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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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To: JRandomFreeper; miele man
Was it this guy? http://www.freerepublic.com/~DenverDitdat.
21 posted on 11/19/2012 8:23:34 PM PST by scripter
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To: JRandomFreeper

Thanks, auto correct got me again.
But your response made me laugh.


22 posted on 11/19/2012 8:24:00 PM PST by jonose
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To: scripter
Yep. Last I heard, he had the list. Hope he's not SK.

/johnny

23 posted on 11/19/2012 8:26:55 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Kartographer
BaoFeng UV-5R -- 136-174/400-480MHz

Best deal in the verse!

DON'T pay more than 50.00 delivered!

Many Asian Ebay sellers...here is just one.

BaoFeng UV-5R

24 posted on 11/19/2012 8:28:08 PM PST by Bobalu (It is not obama we are fighting, it is the media.)
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To: Kartographer

Well, I am here for information and help.
I started in 1958 as K4ZKZ, specializing in working DX.
I made it to the ARRL “Top of the Honor Roll” in DXCC.
In the 90s, I took the call of W4EX, an old friend, totally blind since the 50s, but the very top DXCC operator in the world, and builder of very fine 4-1000 amplifiers, as well as able to repair anything, and climb his antenna towers.
His widow asked if I would like to take his call sign.

I have been inactive since leaving the USSA in 2000.
My last business was two-way radio sales and service.


25 posted on 11/19/2012 8:28:24 PM PST by AlexW
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To: 5thGenTexan
"they" would have a list of potential holdouts (possible preppers).

Life isn't for the timid.

/johnny

26 posted on 11/19/2012 8:28:54 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Nik Naym

It is related to coil radio in DC motor talk.


27 posted on 11/19/2012 8:29:18 PM PST by doorgunner69
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To: JRandomFreeper
No complaints on my Wouxun kg-uv6d 2M ($110), which I carry when I ride my dirt bike in the mountains (lots of repeaters up there). I'm not licensed, nor had an emergency yet so it has not been used to transmit (0.5 second initial test on family band frequency excluded).

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/10060

28 posted on 11/19/2012 8:29:58 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by Nature, not Nurture™)
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To: Bobalu
BaoFeng UV-5R Reviews on eham
29 posted on 11/19/2012 8:33:29 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by Nature, not Nurture™)
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To: Kartographer
I got a license years ago, then realized I was not much of a talker, so stayed on the tech side mostly.

Recently resurrected a couple older HTs that had been idle for years. Might try to get active a bit, but the Hawaii JAM scene is pretty dead. Still not much for gabbing anyway.

30 posted on 11/19/2012 8:34:28 PM PST by doorgunner69
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To: Kartographer

What does one buy while one still can? I have FRS radios of course, but If I was to take up a notch, what should I buy. I know radio people are knee deep into their radios, but If you have one week to go buy a communication platform what would it be? Regards.


31 posted on 11/19/2012 8:35:16 PM PST by samadams2000
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To: Kartographer

What does one buy while one still can? I have FRS radios of course, but If I was to take up a notch, what should I buy. I know radio people are knee deep into their radios, but If you have one week to go buy a communication platform what would it be? Regards.


32 posted on 11/19/2012 8:35:22 PM PST by samadams2000
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To: steve86
Nothing personal, it's about me.

I prefer American engineering for ham radio.

If you haven't transmitted, and used the radio, you haven't got a characterization history of battery usage, etc...

Gear you haven't broken is gear you haven't tested.

Good to carry any kind of xmit radio in the mountains though. Saved my life, once.

/johnny

33 posted on 11/19/2012 8:35:30 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: steve86

From eham

Even if it was twice it’s $50.00 the UV-5R would be a great radio for value\features\performance. I have the “ Full combo plate” ( 3600 Mah battery, hand mic, MFJ 1717 ant., progamming cable ) and am well pleased with my set up. Even without all the extra’s it is a capable radio system. The standard battery lasts a long time,Fit and finsh rival more expensive radios, the audio and TX is more than good, and the other features ( dual watch ) make one wonder why the Japanese companies are not worried. We’re talking $50-60 here not $100-300+. The radio looks good, construction is very good ( especially the Plus model) and the darn thing just works well. Yeah..., it’s VERY easy to program with the cable and software but do not listen to the whiners about manual programming... just go to YOUTUBE and look at the tutorials.Manual programming CAN BE DONE

If.. as people say ...,the Chinese GOVT. is subsidising Baofeng in order to penetrate the hand held market, I have no problem with that. Heck, we’ve been doing that for decades with US agricultural products to penetrate the world food market . That’s capitalism and just old fashioned business. To see a non-capitalistic country ( China ) practice capitalism is refreshing proof that our model of subsidies is not bad business Why pay more just to support overpriced Japanese radios? Buy two UV-5R’s and enjoy an affordable and competent radio. How can you go wrong for the price?


34 posted on 11/19/2012 8:36:42 PM PST by Bobalu (It is not obama we are fighting, it is the media.)
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To: Kartographer
Time to rediscover the CB radio, good buddy. You got a copy, come on?... over.
35 posted on 11/19/2012 8:36:56 PM PST by MileHi ( "It's coming down to patriots vs the politicians." - ovrtaxt)
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To: steve86
KB9IBZ here. Been a ham since 1992. Have only used the license in Mongolia from 92-94. 98% of calls were DX! And the pile ups when the conditions were right were phenomenal. Ticket just expired last month. Unfortunately I really don't know the technical aspects the way I hear people talking about them. I have a Tech+ but I was pretty good at memorizing test questions.

I keep threatening on getting back in. Oh, I did operate last year at a field day in the Virginia Beach area. They gave me the "night shift". Nice of them...
36 posted on 11/19/2012 8:39:55 PM PST by tenger (It's a good thing we don't get all the government we pay for. -Will Rogers)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Like I said, just passing on what I saw. In a real SHTF situation, I doubt “they” will have a lot of spare time to enforce GPMS license compliance.


37 posted on 11/19/2012 8:41:02 PM PST by 5thGenTexan
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To: 5thGenTexan
If I'm not on several lists, I'll be disappointed. Better to be hanged for a goat, as for a sheep.

/johnny

38 posted on 11/19/2012 8:45:30 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Yup.


39 posted on 11/19/2012 8:48:00 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (In the game of life, there are no betting limits)
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To: Kartographer

All range claims of over 1/4 mile or so with FRS and a mile or two with GMRS radios using rubber duck antennas are bogus. With a decent “real” antenna fed with low-loss coax mounted 30-40 ft high you could reasonably expect to get 10 mile radius coverage on GMRS with the typical radio. Add a yagi (which you can easily make out of hardware store materials) and yes, 35 mile range is probably possible. The problem with the advertising is, they omit about 90% of what I just said and that just pisses people off. This ain’t rocket science, but it is radio science.


40 posted on 11/19/2012 8:48:27 PM PST by bigbob
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