Been waiting for these. Going to loft one in a high flying rocket to help locate where it parachutes down. Often it's in high grass, and the call alert will help me zero in on it once I'm close. That, and I can narrate the boost via the onboard video/audio camera that downlinks to a receiving station.

These would be good for long rock climbing trips [sure beats yelling to your belayer from 200 feet above him] - if they are still around in the morning I'll pick one (set) up.

Not good as an every day watch.

uplateanyway wrote:Note: This post contains pricing information BLAH BLAH

hey "Uplateanyway", you're featured in tonight's WOOTCAST! Give it a listen, and congrats!

EDIT: Doh, lorinmichael beat me to the punch by a few seconds.

Works great in casinos to find your friends. Most cell phones don't work inside on the casino floor. Don't even have to wear it. Just put it in your pocketbook or bag.

as always, awesome podcast!

Oh, and I love how Woot is going through every FRS radio permutation known to man.
This is a great example of a wrist communicator, though I don't know of Bell South's track record.

Be advised, as always, you will have to self-license in order to legally use the GMRS channels.

These appear to be the same non-branded watches they offered for 17.99 on Tuesday a few weeks ago, but now with a bell south logo. They are actually pretty nice for short range walkie talkie use and give decent voice quality.

edit: It looks like a few people beat me to it. Also these have the headsets, which you might be able to consider worth the $2 extra.

I bought the wristwatch radios the last time they were on Woot. They work great. These are different, me thinks.....but still good for kids or people on short hikes.

These would have been great in Disneyland and California Adventure when I was just there! I can just picture it............. I'm on the Scream ride in California Adventure and my Nephew is calling me because he's lost because I told him to wait for us because he's too short to ride (but not too lost because he can only be 1.5 miles away)! He says Auntie!!!! I say yaaaaaaaa just as I'm getting to the turn around Mickey Mouses head. I go upside down and the wire that is attached to the thing on my wrist then attached to my head. (No I didn't read the signs that tell you about cell phones and things because these don't apply right?) Anyway I'm on the turn and then the cord is around my neck while my wrist is right up there with it wrapped around me! Needless to say, my Nephew finds me only by the authorities telling him I was asphyxiated on the Scream ride by my 2 way radio. Hummmmm, I think my Razor with Bluetooth works just fine. Thanks Woot for the great write up. Happy Wooting everyone! These would be great for my Nephews! But I won't let them on rides with them!

terrybatey wrote:Works great in casinos to find your friends. Most cell phones don't work inside on the casino floor. Don't even have to wear it. Just put it in your pocketbook or bag.

Won't they toss you out of a casino if they find you with a small radio like this?

product haiku:

raise your hand to mouth--
whispering into your wrist--
a watch by... Bell South

fendi wrote:
I think its has...

Why in the picture they have shown a mic separately... it will be very difficult to carry the mic separately...

markzero wrote:

Won't they toss you out of a casino if they find you with a small radio like this?

Never have had a problem. One time I was approached and asked what I was using it for and I said to find our friends so we could meet for lunch. Have used them in many casinos never has been an issue.

zionchild wrote:
Uhh, these say that they are "FCC self-licensing". Does this mean you don't need to get the license, then?

No, it means -exactly- what it says. "You can go get a license, on your own, from the FCC" Normally, for other kinds of FCC licenses, you have to take a test administered by another licensed operator.

In this case, you can go to the URL I provided, and get one on your own. The FCC is getting pretty persnickety about people operating GMRS radios without a license, and will happily fine you if you happen to use them often.

I bought a set of these at walmart when they were clearing them out . It was a differant brand but the exact same item. They work fine with these exceptions. The range isnt that great. 1.5 miles is extremely generous. I was able to get maybe .75 mile. these areperfect for mall use and such. They are a bit bulky when worn as a watch.
Woots price is very good. I bought mine for 10.00 each on clearance and that was a terrific deal.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT THINK THESE WOULDBE PERFECT AT SIX FLAGS, DISNEYLAND,ETC. YOU WOULD BE WRONG.
Everyone brings these things to those places......You would need about 5000 channlels available for you to find a free and clear channel to talk on. ............. Seriously I took mine to six flags thinking it would help but we ended up not using them at all due to radio traffic.
Still a great woot................ Awesome price for a neat item.

Ooohhh I feel so old. Am I the only one here who's first thought was "Dick Tracy Two Way Wrist Radio"?

I'm so old and tired. I think I'll go to bed now.

loonysan wrote:

Why in the picture they have shown a mic separately... it will be very difficult to carry the mic separately...

It's optional, for use when you need to keep your hands free. I won't say like when driving, but like when... driving. And it's a headset, not a mic you have to carry. Look closer.

martinbogo wrote:No, it means -exactly- what it says. "You can go get a license, on your own, from the FCC" Normally, for other kinds of FCC licenses, you have to take a test administered by another licensed operator.

In this case, you can go to the URL I provided, and get one on your own. The FCC is getting pretty persnickety about people operating GMRS radios without a license, and will happily fine you if you happen to use them often.

Then why not just say, "license required"? When I go shopping for stoves and see "self-cleaning", I don't think "this must mean I need to clean it myself".

Anyone know if these have some kind of VOX function, and is the mic one of those standard mini-plug jobs?

markzero wrote:

It's optional, for use when you need to keep your hands free. I won't say like when driving, but like when... driving. And it's a headset, not a mic you have to carry. Look closer.

how about like when... biking? My dad and I used a pair of these radio things when we did a 15 mile ride together.

Uh, two words...

Nextel and Boost....

Any walkie talkie that doesnt travel 1500 miles or so is obsolete these days...

It'll be my first woot! if you don't need to wear the headset to use them. Does anybody know if you can use it without? I'm guessing yes... otherwise, what's the point of these?

Edit: Nevermind, I see Markzero's (or whoever's) answer up there!

zbeeblebrox wrote:product haiku:

raise your hand to mouth--
whispering into your wrist--
a watch by... Bell South

It Rhymes.... you have offended the haiku gods!

martinbogo wrote:

To use the GPRS frequences legally, you HAVE TO GET AN FCC LICENSE.

I always wondered what happened to Deputy Dawg.....

Io wrote:Anyone know if these have some kind of VOX function, and is the mic one of those standard mini-plug jobs?

There's a VOX symbol dead-center of the display in the photo. I assume that means yes.

Uhh...this woot is for two pairs right? Not just two single ones?

Matthew, even if I wasn't up late anyway, I'd still stay up late for your podcasts.

Thanks.

alfadog wrote:Hey, these are just like the other ones I go from woot that were not vanity-branded.

and no earpiece either.

They were a lot of fun at the zoo!!

That's exactly what I'm thinking. Bought 2, one for each kid and they can go do whatever... Just hoping they'll interface with the cheapie handhelds we got at xmas so we can keep tabs on 'em and reel 'em in when they're getting rambunctuous.

Great deal, even though they really onlt reach a mile if locky.
Couldn't pass up the al-most Dick Tracy watches. Bought four make nice, fun Christmas gifts for a couple of our married kids.

might be good when you are at a theme park?

Well, I finally bought something. Hope it's worth it, looked on different sites and they've got the prices all over the place. From 18.99 for one to 109.00 for a pair.

Just as I figured I'd buy the pair last time, they sold out. Nabbed me a set this time

I just got these at CompUSA for 12.97 on clearance. They are huge for wristwear... my kids won't care though. They look like the crawled out from the 80's though. $25 after shipping...yuck. Bad woot!

AWESOME PODCAST!! It is so funny and true. It's like the official woot anthem for east-coasters!

martinbogo wrote:
To use the GPRS frequences legally, you HAVE TO GET AN FCC LICENSE. $80 You can get more information at:

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=general_mobile

that's crazy talk....

I've heard that they don't really make any effort to enforce the GMRS license requirement right now, and I've never known anyone to run into a problem...

the $80 cost makes me think that it is uncommon to get the required license, because it's just crazy at that price!
You can get a low-level amateur radio (HAM) license for half that cost, and it will last twice as long (10 years rather than 5)... only catch is that it requires you to take a very easy exam... end result is that you have far more frequencies to play on, less power restrictions, and pre-established public amateur repeater stations that can rebroadcast your transmissions for miles and miles and miles...

'legally' you should get the GMRS license... but for me personally - I wouldn't bother!

I am guessing these will be a great birthday present for a grade school age boy and his brother. They wil think that Dick Tracy communicator thing to be really cool!
I

zionchild wrote:Then why not just say, "license required"? When I go shopping for stoves and see "self-cleaning", I don't think "this must mean I need to clean it myself".

Because you don't need a license for the FRS channels, just GMRS?

Hey, anyone who has these under whichever brand: how big are these wristbands?
I have fat wrists.

You know, I think the w00t staff has the "delete" button set on "deep fat fry" tonight. Posts getting deleted left and right (Yes, yes, I know, some of them were not exactly on-topic.)

So, yes, these are the same as the X-Act x32x radios. Not a bad deal at $19 for a pair of them, and at least these come with mic/earphones.

They do have a VOX function, but the delay is a bit long for some people. The front button does work nicely, and it gives you that "Secret Agent" look when you use them. Overall, they are a bit large and bulky on the wrist, and people with large hands/wrists will find they don't fit well.

That aside, they are nice radios. You can get the batteries relatively easily, and I'm happy with the two pairs I own.

kaptainkaveman wrote:I just got these at CompUSA for 12.97 on clearance. They are huge for wristwear... my kids won't care though. They look like the crawled out from the 80's though. $25 after shipping...yuck. Bad woot!

Was that each, or per pair?

Another product Haiku

Talking to my friend
Whispering into my watch
He can hear my voice

kaptainkaveman wrote:I just got these at CompUSA for 12.97 on clearance. They are huge for wristwear... my kids won't care though. They look like the crawled out from the 80's though. $25 after shipping...yuck. Bad woot!

Which CompUSA? They were a clearance item a while ago, but I think only pretty much at the stores, and then only if they had any left. I remember seeing something like them as well, but not for $13.. I think they were closer to $20.