Walkie-talkies

[glbh]

Hubby and I have been considering buying walkie-talkies for our spring break trip to WDW. We have 3 children ages 10, 9 and 3. Any recommendations? We don't want to spend a lot of money - less than $100 probably.

 

[Stiff]

we bought a pair of unidens WITH A CHARGER for about $40

they are only 2 mile range though.....but I figure that will be enuff for what we would need them for.

we barely use them now, but they should come in real handy on our trip

 

[stokil]

Hi ..........just a head's up on the walkie talkies........we were in Disney last week and had ours.the few times we seperated I tryed to use them but there was way too much interferance on them ... We tryed to change channels but still no luck.....We were there off season and still loads of people using them.We also tryed at our resort POR and there was also alot of interance there as well...
Just wanted to let you know ........ they are alot of money and not very useful there.

 

[MOMO2DK]

We bought walkie talkies for our last trip- they worked very well, no interference and came in quite handy during the trip. We used them quite a bit as our group managed to split up quite often while in WDW. We have even used them quite a bit since our last trip- at fairs, malls, etc...
We got Motorolas w/ a 2mi range, I think if you get a 5mi range you need to register w/ the FCC (but I could be wrong), our walkie talkies have several channels, along w/ privacy channels, so we never had any interference or mixed signals.
I think I ordered ours through circuitcity.com and I think that web site also has an overview of how they work etc. I think the motorola website has info also.

 

[K & D Mickey]

this yr we are taking our 40ch. cb, handheld hope works ok. got them cheap walmart i belive, lots of chs to try

 

[ftwildernessguy]

We have used many different radios over the years and here is my 2 cents.

FRS - If you are going to use them, put out the extra cash for the ones with privacy codes, which will improve the chance of eliminating interference.

GMRS - the 5 mile range radios. Work GREAT! Requires an FCC license which costs about 75 bucks. No test - just a form to fill out. Fewer available channels, but a lot less people willing to shell out the extra money for the radio, so less noise.

CB - we use this at the camper all the time. Better range than FRS, but not as good as GMRS. While you may have less general interference, Disney does use some of the frequencies for the maintenance crew, so if you hear them, be nice and switch to another channel. Tend to be bulky, though.

 

[Montana Minnies]

Hi
We just purchased our Motorola walkie talkies and planned on taking them with us this summer. They are for the 5 mile range, how do you go about getting the form to fill out for the license? We did not know we even needed one. Do you need a license for each person who has a set of radios? Like both my niece and I have a pair and we have others who will be using them as well.
Thanks. I keep learning something on these Dis Boards all the time.
Enid
I went back and looked through my directions again and there it was the website and phone # to call the FCC for licensing. Thanks to you all I did re-read the instructions!
I'm glad I did not get all the way to WDW and then find out I needed a license. You are the best!

 

[acd04]

Is this true for all 5 mi walkie talkies? Cause the Cobra ones we have with multiple channels, privacy codes etc and I dont remember seeing anything about being licensenced? They work when we are "playing" with them. We haved used them 5 mi apart yet do to our living in a hilly area, but otherwise they work just fine.

 

[Gomez Gang]

We have Motorola Walkabouts and have used them on our last 2 trips. We only had interference a few times so we switched channels and the problem was solved.
I believe we have a 5 mile range on ours but I can tell you this....I needed to go to central lost and found (just outside of the TTC) and my husband stayed behind at the MK main st. train station to wait for me. We held a conversation until I reached the entrance to the monorails at the TTC. I'm not sure how many miles that is but I thought it was pretty good.
I DEFINITELY suggest getting walkie talkies unless you have cell phones.......much easier when one person is standing in line for
rides or food and the other person needs to take kids to bathroom or chase after a character--you always know where each other is.

 

[daisylove]

If anyone is interested. i just bought a pair of motorola's buzz lightyear and classic characters FMSfor less than 30 each set from Amazon.com. I had looked at these a year ago and they were twice that amount. They are small and formed to fit is small hands so my 5 year old is getting one for her fanny pack this year just in case.

 

[grammagail]

We just bought 5 mile Motorola's for our upcoming trip - figured the 2 mile range wouldn't be enough. This is the first I realized about a license? Do you HAVE to get one in order to use it? Do they not work if you don't?

Does anyone know why you have to get a license? Just wondering.

 

[all4fun]

We bought Motorola walkabout 5-mile range at Costco for about $50. The set of two came with belt clips.

I can't remember the details but I believe that the booklet it came with specified certain channels you could use without the license. I'd have to pull out the owners manual (not with me right now) and look again.

We haven't paid the fee yet. I was also wondering if the fee was per user, per family/group? $75/per person seems kinda steep to me. Anyone use theirs w/o paying the fee and get caught? Is there a steep fine for that? Not that I plan on evading the law or anything, I was just wondering.

 

[tiggercrazy]

We have the motorola character FMS. They work really well for us in the parks. They are really cute, too, with all the characters voices. We got ours at Target about a year ago. Not sure if they still sell them.

 

[ChiTownZee]

Originally posted by all4fun
........... I was also wondering if the fee was per user, per family/group? $75/per person seems kinda steep to me. Anyone use theirs w/o paying the fee and get caught? Is there a steep fine for that? ......

The fee is per immediate family.

Steep fine? The fine for unlicensed operation of a GMRS trasmitter is up to $10,000.00, for a first offense. You might want to consider getting that license.

 

[all4fun]

Originally posted by ChiTownZee
The fee is per immediate family.

Steep fine? The fine for unlicensed operation of a GMRS trasmitter is up to $10,000.00, for a first offense. You might want to consider getting that license.

Uhh....Duh!

Hey, 10 Grand is just chump change right?