Walkie Talkie for Caravan
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Burning Brakes
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Walkie Talkie for Caravan
What do you guys recommend for caravaning - I'm heading down to Bowling Green next week and hope to catch a caravan but need a walkie talkie
TIA
Bob
TIA
Bob
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I believe in the Beer Fairy
Just any two way FRS radio from Wal-Mart will work. They are multi-channel though, so you would need to know what channel and sub channel the other cars will be on.
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Burning Brakes
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Is there a specific brand / model you recommend - i have no clue about these things
thanks
thanks
Race Director
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I believe in the Beer Fairy
Not really - motorola and cobra are decent ones. Just compare based on what they have in stock. Most now come with a headset which def helps while you are driving. Try to find one with a longer mile range as well. Some of them now also have a weather frequency on them. Plan on spending about $50 for a set of 2 radios. I'd also suggest one with a rechargeable base. Those things will just eat through standard batteries.
If your local wally world doesn't have much in stock, check out Radio Shack.
If your local wally world doesn't have much in stock, check out Radio Shack.
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Everything yamahajo has said is spot on. When my wife and I moved we got a little $50 set with the rechargeable base from wally-world and used those. We actually tested the range on the highway to almost 2.5 miles if I am remembering right (move was in 07). Really handy to have for a caravan type of situation.
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Burning Brakes
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Thanks to all for the input
couple more questions
do all the brands communicate with each other ?
is there a specific channel that most caravans use ?
what features are necessities to have ?
these are probably dumb questions i just have no idea about these things
i was on amazon and the Midland brand seem to get good recommendations and the prices are very good
Thanks again
bob
couple more questions
do all the brands communicate with each other ?
is there a specific channel that most caravans use ?
what features are necessities to have ?
these are probably dumb questions i just have no idea about these things
i was on amazon and the Midland brand seem to get good recommendations and the prices are very good
Thanks again
bob
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Melting Slicks
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Thanks to all for the input
couple more questions
do all the brands communicate with each other ?
is there a specific channel that most caravans use ?
what features are necessities to have ?
these are probably dumb questions i just have no idea about these things
i was on amazon and the Midland brand seem to get good recommendations and the prices are very good
Thanks again
bob
couple more questions
do all the brands communicate with each other ?
is there a specific channel that most caravans use ?
what features are necessities to have ?
these are probably dumb questions i just have no idea about these things
i was on amazon and the Midland brand seem to get good recommendations and the prices are very good
Thanks again
bob
Race Director
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Posts: 16,825
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From: One Particular Harbour
Cruise-In 9-10-11 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10,-'13
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Thanks to all for the input
couple more questions
do all the brands communicate with each other ?
is there a specific channel that most caravans use ?
what features are necessities to have ?
these are probably dumb questions i just have no idea about these things
i was on amazon and the Midland brand seem to get good recommendations and the prices are very good
Thanks again
bob
couple more questions
do all the brands communicate with each other ?
is there a specific channel that most caravans use ?
what features are necessities to have ?
these are probably dumb questions i just have no idea about these things
i was on amazon and the Midland brand seem to get good recommendations and the prices are very good
Thanks again
bob
When our group is out running, we use a base channel and then a sub channel to keep from other people on the road finding ours.
Burning Brakes
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From: Obama says I'm a bitter white guy clinging to my guns and religon and he's right
I use a set of Midlands for hunting and they work well. I also purchased a set of ear pieces with mic, which also has a button you engage to speak. Works really well.
Team Owner
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From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Although the Cobras get good reviews, they tend to get spurious on the transmit side. So much so that they can continue to transmit after you release the PTT (self oscillating).
as for batteries, I always recommend FRS radios that can take AA alkaline (non-rechargeable) batteries.
* they don't self-discharge like NiCad or NiMH
* recharging is instant (just replace the cells)
* if you find your batterties too low to operate - you can stop at any gas station, Mom-N-Pop, Wal-Mart,... and purchase fresh batteries.
* AA, AAA, batteries are plentiful and everywhere.
The need for rechargeables comes into play when the radios will be used on a regular basis; 10 hours/day, 5-7 days a week... mainly with business applications.
.
as for batteries, I always recommend FRS radios that can take AA alkaline (non-rechargeable) batteries.
* they don't self-discharge like NiCad or NiMH
* recharging is instant (just replace the cells)
* if you find your batterties too low to operate - you can stop at any gas station, Mom-N-Pop, Wal-Mart,... and purchase fresh batteries.
* AA, AAA, batteries are plentiful and everywhere.
The need for rechargeables comes into play when the radios will be used on a regular basis; 10 hours/day, 5-7 days a week... mainly with business applications.
.
Last edited by Mike Mercury; May 17, 2009 at 10:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
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From: Cancer Sucks - please donate to Corvettes Conquer Cancer
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Thanks Mike and everyone else for all the good info - much appreciated
Can't wait to get to Bowling Green next week
Bob
Can't wait to get to Bowling Green next week
Bob
Melting Slicks
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From: Bel Air Md
My wife and I were there three weeks ago. The museum was great, they are not quite finished with the new section . They had a ZR1 waiting for the new owner. 
Did you check with the GM factory, they close up from time to time. We were lucky, they just opened after three week shutdown. If the factory is open, you can pre register on line to be sure to get in on a tour. There is a link on the www.corvettemuseum.com web site with phone numbers for the factory. The museum had a lunch room decorated in the 50's style. Have fun. Oh, we stayed at the Drury Motel ( 270-842-7100 ), I think it was exit 22 off of I 65 which is south of the museum. Testing my memory, I think the museum is exit 28. Great new place, not expensive. Pick up one of the travel books when you get in Kentucky. Free hot breakfast and free snack bar with drinks at night. 
Did you check with the GM factory, they close up from time to time. We were lucky, they just opened after three week shutdown. If the factory is open, you can pre register on line to be sure to get in on a tour. There is a link on the www.corvettemuseum.com web site with phone numbers for the factory. The museum had a lunch room decorated in the 50's style. Have fun. Oh, we stayed at the Drury Motel ( 270-842-7100 ), I think it was exit 22 off of I 65 which is south of the museum. Testing my memory, I think the museum is exit 28. Great new place, not expensive. Pick up one of the travel books when you get in Kentucky. Free hot breakfast and free snack bar with drinks at night.
Last edited by HG; May 14, 2009 at 06:46 PM.
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Not really - motorola and cobra are decent ones. Just compare based on what they have in stock. Most now come with a headset which def helps while you are driving. Try to find one with a longer mile range as well. Some of them now also have a weather frequency on them. Plan on spending about $50 for a set of 2 radios. I'd also suggest one with a rechargeable base. Those things will just eat through standard batteries.
If your local wally world doesn't have much in stock, check out Radio Shack.
If your local wally world doesn't have much in stock, check out Radio Shack.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
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I agree with everything everyone has said, with the only expection being using "single-use" alkaline batteries. Doing that, you could go through lots of batteries. Normally, FRS radios are sold in pairs, so if you're caravaning with a group and have two fully charged "rechargeable-batteried" radios, should one go down, you've still got the other one to use, and the drained one can be recharged overnight. In my opinion, rechargeable is the much better way to go. Have fun on the trip. 
