“I’ve tried four different varieties/brands....None of ‘em - even the ones that tout “15 miles!” - work over two....and that’s a straight line, unobscured stretch.”
That is not encouraging news.
Posts 89 and 90 are educational.
I had tried the handheld thingies for communication (emergency) with the caregivers of my now deceased parents a few years ago, in the event the San Andreas fault decided to take a massive dump; their home was maybe three miles down the hill with a couple of humps which took out the line-of-sight thing........all those disappointed, and got returned to Big Five Sporting Goods.......sigh.