Poster: A snowHead
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Been thinking about buying some two way radios for my holiday in Feb as there is going to be a party of ten of us. Thinking behind it is that a) love buying gadgets etc but more importantly b) sick of mobile bill after ringing other members of party up to organise meeting for lunch etc. The other thing is do you think people look like plonkers using them? If people think they are a good idea any recommendations as to which ones to purchase?
Thanx Q.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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They are useful, but to kit out a group of ten will be quite expensive. It is important to have telephones as a back up, because you can't always get radio contact with other people, however I usually find that if you keep on trying in different places in the resort then usually you'll find them sooner or later.
I don't think that people look stupid using them, but then again we don't use them that frequently and we don't say stupid things into them.
They're really useful for jumps with blind landings.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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They're really useful for jumps with blind landings
Do they work as parachutes then ?
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Quattro,
My wife got me a set last year. On the whole I do recommend them, but as Kramer says you can't always get reception depending on where you are at on the mountain. I didn't feel or look stupid.
Do be prepared to listen to a load of other folks conversations though, but that can be quite funny.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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you've also got to make sure that the people on the other end have turned it on, listening out for it, charged it up, taken it with them, tuned into the right frequency..................useful if you are on the same face of the mountain otherwise not so useful
personally find text messaging easier in the long run.
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Thanks for all the replies - was just thinking of getting a pair and giving one to another member of the group as we tend to split into two anyway. Texting in gloves can lead to some interesting messages!!! Q.
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anyone got answer to the us question ?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Royal, i think someone posted some info about this last year, have a search on the forum as i'm sure they are either naughty to have/use in europe or the USA but i can't remember which way round it is
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If travelling to the Alps in more than 1 car they are very useful especially when driving around in circles trying to find the motorway again after an overnight stop
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd say that they're useful. And fun!!
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Elizabeth B, they aren't for girls.
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think you can't use US canadain radios in UK due to frequency
we have a set and used them this year. They are ok but range is limited in the mountains so we tend to use them and our mobiles.
though they are very useful on car trips if there are a couple of cars.
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You know it makes sense.
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Kramer, and why not??
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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It's an in-joke amongst a group that I ski with. When sharing out the radios, the boys tend to nick them all, because they're not for girls, from the Yorkie add. For some reason it winds the girls up, which just makes us do it more.
Whenever the girls do get their hands on the radios, the signal to noise ratio does seem to dip significantly though!
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Poster: A snowHead
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We have been using them for a few years now ,much cheaper then using mobiles phones and have had no problem with signals. The only thing that we something have to do is change channel as we can here other folks using them across the valley in Wengen
We have 2 sets of the Motorola Talkabout T6222
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Depends where you are going, I've had 2 pairs for a few years and very very rarely manage to use them - generally we hit the big resorts and people are always in the wrong valley....Just preprogram in a few text messages and use the phone!
Good for the journey down (between cars/train carriages/airport) and in resort though, just always end up phoning on the slopes...Also the boarders tell me they are useful off piste/snow park (like the blind landing you can send someone ahead and they have them look up at the terrain, or when someone goes the wrong way they aren't completely on their own etc etc)
If you want a trial run try and borrow a set from someone, I was suprised how many people have them at work etc...
aj xx
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I won a couple from DCMT snowboard a few years ago - thought they would be just a 'nice gadget' but they have become an everyday part of my kit. You can get some pretty cheap from Argos now just make sure they have 8 main and 38 sub frequencies and they should be fine. I definately recommend them.
For the issue about US/European frequencies there are legal issues see here;
http://adrenalintrip.extreme.com/forum/viewtopic/1/82255?siteid=95&topictype=5&13
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I would not be without radios in a group... and I definately don't feel stupid using them - I DO feel stupid waiting around for people to catch up or waiting for people who have taken a wrong turn when I could be getting another run in !
Whilst there is an issue using them over wide distances and different valleys, they are very good simply for catching up at lunch - "Which table are you at etc." - convenience of the mobile phone but without the cost. Mobile phone is still good as back up, and nothing makes up for agreeing to meet up at a given time for lunch or end of day. The radio helps ... "I'll be there in 5 etc."
As a low cost gadget, I'd definately recommend them. Rarely had problems with overuse of channels by other groups - if there is, it normally sorts itself by one or other group moving up or down a 'channel' ( actually changing 'squelch' tones )
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Incidently we've often used them when one or other of the group has charged off, that person then doesn't know if the delay to the people behind them is due to an incident or simply people taking their time...
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The main time I've used them has been in a non-skiing environment....the mountains of Scotland!! There were several occasions last summer when they were the only means of keeping contact, as moble reception was zero.
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I think they are a brilliant idea, and we use them with the kids all the tome not just on the slopes in winter, also when they are playing football with their mates etc. As long as you are in range they are fab and much cheaper than mobile phones - also no one wants to nick them either!
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