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-   -   How do you call this machine and where do they sell it? (https://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/how-do-you-call-this-machine-and-where-do-they-sell-it-242963/)

Martine Jul 24th, 2002 11:06 PM

How do you call this machine and where do they sell it?
 
When we were at Disneyworld 2 weeks ago,some families had a sort of a mobile intercom. With this they could split the family between 2 attractions and still talk to each other. It is cheaper than usins a mobile.<BR>Back in Belgium I would also buy it, but it does not exist here. I have a cousin in NY who could buy it for me there and send it, but what is the name of this machine , where do they sell it, how much does it costs and are there more brands of it?

BTilke Jul 25th, 2002 12:53 AM

Hi Martine,<BR>You're referring to walkie-talkies. They are great, but sorry, they're illegal here in Belgium. A shame--I would love to have a pair, too!<BR>BTilke (Brussels)

Martine Jul 25th, 2002 01:05 AM

Is it maybe because the frequences are the same as the officials? Our children had walky talkies, but I tought it was something slightly different I saw in Disneyworld. It is a pity,but yet thank you.

Eva Jul 25th, 2002 02:59 AM

What you're talking about is called FRS, or Family Radio Service. It operates on radio frequencies recently released by the FCC and has a range of up to two miles. We've used ours outside of the US (in the Caribbean) without difficulty, but don't know the rules in other places.

tina Jul 25th, 2002 05:14 AM

We have a motorola walkie talkie that has a range of 2 miles. I think my husband bought it at radioshack for $85.

Martine Jul 25th, 2002 05:31 AM

Thank you very much. And when we can not use it in Belgium,we maybe can still use it in another European country. We will first inform us about the rules there. It seems to be something very practical.

x Jul 25th, 2002 06:54 AM

They can be bought almost anywhere now, Best Buy, Circuit City, office supply stores, WalMart, Target, amazon.com....

Wendy Jul 25th, 2002 08:20 AM

Martine, You can check out a few on Amazon and see if it is what you are thinking about. There is a video on the page which explains it also. They are great for hiking, drives, camping, etc. also.<BR><BR>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...261619-2992123

Martine Jul 25th, 2002 12:07 PM

Wendy<BR>I went to the site and saw the videos.Thank you very much.

Wendy Jul 25th, 2002 01:16 PM

No problem, Is that what you had seen at Disneyland or was it different?

lcuy Jul 25th, 2002 02:09 PM

We bought the Motorola Talk-abouts when they first came out in 1995. They are great! our two are still working, and often get over 2 miles if there aren't big buildings. As our kids got older, we later bought 2 more of the Cobra brand---they were junk! likewise the Bell south ones. Last summer we got two more Motorolas, and they are great. Get the ones that run on AA batteries...if you get the rechargeables, you will not be able to charge them in other countries. The only place we ever had trouble with them was Disneyland...there were so many people on them we had to keep changing channels to have privacy! Other than that, we've used them in Europe, Asia and Japan and Mexico. Only once were we worried if they might be illegal. In Mexico city, we heard the police talking on them. We also put them in our checked luggage now...don't want to look suspicious on planes.

justincase Jul 25th, 2002 03:50 PM

If you are planning to use them at a place like Disney, etc upgrade to a set with MANY channels.<BR>We use them frequently and in crowded places(theme parks, ski mountiains) so many other people are using them we have a hard time finding a clear channel.

Uncle Sam Jul 25th, 2002 04:44 PM

Just another reason to love the good ol US of A. Illegal in Belgium what a joke!

havkhones Jul 25th, 2002 04:56 PM

The Motorola Walkie Talkies are not legal anywhere overseas when the are purchased in the USA. The reason for this is how the USA uses the radio frequency spectrum is different than Europe or Mexico or Canada. That is not a good or bad thing, its just the way it works. That is the reason one poster was able to hear the police in Mexico. <BR><BR>Also, in most cases the technology is not exportable from the USA. Your best answer would be to buy some legal radios in Europe somewhere. <BR><BR>There are many reasons they are not legal in Belgium and other countries. In Belgiums case I believe NATO may have a problem with them and there is no radio spectrum available for general public use.<BR><BR>How do I know this stuff? I work for Motorola.

Martine Jul 26th, 2002 06:05 AM

Wendy, yes it was wat I saw in Disneyworld.<BR><BR>And to all the others who tried to help me: this morning we rang the importer of motorola in Belgium for more information.They did not kwow the walkie talkies where we are talking of. They had another alternative: a pair of walkie talkies (using authorised frequencies in Belgium) for 450$(to expensive). And in a specialised shop they proposed a "Cobra" set (thank you for the advice not to buy it Icuy ) for 40$. <BR>B.Tilke, you were right and maybe we'd better bury our plans...altough with all the problems to get one here in Europe, we would not have clear channelproblems in Disneyland Paris.<BR>


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