To me Walkie Talkies seem pretty retro. That may in fact render them pointless nowadays. Even the crime stories on tv switched to cellphones a long time ago.
Dude, no. My mate just got us walkie talkies for xmas and the concept sucks. These were expensive ones, too, with a 13km range. But they’re a pain in the arse at the best of times and we just gave up.
Not worth it.
Yeah, you will see how pointless they are when civilization collapses and cell phone towers stop working… 😉
Also, if you travel to areas in which there are few towers, or none at all.
Sat phones really should have gone mainstream. :6
There are times when walkie talkies are handy. But go all the way and get your ham licences, both of you. Then the walkie talkies you buy will actually reach someone when you need to. You can buy a handheld ham radio for less then $75. But you Must have your licence to operate them; that requires (in Canada) a 100-question exam on radio theory, construction, and federal regulations. I think the US exam is 35 questions.
Don’t forget that the Canadian license is for life so no annual fees.
The Government realized it was just too much bother for them.
Then again I have noticed a lot of blatant RFI in some areas that has not been addressed in years. Most likely due to control costs they got rid of the last of the guys that did actual work out in the field.
I live in a location without mobile phone coverage. Walkie talkies are a great idea for us. Plus, you don’t have to pay a company to use them, just to buy them.
Considering there’s a smartphone app called Zello which turns your smartphone INTO a walkie talkie (closer to Nextel, actually, complete with cute little “chirp” at the beginning of the transmission), added to the fact that there are now addable radio attachments to make your smartphone into a walkie talkie OFF the connectivity grid called Beartooth or GoTenna (depending on your affiliations)…
There are SO many more communications options now than there were — if she doesn’t like walkie talkies…I’m sure there will be something she DOES like which fits the communication niche you’re trying to fill.
Both the Technician and General class have 50 questions each. The Amateur Extra class has 100, last I checked.
It’s a good license to have, even if all you do is hold a Technician’s license, it gives you a LOT of legal leeway in a declared emergency AND it gives you a grid-independent method of communication.
Add this to the satellites already in orbit, and you can talk via VHF to other continents.
Walkie-talkies are only pointless in the wake of cell phones if you are not a camper. If you spend an extended time in the wilderness, the WTs will save your lives (or at least your relationship), whilst the phones will fail your sorry ass.
You could recite dialogue from “Falcon Crest”, too.
To me Walkie Talkies seem pretty retro. That may in fact render them pointless nowadays. Even the crime stories on tv switched to cellphones a long time ago.
Dude, no. My mate just got us walkie talkies for xmas and the concept sucks. These were expensive ones, too, with a 13km range. But they’re a pain in the arse at the best of times and we just gave up.
Not worth it.
Just get them, she won’t be able to imagine ever having lived without them in no time.
Yeah, you will see how pointless they are when civilization collapses and cell phone towers stop working… 😉
Also, if you travel to areas in which there are few towers, or none at all.
Sat phones really should have gone mainstream. :6
… and you’re stuck with one used set of batteries, because new ones aren’t available anymore?
Rechargeables and a solar charger.
You just want her to say “Yippee-Kye-Yay, Mr. Falcon” at some point, don’t you?
Don’t know what I’m talking about? Watch the “edited for prime time” version of Die Hard.
“bowlderised” version… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Bowdler
There are times when walkie talkies are handy. But go all the way and get your ham licences, both of you. Then the walkie talkies you buy will actually reach someone when you need to. You can buy a handheld ham radio for less then $75. But you Must have your licence to operate them; that requires (in Canada) a 100-question exam on radio theory, construction, and federal regulations. I think the US exam is 35 questions.
Don’t forget that the Canadian license is for life so no annual fees.
The Government realized it was just too much bother for them.
Then again I have noticed a lot of blatant RFI in some areas that has not been addressed in years. Most likely due to control costs they got rid of the last of the guys that did actual work out in the field.
Also, in the US many states will allow you to get a car license plate with your ham radio station’s call letters. So there’s that.
I live in a location without mobile phone coverage. Walkie talkies are a great idea for us. Plus, you don’t have to pay a company to use them, just to buy them.
All you need is some rechargeables, and a crank to charge them.
I didn’t see this until after I replied above.
Considering there’s a smartphone app called Zello which turns your smartphone INTO a walkie talkie (closer to Nextel, actually, complete with cute little “chirp” at the beginning of the transmission), added to the fact that there are now addable radio attachments to make your smartphone into a walkie talkie OFF the connectivity grid called Beartooth or GoTenna (depending on your affiliations)…
There are SO many more communications options now than there were — if she doesn’t like walkie talkies…I’m sure there will be something she DOES like which fits the communication niche you’re trying to fill.
Both the Technician and General class have 50 questions each. The Amateur Extra class has 100, last I checked.
It’s a good license to have, even if all you do is hold a Technician’s license, it gives you a LOT of legal leeway in a declared emergency AND it gives you a grid-independent method of communication.
Add this to the satellites already in orbit, and you can talk via VHF to other continents.
Walkie-talkies are only pointless in the wake of cell phones if you are not a camper. If you spend an extended time in the wilderness, the WTs will save your lives (or at least your relationship), whilst the phones will fail your sorry ass.