Motorola TalkAbout T250 2-Mile 14-Channel Two-Way Radio (Sun Yellow)

by Motorola

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 1 x 2.5 x 7 inches ; 7.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00000J3HG
• Item model number: Talkabout 250 Sun Yellow
• Batteries: 3 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Color: Yellow

Amazon.com Review

Looking for a great way to stay in touch while hiking, climbing, skiing, camping or shopping? With an impressive two-mile range, the TalkAbout 250 is one powerful two-way radio, sporting 14 channels with 38 privacy codes to help block out unwanted messages. The striking design makes the radio's exterior as cool as its features.

In our tests, we encountered no problems with interference or with finding free channels. The reception was clear, without too much static. We especially liked the scan lock, which scans through the channels until it finds an active channel. Scan-lock automatically locks in the channel, letting you listen-in discreetly or talk with other parties.

Most of the buttons are intuitive enough to figure out, although we do suggest a quick read of the manual in order to fully appreciate the power of the TalkAbout 250. The placement of the talk button--inconveniently located in the center of the radio--makes it difficult to speak while holding down the button. You can solve this problem by attaching a microphone to the radio and using the VOX (voice activation) feature, which allows hands-free talking.

The TalkAbout 250 is a great choice for anyone needing a powerful two-way radio to stay in touch while performing a variety of activities. Compact and feature-packed, the TalkAbout 250 is an inexpensive walkie-talkie with plenty of power.

Pros:

• Impressive two-mile range
• Attractive design
• Clear, static-free reception
• Small enough for a pocket

Cons:

• Inconveniently located talk button

Product Description

Talkabout 250-Sun Yellow

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

172 of 176 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars subcode clarification, September 20, 2000

By 

"archie04" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Motorola TalkAbout T250 2-Mile 14-Channel Two-Way Radio (Sun Yellow) (Electronics)

I have a pair of older motorola talkabouts and they work great. I want to clarify comments made regarding subcodes. There are only 14 channels to talk on. There are NOT 532 different channels available for 532 simultaneous conversations. The purpose of the subcodes (or privacy codes as they are sometimes referred to) is so that your radio will only broadcast conversation from people you know rather than other people who happen to be using the same channel you are.

For example: you set up your radios for channel 2 subcode 12. With your radio on standby, you will only hear people who are talking on channel 2 if they are using privacy code 12. This helps you to avoid having to hear people you don't know who also happen to be using channel 2. Therefore when you do hear someone talking on your radio, hopefully it will be the people you know rather than strangers. If the other people also have their radios set for subcode 12, then your radio will broadcast their voices.

BUT here is the important issue: Say someone else has their radios set for channel 2 with subcode 15. They are still using channel 2. If you talk at the same time they do, you will interfere with each other. You are both sharing the same channel - frequency. The subcode does NOT divide the frequency into 38 different smaller frequencies. It only allows you to block out their conversation from being broadcasted on your radio.

Before you contact your other radio on channel 2, you need to make sure no one else is using channel 2. That is the purpose of the monitor button. When you hit the monitor button, it lets you listen to all traffic on channel 2 "disabling your privacy code feature temporarily". You are suppose to hit the monitor button and check to make sure no one else is already talking on channel 2 before hitting your talk button and talking to your family/friends. Talking without first checking may result in your interfering with someone else already using the channel. In that case you are in the wrong.

My understanding of the function of the scan button (which unfortunately I don't have on my unit)is to scan all the channels (regardless of privacy code) to find a 'empty' channel so you can switch your radios to a less frequently used channel. If your unit is currently on channel 2 subcode 12 and you hit scan, even though it may display subcode 12 as it 'scans' through the 14 channels, it should be listening for traffic on each channel and not just for subcode 12. Scanning each channel on the subcode you have set does not make any sense and defeats the purpose of a scan. I believe other reviews are incorrect in their understanding of the scan function because they think 38 subcodes create at total of 532 channels which is wrong.

88 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Product!, April 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Motorola TalkAbout T250 2-Mile 14-Channel Two-Way Radio (Sun Yellow) (Electronics)

I want to start by saying that the Motorola TalkAbout 250 is the BEST two-way radio out there. I would rate it a 6 or 7, but that does not exist.

HERE ARE A FEW FACTS I HAVE FOUND:

1) The distance is great! I got about 1.5 miles, and there were many houses, trees, and power lines between myself and the person I was talking to. I am sure anyone could get AT LEAST 3 miles in an open area.

2) The sound quality is also great! It is 100% crystal clear. Motorola builds in a device to reduce unwanted noise and static. It really helps!

3) This model has features including: a scan button and a lock button (a must for people with kids).

4) The 14 channels AND 38 subcodes are a great thing to have. I went to a huge antique sale, and there were many people using two-way radios. I would not suggest a radio with only 2 or 14 channels unless you are willing to argue with another person about who can talk on the channel.

5) Having a volume control is also nice. Some brands have a device that electronically increases or decreases volume, and you can NOT manually ajust it.

6) The battery life is outstanding (as much as 30 hours)! Also, the Motorola models without a NiMH rechargeable battery seem to be better. As NiMH batteries gets old, they do not hold the charge as well and you will have to buy a new battery. When the battery doesn't charge well, the radio quality goes down and the sound is not always as clear. I suggest an Alkaline battery version!

7) The indicator light is also good, so you can vissualy see if the PTT button is pressed.

Hopefully you will decide to buy the Motorola TalkAbout 250. It only costs a little more than a different brand with the SAME features. Motorola also offers a wide variety of accessories including: headsets, remote speaker/microphones, and carrying cases.

88 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Performed well at Disneyland, May 15, 2000

By 

GVlog "GV" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Motorola TalkAbout T250 2-Mile 14-Channel Two-Way Radio (Cobalt Blue) (Electronics)

I bought a pair of these for a Wednesday-to-Friday trip to Disneyland in May 2000. I felt it would be a good "acid test" since there might be enough interference from other FRS radios and all the structures at the park. The TalkAbout performed surprisingly well; but I also realized that it lacked some features which I needed. Here's my best breakdown of the issues. RANGE: Exceeded my expectations. I was able to get a clear reception from outside the Candy Cane Inn (Harbour and Katella) to the area just outside Small World. I haven't calculated the distance but I think it's about 0.5 miles (you may want to check this). We got a bit of static from the Disneyland Hotel monorail station to the Matterhorn. CLARITY: I can't really compare this model to other FRS radios (haven't tried them) but the only time we had problems understanding one another was when we would get "stepped-on" by less-considerate FRS-users on the same channel and code. The CTCSS codes (aka "privacy codes") were effective in squelching out other transmissions. I recall only receiving two calls from other parties on Friday when the park was really crowded. The microphone was remarkably sensitive. I had the unit clipped to my camera bag strap which ran across my chest (about 5-6 inches under my chin) and was able to talk normally while depressing the transmit button with my index finger. POWER CONSUMPTION: The Kirkland (Costco) alkalines lasted about 29 hours until early Friday. (Yes. You turn them on and leave them on in standby mode.) The battery power indicator was helpful. We probably spent 20% of our time transmitting and the rest on standby. STURDINESS: I dropped one on the concrete and it landed on its bottom. It was fine. The antenna and case are ruggedized but likely not indestructible. EASE OF USE: Even the technically-challenged members of our party had no problem "guessing" how the controls worked. Motorola's button layout is one of the better ones (but I could imagine having some problems with the smaller buttons if you were skiing and had gloves). PROBLEMS: The only problem we had was that there was a lot of channel congestion on Friday at the park. The park can swell up to 77k guests in a day so the 532 combinations can get used up fast. SUMMARY AND WISHLIST: Am happy overall but I think I'll be returning these to get a more expensive unit which vibrates when receiving incoming calls (for those more quiet environments). I'd also prefer a real splash-resistant unit if I was out on a rainy day. I don't think I need a smaller palm-sized unit as this size fit me just fine. The TalkAbout performed well enough that other members of our group decided to buy FRS radios for themselves in preparation for the next family reunion at the mouse-house. We also found these useful for exchanging driving directions when leaving the park for some fancy restaurants in Orange County.

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