I had an opportunity to be introduced to Relay by Republic Wireless when I was invited to be a part of the Guinness World Record event at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park this summer. The attempt was for baseball fans to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing sweatbands. The event was sponsored by Relay and I was able to incorporate an inspired throwback 80’s look. It was quite an experience and lots of FUN! The Guinness World Record was Achieved!
Now, you may be thinking… Thanks Jen for giving us the backstory but you still haven’t given us a clue as to what a Relay is! I’ve got you covered. Relay is a device that is GPS enabled on the 4G LTE Safe & Secure Network and is also WIFI capable. The Relays are linked to a shared channel and work like a group walkie-talkie that all your Relays are a part of. There will be future updates that allow users to configure their own custom channels, and choose which devices are included.
Relays are a great mobile phone alternative especially if you’d like to lessen screen time and promote more outdoor activities with your kids. It’s also great to have for a tween that isn’t in the habit of keeping their phone on them when you’d like to be in frequent communication. We’ve used the Relays a lot this summer because I made it a point to plan lots of outdoor activities. My son is becoming more independent and I’m learning to not be so much of a helicopter mom. Relay gives me piece of mind.
In the box: Relay device, magnetic charging cable, USB power adapter, a quick start guide and your warranty. The setup is straightforward and easy. Plug in your Relay to charge it up. It will vibrate, and the LED ring will spin as it boots up. You can visit the Relay website and download the Relay companion app for iOS or Android or go to Google Play or the App Store on your mobile phone. Open the Relay app, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your device(s) and you’ll be ready to use them!
They are a great size and I love the simple design. You can sit it down anywhere and it will blend right in.
We’ve taken our Relays to the pool and they are water resistant! You can adjust the volume on them by using the volume key on the side of the device. The app will give you a notification when your battery is low, and you can use your magnetic cable to charge it. It just snaps together, and you’ll see when it’s fully charged. There’s also a fun game channel called echo, you can access it by tapping the power button once. Just speak and the device plays back your voice distorted. My son has fun playing echo!
What I love about Relay is that it’s GPS enabled and can give me a snapshot location of where my son is when I’m not physically with him. I can also use the app to communicate with him if I am away from my Relay device. It works on the cell network and/or WIFI network if enabled. You can always check the app for software updates, so you have the latest version. The Relays come with pre-programmed names that you’ll be able to customize in a later update. It also comes in four colors you can choose from.
Overall, I think the Relays are a great idea. I only had one hiccup when we went away from our home and I was trying to switch to a different WIFI network. It wouldn’t allow me to and I had to restart the Relay and remove and replace the SIM card for me to get it back online. They are built for kids! You get a 1-year limited warranty, 30-day money back guarantee and NO contracts. There are a couple of different pricing packages to choose from and the monthly service is only $6.99/mo. Per Relay.
Bonus: You now get a Loop Case with your order while supplies last. You can also order a Loop Case for $15 from the Relay website if you already have Relays.
Disclosure: I received a Relay starter pack valued at $149 for (2) Relays to facilitate this review and as a hosted guest for attending the Guinness World Record event at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.