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Two Way Radio Reviews and Buying Guide:
Consumer Search.com ^ | 11/19/12

Posted on 11/19/2012 7:44:28 PM PST by Kartographer

You might remember growing up with walkie talkies, well today they are called two-way radios. I remember going to Radio Shack to look at their selection of walkie talkies as a kid and always dreaming of having a high powered military set that had ranges of over a mile. Today almost all two-way radios have ranges from 1 to 2 miles and they are much smaller than the ones we had a decade or so ago. Two-way radios are very useful - they are great for long road trips when taking separate cars, on the ski slopes, at amusement parks, when hunting or camping, on backcountry hiking trips, or even in large shopping malls. Businesses can use two-way radios instead of cell phones in many situations as well. There are no per minute charges with 2-way radios which is one benefit over traditional cell phone use. Plus, if you are in the woods where cell phone don't always work, a two-way radio may just save your life. What should you look for in a two-way radio from the store? We get into two-way radio features in our buying guide down below.

(Excerpt) Read more at consumersearch.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 2wayradio; ham; preparedness; preppers; radios
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I have been asked by a number of FReepers to start a Communications during SHTF thread. So here it is.

I myself have a set of Motorola TALKABOUT T9500XLR Two Way Radios and have been pleased with their performance.

1 posted on 11/19/2012 7:44:33 PM PST by Kartographer
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To: appalachian_dweller; OldPossum; DuncanWaring; VirginiaMom; CodeToad; goosie; kalee; ...

Preppers’ PING!!


2 posted on 11/19/2012 7:46:06 PM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Kartographer

I have a nice pair of Motorola Talkabouts with headsets, and a pair of Cobras. The Cobras were $2 at a garage sale, the Talkabouts were “free” at a garage sale because the people lost the charger (charger and 2 new NiMH battery packs was, I think, $30).

People are ditching the FRS radios because they carry cell phones and think they don’t need them.

In-ear headpieces are nice because nobody else can hear that chirp when you end a transmission.

I also picked up a few in-car CB radios in the same way, but I have not checked them out.


3 posted on 11/19/2012 7:50:25 PM PST by DBrow
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To: Kartographer

Why not get a armature radio license.
The entry level test is very simple.


4 posted on 11/19/2012 7:52:29 PM PST by jonose
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To: DBrow

I just picked up a pair of Trc217 the other day. They take ten batteries, don’t ya know.

$60 got the pair. One was still in the box.

Now if I can remember my CB call sign....


5 posted on 11/19/2012 7:53:14 PM PST by Vermont Lt (The dude abides.)
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To: DBrow

I’ve got some dual band FRS/GMRS radios, Uniden GMR3689-2CK. They work well enough, but no-where near their advertised maximum range, even in clear dry weather over open flat terrain. 36 miles? I’ve never had them work at more than about 4 - 5 miles. OTOH, I have some cheap Cobra FRS radios that I have used out to about the same range, and heard other’s talking from about 15 miles away. (ok, I was on a mountain side at that time looking down/out with direct LOS)


6 posted on 11/19/2012 7:57:51 PM PST by ThunderSleeps (Stop obama now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: jonose

I have considered it, but not sure of the advantage. I mostly just want something to use to communicate with my team.


7 posted on 11/19/2012 7:59:02 PM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Vermont Lt

Lt FReeper?


8 posted on 11/19/2012 8:00:50 PM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Kartographer
I'll have been a ham radio operator for 40 years, next summer.

I've used handi-talkies since they were called that and used peanut tubes and had B+ voltage.

During the great DX opening in 1999, I used a 5 watt handheld to talk from Texas to California on 6 meters (52.525Mhz)

More recently, I've relied on Icom and Kenwood radio for durability, functionality and reliability.

Batteries, batteries, batteries.

Know how stuff works. Choose your frequency based on your location, and operational conditions.

I agree with a previous poster. Get your ticket (license), and find an Elmer(old guy with years of experience) to guide you.

/johnny

9 posted on 11/19/2012 8:02:39 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: jonose

“Why not get a armature radio license.”

What is an armature radio?


10 posted on 11/19/2012 8:02:43 PM PST by Nik Naym (It's not my fault... I have compulsive smartass disorder.)
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To: Kartographer
Interesting note about radio licensing. I went to the FCC website to read about the GMRS license and there is a licensee search by name, city/state, etc.

These radios would be very useful in a natural disaster situation, but in a SHTF government collapse, "they" would have a list of potential holdouts (possible preppers).

Points to ponder.

11 posted on 11/19/2012 8:04:35 PM PST by 5thGenTexan
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To: JRandomFreeper

I spend to much time on here now. If I had a HAM license I never get anything done! ;-)


12 posted on 11/19/2012 8:06:05 PM PST by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: Nik Naym
It's radio that used a motor driven spark gap generator, like was on the Titanic. They aren't lawful, now. ;)

It's almost like an amateur radio operator, but a heck of a lot more dangerous. I shouldn't say much. I have problems with speeling sometimes.

/johnny

13 posted on 11/19/2012 8:06:16 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Kartographer
depends on what you need them/want to use them for, we use ICOM-U16's
14 posted on 11/19/2012 8:08:55 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Kartographer

Get an amateur radio operators license. Then you can transmit with some POWER!! :-)


15 posted on 11/19/2012 8:09:00 PM PST by ColdSteelTalon (Light is fading to shadow, and casting its shroud over all we have known...)
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To: Kartographer
Spend as much or as little time as you like. It's a resource. Get your ticket, and you are legal to transmit on the frequencies, modes, and powers that you are licensed for, even if you never transmit.

You don't have to make it a full time hobby.

Besides, with the crappy sunspot cycle, it's not very fun this peak.

/johnny

16 posted on 11/19/2012 8:10:09 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: ColdSteelTalon
The proudest QSO I ever logged was 50mw on the 6 meter CW calling frequency with a QRP rig built inside an Altoids box. Gotta love Field Day.

/johnny

17 posted on 11/19/2012 8:12:41 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Is the FR Ham ping list still operative? I don’t think I’ve seen a ping from this list for some time now.


18 posted on 11/19/2012 8:13:21 PM PST by miele man
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To: miele man
Don't know. I haven't seen any posts recently either. I don't remember who has the ping list.

/johnny

19 posted on 11/19/2012 8:15:57 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: miele man; Denver Ditdat
DD had the ping list, and apparently isn't active anymore.

/johnny

20 posted on 11/19/2012 8:19:27 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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