Is Motorola T100TP Talkabout a scam or a great buy?
Motorola T100TP Talkabout
The Motorola T100TP Talkabout is a walkie-talkie two-way radio system which includes three battery-powered units. There is also the option of buying a 2-unit set. The units are made of plastic and take three triple A batteries. They`re meant to allow friends and family to keep in touch with each other in any situation where they may get separated - for example, on a camping trip. This unit has 22 channels in total. The manufacturer markets this system as being important to family safety, and keeping the family together.
Total Cost Breakdown
The cost of Motorola T100TP Talkabout is $33.49 plus $9.95 shipping, for a total price of $43.44.
Price is from As Seen on TV Commercial page: amazon.com
Features
- Communication Tool
These walkie-talkies are designed to help people keep in touch with each other in situations where they may get separated. Three different family members or people in the group can hold the units, and contact each other when they need to be in touch.
- Clip on the Back
There`s a handy clip on the back of the unit which allows you to attach it to your clothing or bag when you`re on the go; that way you have fewer items to carry.
- Works at a distance of up to 16 Miles
The manufacturer claims that these units function at a distance of up to 16 miles away. They note that the system only functions at that distance if the land is flat; not hilly or mountainous. If otherwise the system either will not work, or the line will have a lot of static.
- Compatibility
This system is compatible with FRS / GMRS two-way radios.
- Low Battery Alert
The system has a small light on it that flashes when the unit`s battery is getting low, warning you that you should change it.
- 22 Channels
This walkie-talkie unit has 22 channels, allowing for communication with others on the same frequency.
Pros
- Family and Safety
The marketing campaign behind these products stresses the values of the family being closer together and the safety of all family members. This is a positive campaign promoting a solid reason to purchase this product.
- Fun for Kids
These units are fun for children, especially those who are too young for mobile phones. They provide children with hours of entertainment, whether it be around the house or in the outdoors.
- Very Affordable
This product is very reasonably priced.
- Has a Retro Feel
The product takes us back to the days before technology became such an important part of our world. It was an era when kids would play out in the woods with their walkie-talkies for hours, instead of staying inside and texting each other. This system has a nostalgic, old-world feel to it that`s very appealing.
Cons
- Cheap and Unattractive Looking
This system is made of cheap plastic and looks like it could break rather easily. It`s not aesthetically appealing to look at, either, which makes it much less interesting as a product.
- No Port
This walkie-talkie system has no port of entry whatsoever, meaning you can't connect it to a computer or to anything else. The whole system is just the three walkie-talkie units with batteries.
- Many Batteries Required
In order to power these walkie-talkies, you require 3 triple-A batteries for each unit, for a total of nine batteries. So you have to purchase a lot of batteries to power this system, and you have to constantly make sure that you have one extra set of batteries on you - at least.
- Batteries Don't Last
Besides the many batteries required to activate this system, they use up all of the power very quickly. A new set of batteries only lasts for two days total if you leave the unit turned on.
- No Backlight
The units do not have any kind of backlight. That makes them less useful for a camping trip than you would think. Good luck using the unit at night and trying to change the channel, because you won't be able to see a thing. In addition, you can't use the backlight as a flashlight to help you move around in the dark. This is definitely a missing feature, especially if you were thinking of taking these units on a camping trip.
- No Headphone Jack
Believe it or not, there's no jack anywhere on these units where you could plug in a pair of headphones. Headphones would allow you to hear your partners better, and it would also prevent the noise of the walkie-talkies from bothering people around you.
- No Docking Port
Naturally, since there's nowhere to charge these units, there's also no docking port to set down the device.
How it's Different from Competitors
There are some products out there that are far superior to this unit, for not that much more money. Motorolla themselves have a model that includes all the missing features and has a much longer range, a more attractive design, a flashlight and is waterproof. They offer this model for only a minimum amount more money.
Other competing companies have models which include many more channels, one system offering 99 channels in total, and many also have programmable memory channels. There are several models which include long distance wireless range, one system, for example, offering a wireless range of 36 miles.
Does It Really Work?
They work fairly well, although you need to carry batteries along with you. These are most useful on a camping trip where you have no connectivity. However, if you have to leave them off because the batteries wear out quickly, it defeats the purpose of taking the walkie-talkies along on a trip as a safety feature.
Another issue is that these walkie-talkies only work well from far away if the distance is relatively flat. Any mountainous terrain will make communication difficult and you'll only end up hearing a lot of static on the line.
Easy to Use
- Channel Scanner
The scanner quickly and easily scans for open channels on the walkie-talkie and lets you know what's available at the moment.
- One Call Tone
There is only one call tone available, letting you know that someone is trying to reach you. Your family will get used to the one tone, which simplifies it for everyone.
- Small Children Can Use Them
These units are so easy to use, with so few buttons and knobs to deal with, that you can even teach a small child to use them successfully. This makes the walkie-talkies especially useful safety tools for a family.
Save Money
One of the best benefits of this product is that it's extremely affordable, making it possible for anyone to purchase. That way families can try the walkie-talkies out and not be too disappointed if they don't fully meet expectations. For what these units do, they are certainly more than worth the price the manufacturer is asking for them.
Wise Advice
Do not buy Motorola T100TP Talkabout online before searching Amazon.
- Alternatives or the same items are always available and sometimes at lower prices.
Wise Advice
Do not buy Motorola T100TP Talkabout online before searching Amazon.
- Alternatives or the same items are always available and sometimes at lower prices.
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