Walkie Talkie

Let me begin by saying that owning a walkie talkie (also known as a two way radio) is one of the wiser things I've done as a parent with a traveling family. I highly recommend having a walkie talkie for any adventure you may be embarking upon. Let me give you an example of why. My family was going on a trip across the desert to California and invited my children and I to come. My parents are too cheap to buy a cell phone so I brought my 2 way radios. We used the radios while caravanning in two separate cars; we used the radios at Universal Studios when we split up into two groups; and we used the radios at the beach. We used the radios everywhere!

Now, when buying a set of walkie talkies, the best radio for you depends most on what you need it for. Most walkie talkies operate from about 462 - 467 Mhz, which is just above amateur level. Keeping that in mind, here are some things to look for when buying radios:

• Cost: Generally, the more the radio costs, the better it is. If you will be mountain climbing you will want a better radio than you would use at the mall with your kids.
• Quality: Can the casing get wet? Can you throw it in a tool box without ruining it? Is there a guarantee? Find something that will work in any emergency scenario you might find yourself in.
• Electrical power: What kinds of batteries does the radio need? Can you recharge them? How long will the radio batteries last if left on for a few hours?
• Watts : More watts equals more power and thus further distance. Remember that milliwatts are less than watts. Also remember that manufacturer claims on radio range depend on ideal conditions. You will not get as far a range as it says on the box if you are in rugged terrain.
• Antenna: The "rubber ducky" antenna that comes with most of these radios is the least effective antenna. You can buy a better antenna at Radio Shack to increase your range.

Whichever radio you end up buying, I think you'll be pleased to have the ability to communicate on these marvelous inventions!

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