Customer Reviews

Star Trek: The Original Series: Communicator

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

It rivals my Master Replicas model and was only $24!!!!!! There's two versions (standard and exclusive). I've had the exclusive version on pre-order for awhile but still ended up breaking down and also buying the standard version since the price was so low. Since the "exclusive" version was a few bucks more and the description on the exclusive was much more detailed, I expected this standard version to be made almost entirely of plastic. Well, it's more metal than plastic. It's identical in size, shape and almost weight to my Master Replicas Communicator. The moire looks and runs just like the MR version (only it's a bit louder). It has the feature that allows you to set it up to beep you somewhat like the MR only the AA version continues to beep you until to open it. It has sound clips of the original cast instead of the MR's static/interference sound. Putting it up next the MR version, they absolutely look identical! I still have the exclusive version coming but had I known this I'd of just gone with the standard!!! Still, for the low price, why not have both??? I can't get over the quality of this item and the super low price. You just don't see stuff like this any more! You gotta get one!!!!

I was 12 when Star Trek first aired, and I've always loved the old shows. However, I'm not a Trekkie so I don't really collect Trek stuff. I have a model of the Enterprise, and I purchased one of the phaser pistols that are on the market and that's it. My review is for the casual Star Trek fan, as I'm sure the true Trek collectors already own several of these.
I thought the phaser was over priced at nearly 30 bucks, and I didn't buy one until I lucked into finding one for 15 dollars. When the communicator came out with a 30 buck price tag, I decided to pass. The phaser is a really cool prop, but not 30 bucks cool, and I assumed the communicator would be similar in quality.
After reading reviews of it, however, and finding it for 25 bucks here at Amazon, I decided to buy one. I didn't get the exclusive edition as it only added one more recorded phrase for a five dollar increase in price.
I must say that this baby is really well made and lots of fun to play with. The gold antenna is metal and sturdy, and the entire communicator is a good combo of metal and sturdy plastic as well. You can set the communicator to beep you, and the antenna will flip up with a jerk of your wrist just like on the show. Mr. Spock will then ask if you need an armed party sent down. Depending on where you are at the time, you can have fun commenting on whether the aliens are friendly or not.
There are a few recorded phrases from the major charactors. However, I was totally disappointed when Scottie answered from the transporter room, and I couldn't get him to REALLY beam me up. Sigh.
The round thingamajig in the center rotates it's psychadelic pattern for a cool effect, and the lights and sound effects are lots of fun. As I said, If you're a Trek fanatic you probably already have one. If you're an average fan like me wondering if it's worth the price, I think you'll find the quality and fun factor worth 25 bucks. Of course, if you can find it even cheaper, so much the better!

Some time back I found the Art Asylum TOS (The Original Series) Phaser at a Toys-r-us store back home in St.Louis. It was nearly perfect.
When Diamond Select toys (formerly Art Asylum) announced their Communicator I had high hopes. There was speculation that it would be like the old Playmates version with a plastic metallized flip-grid and a non-functioning moire.
DST came through though and delivered something more akin to a prop replica than a toy.
Out of box you could comfortably display this as a prop and most people would never be able to tell.
This version only has a couple of MINOR differences from the exclusive version. One being the ACCURATE color of the flip-grid (on this one) and the other being an extra sound that can be unlocked on this one with a minor amount of effort.
I spent my money and have NO regrets.. when the DST Tricorder comes out later in the year, I'll be shelling out some cash to them again!

Was excited to get this but disappointed once I began to open it. First, it's held in the package by twist ties, one of which goes THROUGH the holes in the antenna grid. Even carefully removing it flaked the gold paint on the inside a bit. Obviously, the wire should go only across or at least be of a smaller diameter.

Secondly, perhaps I was just unlucky to get a bad one that slipped through the cracks, but noticed right off that the antenna grid was crooked, causing it to sit askew. This, because the the wire that pokes into the rotator wheels was a bit to long on one side. It's also stiff because of this, and doesn't flip open properly. Once removing the battery protector tab to complete the electrical circuit, it turned out that the middle call button, LED's, moire, and chirp sound effect were all inoperative! The right button, which is supposed to cycle through various sound voice clips would play only, "Enterprise, this is Kirk." In addition, the moire print was blurry/splotchy, similar in appearance to a broken LCD display. At this point, have emailed the seller to request an exchange and am awaiting a response -- but am quite disappointed in Diamond Comics' lack of quality control, as it's obvious this unit was never inspected/verified before heading to packaging. Very disappointing, given the overall positive reviews and YouTube videos.

On the positive side, it does feel respectably heavy and solid.

Hopefully, the seller, [...], will make good on it and salvage the experience by replacing it with a good unit. Will post the results.

I have read and agreed with most of the previous reviews on this product. Yes, two versions seem to have been produced - one with a metal antenna grid, the other - plastic. Both have the previously mentioned advantages or disadvantages depending on your point of view. I would think for about $12 the plastic is OK, for metal - say about $22. Now the biggest operational difficulty (sometimes) appears to be getting the unit out of the "Try Me" mode after removal of the small, plastic tab. This leads to no lights, spinning moire, or multiple sound phrases available. The problem is that the two metallic tabs inside the plastic shell are sometimes not contacting the internal circuit board they are mounted on once the plastic tab is removed. This leads to an incompleted circuit for actual "Play" mode. The fix is to insert a metallic tab or small, bare wire through the opening where the plastic tab was removed. This will complete the circuit between the two internal metal tabs and the circuit board they are mounted on. If done correctly, all features should be available and working. Hope this helps and Good Luck!

This replica looks nice and very original. However, the build quality is quite cheap and definitely well below what one would expect for a $30 to $35 product. For this price one would think that it would be made out of metal. Instead it is made out of plastic. The hinges for the lid do not look or feel that sturdy so one has to be careful not to break the lid of every time it is opened. In addition, the plastic composition gives it a very cheap feel. Last but not least, one has to be very careful when removing the back to replace the battery. This is due to fact that it seems fairly easy to break when removed. Again, another build quality issue. If this product were $10 or even $15 dollars the build quality issue could be overlooked. Unfortunately, definitely not for $30. There are also not enough recorded sayings, the audio quality is quite mediocre (about quality of a Hallmark talking gift-card) and the center black piece in the ring is static. It should not have been that hard to place a cheap motor in it to at least give it some rudimentary motion. On the positive side, the product makes a decent sound when the communicator lid is opened. With a better build quality and a rotating area in the center ring this could have been a 5 star product. What a shame.

I bought this for my eight-year-old son, who is quite the fan of the original Star Trek series. First off, you won't find a better original series communicator for the price. My son loves it - it looks cool and worked great right out of the box. Nice loud, clear sounds. Durability? Well...one slight issue is that the gold aluminum cover narrows down to two small strips at the hinges (true to the original design). This proved to be a problem when my son repeatedly flipped the thing open somewhat forcefully (as kids would do). The cover reaches its stopping point and the inertia of the whole cover would slightly bend the connecting strips. After a while, the bending causes the cover to not want to completely seat back down in the closed position. It's a simple matter to "re-bend" things so that it closes again, but I fear too much of this might eventually cause the strips to break. A lesson to my son about his "technique" and he can now open it without stressing the lid. Also, when you open the lid, a small protrusion on the hinge assembly pushes an internal wire to make a connection which activates everything. At one point our communicator stayed activated constantly - whether open or closed (basically, it wouldn't shut off). I opened everything up and found that whoever assembled it at the factory didn't quite position the internal wire correctly. A little tweaking with a small jewler's screwdriver fixed that problem, but I must detract a star for "durability." One other small complaint from my son was that the motor which drives the moire is fairly noisy, and the moire itself is hard to see unless you're in outside in daylight. But hey, it's around 35 bucks and it really does look great (nice lights, details, etc). I feel that it's worth the money, even with the few fixes which I find are becoming more and more typical of toys like these made overseas. Do I recommend this communicator toy? Yes I do.

Not bad as a toy. However, aside from the fact that what I recieved doesn't work as advertised or described on the packaging (will get back to that), I found it anything but authentic or of prop quality. It strikes me as somewhat larger than what was used in the series. Also, given available technology, expected something more substantial in form, function, design and construction. The StarTac cell phone I owned 10 years ago is more in line with the form (antenna notwithstanding), function and substance I would expect from a product that has recieved the reviews I've read on this site.
Back to the lack of functionality. The test button provides a single audio sample as indicated on package. However, after the protective tab was removed, no other functionality existed; other audio samplings, lights, graphic back light from circular dial on face of communicator. Thinking batteries may be weak or old, removed screws from back to change as directed in instructions and found that back cover had been glued from the top. This appeared to snap clean in my effort to remove the back but was completely unexpected and seems unnecessary.
Overall, not a bad toy for a young kid who didn't grow up on the original series and doesn't have any expectations. However, I should have considered the price a little more carefully and not given as much credence to the rave reviews.
I have purchased other ST collectibles in the past (ex:Tri-Level Chess and Phaser) that truly lived up to expectations.
Will be returning this one. I'm just glad I opened it to check out before giving it as a gift to my brother who has rcv'd others from me. Deffinitely not to the standard he's used to. EE Exclusive Star Trek Original Series Communicator Replica

This communicator toy is great, I love mine. I have always wanted a communicator from Star Trek. This toy is just like the one in the show, if not better. It opens up just like on the show and when you press the button, it responds with a phrase from Star Trek.

There is also an Easter Egg. On the communicator push the left button once, the red light flashes, then close the lid. Five seconds later the communicator beeps twice just like on the show when they are being hailed. When you open the lid after the beeps Spock comes on and asks if you want him to beam down an armed party.

I have purchased a 'few' of these units ever since they have come out. A couple for myself and the rest as gifts to fellow Trekkies. Of late, I have found the quality of all the units are suffering from 2 major QA points. All units have been sitting on shelves for quite some time and are being shipped with dead batteries, which by itself is not a big deal as they are easy to replace (small phillips head screw-driver and 4 screws).

1) The hardship is when you open the unit up and find the inside battery compartment and circuitry inside covered in battery corrosion. Be careful with this, expecially if you have purchased this for a child. Getting this stuff in your eyes can be extrememly painful. If you clean it yourself, ensure you wash your hands prior to handling food or touching your face.

2) The communicators are now being shipped with plastic antenna grids instead of the metal grids. The current supplier I purchased from is working with me in finding a decent corrosion free unit to replace what was sent.