Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: hangumhi on March 23, 2008, 09:29:25 PM

Title: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: hangumhi on March 23, 2008, 09:29:25 PM: I've been looking for a new set of radios. Right now I have three handheld Motorolas that have 5 mile range but really that equates to .5 miles if you're lucky. I've seen these 25 mile radios and was wondering if anyone can give me advice on them if you've seen them in action. Thanks
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: huntnphool on March 23, 2008, 09:49:22 PM: FWIW, I have tried several and always go back to these. I now have picked up 5 total on Ebay. I dont know why they ever stopped making these, they are the strongest I've ever used. We use them hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and on our car rally's. All the guys in the cars say I come over loud and clear compared to everyone else using those little ones. One bonus for not making them anymore is they are getting cheap on Ebay. Anyhow just my $.02.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorola-Talkabout-Distance-DPS-Two-Way-with-Mic-extras_W0QQitemZ110235903814QQihZ001QQcategoryZ20383QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: M_ray on March 23, 2008, 09:53:31 PM: I have no problem with the Rino by Garmin it has a great range (up to 16 miles) and is a GPS that tracks your buddies movements as well.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: LongTatLaw on March 23, 2008, 10:51:39 PM: We use a HARRISON bran radio at work and Ill see where one can buy one on the civilian market... friday I left mine turned on and I was talking to people near the town of Rainier when I was at exit 134 on I5 North of the Tacoma Mall. But they probably are expensive!

M-Ray, dont suppose you know how to fix my Rhino 120 that suddenly stopped working for no reason? It was ok before it died!
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: M_ray on March 23, 2008, 10:58:39 PM: mmm Not really I have the 530 chx but I can tell you that if you call Garmin they have an awesome warranty replacement department. A few years ago I left my gps on tmikes rig when he pulled out it went flying down the highway :DOH: anyway it still worked but the back was broken well they sent me a cord for free to transfer all my data to my computer so when I bought a new one I would still have all my previous waypoints.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: bowhuntin on March 23, 2008, 11:32:54 PM: I have been using these cobras for the past couple years:

http://www.cobra.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=275&category_ID=29

They work okay, it is just like cell phones though if you get down into a hole it can be hard to hear or talk to someone on them. They are small and can be silenced which is nice, but if the battery goes dead and you don't have an outlet to plug them into recharge you are out of luck for you radio for the rest of your hunt or what ever you are using them for. The batteries will last around 24 hours. Try to get some radios that use AA batteries so you can bring some extras in case they go dead.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: Red Dawg on March 24, 2008, 06:19:06 AM: my vote is the garmin rhino 120. The perfect amount of features for the money.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: boneaddict on March 24, 2008, 06:22:57 AM: I still use the 30-06. One shot means I have killed something. X amount of shots in a particular order means it got me before I killed it, or its dark and I can't find my way out. :)
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: boneaddict on March 24, 2008, 06:23:49 AM: these trad bows don't work quite as effective, but where I am at, no one will hear me anyway.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: ICEMAN on March 24, 2008, 06:32:33 AM: Motorola elcheapo's. I leave one on in the rig, always charging, then trade it out with the one from my hiking gear when I hit the trail. this way I always leave the road with a topped off unit.

I also like the elcheapo's., because I have had to lend one to someone in our camp on more than one occasion, because they showed up to camp and forgot to bring theirs... >:(

Regarding range..., the steep country we usually hunt in... seems like everyone loses the ability to receive when you are in a deep canyon anyway... Are some of your better radios actually pulling in signals when other radios are dropping out?
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: bowhuntin on March 24, 2008, 07:41:58 AM: Quote from: Iceman on March 24, 2008, 06:32:33 AM
Regarding range..., the steep country we usually hunt in... seems like everyone loses the ability to receive when you are in a deep canyon anyway... Are some of your better radios actually pulling in signals when other radios are dropping out?

Good question, do the expensive radios like the garmin rhinos work better than the motorolas or cobras that you can get for cheap? If so it might be worth it to throw down on some more of the expensive units.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: Crunchy on March 26, 2008, 11:56:18 AM: I would go with the Garmin Rino. I would also spend the extra money and get the 520 or 530 because of the extended range. I upgraded from the 120 because it wouldnt go more than a mile in the ruff stuff. The mapping feature is sweet.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: huntnphool on March 31, 2008, 06:23:48 PM: Quote from: Iceman on March 24, 2008, 06:32:33 AM
Regarding range..., the steep country we usually hunt in... seems like everyone loses the ability to receive when you are in a deep canyon anyway... Are some of your better radios actually pulling in signals when other radios are dropping out?

Those Talkabout DPS have worked better than anything I have used. I would have to look at the power rating on them but we can communicate with each other when friends with different units have long disappeared. They tell us that they were able to hear us calling them but we couldn't hear them replying, even though we could hear each other.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: ICEMAN on March 31, 2008, 10:47:46 PM: Thanks. I need to start breaking some gear up, so I can justify replacing it.... :chuckle:

Maybe start letting the kids play with the radios at school or a sleep over or something... Look honey what the kids did, they broke my stuff... :'(
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: huntnphool on March 31, 2008, 11:28:09 PM: Quote from: Iceman on March 31, 2008, 10:47:46 PM
Thanks. I need to start breaking some gear up, so I can justify replacing it.... :chuckle:

Okay folks I have an idea, I know stop laughing :chuckle: With as many people on here questions like this can easily be answered if we have some volunteers that are willing to give honest opinions and not be biased by outside influences. What I propose is the next time a question like this comes up, how about some of us volunteer the gear we have to be checked out by others out in the field. Seems a no brainer to me, I have loads of gear I'm betting others would love to check out before buying, and I know everyone on here has other gear that can be compared to. Obviously we don't know each other personally and apprehension of loaning out big dollar items is understandable but I have to believe there are trustworthy folks on here that would be more than willing to help out and make this a positive opportunity. I'm not claiming to have all the answers, as I know there will be loads of questions, but collectively we should be able to come up with a decent plan. Let me know what you think, am I being naive to believe I can trust others with a $2000.00 spotter or binos? Maybe so but I choose to believe there are a load of good people on here that would appreciate the opportunity to compare products in the field before dumping a load of cash. :bdid:?????
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: billythekidrock on April 01, 2008, 05:37:28 AM: Quote from: hangumhi on March 23, 2008, 09:29:25 PM
I've been looking for a new set of radios. Right now I have three handheld Motorolas that have 5 mile range but really that equates to .5 miles if you're lucky. I've seen these 25 mile radios and was wondering if anyone can give me advice on them if you've seen them in action. Thanks

Garmin Rinos.
Why? They come with a GPS or is it the GPS that comes with a radio.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: KillBilly on April 01, 2008, 06:18:36 AM: Quote from: huntnphool on March 31, 2008, 11:28:09 PM
Quote from: Iceman on March 31, 2008, 10:47:46 PM
Thanks. I need to start breaking some gear up, so I can justify replacing it.... :chuckle:

Okay folks I have an idea, I know stop laughing :chuckle: With as many people on here questions like this can easily be answered if we have some volunteers that are willing to give honest opinions and not be biased by outside influences. What I propose is the next time a question like this comes up, how about some of us volunteer the gear we have to be checked out by others out in the field. Seems a no brainer to me, I have loads of gear I'm betting others would love to check out before buying, and I know everyone on here has other gear that can be compared to. Obviously we don't know each other personally and apprehension of loaning out big dollar items is understandable but I have to believe there are trustworthy folks on here that would be more than willing to help out and make this a positive opportunity. I'm not claiming to have all the answers, as I know there will be loads of questions, but collectively we should be able to come up with a decent plan. Let me know what you think, am I being naive to believe I can trust others with a $2000.00 spotter or binos? Maybe so but I choose to believe there are a load of good people on here that would appreciate the opportunity to compare products in the field before dumping a load of cash. :bdid:?????

Good thing to do at a get together
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: ICEMAN on April 01, 2008, 06:20:38 AM: That sounds like a great idea.
Title: Re: Which 2 Way Radio and why?
Post by: KillBilly on April 10, 2008, 07:01:39 PM: I will loan someone my spare Rino 520HCX if they want to test drive it.