two way radios

[florida sun]

Hi There

Can anybody tell me about the two-way radios everybody seemed to have the last time I was in WDW. Do you hire them or buy them. We are staying in The All Stars resorts and they would come in really handy instead of me having to hang around for a hour at the exit of the rides waiting for my daughter.

Thanks for any info

 

[slinky101]

hi there, was going to get those myself for the same reason as u said. have checked e-bay so far and fancied a few but would advise u to go to DIS UK above and do a search for "walkie talkie" you'll find lots of advice there, hope it helps, have a good trip.

 

[florida sun]

slinky101

Thanks very much, was not sure if I had to buy them over here or in the US, thought I had read somewhere that it was illegal to take british two way radios and use them in the states. I will do a search now and see what information I can get.

Thanks again for the info.

 

[bubblefactory]

It's best to buy over in the US as UK ones may interefere with US emergency frequencies.

Walmart / Target etc. usually have great deals starting at around $30 or $40 per pair.

 

[ALBA]

Hi,

Definitely buy them in the USA. I tried to do some research before we left for our trip in may because they'd be ideal on the cruise ship and around the parks and malls etc.

After some research it seemed that it's best to have radios with sub-channels, which means you have 15 or so basic channels with each one having around 30 sub channels. We bought a set of Motorola T5000 in Walmart for $50, they have both GMRS/FRS channels. There was an instruction leaflet inside telling you that you can use the FRS channels only unless you have a licence to use GMRS, but with the sub-channels there are plenty of channel options.

They were absolutely great, and we rarely heard anyone chatting on them. You can check no-one else is currently talking on that channel and then send a ring tone to the other handset.

Alba

 

[Mpet]

Ditto!

Before our last trip, I looked on ebay, but when you added postage from the US, it wasn't worth it. But DS went on holiday to New York about 2 months before our Florida trip, so I sent him armed with pictures and details of what I wanted.

He bought a set from Radio Shack. I can't remember the model, but they are Motorola and best of all re-chargeable. He paid around $50. If you charge them over night - they last all day. As Alba said, get a set with sub channels - that way you have more choice and less chance of overhearing. Only once did we get someone else on the same channel as us.

We found them really useful, and even used them in Wal Mart to find each other - the locals must have thought we were mad! It usually says a range of 2 miles, but that is on flat open land. You will have no trouble keeping in touch within the same park, but thats about it.

IMHO well worth buying if you want to split up in the parks/shopping malls.


Maxine