VTech V-Talk 1311 2-Mile 14-Channel FRS Two-Way Radio (Blue)

by VTech

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004VVJW
• Batteries: 3 AAA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

For anyone who as a kid ever used a walkie-talkie, the V-Talk handheld person-to-person communicators feel refreshingly familiar. But even though they come in a variety of translucent colors and fit easily into the palm of your hand, V-Talk radios are by no means toys.

With a 2-mile range, these devices offer some serious communication potential. Granted that our signal was relatively unobstructed, in our tests we could hear one another clearly from across department stores ("Honey, are we done shopping yet?"), on the other side of a large lake, and even for a while on commuter trains racing in opposite directions.

For basic use, the V-Talk is quite simple to handle. Just turn it on, set both devices to the same communications channel, and then hold down the PTT (push to talk) button to transmit. The V-Talk is a fully equipped FRS (Family Radio Service) communicator with 14 channels. It allows you to monitor channels before transmission to ensure that you don't interrupt another conversation. And it offers 38 CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System) sub-band codes, giving you more combinations to choose from to keep your conversations private.

To prevent your discussions from being overhead the old-fashioned way (by anyone nearby curiously perking up their ears), the V-Talk contains a headphone output and microphone input port so you can hook up a headset for more discreet conversing.

The V-Talk is powered by three AAA batteries instead of rechargeable battery packs that some other radios use, but it also offers some features designed to extend battery life. The automatic power-off attribute shuts down the radio after 30 minutes of inactivity. And a time-out timer stops the V-Talk from transmitting if the PTT button has been held down for either 30 seconds or 3 minutes (set by the user).

The V-Talk FRS radio is a good choice--and a good price--for the number of valuable features included in the package. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Compact design
• Easy to use
• Headset jacks

Cons:

• Battery replacement can be costly
• Obstructions can make reception scratchy

Product Description

With a Lightweight and Palm-Sized design, 14 Channels with Channel Scan, 38 Privacy Codes, Backlit LCD display and Push to talk button, this cordless telephone from V-Tech features many convenient and intelligent functions for the user.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great price, solid performer, October 16, 2000

By 

mister_t42 (Andover, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: VTech V-Talk 1311 2-Mile 14-Channel FRS Two-Way Radio (Blue) (Electronics)

Having owned a pair of Motorolas that cost twice as much, I can tell you that these are a great buy. Well built, with pretty much the same feature set as the Motorola brand. Battery life is the same as the Motorolas; the more you talk the less battery life you get, as transmission burns up the battery life much more than reception.

I think the most important purchase criteria here is how you intend to use them, as usable distance varies considerable with terrain. If you are in flat farmlands then you can expect 2 miles, otherwise it is typically less than a 1 mile of effective range. In cities I've found it to sometimes be as little as 200 or 300 feet (that's less than 1/10 of a mile).

FRS radios can be used with great success in many situations, such as at Disneyworld (yep, you can stay in touch with lose your kids or significant other), shopping in big cities (I hang out on the street while my wife takes the girls inside), when the kids are biking near the house, etc. If that's what you have in mind, then this is a good purchase.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A decent radio at a good price..., September 6, 2000

By 

Jon A. Mcclintock (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VTech V-Talk 1311 2-Mile 14-Channel FRS Two-Way Radio (Blue) (Electronics)

For the price, this radio is pretty full featured. At the price of a cheap one-channel radio, you get all 14 channels, plus all 38 CSTSS codes.

It performs well, has reasonable range, and good audio quality.

My only problem is that it eats batteries. A set of 3 AAA's will only last about 4-5 hours of ontime.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a deal!, October 13, 2000

By 

Bibliophile - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: VTech V-Talk 1311 2-Mile 14-Channel FRS Two-Way Radio (Blue) (Electronics)

I had been on a quest looking for that perfect gift for my seven year old son. Initially, I looked at the Motorola TalkAbout, but was put off by the [price tag] - I mean that's just too much to spend on something that will probably wind up trashed. Anyways, I found the VTech walkie talkie (personal radio) here [and] got 'em.

The quality is pretty good (worked right out of the box), it's got some key features (NOT as many as the Motorola), it looks good (we got blue and purple), and at this price is almost disposable. Our son and his friends LOVE playing with them (great range and clear) and we've even used them for real communication (I located my family at Costco)! In the final analysis, when you can find a good product this cheap, jump on it.