD -
I have a cell phone, but such things just flat out don't work in them thar hills. The very best analog cells can pick up a weak signal if you stand in just the right spot, while my Sprint Digital PCS gets absolutely nothin'! /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif They've been promising to expand their coverage area for some time now, but there is some doubt they will ever reach my property.

Richard, deere4600, Von, Al -
I have now done some of my own research and found numerous reviews that concur with your observations on the Motorola TalkAbouts, particularly the model 250. Could be the best bang for the buck if I can find a couple by next Thursday. I see some good prices on the internet, but I don't really have time to wait for mail order, and certainly not enough time for an eBay auction. Too bad, really -- I've gotten some very good deals off of eBay in the past.

There is a whole family of TalkAbouts, so I'll have to scope out the other models as I find them, too.

Jon -
I've seen some favorable reviews of the Cobras, too. I will keep my eye out for them also.

Tomorrow (Sunday) I will get out there and do as Patrick suggests and just start hitting the stores. Thanks, Patrick for outlining what to look for.

One feature missing from most of the units I have found on the internet so far is "water resistant", or better still, "waterproof". Not that I plan to be calling from my submerged Bota (although I can't rule that out), "waterproof" also implies "dustproof". Me and my tractor are frequently engulfed in a self-inflicted cloud of dirt dust, so this is a feature I would like if I can find it. One company I came across, called "Unwired Technology" makes a nice-looking water-resistant unit in my price range (although they use the dreaded AAA batteries). Anybody have any experience with their products?

Thanks again, folks. I'll let you know what I come up with, 'cuz I'm sure you're dying to know. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jul 22, 2001

$59.95 Pair @ Sams Club/Walmart

The BE-1438VP is a versatile 2-way family radio system. It has 14 channels with 38 subcodes, giving you a total of 532 different channel combinations. This advanced feature allows you to have conversations without interference by other users on the same channel, even in areas of high two-way radio usage. Up to 2-mile range makes the BE-1438VP ideal for camping trips, skiing, hunting, shopping, or any other activity where you need to keep in contact with others.Item: 951155

Features
· 2-way family radio system value pack-Includes:· 2 radios · 2 headsets · 2 beltpacks · 6 rechargeable batteries and 110 volt AC battery charger · Up to 2 mile range 14 channels with 38 subcodes · Multi-function LCD · Automatic squelch · FM transceiver (462 MHz) · Headset jack · Volume control · Key lock · Battery meter · Detachable belt clip
________________

@ Sam's Club last night-by Southwestern Bell

Anonymous Poster · Jul 22, 2001

Motorola Talkabout 250 - $45. net @ Dicks Sporting Goods
{from today's Sunday Paper}

How To Buy A Two Way Radio

tsh3 · Jul 23, 2001

I bought a pair of Audiovox from Crutchfield. They were $69 a pair with rechargable NiMH
batteries, dual charger, 14 channel, 38 sub. We use them skiing, tractoring and they are great
when travelling in 2 vehicles. The charge lasts longer than all day. We are happy with them.
Go to www.crutchfield.com and search on frs radios.

Steve

RobS · Jul 23, 2001

Hi Harv, we have a pair of the original Motorola Talk Abouts plus a cell phone. I've used both on the tractor and they both have the same problem... I can't hear either while running at PTO speed. I even tried the cell phone on vibrate but the various other vibrations on the tractor overshadowed that option. They're great for outgoing communication but you may need to add an "incoming call" light to your dash if you don't want to miss anyone /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Von · Jul 23, 2001

Rob, I have the mic with earbud, and It would fit under the earmuff I wear so I could hear if anyone was talking to me. The earbud with mic is about $12.00. Or they sell just the earbud. I have never used it on the tractor but have used it skiing and hunting lots of times with good luck.

bsauter · Jul 23, 2001

I have a pair of Cobras. I think they are the 3s. What is nice about them beside having the NOAA WEATHER frequencies is the call option has VIBRATION. When my wife wants to talk to me and I am on the tractor with my muffs on and earbuds in my ears listening to CDs all she has to do is hit her call button and my radio will vibrate. It's great for loud areas.

Brad, Kubota L3010HST, loader, R4 tires
Pictures at http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=179207&a=9183978

Harv · Jul 24, 2001

Well, after reading the replies in this thread, plus searching the internet and driving around to a dozen stores in my area, I convinced myself I wanted a couple of the Motorola TalkAbout units. Now, the Motorola web sites lists 17 different TalkAbout models, soooooooo... after boning up on all the different features, costs and other tradeoffs, I finally located and purchased a pair of TalkAbout 250's, the very same model so many of you recommended. Next time I'll save myself some time and just listen to you guys. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

There's certainly a lot of other makes and models out there, many with nearly identical features, but for me the decision came down to how well made and sturdy the units looked. For my money, the 250 fit the bill. Not sure it has the best ergonomics -- the talk button seems to be in exactly the wrong place, but maybe that's to prevent pushing it by mistake. I'll be trying them around the neighborhood tomorrow (Tuesday) and then up at the property in a few days.

Anyway, the best price I could find was $59.99 less a $15 rebate = $44.99 each. My new concern then was realizing that the kids would just love to get their hands of these puppies, so taking into consideration they both have birthdays this month, I picked up an Audiovox FR1420 2-pack for another 50 bucks. They're surprisingly full-featured, lacking only the privacy code stuff, they're nice and small for small hands, and, most importantly, they look pretty cool. /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

Thanks to everybody for their advice and experience out there. I'll share the performance results of both models after this weekend.

(BTW -- for $3.99 I got the whistle, too. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif)

jimmoore · Jul 29, 2001

Harv, with all that hot air that you are pumping, I bet a person could hear that whistle for 20 miles!!/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

jim