My sister is and her husband are visiting relatives in Russia this Summer (we’re in the U.S.) and they’re asking for a cordless telephone and a digital camera (and maybe a laptop).
She went to visit them about 10 years ago and bought them a regular made for the U.S. cordless phone and they used it with a converter.
Are there any good sources online to purchase these items online that are ready to use with the 220 volt requirement? I’m guessing using a converter is a risky proposition with the hertz difference. I know this isn’t a concern with most laptops these days, but I’m asking more about the phone and camera.
Not sure if this is true, but they’re claiming that they have most everything over there these days except for electronics.
I was in Russia just last January. Using an adapter I was able to plug in the charger for my Blackberry and camera, and the laptop plugged in directly. All were designed for 110/220-50/60Hz. I’m looking at the charger for the cordless telephone in my kitchen but it says 120 V AC 60 HZ. I’m assuming that since a camera, Blackberry, and laptop are all designed to be transported across borders they’d be set up for multiple voltages, but since cordless phones are not they are not.
Please note that it may be illegal for you to do this. Some actions have been taken to try and reduce federal restrictions, but there still are some. Somebody will have to speak up on this, if they can. Software that can encrypt data has restrictions, so do some electronics. You had to give your contact information at one time to get the high encryption for Windows. It would be nice to hear from someone that knows what the latest status is on exporting software and electronics.
I don’t know where the relatives live, but you can certainly buy cordless phones, digital cameras, and laptops in any major city in Russia. Prices get higher as you get further away from the big cities. There are however web sites that will deliver anywhere in the country.
Maybe your sis and hubby should just order the goods (www.price.ru is a good price comparison site for this kind of stuff) or give the relatives money and let them order it themselves?
They’re not far from Nalchik. I thought that the claim seemed fishy to me based on websites that could deliver anywhere, but it’s more important for by bil to give them what they ask for (and not show up empty handed).
I found this website that seems to have pretty good deals on multi-region phones, and as far as digital cameras go, I guess we can just pick one out that runs off of AA batteries. They can find there own batteries or battery chargers.
Certainly all of this stuff was available when I was in St. Petersburg or Bratsk or Kotlas. It would have been a little more difficult in Ust-Ilimsk, but I’m sure I could have found it there as well. It’s not an economy of scarcity by any means.
