Walkie Talkie Usage

I%26#39;m sure there will be times when we will have worn my parents out, come this November while in Paris.

We thought of using walkie talkies as a way for us to keep in touch while we keep exploring Paris, and my parents sit on a park bench and relax. My mom has a tendency to tire easily after walking long distances. I really don%26#39;t think she will be able to keep up...

Has anyone used walkie talkies while on vacation in Paris? I read on the forum here that the ones we use here in the states are illegal over there because of the frequencies... so which ones can I use? I would think that I%26#39;d also need to wait and buy them over there, right? Any suggestions as to where to buy them once we arrive?

Merci!

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Specific radio frequencies are assigned by internatioanl agreement. Technically, the use of an apparently identical US walkie-talkie (FRS/GMRS standard radio frequencies) to a European model is illegal outside of the US %26amp; Canada. The European models use a slightly different PMR standard radio frequencies. Out side of the US, many emergency services use radio frequencies very close to the US-standard FRS/GMRS standard, so the use of US radios may %26#39;..bleed over..%26#39; on to these emergency services frequencies.

If you must use this type of device, then you would have to purchase French/European standard PMR radio frequency devices over there. These radios are probably available in places like FNAC, BHV, perhaps even local Monoprix stores.

But if mom tires, put her on an ice floe in the Seine and send her out to sea.

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KDKSAIL -

Ice flow ! ! it%26#39;s hard enough to find ice cubes in Paris,

where is Tigerlilie going to find an ice flow ?

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Why not buy inexpensive mobile phones in Paris ? isn%26#39;t that what they were invented for ?

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Surely a mobile is smaller to carry around too?

We just organised global roaming and text messaged each other (Although US phones entail more hurdles).

Even my seventy-something parents learnt to text while I was in Paris - they could get in touch from Australia for only 40 cents per msg. Amazing what a bit of motivation will do!

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The VHF walkie-talkies I%26#39;ve used here (Motorola bought at BHV) have a range of just a few blocks without the help of a repeater which is not an option for a visitor. The city is just so dense that signals are blocked and absorbed by the buildings.

Also, most of the %26quot;citizen%26#39;s band%26quot; (27mhz) radio frequencies used in the US are illegal in Europe because they overlap into maritime and broadcast frequencies.

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%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;The VHF walkie-talkies I%26#39;ve used here (Motorola bought at BHV) have a range of just a few blocks without the help of a repeater which is not an option for a visitor. The city is just so dense that signals are blocked and absorbed by the buildings.

Also, most of the %26quot;citizen%26#39;s band%26quot; (27mhz) radio frequencies used in the US are illegal in Europe because they overlap into maritime and broadcast frequencies.%26lt;%26lt;%26lt;

The PMR (Personal Mobile Radio) radio frequency %26#39;..talkie-walkie..%26#39; personal radios (Motorola %26#39;TalkAbout%26#39;, Cobra %26#39;MicroTalk%26#39;, etc.) available in France and most EU countries are significantly different from the 27 MHz band %26#39;CB%26#39; radios. These personal %26#39;talkie-walkies%26#39; operate in the 446 MHz frequency range. Evidently the US FRS/GMRS (Family Service Radio/General Mobile Radio Service) frequencies are close enough to the radio frequencies used by many EU emergency services agencies that under some conditions %26#39;cross-over%26#39; is possible.

Like their US counterparts, the %26#39;..range..%26#39; of any of these PMR frequency radios are the same as with any radio and a function of the particular model of radio being used, local conditions and power available (battery charge). PMR radios are %26#39;rated%26#39; at 3 km and 5 km....but conditions can increase or decrease these %26#39;range%26#39; estimates. In actual %26#39;..practice..%26#39; these radios tend to have relatively limited useage---one of those ideas that sounds better in theory than it proves in actual practice.

As has been suggested, if remaining in contact is THAT high a priority for your family, then either find out about cellular telephone availablity with your existing cellular phone service provider(s) or rent or purchase a cellular phone locally.

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The bottom line is... if you bring a walkie-talkie from the US and it happens to transmit on an illegal frequency (channel), you probably won%26#39;t get caught in a %26quot;sting%26quot; of radio usage-related law, you%26#39;ll just have useless walkie-talkies because they are weak and the established radio services are strong.

We bought 2 GSM phones and use them as walkie-talkies (as has been thoughtfully suggested) so.... I think that%26#39;s an option to consider.

We opted for GSM phones 2 years before leaving for France because it%26#39;s the international standard. A tri/quad-band GSM phone gives you more world-travel options than any other service offering. T-Mobile and most of the other US carriers offer them now. You only need an %26quot;unlocked%26quot; phone to buy a local phone number in Paris for 30 Euros.

For a short stay, phone rental may be worth considering.

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We tried our walkie talkies from Costco in Paris.

THEY DO NOT WORK!

The buildings are too dense and the walls too thick to get any signals.

If you have to keep in touch get a cell phone.

What I am really concerned about is the fact you say your mother tires of walking easily. I also have a one leg problem. It is very hard to find a place to sit and rest in Paris! (Not very many benches!) You will find them in the parks and one can sit and wait in the cafes.

I started to carry a backpack chair that I can unfold and sit when I can no longer walk. It is very handy.

You can get wheelschairs at most of the museums. If your mother has handicapp placard show it for free entry( or reduced price) of both her and the person who pushes her.

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I forgot to add this information:

The walkie talkies do work if you and another group are driving the roads. We used them with our cousins. They drove in their car and we had our rental. We could tell them we were going to stop at rest rooms or gas stations or lunch or road conditions . We could keep track of them.

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We have US walkie talkies and have used them here no problem (didn%26#39;t know they were illegal).

BUT we found them annoying and much prefer the ludite method of going our seperate ways with a set rendez vous place and time for getting back together. Its old fashioned, but the batteries don%26#39;t die, the signal does not get lost and you never have to worry about missing the page.