Two-way radios for a cruise

[Deleted User]

Does anyone have any advice on what two-way radios to get for going on a cruise?

I'd like something with lots of channels (since lots of people use them on cruises) and a VOX/baby monitoring function..

Any ideas?

italiastar

Not used any on a cruise myself, but my Binatone ones are great - small and good signal with VOX function.

spenderdave

Remember that the normal 446MHz radios are only licenced for use within the UK and Europe, not offshore and certainly not in USA territorial waters which have a different allocation for their 'Family Radio' service. Same applies to CB radios. In all cases you would need to agree with the ship's master to use any transmitting radio on board a ship.

[Deleted User]

Well, the cruise will be sailing in European waters in most places (it's from Southampton to the canary islands). I had looked at the Binatone 950 handsets but wasn't sure if it had VOX

446Mhz radios look like they're ok - http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/customersupport/faq/details.do;jsessionid=0000ukVjNXVjuDm7Ag_wpFj-tbA:13dlht99k?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&snav=2&faqId=2717&faqSubjectId=334&faqSubjectName=Life+On+Board&faqType=faq

No permission required for up to 5 watts of power kit

Then i have to think about whether its ok to leave a sleeping toddler in a room with one of these on..

diable

Are you travelling with your wife?

[Deleted User]

Yup, wife and our 18 month old (will be 21 months)

mchale

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Then i have to think about whether its ok to leave a sleeping toddler in a room with one of these on..

:eek: :eek: :eek:

diable

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Yup, wife and our 18 month old (will be 21 months)

Just tell her if she needs to find you that you'll be at the bar ;o))))))

Hammyman

You have to have permission from the Ships Master in order to use radio communications on a ship. Chances are the ship has its own you can hire out.

TBH those low power PMR 446 jobs you can buy will barely make it through one bulkhead, let alone multiple decks, the length or width of a ship etc. You will not find one for sale with 5W as its tenfold above the legal power limit. UK ones are 0.5W. The Binatone 950 don't do VOX in fact I don't know of any that do.

Owain_Moneysaver

PMR 446 will not have anything approaching 5 watts of RF power.

Cruises may offer a babysitting service or a baby listening service through the phone.

[Deleted User]

I had considered using an Android baby monitoring app since most ships generate their own GSM phone network.. the app would text or phone another number when the sound level gets over a certain point.

I have checked, we can get a baby sitting service in the evenings. I guess its more for the baby's morning nap I want this.. so we can go sit in the coffee bar 100 yards away from the room while he sleeps, and know when he wakes up.

I think the Madeleine Mccann case has scared a lot of people from leaving their kids alone. I'm of the opinion that kids are no more at risk now as they were 30 years ago; especially on a ship where you need a pass get on and off. I can always rig something up so i'll know if someone opens the door (most likely the cleaner)

The biggest issue i can think of really is if there's a fire alert, and parts of the ship get sealed off from one another.. you don't want to end up unable to get your little one.

If you read the link, you don't need permission to take a low wattage walkie-talkie onboard.