TWO WAY RADIOS? My question may be dumb but I don't know so please help if you can...?

Question

When traveling out of the country, it's too expensive to use your cell phone. We are considering buying two way radios to have contact with one another if we decide to split up but I dont really understand the concept. Can they be used out of the country? Do you need to have them connected (like a cell phone) in order to use them? Do they simply work like the walkie-talkies we had as children or is it more complicated? If we are traveling with 6 people, can each person have a radio and we all be able to communicate or do they only come in 2's? I only see them sold in 2's but I need 6 of them and i need them to be on the same 'network'. Is this possible? What about the range? I am traveling to a resort in Dominican Republic.

Answer 1

You don't need to activate them, you don't pay airtime etc. If you buy the same brand and frequency you can add as many as you want. One thing to point out. We did the same when we went to Disneyland a few years ago. We thought it would be a great way to keep in contact, well, so did TONS of other people. It was hard to communicate because everyone else was on similar systems! The one thing you can do is look for units with multiple frequencies so you can change channels and hopefully find a channel that is less crowded.

Answer 2

I'd recommend you buy radios at the resort if they're available.  The radios you buy in the US are for US rules and regulations.  A different country may have different rules and regulations.  While it might not hurt to use US radios in a foreign country, it might cause you a lot of trouble.  The frequencies that are used in the US for idle chit-chat between friends and family may be military frequencies or for other sensitive use in some other country.  You may cause problems with their communications and may wind up in trouble with the local authorities.  It's not something I'd want to push my luck on, but it's your choice.  

  

  

Answer 3

Radios will generally work like walkie-talkies. PTT (Press To Talk) and all that. If you wanted to use six units working simultaneously, all you need to do is insure that they are all set to the same frequency. Normally, standard radios will have a channel switch on them, so the best thing to do is to buy the same six radios and switch all six to the same channel. That way you will all be able to communicate together. Just remember though like walkie-talkies, only one person will be able to speak at once, While the other five will just be able to listen.

     As far as range, it will totally depend on the power output of the radios, and what sort of terrain you'll be transmitting over. Built up areas such as cities will severely reduce your range, whereas open and flat areas like airfields will give more range and signal quality. Just check the specifications of the radio before you buy. It should tell you roughly how far the radio can transmit.

     When it comes to where you can use them, there is no limit. There are no satellites involved, no one you need to call to register, or anything like that. You could even use them on the moon, if you could get there. Standard radios simply communicate directly between each other there is no middlemen or hub's involved.

     However, just make sure you regularly call each other on them if your moving about allot. There's nothing worse than getting lost, then finding out you’re in a blind spot or out of range with everyone.

     Also regardless of what anyone says, don't worry about accidentally transmitting on military channels. You’re not going to hear anything sensitive, because such channels will be encrypted. I know this because I've installed these encryptions myself, in the British forces. No government in the world is stupid enough to transmit sensitive information on an open channel.