Rating: 
Summary: Performed well at Disneyland
Review: I bought a pair of these for a Wednesday-to-Friday trip to Disneyland in May 2000. I felt it would be a good "acid test" since there might be enough interference from other FRS radios and all the structures at the park. The TalkAbout performed surprisingly well; but I also realized that it lacked some features which I needed. Here's my best breakdown of the issues. RANGE: Exceeded my expectations. I was able to get a clear reception from outside the Candy Cane Inn (Harbour and Katella) to the area just outside Small World. I haven't calculated the distance but I think it's about 0.5 miles (you may want to check this). We got a bit of static from the Disneyland Hotel monorail station to the Matterhorn. CLARITY: I can't really compare this model to other FRS radios (haven't tried them) but the only time we had problems understanding one another was when we would get "stepped-on" by less-considerate FRS-users on the same channel and code. The CTCSS codes (aka "privacy codes") were effective in squelching out other transmissions. I recall only receiving two calls from other parties on Friday when the park was really crowded. The microphone was remarkably sensitive. I had the unit clipped to my camera bag strap which ran across my chest (about 5-6 inches under my chin) and was able to talk normally while depressing the transmit button with my index finger. POWER CONSUMPTION: The Kirkland (Costco) alkalines lasted about 29 hours until early Friday. (Yes. You turn them on and leave them on in standby mode.) The battery power indicator was helpful. We probably spent 20% of our time transmitting and the rest on standby. STURDINESS: I dropped one on the concrete and it landed on its bottom. It was fine. The antenna and case are ruggedized but likely not indestructible. EASE OF USE: Even the technically-challenged members of our party had no problem "guessing" how the controls worked. Motorola's button layout is one of the better ones (but I could imagine having some problems with the smaller buttons if you were skiing and had gloves). PROBLEMS: The only problem we had was that there was a lot of channel congestion on Friday at the park. The park can swell up to 77k guests in a day so the 532 combinations can get used up fast. SUMMARY AND WISHLIST: Am happy overall but I think I'll be returning these to get a more expensive unit which vibrates when receiving incoming calls (for those more quiet environments). I'd also prefer a real splash-resistant unit if I was out on a rainy day. I don't think I need a smaller palm-sized unit as this size fit me just fine. The TalkAbout performed well enough that other members of our group decided to buy FRS radios for themselves in preparation for the next family reunion at the mouse-house. We also found these useful for exchanging driving directions when leaving the park for some fancy restaurants in Orange County.
Rating:
Summary: Performed well at Disneyland
Review: I bought a pair of these for a Wednesday-to-Friday trip to Disneyland in May 2000. I felt it would be a good "acid test" since there might be enough interference from other FRS radios and all the structures at the park. The TalkAbout performed surprisingly well; but I also realized that it lacked some features which I needed. Here's my best breakdown of the issues. RANGE: Exceeded my expectations. I was able to get a clear reception from outside the Candy Cane Inn (Harbour and Katella) to the area just outside Small World. I haven't calculated the distance but I think it's about 0.5 miles (you may want to check this). We got a bit of static from the Disneyland Hotel monorail station to the Matterhorn. CLARITY: I can't really compare this model to other FRS radios (haven't tried them) but the only time we had problems understanding one another was when we would get "stepped-on" by less-considerate FRS-users on the same channel and code. The CTCSS codes (aka "privacy codes") were effective in squelching out other transmissions. I recall only receiving two calls from other parties on Friday when the park was really crowded. The microphone was remarkably sensitive. I had the unit clipped to my camera bag strap which ran across my chest (about 5-6 inches under my chin) and was able to talk normally while depressing the transmit button with my index finger. POWER CONSUMPTION: The Kirkland (Costco) alkalines lasted about 29 hours until early Friday. (Yes. You turn them on and leave them on in standby mode.) The battery power indicator was helpful. We probably spent 20% of our time transmitting and the rest on standby. STURDINESS: I dropped one on the concrete and it landed on its bottom. It was fine. The antenna and case are ruggedized but likely not indestructible. EASE OF USE: Even the technically-challenged members of our party had no problem "guessing" how the controls worked. Motorola's button layout is one of the better ones (but I could imagine having some problems with the smaller buttons if you were skiing and had gloves). PROBLEMS: The only problem we had was that there was a lot of channel congestion on Friday at the park. The park can swell up to 77k guests in a day so the 532 combinations can get used up fast. SUMMARY AND WISHLIST: Am happy overall but I think I'll be returning these to get a more expensive unit which vibrates when receiving incoming calls (for those more quiet environments). I'd also prefer a real splash-resistant unit if I was out on a rainy day. I don't think I need a smaller palm-sized unit as this size fit me just fine. The TalkAbout performed well enough that other members of our group decided to buy FRS radios for themselves in preparation for the next family reunion at the mouse-house. We also found these useful for exchanging driving directions when leaving the park for some fancy restaurants in Orange County.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Radio , but battery life too short
Review: I find this radio indispensable on the ski slopes, especially since my wife & I are at different skill levels. We often hook up for a few runs, then separate again. My one problem is the battery life is too short, I'm constantly buying new batteries after 2 days. I would steer people towards the 280 model with Nicad rechargable batteries.
Rating:
Summary: Motorola TalkAbout 250 Vs. 280
Review: I got a set of 250's for me and a climbing partner after we had an accident and couldn't hear each other at the belays. Now anytime we think we might not hear each other, we carry them. They are very sturdy and I've banged mine around a lot climbing. The extra weight is reasonable and the bulk is minimal. Although the 280 is slightly smaller, the weight is just about the same (heavier Ni/Cd battery). The extra money for the slightly improved features isn't worth it. We thought the voice activation feature would be handy during leading, asking for rope, slack and what-not, hands free (important while climbing). However, we found that the delay in activation sometimes cut whole sentences and unless you held the microphone right to your mouth, it sometimes wouldn't activate at all. This kind of defeated the purpose of the voice activation in the first place. So we just use them at the belays when a free hand is available. They also came in handy on a trip to Mexico where we didn't have access to our cell phone service. Overall, a very useful climbing tool.
Rating: 
Summary: subcode clarification
Review: I have a pair of older motorola talkabouts and they work great. I want to clarify comments made regarding subcodes. There are only 14 channels to talk on. There are NOT 532 different channels available for 532 simultaneous conversations. The purpose of the subcodes (or privacy codes as they are sometimes referred to) is so that your radio will only broadcast conversation from people you know rather than other people who happen to be using the same channel you are.For example: you set up your radios for channel 2 subcode 12. With your radio on standby, you will only hear people who are talking on channel 2 if they are using privacy code 12. This helps you to avoid having to hear people you don't know who also happen to be using channel 2. Therefore when you do hear someone talking on your radio, hopefully it will be the people you know rather than strangers. If the other people also have their radios set for subcode 12, then your radio will broadcast their voices. BUT here is the important issue: Say someone else has their radios set for channel 2 with subcode 15. They are still using channel 2. If you talk at the same time they do, you will interfere with each other. You are both sharing the same channel - frequency. The subcode does NOT divide the frequency into 38 different smaller frequencies. It only allows you to block out their conversation from being broadcasted on your radio. Before you contact your other radio on channel 2, you need to make sure no one else is using channel 2. That is the purpose of the monitor button. When you hit the monitor button, it lets you listen to all traffic on channel 2 "disabling your privacy code feature temporarily". You are suppose to hit the monitor button and check to make sure no one else is already talking on channel 2 before hitting your talk button and talking to your family/friends. Talking without first checking may result in your interfering with someone else already using the channel. In that case you are in the wrong. My understanding of the function of the scan button (which unfortunately I don't have on my unit)is to scan all the channels (regardless of privacy code) to find a 'empty' channel so you can switch your radios to a less frequently used channel. If your unit is currently on channel 2 subcode 12 and you hit scan, even though it may display subcode 12 as it 'scans' through the 14 channels, it should be listening for traffic on each channel and not just for subcode 12. Scanning each channel on the subcode you have set does not make any sense and defeats the purpose of a scan. I believe other reviews are incorrect in their understanding of the scan function because they think 38 subcodes create at total of 532 channels which is wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Great Stuff from Motorola
Review: I have a small fleet of the Motorola Talkabout 250's (12 of them). I use and abuse them regularly and I have not ever found a better radio for the money. I use them in industrial applications and at the lake on our boat. They are incredibly durable and have amazing range.
Rating:
Summary: these radio's rock
Review: i just got two talkabout 250's and there so light i don't even think there in my hand and there strong radio's really nice investment kinda pricy but good investment i like them i thinks you'll like them great for outdoor stuff or just around the yard
Rating:
Summary: works all over the world
Review: i live in south east asia and technically, my country only allows "licensed" walkie talkies to be used. however, i went ahead to purchase a pair of these walkies from Florida after being assured that they work anywhere in the world using FM radio waves (i'm not a technical person). to my delight, they work perfectly although in urban areas where i use them, i find the range is quite short ... within 300 metres would be safe. the cost is quite cheap for something that works this well and the use of AA batteries is great ... much more convenient than the old conventional walkie talkies that had to be charged like mobile phones do.
Rating:
Summary: Great Radio, but don't get it wet!
Review: I love these radios. I have used these at the beach, shopping, camping, etc., and find them extremely useful. They are clear, and easy to use. They also work great between cars if you are on a long trip with multiple cars. The only warning is that even though they are extremely sturdy, just don't get them wet! They are not good for fishing or canoeing trips, or anywhere else where they are likely to be exposed to water. If splashed heavily with water, or, heaven forbid, submerged, they will malfunction and become useless. Unfortunately this happened to me. Motorola was great about fixing them, but moisture damage is not covered under the warrantee. They did sell me a brand new replacement for $40, which was a pretty good deal, considering.
Rating:
Summary: Family radio, family helper
Review: I own three of these 250 radios and love them. We have two children in are home and they know to take a radio with them when ever they leave the yard. Makes getting them home so easy, we just call them on the radio to come home or to ask a question of them. Also to call home if they are scared or have gotten hurt. Works great at the malls and fairs, everwhere. The only thing I would do different if I could would be to get the rechargable batteries. We go thru about $30.00 in batteries a month, but remember we use are radios daly.
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