Walkie-Talkies

Harv · Aug 1, 2001

Just to have closure on this thread -- I tested the two models (Motorola TalkAbout 250, Audiovox FR1420) up at the property over the weekend. The TalkAbouts are amazingly clear, noise-free units. The Audiovox were noticeably less impressive in terms of clarity and volume. One nice feature of the Audiovox is the call alert. No way I could miss that sound, no matter what I was doing with the tractor. Interestingly, they both seem to have about the same range, cutting out at approximately the same point.

One thing's for sure -- my property is not a soccer field, so the range was severely limited by the terrain. All in all I am happy, especially with the TalkAbouts, and I doubt any FRS units could do better. The areas in which the radios failed completely are also areas that I am very unlikely to ever take the tractor, so as a safety tool, they still meet the requirements.

Here's my doodle du jour, indicating the test results:

dmccarty · Aug 1, 2001

Harv,

Are there any/many trees between the HappyFace by the House and the Happy/Frowning/TongueShowing Faces? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I've been thinking of walkie talkies when we finally get to the property but I have lots of trees.....

Thanks...
Dan McCarty

Harv · Aug 1, 2001

Are there any/many trees?

Yes, Dan, my property is thick with oak and pine trees, among others. You don't have to wander far from the house before you can't see it any more.

Trees didn't appear to be a factor in signal quality, at least not at the distances I tested. I think as long as you otherwise have something close to line-of-sight, the TalkAbouts will work over quite a stretch. Even mild hills were okay -- it's just when too much earth gets in the way that they peter out.

ejb · Aug 2, 2001

I had the same problem as you harv, and my topology is a lot like yours. I bought a few of the inexpensive units and ended up sending them back 'cause they wouldn't work everywhere I wanted.

Ended up picking up two commercial-type Motorola Spirit units at Staples. Two watt units rated for 5 miles on flat ground. Very nice, solid feel to them and get great reception (more like 2 miles cause of all the hills and trees).

Now it says on the box I am supposed to have an FCC license, but no ones come knocking at the door yet /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif.

A little more expensive, but a lot of quality.

Harv · Aug 2, 2001

ejb -

Thanks for that input. My budget (or lack thereof) says I keep what I've got or have nothing. I would eventually like to reach all points on the property, but these TalkAbouts cover enough of it that I feel better having them.

I just checked the Motorola web page and they show over a dozen Spirit models. May I ask which ones you got and how much you paid?

I seem to recall that getting the appropriate FCC license wasn't a big deal. Anybody out there know for sure?

scruffy · Aug 2, 2001

Harv, seems to me that it was fill out the paperwork and set around and wait....but then were talking 20 years ago! Don't really know what it intails today.

dmccarty · Aug 2, 2001

Harv,

Thanks for the info. I think these or something similar will work on my land. I only have one or two low spots and they most likely are close enough to line of sight to where the house is most likely going to go that walkie talkies will work. The wife and I have been wanting something for us to have when on the property and this seems like it might work. Its certainly worth trying out.

Cell phones only work on part of the property. On some high spots they phones work but I can walk a few hundred feet down the road and there is no service even though I'm not in a low spot and the tower is about 1.5 miles away.

Thanks...
Dan

ejb · Aug 2, 2001

The model number is MU21CV.

I pulled out the recept and they were more than I remebered: $219/each. I'd bet in the last couple of years they have come down in price, like everthing else.

-EJB

btw: Harv you have mentioned more than a few times about your "cash crunch". I also noticed you called yourself a "computer geek". Are you a freelance programmer? or work for one of the ailing dot-coms?

I do freelance work and have also noticed a tightening of budgets with my clients.
Edited by ejb on 08/02/01 11:36 AM (server time).

Harv · Aug 2, 2001

EJB -

I just did a quick check on the internet and found prices from $196 to $225 apiece for the MU21CV, so I'd say you did all right.

As for the "cash crunch" -- yup, I've done the rags to riches and back to rags now. Worked in software development, Corporate America style, and saved up a small fortune over a period of 30+ years. Then I bailed out and tried to make it on my own for the last 5+ years. Seems I'm a better geek than I am a businessman. Always thought that working hard would eventually produce income. Turns out you have to work smart, too. /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

Couldn't have timed it any worse. Now that our savings dipstick shows virtually nothing in the tank (of course maybe it's just hard to see against the yellow background), our investments are suddenly doing poorly (aren't everyone's?), and to make it worse, there is now a glut of people with my skills competing for the Corporate America jobs around here. And did I mention Mom is not doing well?

Wait a minute -- you're not supposed to hang your dirty laundry out on a public forum! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Oh, well. TBN is just family. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

scruffy · Aug 2, 2001

Harv, I know what you are feeling, that is why I went back to the 'Corporate America' the end of last year when I saw how the purse strings were tightening up. Jobs that were normally contracted started getting set aside and either not done, or done 'in house'. Glad I did though, as the medical situation deteriated (sp) quite drastically.