Two-way radios

[kyle]

Anyone know of any goods ones? I'd like to pick up a few and try them out in St. Louis to see how the range is.

I've been looking at the Motorola, Kenwood, Cobra models. The Motorola Talkabout series seems to have really good reviews.

Qualities that would be important in order of importance:
1. Range
2. Battery life
3. Price
3. Sturdy structure
4. Vibrating call feature
5. Looks cool

The VHF radios are more expensive but they have a much better range.

[jamoni]

I've got two cobras, if I can ever find the other one. It's the baby's "cell phone". He walks around talking on it, arranging meetings or something. Haven't field tested them yet.

[Ivan]

I've got a pair of Cobra PR4200WX

It's got a built in compass, light, and a 7 mile radius, 22 chanels (7 shared with FRS/GMRS, 7 FRS only, 8GMRS only) 38 privacy codes, 10 channel NOAA all hazards radio and alert. It also has vibrate.



I just recently used it when bringing my car up from Port Huron since my wife had to drive back the rental. It has good range on the highway (not too much in the way of obstacles, and pretty much line-of-sight. Seems to have good range, but I haven't tested it out to the 7 mile range. I want to try it in the city, to check out its range, still. Not bad radios.

[kyle]

I've got a pair of Cobra PR4200WX

I just recently used it when bringing my car up from Port Huron since my wife had to drive back the rental. It has good range on the highway (not too much in the way of obstacles, and pretty much line-of-sight. Seems to have good range, but I haven't tested it out to the 7 mile range. I want to try it in the city, to check out its range, still. Not bad radios.

Sweet! Just the test I'm looking for. Next time you get a chance can you test them out where you live and let us know what kind of range you get with them? Any other information would be good, too, like battery life.

It would be handy to have the same brand you have as well, with the hopes that you can get here in time to bug out with us in the event of a major catastrophe.

[Ivan]

10-4.

Just so you know, I have had them for a bit over a year, and have used them for at least 10 hours continous use and the batteries appear to be full strength.

I hope to test them soon. The wife is too cool to carry one with her on the way to work to test them.

oh yeah, got 'em at Wallmart in Saint Louis for about $40 a piece, I think.

[kyle]

I hope to test them soon. The wife is too cool to carry one with her on the way to work to test them.

You need some Canadian buddies. Isn't there a few Toronto peeps on the forums here you could hook up with to test this out?

Oh, another thing we should make sure of when choosing a good handheld is that it is NOT one of the rechargables. Those suckers never last.

If it's rechargeable AND takes regular batteries that should be cool.

[Ivan]

it takes 4 AA's but has the recharger plates on the bottom.

[will]

my cobras worked well for a few years but recently died. i honestly believe someone sabotaged them. i got them new for about 50 bucks a piece when target JUST starded to sell them. so i paid to much. there both dead now. i also have the motorola rechargable ones and they SUCK. no power no vibrate and they die and break easily. i will never get them again.

rhino makes some realy cool GPS walkies with good range and they map out your budies on a screen for you. very ruged and cool but very pricy. they are being used in afganistan right now.

[TheLastRifleMan]

I have several Motorola two way radios (about five). I bought them mainly for my dad and I for hunting but we have found many other uses for them. After using them fo about five years now, we wondered how we ever got along without them.

I would buy Motorolas in a heartbeat again. They are clear, the range is very good and are very user freindly. The things I don't like about them are that some of them have a "roger" tone. Every time you transmit and let go of the PTT button, the radio sends a loud, single tone over all the radios on the same channel. This is supposedly to let others know that you are ready to recieve. When deer and turkey hunting, this is very bad. Some Motorolas let you turn this off, some don't so check before buying. I also don't like the call tone buttons on mine. They stick out and are too easy to hit accidently, sending a lound call tone through eveyone's radios, breaking the silence and maybe someone' cover or surprise.

I saw a set of Motorolas at a Target store a while ago. They had a seven mile range, 22 channels with 38 privacy channels and came with rechargable batteries and chargers for each unit. Price per pari: $40.00!
I am going to buy some of these when I get the cash.

[kyle]

I love my Motorola GMRS sets as well. Pretty much all the ZS members at Camp last weekend had Motorola models. I think we had like 12 units all together. Pretty good range, too. However, they don't do so well in the river even in you double bag them in cheap ziplock bags.

[zXzGrifterzXz]

However, they don't do so well in the river even in you double bag them in cheap ziplock bags.

The River bag owns all.

[TheLastRifleMan]

I found that my Motorolas don't like bug spray, either. Kind of melts the plastic shell. Makes me wonder about bug spray...

[Red Panda]

I hope to test them soon. The wife is too cool to carry one with her on the way to work to test them.

You need some Canadian buddies. Isn't there a few Toronto peeps on the forums here you could hook up with to test this out?

I've had lots of opportunities to use my radios on a daily basis. I'd love to test these out, but I'm a little strapped for cash right now. I've got a pair of Cobras that I'm using right now, but they only seem to be good for about 2km in town.

[tupac4rhymes]

i have a question, is it possible to get 2 way radios that have a range of about 20 miles?

[BloodLust]

Me and my cousin use Garmin Rino110. Has GPS built in, FRS and GMRs. You can even use the GPS to pinpoint the other unit/s.

[Whatever]

those phones (i forgot which brand maybe cingular) that you can use as two-ways w/out using minutes work great. Until the satelites and towers go out-But should work good durig initial phases of PAW.

we used them on a trip to Florida last summer, there were 4 vehicles and we all stayed in contact the whole time even though we were not in each others sight the whole time.

[kyle]

i have a question, is it possible to get 2 way radios that have a range of about 20 miles?

In the US you can with a license. If you alter the hardware on a FRS/GMRS radio and boost the signal you're breaking FCC regulations.

[tupac4rhymes]

i need a license then. how do i get one?
i just asked because my uncle and aunt live in a camp about 16 miles away from our house with no electricity. i want to get radios so i can talk to them.

[bobbyglock18]

I just got a set of Motorola sx7oo. they have a 12 mile range,vibra alert,and u can turn the confirmation tone off.It has 22 channels,121 privacy codes,10 NOAA channels.They came with rechargable batteries and two seperate charing docks.They also have VOX and IVOX functions.
they cost $79.99.



[

[FlyBoy]

i need a license then. how do i get one?
i just asked because my uncle and aunt live in a camp about 16 miles away from our house with no electricity. i want to get radios so i can talk to them.

I think when you buy them, I am pretty sure the place that sells them will provide you with the license information. My buddy bought a pair (forgot which kind) and all he had to do was fill out a form and mail it in...his had like a 10 mile distance. I may be totally wrong about this, but thats what I think to get licenses like those..

[solidsnake]

ya i am gonna get me a pair of the same kind as bobby this weekend if i have enough money that is.