Rating: 
Summary: Keeping up with your kids
Review: A friend of mine has 13 year old twins and never knows where they have gotten off to. She mentioned to me she was thinking of getting some 2 way radios to try to keep track off them. So I bought her these for Christmas. She seems quiet pleased with them, the kids do not share her joy. These also work well inthe mall or when at a big outdoor event. They fulfill there pupose and are smallenough that they can go in a purse or knapsack with little bulk from them.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for skiing (but not perfect)
Review: Bought a pair of Motorola 250's just before our trip to Northstar at Lake Tahoe, CA. The radios worked well when people were in different locations on the same run or on the lifts. However, sometimes people at different locations on the mountain could not communicate with one another. I was unable to connect with my wife until late in the day when I tried one last time -- but she came in loud and clear. When they work, they're so much better than waiting at the top or bottom of a run to sync up for rendezvous, lunch, or departure plans. But expect to try several times from several locations before connecting with other members party. Also expect that you may have to relay messages to reach all members of your party (if you have 3 or more radios).
Rating:
Summary: works all over the world
Review: Do you remember the toy walkie talkies that you had as a kid, this radio is nothing like that. The TalkAbout 250 is a high quality 2 way radio made by Motorola. This radio has the look of a toy, especially the yellow model, but once you try it out, you will quickly realize that it is no toy. All of the TalkAbout models operate on the FRS - Family Radio Service frequency which has about a 2 mile range, and works well inside and outside of buildings as well as inside of vehicles.When I first was interested in purchasing this unit, my wife thought it was just another electronic gimmick that I am known for wasting money on. But after using this on the ski slopes once, she changed her mind, this was no longer a gimmick, but a requirement for going skiing with the family. When I purchased my TalkAbout, I also purchased the "Motorola 50225 TalkAbout Remote Speaker Microphone". I think that the radio itself could use some design improvements, like the placement of the "Push to talk" button, but the Remote speaker microphone makes up for this. This remote speaker microphone works on the TalkAbout 250, but not on the TalkAbout 280. I was originally going to get the 280, but there was not yet a remote speaker microphone available. There is a better radio available from Motorola called the "TalkAbout Distance", which is much more expensive, and requires a license to use. The TalkAbout 250 is not the top of the line TalkAbout, but will be great for most peoples needs. There are cheaper models available from other manufacturers, but after shopping around it appears that the TalkAbout is the most robust unit with the most accessories available. I would suggest this to my friends!
Rating:
Summary: Talk About a Great Radio!
Review: Do you remember the toy walkie talkies that you had as a kid, this radio is nothing like that. The TalkAbout 250 is a high quality 2 way radio made by Motorola. This radio has the look of a toy, especially the yellow model, but once you try it out, you will quickly realize that it is no toy. All of the TalkAbout models operate on the FRS - Family Radio Service frequency which has about a 2 mile range, and works well inside and outside of buildings as well as inside of vehicles. When I first was interested in purchasing this unit, my wife thought it was just another electronic gimmick that I am known for wasting money on. But after using this on the ski slopes once, she changed her mind, this was no longer a gimmick, but a requirement for going skiing with the family. When I purchased my TalkAbout, I also purchased the "Motorola 50225 TalkAbout Remote Speaker Microphone". I think that the radio itself could use some design improvements, like the placement of the "Push to talk" button, but the Remote speaker microphone makes up for this. This remote speaker microphone works on the TalkAbout 250, but not on the TalkAbout 280. I was originally going to get the 280, but there was not yet a remote speaker microphone available. There is a better radio available from Motorola called the "TalkAbout Distance", which is much more expensive, and requires a license to use. The TalkAbout 250 is not the top of the line TalkAbout, but will be great for most peoples needs. There are cheaper models available from other manufacturers, but after shopping around it appears that the TalkAbout is the most robust unit with the most accessories available. I would suggest this to my friends!
Rating:
Summary: Motorola TalkAbout 250 2-way radio
Review: Great product for use in my industry of running cabling in homes. The sound is clear, and finding an available channel is not a problem. I have two problems with the units however, that prevent me from giving it five stars. The location of the talk button is obviously an issue, the other is the design of the volume control knob. It is larger that it needs to be, and located on the upper corner, and it is too easily snagged on things. I have had to replace or repair the volume control knobs frequently. It should possibly be located to the side, with only enough of the dial exposed to adjust the volume. Great quality everywhere else however. Dropped and sat on, they keep on transmitting!
Rating:
Summary: Terrific product, especialy for the price!
Review: Great radio with all 14 channels and 38 privacy codes, yet you don't need a license. Unfortunately don't be fooled by the privacy "codes". Your conversations can still be monitored by other radios. Nice features like a backlit display lets you see the display in the dark and lock alows you to prevent accedental channel changes. Also includes an accessory jack for an optional hands-free (VOX) or push-to-talk headset. Bottom line, great 2-way radio with wonderful range and reception (up to 2 miles) except for the cons listed above and a incovieniently located talk button.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific product, especialy for the price!
Review: Great radio with all 14 channels and 38 privacy codes, yet you don't need a license. Unfortunately don't be fooled by the privacy "codes". Your conversations can still be monitored by other radios. Nice features like a backlit display lets you see the display in the dark and lock alows you to prevent accedental channel changes. Also includes an accessory jack for an optional hands-free (VOX) or push-to-talk headset. Bottom line, great 2-way radio with wonderful range and reception (up to 2 miles) except for the cons listed above and a incovieniently located talk button.
Rating:
Summary: Great Communication Device!
Review: I am involved in a group of Young Marines, and we recently drove to Washington DC. We had 17 cars in our caravan using various handheld radio's. I was one of the lucky ones to recieve this particular radio. With this radio, I could hear everyone, while some of the others with different radios couldn't. I had to relay messages the entire trip. These are excellent. We also stayed on a Marine Base in Quantico where cell phones were blocked. These worked great to talk back and forth from the mens and womens barracks. I don't know much about these radio's, but this particular radio was extremely easy to use. Pick a channel, lock it, and press the button to talk, can't get much easier than that! I will be buying my own for our future trips!
Rating:
Summary: Search Dog Handlers Lov'm
Review: I am one of a team of 6 disaster search dog handlers that use the radios during training. We have found that the radios are very sturdy and reliable. Our job exposes these radios to concrete dust, dirt, mud, rain and various forms of shock from dropping them to banging them on the narrow tunnels we crawl through. We find the VOX feature on the 250 very useful when used with the VOX inline mic and ear buddy, because we usually have our hands full with the dog and uncovering people who are buried. Although the team owns many of these radios, I have just ordered one for my personal use. I am sure that we will carry the 250's into real searches and they will be a valuable tool for our communication.
Rating:
Summary: Search Dog Handlers Lov'm
Review: I am one of a team of 6 disaster search dog handlers that use the radios during training. We have found that the radios are very sturdy and reliable. Our job exposes these radios to concrete dust, dirt, mud, rain and various forms of shock from dropping them to banging them on the narrow tunnels we crawl through. We find the VOX feature on the 250 very useful when used with the VOX inline mic and ear buddy, because we usually have our hands full with the dog and uncovering people who are buried. Although the team owns many of these radios, I have just ordered one for my personal use. I am sure that we will carry the 250's into real searches and they will be a valuable tool for our communication.
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