Walkie Talkie Reviews

Not so long ago, before cell phones were just about everywhere, kids Walkie Talkies allowed children to pretend to be in covert contact with their friends.  Think of all the secret agents who could talk to each other by the simple flick of a switch on their 2 way radio, cunningly concealed in a watch or a pen.  Today, these games are just as popular as they were and Walkie Talkies for kids at Christmas is a perfect surprise present.

Whatever your age, Walkie Talkies are a lot of fun.  If you’re in the garden, hiking or simply out shopping, it’s a handy way to keep in touch with the family over a short distance.

Younger children love to play hide and seek.  What could be more fun than hiding in the garden or park and being able to contact your friends in an instant?  With multiple kids Walkie Talkies, individuals can contact the whole gang at the same time.

If you have older children, a Walkie Talkie radio offers a welcome alternative to shouting up the stairs.  In some households, they have been known to make a significant difference to the relationship between parents and their children.  We all know how distant and difficult some teenagers can be.  A Walkie Talkie gives them privacy but reassures you that they’re all right.  Being able to contact them at the push of a button can be both convenient and stress free.

Kids Walkie Talkies can be very useful on holiday for keeping in touch with the family and friends.  Your cell phones probably won’t work on a Cruise ship on open water or in the mountains.  Two way Walkie Talkies will.

The more basic Walkie Talkie radios do not require a license and can be powered by batteries since they operate using a specific frequency range.  Parts are simple, on many models the microphone and speaker is a single component.  Many kids Walkie Talkies include a Morse code button for coded messages.

Kids Walkie Talkies at Christmas are always popular, despite the invention of the cell phone. These toys are timeless and allow your child to exercise their minds and bodies by getting off the computer and out into the fresh air with their friends.  Walkie Talkies for your Kids should be at the top of your Christmas shopping list.

Camouflage Single Light Switch Plate $7.99 This camouflaged Walkie Talkie light switch cover will add the finishing touch to your little soldier's wall decor. 6.5" H x 3.5" W Made of sculpted resin Features painted Bronze Star in center 2 painted bronze mounting screws included Designed for a single toggle switch...

Crest Spinbrush for Kids, Walkie Talkie - 1 ea $5.99 Camouflage pattern. Batteries Included Brush Head is not replaceable....

Kids Transistor Walkie Talkies Plastic Walkie Talkies. Includes two transistor walkie talkies with Morse code capability.WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years....

Discovery Kids - Walkie Talkie Watches $19.99 ...

LEGO Walkie Talkies $22.99 ...

Boy playing with his 2 way Walkie Talkie

Photograph by meddygarnet

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Developed originally for use by the military, a Walkie Talkie radio is a portable bi-directional radio transceiver.  Each Walkie Talkie radio can transmit one at a time but the signal can be received by any number of handsets if the wattage is sufficient and the range is limited.

Today, 2 way Walkie Talkies are very popular with the police, emergency services and just about anyone who wants to keep in touch over a limited distance.  Hikers, hunters, campers and orienteering groups have found them to be an invaluable addition to their arsenal. They also seem to have been readily adopted by the construction industry as a simple and immediate way of maintaining contact with progress on site.

When considering your purchase of a Walkie Talkie radio, first think about what you want it for.  What sort of range will you need?  How much are you willing to pay?  It is important to ask yourself a few simple questions at the outset to ensure that you get the right two way radio for your needs.

Low power kids Walkie Talkies are popular as children’s toys.  Kids love to play hide and seek games with them and they’re a good way of keeping in touch with your children when you’re out around town together.

Walkie Talkie radios do not need a license if they employ the FRS range, (462-467MHz) and are available in most retail stores.  Some kids Walkie Talkies are very basic and may not even have a volume control.  In some models, the receiver’s speaker doubles as a microphone.

If you’re thinking about buying a 2 way Walkie Talkie radio, it’s well worth shopping around.  Consider contacting people who use them on a daily basis.  Their first hand experience should prove invaluable.  Online retailers are worth looking at and many provide customer Walkie Talkie reviews that you can read.  There are also specialist magazines which are good for finding out what’s happening today in the marketplace and what is on offer.  Local stores often offer a personal service and allow you to try different models before making your choice of which Walkie Talkie radio to buy.

Midland® Emergency Base Camp Radio (70970) $109.99 The ultimate in hand crank emergency radios. This two way hand crank radio has 22 channel capability, NOAA weather alert, and AM/FM. The radio is a base radio for two way communication and is compatible with GMRS and FRS radios. 5 Power Options - Uses 4 standard AA batteries, Rechargeable Battery Pack, Dynamo Crank, AC Adapter or DC Adapter (AA batteries not included). Special Features: 22 Channe...

Midland 14 Channel FRS Two-Way Radios 14 channel hand-held radios are the smallest available! Tiny 3 3/8in. x 1 3/8in. radios have long 2 mile range. Features include easy voice activation, scan, backlit LCD and low battery indicator. Also come with flexible antennas and hand straps. Each use 3 AAA batteries (not included)....

Midland 22540 Headset Speaker with Boom Microphone $14.65 Midland Radio Corporation is a world leader in wireless two-way and weather/hazard alert radios, with an extensive line of land mobile radios, CB, GMRS and FRS radios, MURS radios, weather-monitor alert radios, itinerant radios and a line of quality antennas and accessories.Midland 22-540 is a professional style headset with boom microphone. It features rugged headset with an adjustable band and s...

Midland LXT490VP3 36-Channel 26-Mile GMRS Radio with NOAA All Hazard/Weather Alert - Includes Rechargeable Batteries and Desktop Charger - Pair $44.99 The Midland LXT490VP3 are 36 Channel GMRS Radios with NOAA Weather Alert/All Hazard Alert. Includes Rechargeable Batteries, Dual Desktop Charger, and are packed in pairs. The LXT490VP3 features the standard 22 GMRS Channels with an extra 14 Channels and a range of up to 26 Miles. The Weather Scan feature finds the nearest NOAA broadcast to stay up to date with the latest weather and hazard informa...

Midland LXT480VP3 22-Channel 24-Mile 2-Way GMRS Radio with NOAA All Hazard/Weather Alert, Rechargeable Batteries and Desktop Charger (Pair, Black) $29.95 36-Channel Gmrs Radio Pair Pack With Charger & Batteries; 24-Mile Range & Includes 14 Special Channels; 121 Privacy Codes; Instant Weather Scan & Noaa Weather Alert Radio; Water Resistant; Backlit Lcd; Features Monitor, Vibrating Alert, 5 Call Alerts, 3-L...

Walkie Talkies from a Vending Machine

Photograph by secretagentmoof

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The invention of the Walkie Talkie, also known as a 2 way radio or two way Walkie Talkie, has been attributed to several people.  The inventors were:

1)    Al Goss, who came to the attention of the OSS (soon to be the CIA) in 1938.  He was a high-school student and was recruited by the OSS and they went on to develop the walkie talkie for use by the military.

2)    The engineering team at the Galvin Manufacturing Company in 1940 (soon to become Motorola).  The team was made up of Dan Noble, Henryk Magnuski, Raymond Yoder, Lloyd Morris, Bill Vogel and Marion Bond.  They produced the Motorola SCR-300.

3)    Donald L Hings, who was a Canadian.

A Walkie Talkie radio is a hand-held, 2-way transceiver with an antenna and either an earpiece simply for the user to hear or a speaker allowing those in the immediate vicinity to hear.

Following the War, 2 way Walkie Talkies came into popular use by the public and by businesses.  Using the ‘push to talk’ system, (PTT), they were available at a wide range of prices, depending on whether they were to be used as a toy or as a serious means of communication in the workplace.  Unlike the original 2 way Walkie Talkies, some of which had to be carried in a backpack, modern units are small enough to fit into your pocket.  They may be shockproof, waterproof and contain a scrambling device for privacy.  Some kids Walkie Talkies boast a Morse code facility.

As a means of instant short-range communication, 2 way Walkie Talkies have proved an invaluable asset to the work carried out by security, law enforcement, military and construction workers.  It is also of great use to the general public for use when skiing, camping, hunting and for keeping in touch with our children, particularly in areas where there is no cell phone signal.

Etón VOICELINK FR1000 ECO Edition Clock Radio (White) $62.80 Stay connected with the Voicelink FR-1000. This emergency crank radio combines two-way radio with GMRS technology, built-in flashlight, cell-phone charger and access to weather channels to prepare you for any emergency situation. Now with Bonus FRS walkie talkie included. Get prepared and get connected with the Voicelink FR-1000 today....

Etón VOICELINK FR1000 ECO Edition Clock Radio (Black) $84.97 Stay connected with the Voicelink FR-1000. This emergency crank radio combines two-way radio with GMRS technology, built-in flashlight, cell-phone charger and access to weather channels to prepare you for any emergency situation. Now with Bonus FRS walkie talkie included. Get prepared and get connected with the Voicelink FR-1000 today....

Eddie Bauer FRS Radio Set - 2 Units $49.99 Stay connected with friends and family during your outdoor recreational activities. The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a Citizens Band Radio service with No License required. You may operate your FRS Eddie Bauer Radios anywhere within the territorial limits of the U.S....

Motorola MR350 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) $53.69 The Motorola® Talkabout® MR535OR 2-way radio lets you talk hands-free within a range of up to 35 miles. It features the Quiet Talk™ filter that provides clear communication. Stay informed of changing weather conditions with the 11 weather alert channels....

Motorola MH230R 23-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) $40.19 The Motorola Talkabout MH230R walkie talkies are an easy and economical way for active families and friends to stay connected on the go. While fun and handy, they can also play an important role in your family's emergency preparedness plan. With a range of up to approx. 23 miles, the rechargeable MH230R two-way radios use both FRS and GMRS frequencies providing more channels. Among its many featur...

Motorola's First 2 Way Radio from 1962

Photograph by bhenak

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