walkie talkies

[girlwithbow]

I am so tired of the walkie talkies we have they seem to make to much noise. Is there any new  cool headset no- noise walkie talkie-- like communication devices ?

[robb92]

I've seen the ones where its an ear piece and then a throat mic, you have hands free. I will have to look where I saw them at.

[Todd_ID]

Most of them have a plug for an earbud/lapel mic.  You'll find that the mic is poor at best, so you'll end up talking into the radio's mic.  Check Walmart and Radio Shack; they'll both have a cheap one.  Once you get the headset plugged in, then you don't get any noise out of the radio; it all comes through the headset.

[girlwithbow]

I must say this is the best forum I have ever been on , and I don't just mean hunting any forum . Great quick advice never rude or mean . Thank you everyone who has helped !!!! 

[blessed]

Girlw/bow, You might want to save up and get a couple GPS so you can locate each other if you get to walking down a different ridge than each other.
Wifey and I carry them and turn them on each hour and if one of us needs the other then we talk. Other wise there's no noisy radio going off at the wrong time and spooking the game! We never use them to guide the other one to the game , that's not really hunting fairly.
Go get-um! STB

[huntnphool]

Here you go, 10 pages of mics for Motorola units.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37.l1313&satitle=motorola+mic&category0=

[WonkyWapiti]

Last year we used my buddy's Midland radios with ear pieces and mikes.  The problem we had was that we hunt in some pretty thick stuff around North Bend and the clarity on the things kinda sucked especially when everyone is whispering to avoid spooking the game.  I've wondered how much better the rino's might actually be but I am scared to fork out that kind of money without having an idea how they will operate in the terrain I hunt.

[robb92]

I've noticed with the motorolas that we use at work that since we went to digitial instead of ananlog the reception is a whole lot better, with the analog you had to have a clear line of site to the tower, when we have had helo do an emergency landing 5 miles from the base and the radios didn't work worth a damn. Now with the digital you can be 20 miles away and they work great. If you are serious about getting good radios don't skimp on the price, buy the best that you can.

[ICEMAN]

I like the radios, but find myself shutting them down more and more of late. Not very often that my buds and I are working on the same hill, so we usually just check in every hour or two... A few years ago, I was inching up to some elk, and the damn ringer went off on my radio, like one of my buddies hit the "call" ringer button mathingy.... That was sure nice.

[MIKEXRAY]

I bought Midland GXT 550's two years ago and am very happy with them. They claim five miles range but I know they work up to two miles in heavy timber & ridges. They come in camo, have the head piece / mic and work very well. They are quiet, have vibrate and mic / ear piece work very well even during whisper. I give them *****  Mike

[ICEMAN]

Hey Mikexray, you give them five stars, or you give them a bad word?   

Oh, ok, I figured it out...

[Slider]

We use these.The only problem is they don't stay in your ear while you are moving around(stalking)so we just hang them over the ear. You can whisper and they are very clear. We are using Rino radio thou. One good thing about them is your buddy can't f*** Up and hit the wrong button and spook your game!!! 

http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-TalkAbout-Earbud-Microphone-All/dp/B00000JCTO/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1219000218&sr=8-1

[Broken Arrow]

Our party used to struggle with the same problems. With out a doubt....best combo we have found is the throat mic. I could go on for hours giving you positive information about this product. Have tried almost every possible combination. Here is a link to ones we buy that work best. Its military grade and built like a tank....no small flimsy wires here.

http://www.kawamall.com/pd_1x_icomjydgy_military.cfm

You can purchase them for any kind of radio your using. They eliminate back ground noise 100% and you can whisper and be heard crystal clear. I have used them on my midlands for years, the only problem I had is with the radios....all those frs/grms radios have such limited range, that its a joke in heavy timber and if your separated by terrain. Switched last year to ICOM radios. Full 5 watts of output. Yes, these will cost you much more....but it doesn't matter if your on the other side of the mountain....you will get a true 4 miles of crystal clear coverage even the thickest stuff imaginable.

[Houndhunter]

midland is a great brand, they work great for hunting

we got the 650s

[NoBark]

Don't forget the ethics issue with these. We use midland but only to check in every hour or so. The issue may eventually cause them to be banned. Most states say OK but don't use them to talk someone into an animal.  If or When too many start doing that they'll be outlawed.   

So, use 'em wisely. 

[Coasthunterjay]

I am so tired of the walkie talkies we have they seem to make to much noise. Is there any new  cool headset no- noise walkie talkie-- like communication devices ? only about 30 bucks, for handsfree and noise clutter free talking. works with all walkies except the Rinos, but can get the more expensive fire fox that works with those......

try the sportsmans fire fox throat mic. i like them alot and me and my dad both use them and have used them for a few years now......

[sneakyjake]

The guys I hunt with use Rhinos and it kills two birds with one stone.  I don't use either very much so it is nice to save some weight.

[arrowflinger]

Rhinos for me if I'm hunting with the kid................

[girlwithbow]

WOW thats nice !!!!!! Thats what we are going for !!!!!!!!  Thank you   

[d_wilson]

Don't forget the ethics issue with these. We use midland but only to check in every hour or so. The issue may eventually cause them to be banned. Most states say OK but don't use them to talk someone into an animal.  If or When too many start doing that they'll be outlawed.   

So, use 'em wisely. 

Is there a law stating you cannot talk someone to an animal?  If so, where is it written?

[Snapshot]

Is there a law stating you cannot talk someone to an animal?  If so, where is it written?

I believed that there was a law against directing someone to an animal with an electronic device until I just looked for it in the 2010 regulations... Either it was recently removed from the regulations or I was mistaken.

That being said, just because something may be legal doesn't mean it is 'hunting'. Guiding with radios is frowned upon because it gives the person an unfair advantage. There are a good many people out there who wouldn't be so adept at filling tags if they had to rely on their own skills instead of a radio. To make it a fair fight I suggest good old-fashioned hand signals; they work and still require stealth and skilll.

[BlackRidge]

Last year we used my buddy's Midland radios with ear pieces and mikes.  The problem we had was that we hunt in some pretty thick stuff around North Bend and the clarity on the things kinda sucked especially when everyone is whispering to avoid spooking the game.

  Same here, not the best for the area, but if you arent 5+ miles away from each other, they'l usually work

[woodman]

With Rino's you can text and not make any noise. You can also see where your partner is in the woods when he is out of sight. They also will mark where a kill is even if your partner has left it on your unit.

[rasbo]

530 rino works awesome.you can find a buddy thats down also if your hooked up that way..It does need a, is woodman following me,or is rasbo following button

[NoBark]

I know that talking someone in to an animal is illegalin Colorado.  I don't do it so I haven't looked at Washington law.

For me, it's a 'fair chase' issue.   I do really appreciate having them for staying in contact with my boys though.

[Snapshot]

I know that talking someone in to an animal is illegalin Colorado.  I don't do it so I haven't looked at Washington law.

For me, it's a 'fair chase' issue.   I do really appreciate having them for staying in contact with my boys though.

Yeah, they are valuable for checking in with hunting partners at predetermined times to find out if anyone needs help; I've no qualms about that.

[jstone]

My hunting buddy had his ear piece cord hanging off of his jacket a nice 4x4 muley walking buy, draw the bow POW BANG the cord got tangled in his bow string and missed the deer. I laughed my ars off. Make sure it is tucked in your jacket if you do.. Also if your closing in on a deer or elk and someone talks on the radio. YOUR BUSTED.. YOUR A LOSER

[TheHunt]

I use these and we only use ear buds.  Only Put the radio close to your right shoulder and shorten up the wire to the ear bud.  You can lean your head over and talk if you are the caller.  The shooter just listens to the commands of the caller.  This is very effective in archery where the caller is 80 yards or more behind the shooter.

[sneakyjake]

Yeah , pretty sure I wouldn't use them to get talked to an animal.  I guess people hunt and kill game for different reasons.  Mine doesn't involve that.  Not judging, just wouldn't do it.  No interest.

[woodman]

Yeah , pretty sure I wouldn't use them to get talked to an animal.  I guess people hunt and kill game for different reasons.  Mine doesn't involve that.  Not judging, just wouldn't do it.  No interest.

I don't use them to get talked to an animal. Over the years my partners an myself have had a policy of when we would hear one of us shoot, we would turn on our walkie talkie and wait. We would see if any animals were running around but if a partner got one down he could let the others know and if he needed help.

The best one was when we were in the high back country and I got a nice mulie down and someone tried to take it away from me and claim it for himself. One of my partners could see me from across the canyon, I told him what was going on with my walkie talkie. My partner replied back, what part of him do you want me to aim for. The response was heard by the guy trying to take my deer. He then said that the deer that he shot probably went a different way. This was in a quiet canyon and there was no other shot, he just saw what he thought was an opportunity to steal a deer from someone far away from help. I told him that I thought that he was right and he left. My partners came to me and we packed it out with no further problems.

[runamuk]

They are a handy tool......like any other tool they can be misused by those who would choose to ....I use my cell now and texting where I have service but after also using walkie talkies I see their usefulness ....plus its way too fun to give them to kids and then just listen to the banter  this includes big kids...

[Snapshot]

Woodsman's story reminds me of a tale an aquaintance of mine told me years ago. His family used to hunt a particular series of canyons for elk and had over the years constructed some elaborate treestands using plywood and lumber. Nice ones, he said, that even his old Uncle Bud could sit in safely (once they got him to the stand and up the steps). One early morning he got to his stand and found it occupied by two people; a man and a boy. When they refused to get down out of the stand that he'd busted his butt to build, he spoke into his radio, "George, Bruce, Tony, we've got trouble at my stand. Get over here."  George answered, "On our way," and the two climbed down and left.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

I like the combo radio GPS like the Garmin Rhino 530... with it whenever your partner keys his/her radion it updates their position on your gps screen.  A good idea in case you get hurt or get an animal down they can navigate to you.  we use the earbud and lapel mic.... only get on to checkin once an hour,  or to say "help"....

[sakoshooter]

My partner and I have our first radio call at 10am then it's every two hours after that otherwise they're off. My favorites are the Motorola Distance radios. Not made anymore but you can find em on Ebay. No noise other than your conversation. No freakin confirmation BEEP. No Loud STATIC whe your partner lets go of his push to talk button. I don't need gimmics in a radio, just a simple way to communicate and the Motorola Distance and Motorola Distance DPS are it. Nothing new compares yet.
There is a tiny beep when you turn it on but that's the only sound you'll hear other than crisp, clear voices.

Anyone out there know how to turn off the confirmation beeps and all the other noises associated with the newer radios, post it so I can pass it on to friends.

[bobcat]

sakoshooter, I like those radios too for the same reason. Simple and none of those damn beeps to worry about.

[1buckdown]

our group uses the older Rinos 130. does anyone know if the new rinos 530 have more range and is it worth the upgrade?
the rinos work great for us we alway know where the boys are

[pwdr-brnr]

my brother and i use rhino 530 with voice activated boom mics..just rotate the mic up out of the way when not in use...works well for us.

[IronMike]

Sakoshooter, I believe the way to eliminate the beep on the Motorolas is, with the radio off press and hold the"+" button while turning the radio on, that should get rid of the beep.

[sakoshooter]

Thanx Iron Mike. I'll pass that along to a couple guys in our group. It got so loud last year with the addition of the new guys radios that I simply turned mine off for the whole week. I wish these guys would trouble shoot their stuff prior to the actual hunting season.

[Ihuntelk2]

I have the Motorola Gxt 36 mile radious, they work well nothing like 36 miles though, they do have silent modes, whisper, hands free operation and you can turn off the roger beep. They are nice. I like them alot. I got them at Cabela's for like 80 or 90 bucks.