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Walkie Talkie Watchie.

Walkietalkiewatch

The Walkie Talkie Watch. Yeah, forget about your piddling 200 ft range, these puppies will howl your chant of the universe over a range of 2.5km. Yep 1.5 miles. Wow, I’m not even sure I know anyone that far away. And all for just £49.95? Tshaw!

 The maximum transmission power of 300mW allows radio ranges of up to 50m (164ft) within buildings, or 2.5km (1½ miles) in the open. The integrated squelch function ensures that good connections are possible even with high winds and traffic noise. You can maintain contact to one or more devices on any of the 8 channels. The automatic scanning finds channels carrying transmissions.

7 Comments

  • Some folks on weblogs linked here have claimed that these use “CB” frequencies. They do not (especially since the “CB” allocation is a USA-only thing). In fact they are using the same frequency range as the 70-cm HAM radio allocation in the USA–which is not available for unlicensed use.

  • Wot, they’re illegal to use Stateside? Tsk.

  • Well, they aren’t explicitly legal for unlicensed use in the USA. I suspect that they are using something simple such as unencrypted narrow-band FM modulation though–which is legal to use on that frequency in the USA if you have a HAM Radio license (which isn’t really all that hard to get, even if there is a test involved–look at http://www.arrl.org for more information).
    Now it should be noted that the FCC tolerates (though doesn’t seem to explicitly endorse) some ultra-low power unlicensed use of 443-447 MHz (this product doesn’t qualify as far as I can tell, due to the 300mW output and 1.5 mile range) for things like garage-door openers and automotive remote access–but most of those things are supposed to be using a different frequency allocation in the USA (something in the 900MHz range IIRC). A spectrum allocation chart is available on the fcc website for those whom want to know the overview and there is a detailed discussion of each band segment noted in the graphic in other places on the website.
    And a final note: For most civilian (and non public safety) frequencies ultra-low power unlicensed use is generally tolerated (so long as it doesn’t cause interference to licensed and primary allocation users) in the USA. This is why things like the iTrip are legal to use (or any other small-scale commercial FM Radio Band transmitter for that matter) so long as they are not modified to output higher power. So, it may be worth asking an FCC official if these things would be legal for unlicensed use at the lowest power setting to some people–but don’t expect much. I for one can tell you that the HAM radio operators would prefer that unlicensed users stay away from they spectrum they use–even at the lowest ouput power possible.

  • Wow thanks for the detailed response RvnPhnx, fascinating. The trouble seems to be that all of our technologies appear to be developing faster than government ability to monitor and regulate. Seems to be happening everywhere. I suspect we’ll look back at this time as the ‘Muddled’ era of technology in many areas. :-)

  • Does anyone know where i could buy a watchie talkie like maybe what store like Best Buy? Or do i like have to order them cuz im like so obsessed with them and if anyone could tell me the price range of them that would be awesome. PLEASE I NEED THIS =[[

    • Watchietalkie. I Googled that name to see what was out there. I think you might want a talking watch.

      What I want is something that you can watch the person as you talk to them like the ones you see advertised in the in-flight magazines in airlines.
      In fact, I'm working on developing one.

      [email protected]

  • how do i buy this fantastic invention !?!?!?

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