Orion Labs Onyx Smart Walkie Talkies with Unlimited Range - 2 Pack Black Walkie Talkies for Outdoor Adventures, Construction Sites & Emergency Communication

Updated:After my initial struggles with the documentation, I was able to get one of the units to work reliably, but the other unit only intermittently. I contacted Orion Labs customer support with the description of the issue.They were gracious and suggest the unit might be defective and offered to replace it. They did so right away without suggesting pilot error on my part, or wanting to explore the possibility that I damaged the device by overcharging it.I'd likely give the device 5 stars if I found the documentation more to my taste. Before the device is connected via Bluetooth with a phone, as it is when first unboxed, the LEDs show a pairing code (some combination of red, blue, and white always on). The problem for me is that this code has the highest priority, and will display instead of the power charging interface ("When Onyx is connected to a power source, the lights will indicate the battery current battery level. When all lights are solid white, Onyx is fully charged.") described in the "What do the lights mean" section of the online guide: [...]With a ~0.3A usb power plug it took roughly two hours to charge.Looking forward with great expectations towards the Q4 2016 Amazon Alexa integration release.Original:My anticipation and excitement about receiving the product earlier than schedules was sadly replaced with anger and resentment during the unboxing. A displeasure so great I have simply put the product aside for now. Hopefully I'll return to the product and write a happier review at a later time.The source of my unhappiness, it is the user guide. I series of wordless youtube videos. For a device emphasizing the communication of words this is a bizarre choice at best.The current state of the the LEDs and the behavior does not match any of the videos, or perhaps simply as I incorrectly interpret them. (I feel like I'm playing some bad pantomime game.) Nor does it match the "What the lights mean" section of the web site.Hopefully time will temper my initial reaction, but I even if I eventually pick up the device again when the Alexa support materializes, I'm afraid, my first reaction will always cloud and negatively bias my interaction with the device.I'll update this regarding Onyx's performance as a 2-way communicator when I've had a bit more experience...Getting going was a real struggle, but Tech Support (via email) got back to me in a few days, and now both Onyx units work.The available documentation (paper, and web) was ambiguous enough to keep me frustrated. With my new understanding, I recommend that you "pair" with your phone BEFORE charging either unit! Also turn the volume up by pressing the volume rocker up 5 or 6 times, Otherwise you may be confused by misunderstood LED patterns and lack of audible signals .I am posting this based on trying to set these up. At first it makes sense, I paired with 2 separate phones to test and 1 out of 5 communications went through. I have to say not having clear directions is a huge issue as ours are just not working the way they should be. It also seems that they disconnect each and every time you phone switches to a lock screen, which I'd think is rather inconvenient.I do think one of the pieces is broken, it has a completely different "feel" than the other one. The face is rather flimsy and pressing it to talk does not function the same way as the other. I purchased 4 of these so I am going to try and set up the other pair to see how they work.So far, unfortunately, these are very expensive duds...Will update when I hear back from Orion Labs about the issues.UPDATE: I have tried to set up the second pair and the app on one of the test phones will not connect to the microphone, I have now spent 4 hours trying to get these set up and am beyond annoyed and dropping the star rating further. I spent $400 on these and they are already a pain in my *** and I haven't even applied them to the work environment yet just testing.I ordered a set of these, one of them wouldn't work. I contacted help, they weren't much help, they first linked me to the help page on the web site...after two more emails with no help, I sent a video of how it was not working, because I got tired of answering the same questions. I finally got a response after 10 days, saying I could return it for replacement. I returned it and ordered another set. When the new set came you could tell it was a set that it had been opened and returned...it wasn't packed right, the Onyx's were in the "gift box", not clipped to the display box where they were supposed to be (can tell they had been there and taken off)...and the box part was on top, and not underneath where it should have been. And big surprise, these did not work either, they would connect to the phone, but then randomly disconnect, and sometimes you would push to talk, and nothing would go to the other one (yes it beeped, and the lights were green)...and sometimes you would push to talk, and nothing, other times you push to talk and it just beeps and beeps and beeps.....I'm really dissapointed, I so wanted these to work.Onyx is an essential business communication tool. My company has been relying on Orion devices since they were first available. I can be meeting with a client in NYC and instantly communicate with my partner in Phoenix simply by tapping the device. It is actually quite astonishing to communicate with my work group 2500 miles away, request a file or information and have the office provide the requested item within seconds, all without touching my phone, breaking eye contact or disrupting the flow of conversation. Onyx allows you to use your voice to create a shared space to accomplish a task….instantly. Plus, it looks great on a suit.I needed these for our office, but we do not allow our Staff to have their cell phones on them while working. These do not work over Wi-Fi, you must have your cell phone on you to use these.Tried to set these up and they dont seem to work. Sat in the box for a while before I tried them and now that I am, cant get them to work properly. Youtube and instructions are not accurate as far as on/off and troubleshooting guide was useless. Dont waste your money on these. I will be trying to return them.