exsive wrote:First off, range... yeah, most FRS (Family Radio Service) 2-ways have an ideal range of up to 2 miles (like over water, no obstructions). But what isn't mentioned here is that the GMRS (Ground Mobile Radio Service) channels usually have a range of between 5 and 10 miles, depending on model. I wonder if Woot left that info out... I know the radios I have (Midland FRS/GMRS are such the case)....

Good point - a little further info. Radios that are strictly FRS are limited to 500 milliwatts (mW) by the FCC. That's what gives you the crappy 2 mile distance. GMRS Radios can use much more power (it's not the channels (or frequencies) that have range, it's the transmitters) and handhelds are typically in the 1-5 watt range - which is two to ten times more power than these radios. Of course, transmission powers isn't everything - with the right antenna and frequency, you can talk to the space station on 500 mW.

As to the licensing - yes it is "required" - but when last I checked, the FCC (here's their GMRS page) was NOT enforcing this really at all (see: FCC Enforcement Bureau Actions)and there was talk of de-licensing the service altogether - YMMV - and I would certainly never encourage anyone to violate the law by not paying the $80 licensing fee.

Using these while paintballing sounds like a good idea to me but, can you plug a earpiece into them??? I wouldnt want to be making a lot of noise when Im sneaking up on someone

Read the TITLE.

Xact M3X X-Linx Two-Way FRS Radio – 2 Pack

You get one radio normally, so a 2-pack means you get TWO radios

round1about wrote:I can't believe that there are people so untravelled that they cannot imagine ever being out of range of a cell tower.

Agreed. When nuclear war breaks out and every cell phone tower is down. All of us with walkie-talkies will still have a way to talk. ;)

I have several 2-mile walkie-talkies. Yeah, they're not perfect but they get the job done in most cases. Most of the time you're using walkie-talkies, you'll be fairly close anyway. For $20, you can't go wrong.

DocThan.com wrote:I got one of these and I have tried 5 others . they all claims 2 miles distance. 1/2 miles is more realistic .

By the way, we bought these to monitor the baby until I read the health issue about radio signal.

I have a 5 watt chatterbox mounted on my motorcycle helmet and easily get 5 mile range in the city using GMRS channels. Get out in the country, I've seen up to 10 mile highway communication. But that was a 500$ radio mounted to my lid, too.

Looks like a great woot. Friend bought a pair of these units and they seem to work okay, but honestly for 20$ you can't ask for a whole lot.

What can I say? Road trips and travelling, these babies fit the bill...I am a sucker.

pinnette wrote:Ah if only Dick Cheney and his hunting buddy had a pair of these.

Ok, that's funny.

knemesis wrote:When I was younger, these would cost 8x this amount. With the advent and popularity of the cell phone, these are rather obsolete. What's the use?

My wife has MS and I intend to use it as a portable intercom ... she wants me she calls me no hands ... if I am in the basement and she is in back yard ... we are covered!
Thundur

lester26 wrote:Decent woot..well done..now if only they were rechargable...

You just put in some NiCad or NiMH, and they will be rechargable. Better battery life, too, especially with NiMH.

I just cancelled my order after reading all the negative reviews on here, and realizng that you're only getting one 2 pack.

I found a good review on epinions. I deleted it because it was actually a different model. Sorry!

" i want recharge " derr
stupid people.. yeah great idea so your item will end up dieing on you after X amount of charges.. (internal battery)
if you want recharge how about "rechargeable batteries" its brand new! just happened about 15+ years ago.. while your on that check out what we call "the web"
you tards make it an embarrassment to be a human!"

kristalipe wrote:

Just a clarification - you can use these radios without the license, but only on the first 14 channels. If you use the GMRS channels (above 14) You DO need the FCC licence.

http://www.provide.net/~prsg/wi-gmrs.htm#Frequencies

Unlicensed operation of a GMRS transmitter, including on the "split" frequencies shown in Table 2 (except by FRS radios), is punishable by a monetary fine of up to $10,000 for the first offense, even more for subsequent violations. You must obtain an FCC license (or be an immediate family member of someone who is already licensed) before you may transmit with a GMRS radio.

See, I think this is a good deal, and might consider it if I didn't already have a set of Cobras, but I'm wondering how comfortable these are to use.

The shape doesn't really look like it lends to being easy to hold, which, to me, seems like a necessity for a device like this.

Maybe if you have smaller hands, then fine, but these look like they'd cause some serious hand pain after using them for an extended period of time (such as on road trips, which is when my family uses mine). Those nubs at the bottom seem like they'd jab into your hand over time.

pinnette wrote:Ah if only Dick Cheney and his hunting buddy had a pair of these.

Finally after a ton of crap something funny...
After reading the description does anyone think this was wrote by one of those annoying newlyweds. This is the kind of person that keeps asking the unmarried couple, "Hey when you guys getting married... it's like sooo great!!!" After barfing I might radio your honey and tell her, "I just shot you hubby while Chaney and I were hunting for ughhh i mean with you."

I got 2, the motorcycle idea sounded like a good one, for me and my bros

I'd love to use them for paintballing if they came with a headphone jack.
Shame they don't.

runtothedaylight wrote:22.99 on buy.com - not such a good deal to bust your nuts to buy this woot:(

http://www.bizrate.com/buy/products__att278397--210234-,cat_id--11580300,mid--18893.html

Yeah...30% discount plus cheaper shipping sucks. Wait...no it doesn't.

They sure are ugly though.

pipdipchip wrote:

Agreed. When nuclear war breaks out and every cell phone tower is down. All of us with walkie-talkies will still have a way to talk. ;)

I have several 2-mile walkie-talkies. Yeah, they're not perfect but they get the job done in most cases. Most of the time you're using walkie-talkies, you'll be fairly close anyway. For $20, you can't go wrong.

Second that. There are plenty of places here in CO that are out of cell phone range where this communication is perfect. Although I admit its alot more useful for the outdoorsy types who get out a little bit.

Am i misstaken or did i see these featured on Star-Trek?



Interesting product either way...

kind of a lame 2 for tuesday deal, you need 2. it's not like anyone is going to buy just one, unless you need to add one on or broke one.

In the post-apocalypic world of Stephen King's _CELL_, these would be the perfect means of communication!

Darvell

emvanderstar wrote:http://www.provide.net/~prsg/wi-gmrs.htm#Frequencies

Unlicensed operation of a GMRS transmitter, including on the "split" frequencies shown in Table 2 (except by FRS radios), is punishable by a monetary fine of up to $10,000 for the first offense, even more for subsequent violations. You must obtain an FCC license (or be an immediate family member of someone who is already licensed) before you may transmit with a GMRS radio.

However, inasmuch as these radios are only 500 mW, transmission on the split frequencies would not be illegal at all. That said, enforcement is extremely rare against individuals, if not flat out unheard of. The FCC generally has bigger fish to fry - unlicensed operations on the FM radio bands, emergency service bands and amateur radio bands. See my post above. Not to suggest that anyone should go unlicensed when a license is required.

Dude, you get 2.

Hmmm.... Waterproof/Water resistant? I go through lots of extreme environments where communication with people I am with would be a nice thing to have (without having to yell)... But waterproof is a necessity in this environment - and so far our vocal cords work just fine...

tempting woot... maybe if it's around in the morning.

amaiman wrote:Hmm...Seemed interesting. Then I remembered I bought a similar set of these from some other site when they were on sale a few years ago, and they're still sitting unopened in my closet. I have a ham radio license, I can do better than FRS :-)

Good night!

ABSOLUTELY!!! I have an ARRL licence too--- a 2meter band handheld blows this outta the water by a long shot... and it's not that expensive anymore. (although it requires 1/2 a brain to pass the licence tests) nice toy, but, thats about it.

emvanderstar wrote:

http://www.provide.net/~prsg/wi-gmrs.htm#Frequencies

Unlicensed operation of a GMRS transmitter, including on the "split" frequencies shown in Table 2 (except by FRS radios), is punishable by a monetary fine of up to $10,000 for the first offense, even more for subsequent violations. You must obtain an FCC license (or be an immediate family member of someone who is already licensed) before you may transmit with a GMRS radio.

Just like you technically need a license for your cb?

The wife and I moved from Florida to North Cali. Each drove separate vehicles.
Saying cell phone reception was spotty across the great southwest would be to kind (especially long stretches of New Mexico). Walkie-talkies made things a lot easier in coordinating rest/gas/food stops. We never lost sight of one-another, so range wasn't a concern. Batteries lasted about 2 days. They were the wife's idea and it was a good one.

hobbie wrote:Read the TITLE.

Xact M3X X-Linx Two-Way FRS Radio – 2 Pack

You get one radio normally, so a 2-pack means you get TWO radios

err.. you actually get TWO radios normally, at least from all the places I have googled.

joewhite wrote:anybody know if they have jack for headsets? Would be great for stagehands if so.

couldn't find any mention of headset jack anywhere on the net. vendor's web site doesn't provide any manuals or any more useful info. The photo of this unit on the vendor's website:

http://www.xactcommunication.com/XLinx-32/M3X-XLinx-TwoWay-Radio-32.html

shows unit at an angle. it 'looks' like there might be a headset jack on the bottom right corner but its still a guess.

found one user comment on the M3X:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00016AWCY/ref=nosim/102-0820816-5583336?n=172282

weren't happy... it may be the VOX makes the user's voice sound garbled on the other end.

The other amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000246X2I/sr=1-1/qid=1141714424/ref=sr_1_1/102-0820816-5583336?%5Fencoding=UTF8

is for the M3X-2 which may be a newer model or it may more likely be "-2" stands for a two pack.

It may not be the best in the technological world, but I can now find my daughter during her events with the Texas Girls' Choir without giving in to the cell phone craze. Thanks WOOT!!! I'm a happy Texas Momma and I didn't even know I needed this 'til you showed me...

Hook 'Em Horns!!!!!!!!!

Somebody said "sweet" about the voice activation.
I've got some cheap FRS radios with voice activation. It takes up to a second for it to kick in, and you have to talk LOUD. Every sentence has to start with "UHHHHHH Yeah..."

It's kind of annoying, actually.

To bad they don't come in a pack of 3...I could give one to each of my xwives and they could talk to each other instead of me. And if I know they are all in a small 2 mile range, I know which way not to go.

$14.50 at Geeks.com, but that's for 1.

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=M3XBK&cpc=SCH&srm=0

Now when are you gonna bring back the rechargaable Boomtube???
(oh, how a miss the boomtube...)

Would these help keep in touch in European cities? I'm talking capitals like London, Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen. My family is doing a cruise this summer and these could cut down on international cell phone charges. Don't know the slightest about radio transmissions and wondering about how Europe might compare to the states.

jumpcut wrote:Great for keeping track of the spouse on a cruise ship!

OK... Now this is just wrong!! Doesn't say waterproof though!!

venussuz wrote:Would these help keep in touch in European cities? I'm talking capitals like London, Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen. My family is doing a cruise this summer and these could cut down on international cell phone charges. Don't know the slightest about radio transmissions and wondering about how Europe might compare to the states.

Good thing: the FCC doesn't have jurisdiction in Europe, so you can use ALL the channels.
Bad thing: they won't work because they use kilometers instead of miles to measure distance.

OK, my above statements are complete BS

Seriously though, you might want to check with the cruise line to see if these puppies are legal to use in the countries you'll visit. I bet they've been asked that question before.

sry woot. 5.2mhz won't make me spend the $$... try 5.2ghz and u got a deal.

Count me in Woot. 6yr old son + 3rd floor walk-up apartment + 5 acre yard = saves my legs for $20 bucks. Good Woot. Thanks!

knemesis wrote:When I was younger, these would cost 8x this amount. With the advent and popularity of the cell phone, these are rather obsolete. What's the use?

Uh, cell phones don't work everywhere.