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.


LEGO Walkie Talkies


LEGO Walkie Talkies


$24.99


Kids of all ages love their LEGO bricks. Now, you can get quality walkie-talkies with cool LEGO styling to stay connected to fellow LEGO maniacs up to a mile away. They are easy to use - one channel, simple push-to-talk-button and volume control....

Wild Planet Spy Gear Walkie Talkies


Wild Planet Spy Gear Walkie Talkies


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Send Spoken Messages or use Spy Code for Secrecy Overview: Stay in contact - every spy needs to talk to HQ! When the coast ISN'T clear, use the spy code key to send your partner secret coded messages! Set of 2 walkie talkies with spy code. Benefits: - Special Spy Code Button for Sending Coded Messages - Safety Antenna and Belt Clip - 50 foot Range; Works through Walls Requires two (2) 9-volt...

World's Smallest Walkie Talkie Minis (Set of 2)


World's Smallest Walkie Talkie Minis (Set of 2)


$6.52


Set of 2 mini walkie talkies have push-to-talk and morse code functions that work up to 150 feet apart. Each walkie talkie is just 2"x 1.5" with flexible 4" antennas for pocket portability. Includes button batteries. WARNING: Choking Hazard - small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs....

Motorola RDM2080D Portable VHF MURS Two-Way Radio


Motorola RDM2080D Portable VHF MURS Two-Way Radio


$214.50


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Motocomm Magnum F14 Full-Face Communicator Headset


Motocomm Magnum F14 Full-Face Communicator Headset


$59.95


Motocomm Magnum F14 Full-Face Communicator Headset The full-face helmet headset and PTT system is an accessory for use with Motorola handheld 2-way radios with a single speakermicrophone accessory jack. Makes the use of a 2-way radio convenient and safe while riding a motorcycle, snowmobile, ATV, or any other activity in which a helmet is worn. Use the in conjunction with your 2-way radio for bi...

Couple using 2 way Walkie Talkies

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.


Oregon 35-015 Bolt on Type Muffler Tecumseh Part Numbers 33280, 33280A and 34185B


Oregon 35-015 Bolt on Type Muffler Tecumseh Part Numbers 33280, 33280A and 34185B


$10.99


MUFFLER TECUMSEH...

ULTIMATE Dynamo 2-Way Radio with 3-LED Flashlight


ULTIMATE Dynamo 2-Way Radio with 3-LED Flashlight



Ultimate Dynamo 2-way radio is ideal for emergencies! 5 power sources and 2-way communication capability, you'll never be left alone during a disaster!...


Midland 14 Channel FRS Two-Way Radios


Midland 14 Channel FRS Two-Way Radios



14 channel hand-held radios are the smallest available! Tiny 3 3/8in. x 1 3/8in. radios have long 2 mile range. Features include easy voice activation, scan, backlit LCD and low battery indicator. Also come with flexible antennas and hand straps. Each use 3 AAA batteries (not included)....


Reduce, RECHARGE, Recycle! TruCELL AA NiMH Pre-Charged 2200mAh Rechargeable Batteries - Includes 4 Batteries!


Reduce, RECHARGE, Recycle! TruCELL AA NiMH Pre-Charged 2200mAh Rechargeable Batteries - Includes 4 Batteries!


$9.99


Why Accessory Power's truCELL AA NiMH Precharged Rechargeable Batteries?Accessory Power's truCELL Rechargeable Batteries can replace your drawerful of those expensive and disposable single-use Batteries.truCELL Rechargeables are made with Top-of-the-Line Materials and are economical, reuseable, and an Eco-friendly replacement to either your throw-away alkalines or for underperforming rechargeables...

Midland Avp7 Rechargeable Batteries For Mdllxt210, Mdllxt310, Mdllxt410 & Gxt Series 2-Way Radios (Two-Way Radios/Scanners / Frs/Gmrs 2-Way Radio Accessories)


Midland Avp7 Rechargeable Batteries For Mdllxt210, Mdllxt310, Mdllxt410 & Gxt Series 2-Way Radios (Two-Way Radios/Scanners / Frs/Gmrs 2-Way Radio Accessories)



MIDLAND AVP7 RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES FOR MDLLXT210, MDLLXT310, MDLLXT410 & GXT SERIES 2-WAY RADIOS. RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES FOR MDLLXT210, MDLLXT310, MDLLXT410 & GXT SERIES 2-WAY RADIOS...


Walkie Talkies from a Vending Machine

Walkie Talkies from a Vending Machine

Photograph by secretagentmoof

 

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Who Invented the Walkie Talkie?

The invention of the Walkie Talkie, also known as a 2 way radio or two way Walkie Talkie, has been attributed to several people.  The inventors were:

1)    Al Goss, who came to the attention of the OSS (soon to be the CIA) in 1938.  He was a high-school student and was recruited by the OSS and they went on to develop the walkie talkie for use by the military.

2)    The engineering team at the Galvin Manufacturing Company in 1940 (soon to become Motorola).  The team was made up of Dan Noble, Henryk Magnuski, Raymond Yoder, Lloyd Morris, Bill Vogel and Marion Bond.  They produced the Motorola SCR-300.

3)    Donald L Hings, who was a Canadian.

A Walkie Talkie radio is a hand-held, 2-way transceiver with an antenna and either an earpiece simply for the user to hear or a speaker allowing those in the immediate vicinity to hear.

Following the War, 2 way Walkie Talkies came into popular use by the public and by businesses.  Using the ‘push to talk’ system, (PTT), they were available at a wide range of prices, depending on whether they were to be used as a toy or as a serious means of communication in the workplace.  Unlike the original 2 way Walkie Talkies, some of which had to be carried in a backpack, modern units are small enough to fit into your pocket.  They may be shockproof, waterproof and contain a scrambling device for privacy.  Some kids Walkie Talkies boast a Morse code facility.

As a means of instant short-range communication, 2 way Walkie Talkies have proved an invaluable asset to the work carried out by security, law enforcement, military and construction workers.  It is also of great use to the general public for use when skiing, camping, hunting and for keeping in touch with our children, particularly in areas where there is no cell phone signal.


Dakota Alert Long Range Alert System Kit


Dakota Alert Long Range Alert System Kit


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- Dakota Alert long range alert system kit- Includes one WMT-3000 wireless motion alert MURS transmitter and one M538-BS base station transceiver- Ideal for use in fixed locations such as homes, shops or offices- BlackDKMURSBSKIT...

Westinghouse WHDBI-5C Whole-House Wireless Doorbell and Intercom


Westinghouse WHDBI-5C Whole-House Wireless Doorbell and Intercom


$105.80


500' rangeSimple installation with nothing to wireExpandable up to 5 intercomsUnique house code prevents other nearby intercoms from accessing system2 selectable radio frequencies for transmissionNot compatible with 2-3-4-channel Westinghouse intercomsIncludes doorbell module 1 intercom and AC adapter...

KENWOOD TK3230K PROTALK XLS


KENWOOD TK3230K PROTALK XLS


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KENWOOD TK3230K PROTALK XLS...

2-Way FRS/GMRS Wrist Watch Walkie-Talkie Radio (Black/Red)


2-Way FRS/GMRS Wrist Watch Walkie-Talkie Radio (Black/Red)



The OmniZel EZTalk LC22WT communicator is a compact, light-weight, user friendly device with the added functionality of a basic digital watch. No matter who you are, wehever you are, it keeps you within reach! The OmniZel LC22WT communicator can be used at home, work, at the park, while shopping, in stadiums and concerts or in the depths of a forest!

The LC22WT features 22 FRS/GMRS channels with ...


LEGO Walkie Talkies


LEGO Walkie Talkies


$24.99


Kids of all ages love their LEGO bricks. Now, you can get quality walkie-talkies with cool LEGO styling to stay connected to fellow LEGO maniacs up to a mile away. They are easy to use - one channel, simple push-to-talk-button and volume control....

Motorola's First 2 Way Radio from 1962

Motorola's First 2 Way Radio from 1962

Photograph by bhenak

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