Just type into Google the phrase 'how to build your own walkie-talkie?' or 'walkie-talkie with your own hands' – and you'll see many interesting articles on how to do it. I'll say right away that I've had inventive inclinations since childhood, but I still ended up writing articles. Well, maybe that's for the best. Maybe I should stick to my own business? So let's begin...
Have you heard the saying: 'a penny wise, pound foolish'? How often do you buy cheap, low-quality goods? If often, then this article is definitely for you. Using a personal example, I'd like to warn you against undesirable purchases and encourage you to make better choices.
As a clear example of which walkie-talkies not to buy, I chose Motorola walkie-talkies of the VF-200 series. What attracted me to it? First, its very light weight – 100 grams. And that includes the battery (!). Such a walkie-talkie will especially appeal to women – fragile, gentle, soft creatures. And the price is quite acceptable, because $35 is not that much.
At first glance, the walkie-talkie looks like a children's toy, but it has a number of advantages: price, weight, size, design. On the other hand, there are disadvantages: you cannot use a non-original antenna, relatively poor speaker, rarely used operating frequencies.
Well, it seems perfect! But let's look at the box... That's where the marketing fluff begins:
'5 miles in ideal conditions!' Answer: 'How often do you go hiking with ideal conditions for walkie-talkie operation?' You don't even need to check, it's obviously a lie. More accurately, it's an advertising pitch. But still, let's test it. Walking through rooms on the same floor, the sound starts to crackle and disappear. You have to strain your voice and hearing. Not the best indicator for walkie-talkies, if not the worst, of course.
We read further: 'The walkie-talkie is perfect for building security personnel.' Upon testing, it turned out that it doesn't cover more than 4 floors... You could guard a small warehouse... But that's also a building!
And what mainly alarmed me was that the power is not written anywhere on the packaging. The seller claims it is 1W, and in Runet everyone thinks so too. However, after googling foreign sites, I wasn't even surprised that the power of our little one is only 0.5W. So we exposed the poor thing...
Finally, I'll say that sometimes it's better to buy one good thing than three bad ones that will need to be repaired or replaced a couple more times. It's good if it only costs money. But what about the wasted nerves or wandering in the woods? It's worth thinking about... I can wish you the best hikes, vacations, fishing trips, and the best walkie-talkies you could wish for!
P.S. In defense of Motorola, I'll tell you a secret: our walkie-talkie was of Chinese origin. So don't think all Motorolas are like that. Check walkie-talkies yourself, or consult with owners of the ones you want to buy. Remember: a brand is not always a guarantee of quality!