Walkie talkie's

Do they really work up the mountains?
I am looking at some with a 5km range. skiing in auffach(cant say the other place ) so not over a massive area...just wondered what your thoughts were whether they were worth getting :)

Have had a set for a number of years and yes they do work, they also pick up all and sundry using walkie talkies on the mountain. 8)

Yeah, I have had some for a number of years too. Provide good entertainment listening to some of the conversations that go on!

Remember, a 5k range is based on it there being no obstacles......mountains tend to be obstacles so you might get less ;)

I have lost one of mine so it is more of a walkie now.. :)

Been using them for over 10 years. Choose a model with a digital frequency code. This will avoid you hearing all the conversations made by other groups using the same channel. Sometimes hear friends talking in adjoining resort, as there is line of sight.

Yep there brilliant but make sure you can buy a pair with a better range than 5k, this would then give you better signal because of the mountain...

You do get a few others on the same channel but a small inconvenience really. Better than using a mobile.

personally i think they work but can be a PITA unless you buy really good kit, we use kenwood pro units for the national championships coms between coaches and course and still get to listen to tarquin telling fee fee that they will meet in X restaurant in 15 minutes and all the other dross they seem to have to tell each other... the ones we use are a bit bigger than the average motorola units but worth the extras for what we need them for... you can of course get a licence version with unto 25km range but the licence is valid in the UK and you pay for europe

Suppose it depends on the requirement, If it is to tell tarquin/fee that you are meet at 2pm they are fine, if you are saying go go go at the bottom of the slope or whatever else you say a cheap 5km one might not do the job ;)

We took a set of 4 Binatone Action 950's out to Les Gets this year (Jan '11), they have tons of different frequency settings so the odds of 'chatter' are negligible. I was up at the top of La Rosta (Eglantine) having a lesson and my Wife who was down in the village decided to spark up some witty banter - I was standing in line waiting to be instructed when my pocket starting spurting the most absurd load of rubbsih much to the amusement of my classmates! Point being that on a perfectly clear day these radios worked fine, on crappy days the range did diminish a bit but all in all if you're on the same side of the mountain they were surprisingly good. Read reviews online for realistic characteristics rather than rely on manufacturers quoted range etc.

'Tarquin' did manage to meet 'Fee Fee' and her family for lunch that day ;o)