Best two-way radios?

benrudmik · #1 12-03-2009, 04:31 PM

One of my buddies had some motorola two-ways out in the bush for this years hunt. I realized that I need to get a set of these for christmas they sure came in handy. Just wanted to see what your guys opinion was on the best radio brand / model for good range, battery life etc.

Thanks

redneck posse · #2 12-03-2009, 04:34 PM

i picked up a set of cobras from costco, come with charger for wall and cig lighter lasted the trip out the weekend and about 3/4 of the trip home.

CaberTosser · #3 12-03-2009, 05:05 PM

I'm fond of my Motorola's, though I do think the reception/broadcast could be better. I plan on getting a nicer set on our next trip to the US of A, as I've come to understand that our government has seen fit in their infinite wisdom to limit the broadcast power of our GMRS radios. The US models should broadcast further; therefore a matched set should have better range with each other.

MountainTi · #4 12-03-2009, 05:23 PM

Your better quality handhelds will be 5 watt. Truck mounts in Canada are up to 35 watt. CRTC does this in their infinite wisdom so as to not cause interference. You can get a bit higher wattage radios from the states, I think 40-50 for the truck mounts. Typically as a rule of thumb, you can count on about a mile per watt, if you don't have obstacles (hills) in the way. Motorolas are one of the top brands (kenwood, icom, are also good but don't seem as tough) but a good one is going to cost you around 800-1000 dollars.
Check around with a few shops and see if you can find a couple motorola HT1000's. They will be used as they don't make them anymore, but they were one of the best out there for durability and range. They should be fairly reasonably priced as they will be older.

moosemad · #5 12-03-2009, 07:18 PM

So what's with the $89.00 set thats supposedly good for 40 klms.

MountainTi · #6 12-03-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosemad

So what's with the $89.00 set thats supposedly good for 40 klms.

I'm sure they are of the highest quality

And 40 kms? Maybe 0.40 kms

uncle buck · #7 12-03-2009, 08:26 PM

I would avoid cobras! I bought some last winter - never tried them out and forgot about them till spring only to find out they didn't work at all! by that time I had lost the recipt!!

So it looks like I'll have to ask for a new set for Xmas. I havve use motorolas in the past and they have worked well.

Vindalbakken · #8 12-03-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MountainTi

I'm sure they are of the highest quality

And 40 kms? Maybe 0.40 kms

That sounds about like the right kind of distance. I have a set that claimed 35 km on the package and I can't get through on the radio when I can clearly see my wife standing in the next field just over a half mile away. That would be the Cobra.

PSV Tech · #9 12-03-2009, 10:39 PM

We use the Garmin Rino for our radios. Gives you radio as well as GPS. Real handy when you are exploring new hunting areas. Radio works well but it still depends on the terrain but we have had them work up to 35 km and as low as 1km. Going to cost you about $500.00

THE MANITOBAN · #10 12-03-2009, 11:08 PM

We bought the Motorolas that they sell at Costco last year (the ones with the yellow face plates, interchangeable to black...) and LOVE them!!!

We took them out hunting this year and were getting about 3 miles through VERY thick forest. AMAZED US!!!

Castincowboy · #11 12-04-2009, 12:01 AM

Has anyone tried the ones that now have a little key board for texting on?

Saw once in a flyer shown to me by a co-worker. Can't recall the brand and the store and haven't seen 'em since.

Vindalbakken · #12 12-04-2009, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castincowboy

Has anyone tried the ones that now have a little key board for texting on?

Saw once in a flyer shown to me by a co-worker. Can't recall the brand and the store and haven't seen 'em since.

Blackberry?

Castincowboy · #13 12-04-2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vindalbakken

Blackberry?

No that I would have remembered...

Stinky Buffalo · #14 12-04-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Castincowboy

Has anyone tried the ones that now have a little key board for texting on?

Saw once in a flyer shown to me by a co-worker. Can't recall the brand and the store and haven't seen 'em since.

I think you are talking about Trisquare...

Headdamage · #15 12-04-2009, 09:50 AM

I've got some old cobras and they sucked until I bought new lithium batt packs for them. Now they are great, never got out of range of my budy even with a major ridge directly between us.

mad fisher · #16 12-04-2009, 12:42 PM

Myself and the other hunting buddies have bought the Motorola radios. I have a set of two I bought a few years ago that say 47km range.......in bald prairie we have got about 15km and in the bush a couple miles.

I recently bought the set of 3 yellow motorola radios and they work not bad. In the bush they are about a mile and they start to get fuzzy. but good enough for tracking and pushing....

The older radios I bought get the weather channels and have an emergency button and a flashlight on it. They work well.

Oh and both types came with rechargeable batteries or they use AA or AAA depending on the model.....very nice if you are in camp and forgot to charge them the night before.....always nice to have options.

Mad