Two-way radios

[pd]

Do any of you hunters have advice about two-way radios?  Do you use the GPS radios?

I should lead this off by saying that I can always use the hand-held radios in the camp (there are several available), and they are all the same brand.  The problem is that I don't own my own, and I don't want to bring somebody else's equipment with me when I hunt elsewhere.  Sure, I should probably buy a few radios in the same type as those in the main camp, but if I am going shopping, I might as well think about something new/better.

By the way, the area of use would be very hilly, heavily timbered, 2 or 3 hunters at most, no base camp (spike camping).

Any comments are welcomed.

[KFhunter]

love garmin rinos


we use em snowmobiling, easy to locate any party within a reasonable radius.    You can walk/ride right to them.

for hunting it'll eliminate a bunch of talking, you can see your partner almost in real time on the map so no more asking "where are you now?"  if your walking opposite ridges down.

[Bob33]

Rinos are great but if you simply want radios, basic radios are a cheaper alternative.

I have Rinos, non radio GPS units, and plain radios and use them all.

[ghosthunter]

love garmin rinos


we use em snowmobiling, easy to locate any party within a reasonable radius.    You can walk/ride right to them.

for hunting it'll eliminate a bunch of talking, you can see your partner almost in real time on the map so no more asking "where are you now?"  if your walking opposite ridges down.

 

We have used rhinos for 10 years now. They work great.

[Mudman]

Have the garmin 655 and its great.  Like said it does eliminate much talking.  You can see your partner and use the info as you choose.  Range is way better then any radio Talkie I ever used.  Hills and trees arent too much of an issue.  They will scan and communicate with other radios.  If they are close enuff for theirs to work!   Last year in Winston unit I was picking up other rinos 8 miles away in the Margeret and they were on elk.  I knew exactly where they both were. These units with the huntgpsmaps are the only way to go nowadays.  Especially with the weyco crap going on now.

[Labs07]

Garmin rinos are the way to go!

[washelkhunter]

All radios are limited to clear line of sight for optimum reception/ transmission. I like the high power midlands.

[Rainier10]

Garmin rinos are the way to go unless.... everyone else in the party has motorola or midlands that don't have the GPS.  If you get a rino and the others don't have it you have to turn off the portion of your radio that broadcasts your GPS location.  If you don't at the end of every transmission that you send out the others will get a big blast of static.  That static is the Garmin transimitting the GPS location.

[pianoman9701]

All radios are limited to clear line of sight for optimum reception/ transmission. I like the high power midlands.

Washelkhunter is old and uses stuff from the 40s. Some day I'll have to drag him cold and stiff out of some canyon he got lost in. Get a Rino. They're Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!

[pd]

All radios are limited to clear line of sight for optimum reception/ transmission. I like the high power midlands.

Washelkhunter is old and uses stuff from the 40s. Some day I'll have to drag him cold and stiff out of some canyon he got lost in. Get a Rino. They're Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!

That's amazing, PianoMan.  I didn't know they had radios in the 1840s.

Seriously, thank you all for the comments.  I am leaning towards Garmin Rino GPS + radio, but I am not sure if I should go the budget route (the 120 series), or the more expensive routes (like the 655).  Is there anybody out there who has tried both the high end and the low end of the Rino products?

[pianoman9701]

His is actually a smoke box and you're correct, from the 1840s. He sends up puffs of smoke to communicate on windless days.

If you can afford the more expensive one, then go for it. I have the 655T and even though the technology is far beyond Washelkhunter's comprehension, he covets it. It's awesome. Touch screen, 5MP camera, Geo-tag pictures.

[Orion88]

Definitely 655T. 

[stickflngr]

another for the Rino's. They are an awsome unit...

[washelkhunter]

Rhinos? Seems a little ackward to me to be luggin one of those around. Besides how do you send a message, tie a note to its tail?

[Mudman]

   The rino text messages!    Really it does!

[pianoman9701]

Rhinos? Seems a little ackward to me to be luggin one of those around. Besides how do you send a message, tie a note to its tail?

I'm going to catch hell at cigar-thirty tonight, huh? 

[washelkhunter]

Bi-mart has the midland 36 mile 2 pack gmrs radios and accessories on sale for $50 starting today.

[pd]

Bi-mart has the midland 36 mile 2 pack gmrs radios and accessories on sale for $50 starting today.

WashElkHunter, are you sure about that?  I just looked at the May 23rd Bi-Mart flyer, and I don't see any radios.  Hmmm?

[gaddy]

just don't depend on them for 36 miles.

[washelkhunter]

Bi-mart has the midland 36 mile 2 pack gmrs radios and accessories on sale for $50 starting today.

WashElkHunter, are you sure about that?  I just looked at the May 23rd Bi-Mart flyer, and I don't see any radios.  Hmmm?

Yeah the ad is right on the front page. $25 off.

[Russ McDonald]

They won't go 36 miles.  The only way they will do that is through a repeater, which you will need a license for our of one of you is sitting at 3000 feet lokking down in a valley where the other person is.  I carry a BK with me.  I can program it, it has high power but it is big a bulky.  You take the good with the bad.  Rino's are good probably the best out there because of it having gps.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[pd]

[/quote]


Yeah the ad is right on the front page. $25 off.
[/quote]

OK.  Got it.  Thanks.

[washelkhunter]

Actually that walkie talkie will transmit halfway around the world given the right conditions. No better nor worse than any other w/t on the market today.

[Russ McDonald]

Actually that walkie talkie will transmit halfway around the world given the right conditions. No better nor worse than any other w/t on the market today.

The frequency those radios are at it very very highly unlikely.  CB's and HF (high frequency) radios are capable of doing that in the right conditions not a UHF (ultra high frequency).  The most you can expect out of the radio is 5-8 miles line of sight with no obstructions in between, like trees.    Trees and vegetation with degrade signal strength.  That is also at 5 watts which most of these radios aren't.  Some are but most aren't.  IMO these types of radios are cheaply made including the Rino but for putting in something in your pack and talking to your buddies out in the woods they are a very good option.  Believe me there are far better hand held radios out there but then you talking what do you want to pay.

[Alchase]

I have three sets (of two) talkabout Motorolas. Costco impulse buys. LOL
Two 230s, two 330s, and two 355s (I think I got the numbers right).

I do know the all three sets, were all capable of communicating with each other over miles of hilly terrain in the Methow area.
Neither set had any issues at all. The 355s usually go with me if hunting with someone. I leave one in my truck and take the other with me when hunting solo. The other two sets I use camping and fishing, and I also lets the kids play with them.
All work great, especially for the price.

I won't say they are as good as the Rhinos, because I have never used a rhino. But I have heard great things about them, especially the friend locator on the GPS.