Let's Talk Radios

[phildobaggins]

Who here has radio/walkie talkie experience? It's time my partners and I go in on some nice radios.

We've always used some Midland Talker units (both the orange and the yellow version) and they would work out to maybe a mile or so, but we split up all of the time and when there is no cell service it can be incredibly convenient to check in on the others.

I don't have immense radio experience or knowledge. What's the "best" walkie talkie money can buy right now? I will pay good money for a good device.

[pianoman9701]

I have a 655T Rino. It has a pretty powerful 5W radio AND charts the position of you and your buddies on each others' GPSs. That helps when you're trying to coordinate a hunt. You can also send each other texts, share waypoints, take photos (and share). Other hunters in the area can't see you unless you make them buddies.

[phildobaggins]

I have a 655T Rino. It has a pretty powerful 5W radio AND charts the position of you and your buddies on each others' GPSs. That helps when you're trying to coordinate a hunt. You can also send each other texts, share waypoints, take photos (and share). Other hunters in the area can't see you unless you make them buddies.

That is a stud unit! Is there a subscription required for it?

[pianoman9701]

I have a 655T Rino. It has a pretty powerful 5W radio AND charts the position of you and your buddies on each others' GPSs. That helps when you're trying to coordinate a hunt. You can also send each other texts, share waypoints, take photos (and share). Other hunters in the area can't see you unless you make them buddies.

That is a stud unit! Is there a subscription required for it?

No subscription. I bought the OnX chip which doesn't require the annual update. And the desktop program Base Camp is a free download.

[b0bbyg]

Group of friends all run different varieties of Rinos, I am not sure we can all send/share photos with different versions, but they all share location and text and can be used just as a walkie talkie.
It is a great way to meet up midday or find someone sitting on a critter when they request packing help.  Or just to share a good waypoint amongst the group.

[James]

Be careful with a lot of the so called waterproof units.  I ran a number of the midland brand that were supposedly waterproof, but would die quickly in a light mist.  Turned out they were like IPX4 or some nonsense.

Picked up some Unidens in 2014 that are advertised as submersible and other than battery issues, they are still going strong even with the hell I put them though.

[ghosthunter]

Group of friends all run different varieties of Rinos, I am not sure we can all send/share photos with different versions, but they all share location and text and can be used just as a walkie talkie.
It is a great way to meet up midday or find someone sitting on a critter when they request packing help.  Or just to share a good waypoint amongst the group.

Same with our camp, 110s, 140s, 650s,

I think the 750s are too big and too many un used features.

[birddogdad]

we have had the rinos for years.. ups and downs, older units not serviced any longer either.. we are finding that Onx with your cell phone is working great now.. if you are off grid the inreach mini is hot setup.. you can send your fix thru onx and text at ANY range vs the limits of rino and line of sight/ weather...

they are so spendy now that the mini and onx are still way cheaper than a new 750! other cool mini feature is monthly service fee that easily is shut off till next needed or season vs a year round fee...


hope this helps your future thoughts@

[awapiti]

I have been using the Baofeng UV-5R and like them a lot.  Their price point is excellent and can be had for about $25 each.   We get pretty good distance out of them and have not had any scenarios where we could not reach others in our group.  There are a lot of accessories available including after market antennas that will significantly increase range. 

[Rat44]

The Baofeng is a Ham radio.
Please dont buy this unless you are licensed.
And they are cheaply made.

[Iveexcaped3]

I run a rino 655t which doesn’t get used much as I hunt alone and have a garmin inreach and onX. If I ran with buddies or a group I can see the full potential of it. If I’m hunting a busy area I keep it on scan as I don’t want to interrupt someone’s hunt and to keep myself safe from someone’s hunt zone. 2 years ago I heard about 3 groups have success which was awesome for them and it kept me out of the area they were applying pressure. One thing I like about the 655 is you can run an earpiece so if you’re stalking your radio won’t give you away.

[CJ1962]

Like others I have had various Rinos over the years and would recommend them.  Over the years they provided great comfort knowing the locations of my boys as they started hunting off leash.  The newer ones are getting spendy and as cell phone coverage gets better I find that we are txting with the phones more and more than using the radios.

Also keep in mind that if you hunt out of state check their regs.  Some states it is illegal to use a radio to coordinate a hunt.

[Russ McDonald]

The Baofeng is a Ham radio.
Please dont buy this unless you are licensed.
And they are cheaply made.

They are programmable and can be programmed to FRS and gmrs frequncies.  Some of themodels are part 95 certified meaning they can be used on GMRS/FRS You are just limited on power out when using frs frequencies.  These frequencies are what in the Rino radios.  Distance your limited to line of site.  The FRS frequency is in the UHF band which is only about 2-5 miles line of site.  Line of site is with zero obstruction like trees and even worse if the have leaves or pines.  Saying all that I would go with a Rino.  The only way to get more distance out of any radio in the FRS GMRS  radios which includes Rino's is having a human repeater.  Yiu have to be higher that everyone else and have a clear veiw below.  That is why all my repaters are up on big high peaks.  A 5 watt can talk back to a repeater sometime 20 miles depending on terrain and foliage.  The the repeater can send out or repeat the signal a lot futher or to the other side of the mountain.  So if someone is high up on a peak you might be able to talk to them from the drainage you are in and be able to talk to you other buddy another drainage over that you can't in the current drainage you are in.  He will be your relay if you want to talk to that other buddy. 

Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk

[Rainier_JB]

Pretty much all the options available (and those mentioned above) use the same UHF frequency band so paying more results in the same performance but better features (the maps on a Rino, more waterproofability, etc.)

Another option would be a Garmin or Zoleo satellite messenger paired with your phone. Definitely more expensive but I've had really good luck using that to message between folks in my group.

[aaronoto]

I've been super happy with my Rocky Talkie's - battery life is great and they're very well made.  Every other FRS radio I've come across is cheap junk with a battery that doesn't last.

https://rockytalkie.com