Page 4 | Inappropriate gift

CaramelCandle · 2020-12-26T10:20:06+00:00

Family member got walkie talkies for the kids age 6 and 5. I was sceptical about the safety of them but they convinced me they were safe. Just tried them out and straight away heard a man saying hello on the other end. Turned them off and put them back in the box. Don't think it's safe for kids to be talking to strangers or for people to be listening to their conversations. Is it unreasonable to give them back to the gifter? I know they weren't cheap and we won't be using them again.

Gwenhwyfar · 26/12/2020 13:05

"I don't think they do it anymore sad was fun whilst it lasted though!! "

We could hear police through my brother's gettoblaster.

HannaYeah · 26/12/2020 13:16

I would only allow them to play with them under supervision until a bit older.

Beautifulbonnie · 26/12/2020 13:17

@sanityisamyth
The first day my uncle showed me. I was up for 36 hours straight. I was about 12. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t talk to them. But I could listen.

Bloody brilliant!

SilentlyLaughing · 26/12/2020 13:24

just be on the same frequency. Similar to how we used to pick up someone elses baby on our baby monitor sometimes

I once picked up people chatting about a TV show & what they were having for tea on our baby monitor. I wonder what they’d have heard from our end!

Madcats · 26/12/2020 13:24

We used to use walkie talkies when we were out as a family at places like Longleat (where there used to be zero chance of getting a phone signal).

I'm not sure they are a great idea for young children, though.

Original poster

CaramelCandle · 26/12/2020 14:08

Point taken about it not being nice to give them back. I know how to change the channels but that doesn't make it a secure connection. I'll have another look at them but if they can't be used securely I'll put them away until the kids are a bit older. Yes they could be used to educate the kids about not talking to strangers etc but I still don't like the idea that other people could be listening in when they're talking to each other.

OP posts:

Crimblecrumble1990 · 26/12/2020 14:40

It would be very rude to give them back considering most people wouldn't find these 'inappropriate'. Can they not just play with them under supervision when you're also in the house and can hear everything?

MissClarke86 · 26/12/2020 16:13

@jimmyhill

you cannot filter someone threatening to murder someone else and “get on your back you whore that’s all you’re good for”

Sounds a bit like a movie or TV drama you picked up. Why would somebody be saying such things over shortwave radio?

I’m not sure but it was definitely a real person - sounded drunk or like they had mental health issues. Some people just play around with radios don’t they. He kept saying “Put it closer to your mouth to talk you ***, stop laughing at me” etc etc

It went on for 20+ minutes before my OH stopped listening/recording. It’s likely a rare occurrence but it wasn’t pleasant to listen to.

jgjgjgjgjg · 26/12/2020 16:18

Oh don't be ridiculous. At 6 and 5 your children aren't going to be playing far away from you anyway, unless you happen to live in a mansion. They can easily come and find you if they hear someone else. And what exactly do you think is going to happen if they hear a bit of someone else's conversation before switching them off en route to coming to find you?? I assume you've had the normal safety chats about not talking to strangers and not giving out their personal information? Unless your children are extremely babyish for 5 and 6 and unable to understand and follow the basic safety instructions they'll be fine!

santovescookies · 26/12/2020 16:22

Ha we've picked up local taxis and other kids too. I think the taxis hate me endlessly saying press the button when you talk DS. So yes change to another frequency. Also they end up getting left on and so always need new batteries and take 3 each. I've taken to hiding them. Think they came for Xmas last year DS was 3.5 then.

mam0918 · 26/12/2020 20:34

how big is the range on this kids walkie talkie? lol

unless the man is next door like when your baby monitor can cross with the neighbors (or these are really high powered professional ones) then I dont see how they are possibly picking other people up.

ThePricklySheep · 26/12/2020 20:56

@mam0918

how big is the range on this kids walkie talkie? lol

unless the man is next door like when your baby monitor can cross with the neighbors (or these are really high powered professional ones) then I dont see how they are possibly picking other people up.

Well the range needs to be about 200m or they’d be pretty pointless!

Mdmd · 26/12/2020 21:00

The answer to technology isn’t to turn it off and put it in a box.

The answer is to talk to your children about how to keep themselves safe.

Swap it to another channel.

(Child of the 70s who also had a cb radio.)

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 26/12/2020 21:08

They obviously didn't convince you they were safe as you turned them off the second you heard someone else

LST · 26/12/2020 21:09

Mine are 6 and 9 and I got them walkies talkies for Xmas. We had a couple of crossed channels. They just changed theirs. There was a little girl on the other end at one point

Isitrainingihadntnoticed · 26/12/2020 21:22

Its giving me the creeps thought of picking up on someones channel xx

Ideasplease322 · 26/12/2020 21:44

While I am all for child safety, my god things are going to extreme.

I had walked talkies as a kid - loved them. Occasionally tunes into neighbours cordless phone. The little boy next door and I decided they had ‘done a murder’. We spent days trying to pick up calls.

Great fun.

Get over yourself op. Hold them back for a couple of years if you are truly concerned. But really the level of danger is tiny. Give yourself a good talking to.

Mdmd · 26/12/2020 21:59

God we thought we were Smokie and the Bandit with the CB radios

ultrablue · 27/12/2020 00:01

*:17Beautifulbonnie

@sanityisamyth. My uncle used to be a policeman. Back in the 70’s. They’d confiscated some radios that could intercept the police channels. I spent many hours listening to it. I’m talking hours and hours. Loved it.

Obviously can’t do it now. Plus it’s all digital and protected. But those were the days!*

Oh god that's just reminded me, my parents had a radio that as well as picking up normal radio stations, it could pick up the police band, taxi radios and certain TV stations... hours of fun.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 27/12/2020 00:43

@CaramelCandle

Point taken about it not being nice to give them back. I know how to change the channels but that doesn't make it a secure connection. I'll have another look at them but if they can't be used securely I'll put them away until the kids are a bit older. Yes they could be used to educate the kids about not talking to strangers etc but I still don't like the idea that other people could be listening in when they're talking to each other.

I doubt some stranger is going to be hanging on your DC's every word

I had the blue car
Well I've got it now
I want the blue car
Muuuummmmm

It's not like they're reciting your address & safe combination is it?!