Use of Motorolla Talkabouts in Japan
 

I think that personal two way radios are a godsend when traveling. However, can they be used in Japan? We have a couple of pairs of Motorolla Talkabouts and would like to use them in Japan. Has anyone brought them over from the U.S.? Can you purchase them in Japan? I have contacted Motorolla and the Japanese Consulate in Los Angeles only to be given vague answers. Any help would be appreciated.

I'm not sure exactly what your concern is about using them in Japan, but if it helps at all, they definitely work outside the US. We have used them in Cambodia and Thailand.

I can tell you generally the problem using a US equipment (presume that is where you are coming from) in a foreign county. The frequency assignments are different.<BR><BR>The radio frequencies available for civilian use in the US can overlap police or miliary frequencies abroad and you can get in big trouble for the interferrance.<BR><BR>The actual Japanese frequency assignment is listed on WEB, in Japanese, is at:<BR><BR>http://www.tele.soumu.go.jp/e/frequency/table.htm<BR><BR>In theory if you can findout the frequency your Talkabouts operates in two way radio mode, you can find out if US and Japanese frequency assignment match exactly in this case. <BR><BR>I can see why no one wants to tell you about whether it "is allowed to operate" in Japan. The most I would expect is for a Japanese vendor selling the two way radio in Japan to certify its use in Japan. Any other statement would generate tons of liabilities for no good reason.<BR><BR>Whether two way radio operate electronically is one matter, it would within its physical limitations. <BR><BR>Whether it is legal to operate them in a given country is a different matter altogether.

Glenn,<BR>You can find it out from the Motorola Website. First goto:<BR><BR>http://commerce.motorola.com/consumer/QWhtml/customer_service.html?cmref=vanity.consumer.suppor t<BR><BR>then click FAQ<BR>then type "oversea" in the search box.

We have used the talkabouts on several trips to Japan...never heard anyone else on them and made no attempt to hide them. Never saw them sold in Japan stores, but as they are american made, it isn't surprising.<BR>We did have problems in Mexico...often heard security types speaking over the frequency, so we used them much more sparingly than usual.

Thank you for all the help.<BR>Icuy - When was the last time you used them in Japan?<BR><BR>Thanks.

We used them for 4 days last October (2001), for 3 weeks the previous June, and one other 3 week trip the year the talkabouts first came out.<BR>Never a problem, and were so useful, especially with 2 teenagers and lots of crowds and tiny, interesting shops!