Walkie Talkie Reviews

How to Choose a 2 Way Walkie Talkie

So, you’re in the process of deciding which 2 way Walkie Talkie is for you!

What 2 Way Walkie Talkie Features Do You Need?

Two way Walkie Talkies need to be simple. You don’t want to spend all your time selecting variable features and messing about with awkward, fiddly knobs. Keep it straightforward.

You may decide to select a 2 way Walkie Talkie radio with both GMRS and FRS channels. It’s worth thinking about, especially if other users are in the same area. The latter will result in less interference.

Try out a selection of two way Walkie Talkies to see what you like and what you don’t like. For instance, the Cobra PR100 has a belt clip which you might like, until you find that it needs to be removed if you are to access the batteries. Do you need to clip a Walkie Talkie radio to your belt when it fits easily into a shirt pocket? On the plus side it has both GMRS and FRS channels.

Consider the power supply. If you’re using it on a building site or anywhere where you can recharge it after a day’s work, then a rechargeable one may save you money, but if you’re wandering about in the vast unknown of the outback for long periods of time, you may want to consider the alternative.

What Radio Frequency is Right for You?

FRS is fine for hunting, walking, fishing or camping. You won’t get interference and you don’t need a license. For those of you who need a broader range, (up to 5 miles), and will be using your Walkie Talkie radio for more serious business communication, then GMRS is probably for you.

Then there are GPS-enabled Walkie Talkies. They are ideal if you’re one for the wide open spaces. They will map your location, your route and your destination.

Another alternative is the weather-alert enabled Walkie Talkies. As the name implies, it will give you advance warning of adverse weather conditions.

When considering the range required, you need to think about what you’ll be using the 2 way radio for. If you’re walking or cycling, then 2-5 miles will probably suffice. Hunters, campers or hikers may opt for a greater range depending on the scale of the journey.

As for selecting channels, FRS and GMRS systems utilize channels 1-7. Channels 8-14 are for use only by FRS. Channels 15-22 are solely for GMRS. Models vary as to how many channel options are available. If you plan to use it in the city, where GMRS is the preferred option, you may wish to consider purchasing a 14-channel unit.

Which is the Best Walkie Talkie Brand? Let’s look at a few.

Audiovox have some interesting features such as earbud microphones and a built in torch. Some Garmin Rino Walkie Talkies boast a compass, a barometer, a weather receiver and an extensive memory.

Cobras are noted for their quality. Kenwood also have a good name. Midland Walkie Talkies offer an extensive range to choose from. Sylvania boasts good audio input and Uniden also have a good reputation in that respect. And, of course, Motorola, who have been making Walkie Talkies for decades, offers Walkie Talkie radios to suit every budget. that are well built and well designed.

In short, you need to think about what you will use your 2 way Walkie Talkie for and what you expect from it. There’s a huge range available so take your time in selecting the appropriate Walkie Talkie for your own particular needs.

Couple using 2 way Walkie Talkies

Photograph by oferiko

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Where Can I Buy a Walkie Talkie Radio?

Developed originally for use by the military, a Walkie Talkie radio is a portable bi-directional radio transceiver. Each Walkie Talkie radio can transmit one at a time but the signal can be received by any number of handsets if the wattage is sufficient and the range is limited.

Today, 2 way Walkie Talkies are very popular with the police, emergency services and just about anyone who wants to keep in touch over a limited distance. Hikers, hunters, campers and orienteering groups have found them to be an invaluable addition to their arsenal. They also seem to have been readily adopted by the construction industry as a simple and immediate way of maintaining contact with progress on site.

When considering your purchase of a Walkie Talkie radio, first think about what you want it for. What sort of range will you need? How much are you willing to pay? It is important to ask yourself a few simple questions at the outset to ensure that you get the right two way radio for your needs.

Low power kids Walkie Talkies are popular as children’s toys. Kids love to play hide and seek games with them and they’re a good way of keeping in touch with your children when you’re out around town together.

Walkie Talkie radios do not need a license if they employ the FRS range, (462-467MHz) and are available in most retail stores. Some kids Walkie Talkies are very basic and may not even have a volume control. In some models, the receiver’s speaker doubles as a microphone.

If you’re thinking about buying a 2 way Walkie Talkie radio, it’s well worth shopping around. Consider contacting people who use them on a daily basis. Their first hand experience should prove invaluable. Online retailers are worth looking at and many provide customer Walkie Talkie reviews that you can read. There are also specialist magazines which are good for finding out what’s happening today in the marketplace and what is on offer. Local stores often offer a personal service and allow you to try different models before making your choice of which Walkie Talkie radio to buy.

Walkie Talkies from a Vending Machine

Photograph by secretagentmoof

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How Do Walkie Talkies Work?

Have You Ever Wondered How Do Walkie Talkies Work?

Walkie Talkies, or Walkie Talkie radios, employ a radio band to transmit audio signals between radios. The Family Radio Service, commonly known as the FRS, makes available 14 channels in the 462-467 MHz range, for use by two way radios. This range is set by the Federal Communications Commission or FCC.

What Are FRS Walkie Talkies?

Independent of the brand you use, these are the wavelengths you will be using. In essence, FRS is a singular radio service that utilizes frequencies in the UHF band and therefore has nothing to do with phones, baby monitors or CB radios. They employ FM instead of AM and you don’t need a license.

A wide range of brand names are available: Midland, Cobra, Audiovox, Sylvania, Motorola and Cherokee to name a few. They do not require a lot of power and are useful in any situation where you want to keep in touch. They are very popular with hunters, campers, people with big gardens who want to stay in touch with the kids, bikers, construction workers, walkers and so on. Range can be anything up to two miles.

What Are GMRS Walkie Talkies?

Alternately, GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) radios utilize specific frequencies in the 462 MHz range provided by the FCC. These radios are larger, have a greater range, (up to 5 miles) and do require a license from the FCC, so are slightly more serious and are generally used for serious communications like those in a business environment.

As regards power, FRS radios have a limit of 0.5 watts and GMRS radios are usually limited to 2 watts. Rechargeable 2 way Walkie Talkies are available so you don’t always have to rely on batteries. Some Walkie Talkie headsets have a scrambler so that you can keep conversations private.

Why Use a Walkie Talkie When You Have a Cell Phone?

We are all familiar with phone ‘black spots’ where you can’t get a good signal. Two way Walkie Talkies will work in situations where your cell phone can’t get a signal. Unlike cell phones, there are no ongoing costs once you have purchased your 2 way radio. They are also useful if you need to communicate with a group of people at the same time. All you need to do is make sure that the settings on your radios are the same and you can contact your entire group simultaneously. If the signal is strong enough, there is no limit to the number of your group.

In reality the Walkie Talkie represents a serious alternative to the cell phone in certain situations. They are cheap, convenient, fun and very simple to use.