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

by VTech

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004VVJX
• Item model number: VT-66-1311
• Batteries: 3 AAA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 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

Amazon.com Product Description

The VTech VTalk 1311 FRS radio offers the important features you need, but not the costlier features you don't, in a compact, fun package at a great- value price. With 14 channels and 38 subcodes, the 1311 offers a total of 532 frequencies to choose from. It also provides auto channel scan to find a clear channel for you, channel monitor, and channel lock. It's the easy way to enjoy two-way radio communications over a two-mile range.

Additional features of the 1311 include an easy-to-read backlit LCD, microphone jack, headset jack, and belt clip. The 1311 uses three ordinary AAA batteries (included), and its auto power-off feature extends their life, so you can use your radio all day.

The colorful translucent casing is both fun and durable, and its compact size lets you easily tuck the radio away in your pocket.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works well, great price, 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 (Purple) (Electronics)

Having owned the equivalent Motorola model that costs 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.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good performance for the price, October 28, 2000

By 

P. Caliwag (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

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

These walkie-talkies run on 4 AAA batteries that will last a long time. I was skeptical to purchase a pair because of the "cheap" price but I took my chances. After testing them out in a residential area and at the mall, they have a range of approximately 1 mile (clear reception) and possibly a little more (with static). These radios aren't "top-of-the-line" but with an affordable price, the overall performance makes them a bargain.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Durable, full featured inexpensive radio, January 11, 2001

By 

Jason A. Sevier (Davis, CA United States) - See all my reviews

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

I've been a user of professional level 2 way radios for years in the wildland firefighting world, and I can tell you that some of the abuse that I've subjected my vtech to has killed $800 bendix king and motorola radios in the past. Ex: repeated drops from 6 ft onto pavement (really!). Now, I'm not going to recommend this, but hey, a few bumps or dumps into the snow ;) probably won't hurt these little units. Most all of these radios will have the same range - they are all operating on the same frequency with the maximum allowed output wattage. An additional function the radio has: not listed on the manual or handy stick-on cheat sheet is the "monitor" or "open squelch" feature. If your friend is coming in scratchy or breaking out, press and hold the "mode button". This will add some background scratchyness, but may allow you to hear the weak signal. You may also use this function to listen in on transmissions happening on your frequency on a different privacy code. Final note: these things are so small and light that my friend clips his onto his shirt collar for our mountain bike rides! I don't know why anyone would buy a different radio (other than occasional unavailability from Amazon. They're worth the wait - there are about 12 of these in my circle of friends - we've used them EXTENSIVELY in the last six months rockclimbing, roadtripping, mt.biking in Tahoe, BC skiing, shopping costco ;( , etc... with no probs. Enjoy! Definately nerdy at first, but highly handy!