Talkin' about ��

Family Radio Service, or "FRS" radios, are those little hand-held walkie-talkies that allow you to stay in touch with your kids or spouse. But with only a 1/2-watt of power, range is limited.

To increase range, manufacturers have been marketing "dual-service" radios that combine FRS with General Mobile Radio Service, or "GMRS." Instead of the mile or so range with FRS radios, FRS/GMRS radios may have up to five watts of power, greatly increasing range and voice clarity.

Motorola has come out with a two-watt FRS/GMRS walkie-talkie that claims a conservative seven-mile range and offers eight NOAA weather channels--perfect for when you may be trekking a shoreline or shopping around a new town and need to keep an eye on the weather.

The new water-resistant Motorola T7400 Talkabout radio is also "hands-free" with earbuds and voice activation.

Another special feature removes the "hiss" between words and extends the radio's effective range, and a noise filter eliminates competitors' radios from being heard on all of Motorola's Talkabouts.

A pair of AA battery powered T7400s retails for $109.99 and NiMH rechargeable models go for $139.99.

Meanwhile, a Wristwatch Communicator, the X3X from Xact Communications has recently come on the market with 22 channels and a range of 1.5 miles. Priced at $33.95 it is available at www.getxact.com.

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Beam me up Scotty!

COPYRIGHT 2004 Boat Owners Assn.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group