Motorola Talkabout - T400 Two Way Radio Review

Rugged, Packed with Features and ready for an Adventure

Whether taking your family on a camping expedition or going backpacking alone, a set of walkie-talkies is a highly essential item. There are an assortment of two-way radios in the market, and most of the new ones have a wide range of frequency options, with some of them weighing less than half a pound. It is here where the Motorola Two-way Radios come in. These small, but effective devices can help you keep in touch with the outside world where cell phone services dare not tread.

The Motorola Talkabout-T400 Two Way Radio.

The Motorola Talkabout-T400 Two Way Radio is an excellent camping and hiking walkie-talkie, and is a necessary item, perfect for camping and outdoor family excursions. It has a durable, light, waterproof body, and is packed full of features. In terms of price and functionality, it is good value for money.

Features

The radio has 22 channels to choose from, including GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) and FRS (Family Radio Service) frequencies. It also has 121 privacy codes, which totals to 2,662 combination options, making it really easy to locate an open channel network. If you are still facing difficulties in finding a frequency, then you have the option of running a channel scan. You also have access to private channels and hands-free operations. The Motorola Talkabout T-400 can also access NOAA weather channels**, and if there is a local emergency, your radio will signal you.

There are three ways to operate your radio. First, there is the option of utilizing the NiMH batteries (rechargeable), which you can use it for close to eight and a half hours. Alternately, you can plug in the tiny USB cable to an electrical outlet, or hook it up to your automobile adaptor, or connect it to your computer. You can also use the three AA batteries on the go for up to 21 hours.

It also allows keeping your hands free while hiking or climbing any rocky terrain. In other words, the iVOX / VOX acts like a speakerphone and facilitates hands-free communication.

Another interesting feature is the QT or the Quiet Talk facility, which permits nonstop communication with other Motorola radios that share this feature. It can filter any annoying transmissions from non-Motorola radios, particularly in busy and high traffic zones. The T-400 also has the facility of communicating with any radio that has the FRS/GMRS feature, irrespective of its brand, as long as it shares matching channel and privacy codes.

The Talkabout T-400 has a backlit screen in addition to displaying valuable information. The battery meter will notify you when you need to recharge the radio. The built-in LED flashlight guarantees that you will not have to worry during unforeseen emergencies or power failures. Alternately, you can also use three AA batteries (to be purchased separately) in case of an emergency.

The unit, as mentioned earlier, also has the SCAN feature to identify which channels are in use. It can also be programmed to transmit a distinct tone when you finish your conversation. In other words, it would be like replying "Roger" or "Over" after you complete your conversation. You can also personalize the radio to notify you when your batteries are low. There is also the keypad lock facility that prevents your personalized settings from being accidentally changed. It also prevents the user from accidentally pressing the keys while on the go

Help & Support

Although the Motorola Talkabout T-400 comes with a one-year warranty, the company could have increased that period, as it is much shorter than most comparable devices.

If you need any help with your T-400, you can always access the website and download any manuals or FAQs. Alternately, you can also contact support agents by email or via phone.

Price Range

The Motorola Talkabout T-400 is priced at around $69.00 (inclusive of a discount of $11.00 on shipping) at Amazon.com.  However, you are likely to get an used one at a reduced price.

Customer Reviews (Amazon.com)

The average overall performance points for the T-400, collected from over 50 users is 4.0 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com.

Pros

The Motorola Talkabout T-400 albeit having a tough exterior, is compact and handy in size. The rubberized grips are easy to hold, with the controls and buttons providing a solid feel. The unit does not appear cheap and the yellow color of the family model makes it very easy to spot. The volume comes forth as good with fairly loud and clear communication.

Cons

However, there are a few aspects where it does not measure up. For example, although it specifies a coverage area of about 35 miles, the actual range will vary depending on terrain and conditions. It should be noted that this range is over calm waters or open plains, and if you are using it in the mountains, you can expect a range of only around two miles or less. While most users also complained that the batteries lasted for just about a day, some users felt that a charging base or cradle, would have made a huge difference. Few users also felt that the unit could have done with an SOS function as well.

Personal Review
I am a big fan of mobile phones and don’t really fancy the walkie-talkie very much. Maybe it is because of the multiple functions that cell phones provide. Truth told, I find it a bit comical to watch people stick something the size of a small brick in to their ear. However, after researching the entire week on the internet, my findings have completely altered my perception about two-way radios. For someone who loves the outdoors, the T400 appears to be pure bliss. 

In short, the Motorola Talkabout T400 Rechargeable Two-Way Radio comes across as a nice tough little two-way radio set, with built-in LED torches and a weather radio. It is an extremely useful accessory to have while out camping or on any outdoor excursions in an area where there is limited cell coverage. In short, it is truly rugged, packed with features and ready for an adventure.


Motorola Talkabout-T400 Packaging Includes

•    TWO MotorolaT400 radios (2)
•    TWO Rechargeable Ni-MH batteries
•    TWO Micro-USB wall charging cables
•    Wall adapter
•    Charging tray
•    Swivel belt carry holsters
•    ONE Accessory brochure
•    ONE User Guide/ Product manual

Motorola Talkabout-T400 (Images)

 

Image -  Motorola Talkabout-T400 Two Way Radio [Image]

 Product Description

Motorola Talkabout-T400 (General Info)
Note: This information was taken directly from the Motorola Solutions, Inc. site.
http://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/products/two-way-radios/consumer-two-way-radios/talkabout--t400.html#tabproductinfo

•    Band: GMRS/FRS
•    Range (miles) - Up to 35-mile range
•    Top Mid Base Ranges (miles) - 35/6/2
•    Indoor range: 4 floors (approximate)
•    Dimensions - 7.54 in. H x 2.26 in. W x 1.37 in. D  
•    Weight (without battery) - 0.418 lbs.
•    Weight (with battery) - 0.43 lbs.
•    IP Rating - IP54 weatherproof
•    Channel monitor - Yes
•    Channels - 22 channels, each with 121 privacy codes  [in optimum conditions]
•    QT (Quiet Talk) Interruption Filter - Yes
•    Priority scan - Yes
•    Monitor - Yes
•    Auto squelch - Yes
•    11 Weather Channels (7 NOAA) with alert feature - Yes


Motorola Talkabout-T400 (Interface)

•    VOX iVOX Hands-free Communication With or Without Accessories - Yes
•    Flashlight - Yes
•    Call Tones - 20 regular
•    Backlight - Yes
•    Keypad lock - Yes
•    Keypad tones - Yes
•    Timer – Yes

Motorola Talkabout-T400 (Power)

•    Battery Life - 21 hr. alkaline (3 AA) or 8.5hr. NiMH [premium Alkaline cells not supplied]
•    Battery type - NiMH battery pack , 3 AA
•    Power: 0.5 watt
•    Rechargeable - Yes
•    Mini-USB Charging Port - Yes
•    Eco Smart - Yes
•    LCD Battery Meter - Yes
•    Battery save power save – Yes


Ref. Sources:

•    http://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/products/two-way-radios/consumer-two-way-radios/talkabout--t400.html
•    http://www.techwholesale.com/motorola-talkabout-t400.html
•    http://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/products/two-way-radios/consumer/t400/Talkabout-T400-data-sheet.pdf
•    http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/Two-Way-Radio-Comparison.aspx

Customer Reviews and Price Details:

•    http://www.walmart.com/ip/Motorola-Talkabout-T400-Two-way-Radio-22-X-Gmrs-frs-Uhf-184800-Ft-t4b32201yaraav/46524762
•    http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Talkabout-T400-Rechargeable-Two-Way/product-reviews/B00W75BLVS
•    http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Talkabout-T400-Rechargeable-Two-Way/dp/B00W75BLVS/ref=sr_1_1?s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1444981425&sr=1-1&keywords=Motorola+Talkabout-T400+Two+Way+Radio

NOAA Weather Channel

** To keep in touch with changing weather conditions, weather alerts will provide you with warnings of incoming storms or dangerous conditions. You can tune in to one of seven NOAA channels (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) on your T400, and you will always know what to pack with continuous local and regional weather broadcasting. However, NOAA radio service may not be available in all areas. Please check with your local weather office for frequency and details, or visit www.weather.gov/nwr, (Canada: www.msc.ec.gc.ca/msb/weatheradio ).

Lytro Illum Camera – Photography Just Got Better

When Lytro first introduced its light field camera two years ago, it shook up not just photography, but of technology in general.

Lytro Illum is classified as THE camera of the future and its time that you forgot just about everything else that you knew about photography.

Image courtesy : (http://uncrate.com/stuff/lytro-illum-camera/ )

Everybody knows that blurred photos cannot be made sharp after the fact but now it has all been changed with the new $1600 Lytro Illum Camera.

The Illum’s positive points are that it has a cool, futuristic design using light-field photography that take perfect shots that often feels like magic. It also has helpful tools for showing you how to shoot, however, most of the amateur photographers might find both the software and hardware a bit too buggy, albeit expensive, not to mention the difficulty in importing and editing the images. To make matters worse, if you are not a bit careful, you might miss the perfect image.

However, the photographer has to have some technical and artistical strengths as when they work with the Illum, because they have to visualize each image in a 3D format. If everything is in the same plane, then it would just look like any other photo. While it is easy to take photos of portraits, landscape photography is altogether different as you have to learn to give each item that required depth.

Instead of snapping a solitary image, the Illum captures a million light rays in a sequence what it calls a light field. In other words, it uses light field technology to take photos that could be refocused after the fact.

IMAGE-1

IMAGE – 2

IMAGE – 3

(Image courtesy : http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/reviews/lytro-illum-the-future-gets-pretty-17062472 )

The above three examples are so called living images that are designed to be interactive so that the viewer can discover the different parts of the image. The new Illum makes all of this accessible to the average photographer.

The Illum is a second generation camera. While the last one was a testament to prove light-field photography, this one is a statement to announce the arrival of its second generation. In short, it is the marriage of present and future, with more emphasis on the future. The Illum comes with a superb lens, a bit baggy and hefty body, and comes with a lot of manual controls. It is heavier than the usual cameras that you have to use both hands. It looks a reduced DSLR as you can see from the image. More specifications can be found by CLICKING HERE

Lastly, for those who think the Illum is expensive, it is better that they run a check on the prices of those digital or telephoto compact fixed camera lenses in Amazon or Ebay and they will be surprised to see the prices of even the used ones. Comparatively, the Illum provides more value for money. Besides, this is only the second generation and they are only going to improve with time. As Lytro CEO Jason Rosenthal aptly puts it “we are only just getting started and hope to do much, much more in the future”.

Having said that, there is little mistaking the Lytro Illum for anything else, but a camera of the future.

Qwirkle Board Game Review

The Qwirkle Board Game from Mindware is a simple and equally fun game that is suitable for all ages. This board game can be enjoyed by both kids and adults and that is one of the many reasons why it is ideal for the whole family. One of its main advantages is that it provides adequate training for the kids when it comes to pattern building and recognition. As a result, the game develops the basic strategic and logical skill of the players.

Product Description

The whole game play is based on patterns and colors which many of the board games share in common. The game consists of 108 wooden tiles or blocks that come in six different shapes and in six colors. The wooden tiles are indeed beautiful and would make a nice necklace! The tiles are nice to touch and has a very soft feel.

How to play Qwirkle

Quirkle is a board game that requires well thought out strategy and planned maneuvers from the players. It can also be as simple as matching shapes and colors. Using the tiles, the players try and score the maximum points by building lines that contains similar colors or shapes.

Qwirkle is strategic because it mainly consists of forming shapes or patterns. Shapes or patterns can be produced by lining up the tiles in a line and which share a common single trait, i.e., a diamond. That is to say, if there are four similar diamonds in a straight line and you add a fifth diamond to it, and you will be granted 5 points.

Prior to commencement of the game, ensure that you have a pad and pen at your side. This is to keep a tab on the scores of each player during their turn. Every player commences the game by drawing or taking six tiles from the pouch and begin to line it up in front of him or her. The player who has the most number of tiles that share the same pattern or color begins first. Whenever a player has less than six tiles in front of them, they will then have to draw another tile from the pouch to restock the number of tiles that they have used. It is also to be noted that if there is a line of similar colors, i.e., a blue square in the line, then you would not be allowed to put another blue square in the same line.

The Qwirkle Board Game can be played either anti-clockwise or clockwise, depending on the rules that you set. It’s fun to exchange seats with your partners occasionally so that you are exposed to their strategies. Any player who completes a row containing six tiles will get a bonus of six points in addition to the six points that they will get for the six tiles. It does make the game more fun as more strategy can come into play to ensure that your partners do not get that additional bonus.

Qwirkle has been compared to Set, Scrabble and many other board games. As you approach the end, the chances of drawing a particular tile increase. Hence, players need to start planning for which tiles that they will likely select. This adds an exciting dynamics to the game as it reaches its conclusion.

Consumer Reviews

Nearly all consumers agree that this is a fun, family-game. Everyone who has tried it seems to like it a lot as it isn't easy to play and very easy to learn. They feel that if you have already played Set and Scrabble, you will definitely find Qwirkle an easy game to play. The wooden tile pieces feel like they are quality made and they look very pretty all laid out while playing. It is nice to have a pouch to pass the tiles around in rather than having to spend a lot of time turning the pieces face down in the bone pile before each game. Children younger than six years are too young for this game, but 10 year olds love them. Although there is definitely a bit of good fortune needed when it comes to drawing the tiles, it also takes skill and strategy to decide where to place each tile to benefit you the most in the long fun. In a nutshell, this game is money well-spent. Most consumers believe that it will help their young ones to develop logical thinking skills and also enhance their strategic thinking. This board game can also be enjoyed by both teens and adults that's why it is perfect for the whole family.

Price Reviews

Qwirkle is priced at around $19 at Amazon. Price wise, it is a worthwhile investment as it is far less expensive and more portable than other similar board games.

Safety Reviews

This game contains small pieces and is not suitable for children under 3 years of age as the small parts are a choking hazard.

My thoughts on the Qwirkle Board Game

I was initially intrigued by the simplicity of the game and thought that I would be bored within minutes. Finally, I ended up playing Qwirkle for over 2 hours and did not find it boring at all. As a matter of fact, the patterns and colors appealed to me and it kept reminding me of Scrabble, except that you play using colors and patterns instead of alphabets.

One thing that bothered me is that the number of players at one time is limited to 4, unless of course, you purchase more than one box.

To summarize, Qwirkle isn't a fast paced action filled game as players will have to strategize to earn the most amount of points. Qwirkle is not a great game, but it is a good one. All in all, it is a fun and well-made game that both the average gamer and the aficionado can enjoy.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded - Can It Renew America

Alright, let’s get this straight

Who is Thomas Friedman and what do you know of him?

Well he is a New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize winning writer Friedman who has written a couple of books that include, The Lexus and the Olive Tree which came out in 1999 and introduced thousands to the notion of globalization. So, when the book, The World Is Flat came out nearly everybody was reading it. So his new book Hot, Flat, and Crowded may make it official, for many, that ecology-mindedness is the character of our times.

Anyway, the fact of the matter is that I have NOT got down to reading Thomas Friedman’s new book…where he apparently suggests the industries and fields in which we should be investing. Now I have trouble with anyone telling me where people should be investing, but if the reviews in New York Times, Washington Post and the Salon are to be believed, I am fairly sure I will be buying the book.

"The shortest way I can explain it is that 'hot' stands for the increase in global warming, 'flat' is my metaphor for the rise of middle classes all over the world, from India to China to Brazil to Russia, who are now able to consume and produce like Americans, and 'crowded' is the fact that the population of the planet in my lifetime ...has almost tripled."

Friedman it appears offers a thought- provoking, accessible look at the impact of wealth transfer from energy consuming to energy producing nations, failed policies, environmentalism, conservation, greenness, and redefining a vision for America, that “MAY” leave the reader asking questions and demanding solutions. Although some of the ideas presented aren’t new, this book to me appears worth the reader’s time.

Alright so much for the books - but who is Thomas Friedman?

Thomas Lauren Friedman was born on 20th July, 1953. He is an American journalist, neo-liberal columnist and author. Tell me something new!

He apparently is also a contributor to The New York Times and whose column appears twice weekly and mainly addresses topics relating to foreign affairs. TLF [easier calling him that as Thomas Lauren Friedman is a mouthful] is known for supporting a compromise resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and ofcourse the modernization of the Arab world, then environmentalism and now globalization.

However, he has lost a lot of his supporters because of his vehement and open supporter of the invasion of Iraq. He later on became an outspoken critic of the war and the Bush administration which upset his credibility

To quote a few of the comments seen in the net don’t speak much about the publics view about him, thanks to his support of the war - “I used to worship Thomas Friedman until he vocally, vehemently pushed the War in Iraq in line with a social experiment, certain that it would promote democracy in the Middle East. I was so disappointed in his nearsightedness, especially because he had spent his career covering the region.

A couple hundred thousand dead Iraqis who died for a "elective" social experiment even more revolting than "collateral damage" inflicted by an incompetent, undermanned, casualty averse US Military trying to accomplish some vague, every shifting "mission." In short, what a raging, pompous, self-justifying, cowardly, intellectual asshole!”

So, I guess a lot of people still can't forgive him for advocating the Iraq war for mental health reasons, because he "felt it in his gut" that it was the right thing to do. Besides America had to strike out against SOMEbody after 9/11. It is just about the most irresponsible thing any columnist could ever perhaps say or write.

Okay, taking a few minutes to let our focus shift back to TLF - Thomas Friedman was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. He attended the St. Louis Park High School, where he wrote articles for his school's newspaper, where he also managed to interview Ariel Sharon, an Israeli general who later on went to become the Prime Minister of Israel. TLF graduated in 1971. He later on when to attend the St Antony's College at the University of Oxford on a Marshall scholarship, earning an M.Phil. in Middle Eastern studies.

And that is not all; this "green revolutionary" is married to the heiress to a shopping center fortune and lives in an 11,000 square foot house in Maryland, valued at over $10 million. Friedman's wife, Ann, a graduate of Stanford University is the daughter of Matthew Bucksbaum, the chairman of the board of General Growth Properties, a real estate development group. The Bucksbaums helped pioneer the development of shopping centers in the United States and as of 2007, Forbes estimated the Bucksbaum family's assets at $4.1 billion that included about 18.6 million square meters of mall space

Phew! TLF is surely set… Am waiting to see when he comes out with a Foundation, that supports his books views - will surely give back his LOST credibility

So let’s get back to TLFs new book - Hot, Flat, and Crowded

Friedman as always is in search of a new bandwagon to pump out yet another book. This wagon is already full, full of people who are seriously concerned about our planet earth but he would like to take the reins and drive this buggy to the gates of hell, or at least to where the cash is stashed away. There isn't a good cause that can't be milked.

Now he is writing about a Green Revolution. Even though Al Gore did not invent the internet, he sure is at the forefront of the Green Revolution. Why do we need Thomas Friedman's thinking on the subject? Is he trying to redeem himself?

Jimmy Carter was right about this issue during his administration. Al Gore has been right about this issue for years. John Kerry was right about this issue, and his call for an Apollo program for green energy, back in the 2004 campaign.

Personally, I believe the engine of this whole change is the market and all of the major investment banks have large positions in fossil fuels - in fact, Forbes recently claimed that if those banks were forced to liquidate their positions in fossil fuels, prices would drop to as low as $50-$75 a barrel - and that's what the current bailout is intended to avoid. Goldman Sachs also has huge holdings in fossil fuels, and the recent $5 billion Buffet injection should be viewed in the light of Buffet's extensive energy investments - PetroChina, ConocoPhillips, and Mid-American and Constellation Energy.

In other words, if only energy could be harnessed to take the place of oil . . . guess that is what TLF is trying to get across?

Or speaking as an Indian - The US can just get used to the Third World conditions - In other words the IMF proposes an austerity package for the U.S. as a precondition on a World Bank loan rescue package. Their first demand is that we privatize Social Security and halt all funding for public education. How is that for change?

That said, I used to work in a financial company that got influenced by the 'green committee' - trying to change the way we do business in an environmentally intelligent way. Infact the people involved who are mostly middle class people have basically no urgency or real understanding of what the hell is going on. They treat it like an irritating fad, and easily take 'no' as an answer when trying to change the way the company operates, or more so as they operate.

Unfortunately, most people still do not read or understand and to top it all do not care about science. Rationalism is apparently not their philosophy. In such a situation, how does one visualize environmentalism? Until they have intimate, personal experiences with global climate change - in other words they are scared, vis-à-vis Katrina, it is very unlikely they would do anything

Now, let me get to the bottom of this, I was supposed to keep this under a page and it appears that I have run into over 2 pages now.

As the apparent "God of Globalization," Friedman understands only too well how interconnected we have become. In other words, the pollution in India's Ganges River could have a direct impact on the quality of life in New York. Every coal factory that China builds, competes for resources with an Indonesian child. And to top it all, every time a woman in Southern California switched on her air conditioner, its effect travels to the Brazilian slums.

In short there is no way we can regulate our way out of this problem, but only innovate. This in turn requires legislation and rules.

But are we prepared for that ?

Bottom-line - He definitely is not the mystical seer, second only to that prophetic magician of the middle ages, the amazing Nostril-Dumb-ass.

Amen