Are walkie talkies a good idea??

[tttessa]

Hiya all,

we were thinking (vaguely) about buying some Personal Mobile Radios (PMRs) / walkie talkies for our trip in April - any views on which type?

Should we wait and buy them out there?
The ones available UK seem to be valid for use in Europe only - is this a frequency issue? or something more fundamental? Do they need licensing?

I haven't a mobile phone that will work over there and if we had 2 I would be worried about the cost, so thought this might be a way around it for when me(+kids) and DH go our separate ways (he likes T2 and other non little-kid type stuff... sometimes - when we let him escape for a bit...)
Cheers,
Tessa

 

[jen_uk]

We bought some in Argos and there worked fine over there.

 

[Callum]

You can buy US models at Wal Mart and other electronic outlets. Prices range from around $30 upwards.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Ones bought in the UK are not legal in the US and vice versa due to the transmission frequencies. They will work OK but you don't know what you are potentially interfering with.

Best buy them when you get there, Walmart, Radio Shack etc.

Consider Trac phones (also Walmart from $15) if you allow DH to wander more than a few Km.

Quick search shows radio shack here http://www.radioshack.com/sm-phones-and-radio-communications--ci-2032052.html

Walmart for the radio - http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5700440

Walmart for the phone - http://www.walmart.com/search/brows...5.365096&fromPageCatId=133261&catNavId=133261

you get the drift.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Trac Fone web site
http://www.tracfone.com/home_page.jsp

The phone shows how much credit left on the screen

 

[tttessa]

Many thanks - thought there would be some frequency issues with walkie talkies.

- trac phone looks good - does it work just like any mobile phone? i.e. would it provide a phone number which we could , for instance , write on our kids arms/shoe tags whatever? that way if we lost them (the kids not the phones....) someone could contact us??

Thanks in advance
Tessa

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Many thanks - thought there would be some frequency issues with walkie talkies.

- trac phone looks good - does it work just like any mobile phone? i.e. would it provide a phone number which we could , for instance , write on our kids arms/shoe tags whatever? that way if we lost them (the kids not the phones....) someone could contact us??

Thanks in advance
Tessa

yes they work as a normal mobile phone.
We have two.
When you get your phone or get to the state you are staying in, you buy a top up card and register or re-register ) the phone. You are then allocated a local telphone number (our last ones were a 407 numbers, i.e 407 694 4025)
when you change states or when you go back you just re register the phones and get new local numbers.

 

[tttessa]

Excellent!!! Many thanks.

Since we are staying off site in a villa WalMart will be our first stop anyhow, just got to convince DH - but when he sees it as his "escape route" I don't think he'll need much persuading!!.

Cheers,
Tessa

 

[paulfoel]

yes they work as a normal mobile phone.
We have two.
When you get your phone or get to the state you are staying in, you buy a top up card and register or re-register ) the phone. You are then allocated a local telphone number (our last ones were a 407 numbers, i.e 407 694 4025)
when you change states or when you go back you just re register the phones and get new local numbers.

What are the call rates like? Dont suppose local calls are free are they?

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

What are the call rates like? Dont suppose local calls are free are they?

1 minute of local or long distance call is 1 unit (also includes calls to the UK!)

http://www.tracfoneild.com/?AID=ILDHPB
"KEEP CALLING TIP: TRACFONE International Long Distance Service uses minutes at the same rate as your regular calls. Make sure you have enough airtime or have not gone past your service due date to enjoy this unique benefit."


1 minute of roaming is also 1 unit

60 units (60 mins ) cards are $19.99 ($0.33 cents per minute?)
120 mins is £29.99 ($0.24 cents per minute)
200 mins $39.99 ($0.19 cents per minute)
1 year card with 400 mins $99.00 ($0.24 cents per minute)

you can also buy for $49.99, a card which gives you double minutes for life, so you get double units on each top up

 

[paulfoel]

1 minute of local or long distance call is 1 unit (also includes calls to the UK!)

http://www.tracfoneild.com/?AID=ILDHPB
"KEEP CALLING TIP: TRACFONE International Long Distance Service uses minutes at the same rate as your regular calls. Make sure you have enough airtime or have not gone past your service due date to enjoy this unique benefit."


1 minute of roaming is also 1 unit

60 units (60 mins ) cards are $19.99 ($0.33 cents per minute?)
120 mins is £29.99 ($0.24 cents per minute)
200 mins $39.99 ($0.19 cents per minute)
1 year card with 400 mins $99.00 ($0.24 cents per minute)

you can also buy for $49.99, a card which gives you double minutes for life, so you get double units on each top up

Not bad - 60 mins of internation call to the UK for £10 then....

Do any unused units expire if you dont top it up and maintain the service?

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Not bad - 60 mins of internation call to the UK for £10 then....

Do any unused units expire if you dont top it up and maintain the service?

Yes