2 way radio questions

[RellingTwin]

I have searched 30 pages of posts, and still can't find what I need. Can someone tell me the kind of 2 way radios that work well on board. I bought some last year that seemed like a bargin, but it was just money wasted since they were usless.
I have been looking at Motorola brand.
Since we go camping, and biking these would get used for more then just the cruise, so I don't mind spending a few bucks for ones that work well.
Thanks for the help!

 

[dcbrown]

I used the Motorola brand on the Magic last Easter and they worked fine. In fact, I will not be getting the beeper from the lab this year as my kids will be able to call me when they feel the need rather than when a counselor decides. I also kept tabs on my teen and her curfew hour!


Too long till we are cruisin again (90+days)

Dona Brown

 

[KaitlinsMom]

are there different types of Motorola? I am interested in getting some as well for our cruise- About how much are they?

Thanks!

Karen

 

[MagicMouseketeers]

I haven't yet been on the curise, but from what I've read on this board you should get the radios that have subcodes. Otherwise there is too much inteference. Whe have this type and they work great. They are Motorolas, I'm at work so I don't know the model, we bought them at Costco for around $50. The better ones have a longer range. I think ours are good for 2 miles.

 

[goin2dzny]

Here's a link I have been checking out...


http://www.motorolatalkabout.com/twoway.html

I am interested in the ones with a five mile range.

 

[Magic_Fan_Bruce]

The best two-way radios by far are the GMRS type as opposed to the FRS. The FRS radios are almost useless in the theme parks because all the other traffic, even with sidebands. The GMRS radios have channels the FRS radios don't with very little (if any) traffic. Also the GMRS radios are allowed to have 5 Watts of power instead of the FRS 2 Watts. I've been able to talk to my family at Disney/MGM while I was at EPCOT with my GMRS. On the ship they work good, but even with 5 watts there are a couple of dead spots.

 

[RellingTwin]

Those are very good prices!! E-Bay has some good prices also. Can anyone give me the model # of a 2 way radio that works well on the ship?

goin2dzny...keep in mind the 5 mile ones require a FCC licence if you want to use them for greater then 2 miles. I am not sure how this works or if there is any additional cost involved.

 

[tiptoen]

if I'm not mistaken is 70.00 for the primary holder. Others do not need one. Keep in mind that 3 miles offshore you are in international waters. I may be wrong but I don't think the FCC has any jurisdiction there.

 

[goin2dzny]

Tell me more! Please!

 

[goin2dzny]

I do not necessarily need to use them for distances over two miles... just thought that they may even work better at the closer distances... is that a wrong thought?

Call me stupid... I need a "Two-way Radios for Dummies" book!!!

 

[SuperDisneyDad]

We've used the Motorola T5200 model two-way radios both on the ship and at the themeparks (among many other places -- malls, etc.). They have worked out just fine for us. There were other people (sounded like one family) talking on the channel that we were on only 2 separate times during the 3+ years we've been using them. We simply changed to another sub-channel and it was clear. I know there's been a lot of people saying that they're worthless on the ship, but we've found them to be invaluable, especially during the "reservations rush" at the beginning of the cruise to coordinate times.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by goin2dzny

FCC License... Tell me more!

No license is required to use FRS radios within the United States.

 

[tstobb]

GMRS systems do require a license. Forms can be found at the here at the FCC website and the basic info is here

 

[goin2dzny]

If I buy ones that have FRS and GMRS channels do I have to get a license? Or, it that only if I use the GMRS channels? How does the FCC monitor this?

 

[tiptoen]

You only need a license if you use the GMRS channels. A friend of mine works for the FCC and tells me that they really do not monitor these channels unless a complaint is made by someone that is having some sort of interference or other problems. I myself have a pair of radios that have GMRS channels that I bought thinking they would work better than the regular FRS radios that I already had. I used them on the Wonder on our last trip in October, but my FRS radios worked better than the GMRS ones did.

 

[kajohn]

We are looking into getting radios, and thought we would get the kind that had GMRS as well as FRS, but after following the link above, the licensing fee looks to be $50? Is this right? Seems high, has anyone done this and was this the cost for the license?

Also, after our cruise, we want to be able to use these radios, at theme parks, etc. Does anyone have experience with radios, both GMRS and FRS (with subchannels). Which works best at theme parks?

I'm usually the type that likes to buy the most advanced technology, when I get around to finally buying something, so it's not obsolete as quickly, but I also don't want to waste my money!

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[john59]

Last April we used ours on the MAGIC.
Already packed for our 2/22 Eastern trip---doing it for the second time in less than a year.

Thought that all the steel & metal would have an impact. I was wrong about that. They worked anywhere on the ship

We bought Motorla T289, TALKABOUT. Multiple channel combinations. Range about 2 miles.

These Talkabout's were on sale at Radio Shack for $39.

Also used them in the towns of St. Martin's & St. Thomas.

john59

 

[dcbrown]

I also got my "Motorola Walkabouts" at Costco for about 49.99 with a coupon for $10....so they wound up at around $40. Got three and they are extremely useful. I will not travel with my children without them. One is a teen and the other a ten. They are alwaya in different places at different times.

 

[RellingTwin]

Thanks so much to everyone for their input! I just had the winning bid on EBay for a pair of Motorola Talkabout T6220. They retail for 49.99 each, I got a pair for 36.00! I LOVE it when that happens.
Hopefully these will work well on the cruise.I would love to hear from anyone who has this model, pros and cons!

After doing a little research on the FCC licence thing, I am preety sure you do not have to apply for/pay for a licence. My understanding is unless there is some complaint filed against you there is NO WAY the FCC will even know you are using a GMRS.

I decided that the FRS would suite our needs just fine. Thanks for the heads up Tiptoen I also thought the more "powerful" GMRS would work better...now I know better.