 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi guys, I'm new here and have a couple of questions!
I'm not the best snowboarder in the world... only been twice before in France. I'm going with some friends later this year and they are quite a bit better than me, so we were thinking of taking some two-way radios to keep in contact - as they will no doubt be shooting off into the distance!
We haven't 100% confirmed where we are off to yet, will either be France but possibly Canada so I am looking for some advice as to whether all two way radios can be used or not?
I was looking at something along the lines of the Motorola TLKR T5 as they appear quite durable, but any advice is welcomed.
Thanks!
Redraob
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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redraob, welcome to snowheads. there's been quite a lot of discussion on radios. Inn essence you get what you pay for. North american radios are stringer than european radios and so cover more distance, but due to the frequencies you are not suppsed to use euro radios in NA and vice versa. Have a shufty usgin the search facility up top.
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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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redraob, we've found that the radios we bought over here wouldnt charge in Canada so we ended up nipping to Canadian Tyre and picking up a set of about $50
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We bought some cheap-os so me and the old man could keep in touch. Worked ace, no issues.
Cheap'n'cheerful.
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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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I had some but found them a waste of time. When you're really far away from someone, ie. the other side of a mountain, they tended not to work and when you were all skiing the same side of the mounatin but different slopes then it was far easier to just arrange a time and place to meet. You also feel like a bit of a lady's front bottom using them 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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lynseyf, "redfox to runningbear-over"
Completely different experience to mine!
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no more just
"what did you say... I can't hear you..... where??? ......
oh theres that radio beeping again, I'll just ignore it cause I'm having too much fun skiing"
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nbt, thanks! I'll take a look
arv, nice to know, sounds like you had good fun using them! Where abouts in the world did you use them without problems?
lynseyf, maybe you didn't have ones with good enough range for wherever you were? I understand that there may be problems with obstructions, i'm not sure how powerful they can be.
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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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redraob, Bad Hofgastein/Lake Louise/Norquay/Sunshine.
If you are skiing on your own its a great way to keep in touch.. never had connection issues. If you've been toi the above Canadian resorts you'll understand that they are mostly tree lined.
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We have binatone cheap and cheerful ones and they have been fine, and invaluable when skiing in a group for meeting up etc. Used them all over Austria and in a few places in France with no probs (plus also in the UK).
D
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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binatone is the make of mine aswell i believe.
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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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"crrrzzzszzzccccccctttttt.... come in Red George... crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrxxxxxxxxzszsssssss"
"CCCCCrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRrrrrrrrrsssssssssss.... wassat?...."
"cccccrrrrssss... get off ze frequency domkopfs.... cccccrrrssssttt"
"cccccrrrsrsrsrss.... what?... Yellow Simon to Red Gccccccrrrrrsrsrsrsrstttttzzzzxxx"
Sometimes they work fine but mostly they are a complete pain in the t*ts. I'd rather lose my pals than carry one now.
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| Bode Swiller wrote: |
"crrrzzzszzzccccccctttttt.... come in Red George... crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrxxxxxxxxzszsssssss"
"CCCCCrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRrrrrrrrrsssssssssss.... wassat?...."
"cccccrrrrssss... get off ze frequency domkopfs.... cccccrrrssssttt"
"cccccrrrsrsrsrss.... what?... Yellow Simon to Red Gccccccrrrrrsrsrsrsrstttttzzzzxxx"
Sometimes they work fine but mostly they are a complete pain in the t*ts. I'd rather lose my pals than carry one now. |
Fair summary - only real benefit is when a mate gets on the chairlift in front with some strangers and you can spend your chairlift ride asking him if the herpes has cleared up yet etc.
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You know it makes sense.
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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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redraob, Welcome to snowheads.
If you buy the European PMR446 standard radios they can only legally be used in Europe i.e. they would be illegal in North America.
The reason for this is obviously the frequency they are on - in North America the European frequency may be allocated to other official users i.e. emergency services, mountain rescue etc, and you transmitting on it could interfere with these services.
"FRS" and "GMRS" radios are approved for use in the United States of America and in Canada - they, of course cannot be used in Europe.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Yer some chepp ones from Aldi for me worked fine last trip.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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My experience is that performance is pretty much the same however much or little you pay (NA v Europe differences apart). What may differ is durability (although my cheap ones are lasting as long as my more expensive (Motorola) ones) and features. Number of channels may vary, and a permanent (that is, doesn't go off when the thing is switched off) channel lock is useful. Battery life and rechargeable or not is another question.
They are ususally more practical in NA, as often everyone is skiing in the same valley so reception is OK. Less useful in Europe.
Now that everyone has mobiles, we rarely use the W/Ts, but they're quite handy occasionally, and the kids used to enoy playing with them.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thanks for the info all! Much appreciated!
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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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Ive got some binatone. Cost about £30, just the trick
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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redraob, that's a big tenfour rubber ducky - Sweet Pussie Pie!
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Another vote for Binatone.
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FAQ
apart from people continuously shouting at them "say that again" 
