Walkie (Boatie) Talkies - worthwhile?

[mpayne]

I'm seeking opinions on handheld, open-band, non-licensed, new-fashioned walkie talkies. The main goal here is to keep track of my parents during extended daysails and short overnights. For the most part, they are within 10 km of shore, sometimes in open water, sometimes around treed corners of land.

These are always advertised as XX miles/kilometres with the caveat that one may not receive maximum distance. What is the correction factor? Any favourite models?

Thanks!

 

[Alrob]

DONT KNOW IF THIS IS WHAT YOU ARE THINKING OF BUT i HAVE A SET OF 4 BINATONE mr600 FOR KEEPING TRACK OF THE KIDS WHILST AT THE MARINA. THEY ARE GOOD FOR 3km ONLY BUT THEN THEY DID ONLY COST £56 OUT ARGOS.
QUALITY OF SOUND IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE AS LONG AS YOU SPEAK CLEARLY

 

[polwart]

For this sort of application I think marine VHF is the only sensible way to go. Coatguard and most other boats dont use PMR's and so you will be their only point of contact. We have two which are OK for about 1 mile in most terrain (but not round headlands/mountains etc). I think they claim 5 km - but that would need to be line of sight in good weather. IMvHO Boat applications for these are really to talk to your tender or shore when you are within sight of each other.

They are cheap but VHFs are pretty cheap anyway now. And you more likely to get a decent priced waterproof vhf than pmr.

 

[franky]

I use a pair of Personal Mobile Radios (PMR) for on shore contact.Very useful if you have forgotten the shopping list or to get the ashore crew to bring back something extra.But I would NEVER think of using them to make contact if ship/boat/dinghy is off the pontoon.Buy a couple of Hand held VHF's.get them to do the VHF course and you now have some more VHF operators

 

[26ft_bathtub]

I've got a pair of those Motorola walkie talkies. They advertise 12 mile range, but that's only in absolutely perfect conditions with nothing in the way.

You might try borrowing someone's first, if possible, to avoid dropping 50 quid on something that may not be up to the task.

 

[savageseadog]

[ QUOTE ]
I've got a pair of those Motorola walkie talkies. They advertise 12 mile range

[/ QUOTE ]
Which model?

 

[26ft_bathtub]

This model: T6500

This advert says ten miles, but my point is still the same--more like 8 miles on a good day.

 

[26ft_bathtub]

One caveat on my experience: I've only ever used them on land. They may perform better across water.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

I use them for keeping in touch between tender and cruiser, or cruiser and shore party. OK but range is not that clever. Recharging off the ship's power is useful. Motorola T5522. Voxop is OK on the rib if you don't face the engine when talking.

 

[CliveG]

We have been using a couple of cheap pairs of sets over the last few weeks.
The performance a sea between 2 yachts was very disappointing.
We only got about 1/2 mile range and then the reception was not good.

In motorsport we have used some for a few years for communications within our club Timekeeping crew.
We have just got some expensive Motorola sets on the same frequency. that seem to have a lot better range.

As others have said these sets should not be relied on for any safety use.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

I have been using a pair of Cable & Wireless which I got for Christmas, I am really impressed with the range compared to the cheapo maplin ones they replaced (motorolla I think).

The C&W ones have a built in electronic compass, FM radio, stop watch, privacy encoding (not used this yet), a vibrating alert too.

They are a little larger than the cheapo type, but worth the extra size, IMHO.

The only fault with them I am having is that I can not find a VOR mike/headphone for them, the motorolla type I have are wired differently.

 

[mpayne]

Thanks for comments so far.

I agree that dogs are better than cats.

More importantly, thanks to those of you that pointed out that these babies are NOT safety gear. I should have stressed that myself in the intro question. The boat HAS a proper marine radio, and people know how to use it should an unfortunate emergency occur.

I was, however, thinking more along the lines of avoiding the cell phone for important conversations such as, "Hey, I see you," or, "Should I start cooking the burgers now?" It would also (more seriously) be a convenient way to discuss mooring, supplies, and weather.

 

[JonBrooks]

BEWARE

Those Motorola radio's would seem to be on the US family radio service.
These are not legal to use in the UK or the EU.

The licence free units for us have a max power of 0.5W and and averrage range of 3km.

The channels the US units use are different from those allowed here and you could find yourself falling foul of the law is you own or use them here.

Just an extra bit of info for you.

Best regards