Powderoo 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 I was surfing the knowledge bank over at Moosh.com.au and someone raised an interesting point about UHF radios. Now I'm not being mean to my GF, but she's got the worlds worst sense of direction, so a new ski field like Niseko in a foreign country, would be even more troublesome. One response in the thread rang very true... MOOSH.COM.AU - Two way radios Quote: My girlfriend and i picked up some motorola radios in the states a couple of months ago. I got tired of saying just ski down that run we just did only to get to the bottom to find that she was not there and was in fact on the other side of the hill. Lets all face it. Chicks are hopeless with directions and, before all the women out there have a go at me, this has been proven by research into the differences in men and womens cognitive memory of 3D Space.... Much cheaper than a divorce over a meeting place. Is this a worthwhile investment? or just another gadget? Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 search radios, been talked bout before Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 worthwhile. I use them on the slopes. wife: "where are you" me: "up top" wife: "we're at lunch, if you don't come down in 2 minutes, we're leaving" Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 (whip-crack sound) Link to post Share on other sites
Powderoo 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Author Share Posted January 16, 2007 thanks CB did that, and it looks like you're not allowed to use them in Niseko? Is that right? I was also looking for a more recent response seeing technology changes so fast. and also that rules might have changed... Thanks Thurs, maybe I don't want one, . Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Of course you can use them at N. Link to post Share on other sites
Powderoo 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Author Share Posted January 16, 2007 this link to a previous post and the link within that says you can't, unless I'm reading it wrong? http://www.snowjapanforums.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/1/6886.html#000000 http://www.hokkaido-bt.go.jp/2006/Englishfrg.htm Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 yeah, the mountain is so flat that they don't get problems with the waves bouncing around off the steep slopes and messing averything up. So no worries Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Ok you are breaking laws if you use them actually in Japan. The channel is usally the same as the patrols or police channels. That said people use them all the time in fact I got tried of using mine on piste cause I would just get people on it all the time. "jen jen where are you" etc. So the line goes they are illegal but you have a 99.99% chance of never having an issue. I have a set that I bring into the backcountry sometimes. But i havent brought them in for a while at least since i changed helmuts. My old helmut was wired up to be able to listen to the radio. Link to post Share on other sites
mandycreighton 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 According to a quick web search I just did the Aussie ones work on 476 to 477 MHz which looks like it isn't currently in use in Japan (although not legal either) while the ones from the USA are either 460 to 470 MHz or 26 to 27 MHz and it looks like the Japanese emergency services use 462 to 467. This is info gathered in a 5 min web search so don't quote me on it. However I do know from experience that the 40 channel handhelds bought in the USA don't work with the Aussie ones. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 I use the yank ones from Motorola. Get all the yank chatter too. Link to post Share on other sites
Powderoo 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Author Share Posted January 16, 2007 sounds like it's all too much trouble...either from the GF (whip crack! haha), or the constant chatter or it being slightly illegal. Link to post Share on other sites
mandycreighton 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 We found them pretty useful at Niseko with a crew of about 12 and probably 8 radios between us, some had the 2W ones and the rest of us 0.5W there was some relaying of messages required. ie if some people were way down in Hanazono while others over in Alpen messages could be relayed if someone was in Kogen - but with a dozen of us out on the hill it usually worked. Was handy so the slow morning folk could catch up with the powder hunters without anyone having to wait around... Have found the radios frustrating at Thredbo here in Aussie because there is no line of sight from one side of the hill to the other so we usually give up and use our mobile phones. Link to post Share on other sites
mandycreighton 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 We found them pretty useful at Niseko with a crew of about 12 and probably 8 radios between us, some had the 2W ones and the rest of us 0.5W there was some relaying of messages required. ie if some people were way down in Hanazono while others over in Alpen messages could be relayed if someone was in Kogen - but with a dozen of us out on the hill it usually worked. Was handy so the slow morning folk could catch up with the powder hunters without anyone having to wait around... Have found the radios frustrating at Thredbo here in Aussie because there is no line of sight from one side of the hill to the other so we usually give up and use our mobile phones. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 it's also good for "hello, can anyone help me. I've fallen down a gulley and can't get out." Link to post Share on other sites
johndknm 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 Thursday you're a bit of a funny guy then arent ya.. Can I please be enlightened about the 2W ones. Ive used cheapy dick smith ones and they are not so good. Link to post Share on other sites
Powderoo 0 Posted January 16, 2007 Author Share Posted January 16, 2007 he means 2 watts, the higher the watt, the better the range. It goes up to 5 watt before you need a licence. (please correct me if I'm wrong) Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 wattage helps, upto a point. If you don't have line of sight, then your signal won't get through. My walkie talkies are 4 watt and rated at a range of 8 KM. Tha's with clear line of sight. Link to post Share on other sites
SirJibAlot 0 Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 I've got the 'yank' ones cause I'm a 'yank'... haven't tried them in Japan yet, but in the US - works like a champ, even on big mountains. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 You need a licence in Japan for anything stronger than 0.5 watt Link to post Share on other sites
Fattwins 0 Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 untill it becomes a major problem no one will enforce the radio laws. With radios being used more and more if it does effect rescues etc then expect them to get banned, or for people to enforce the rules. . Link to post Share on other sites
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