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Author Topic: Best handheld long range radios?  (Read 5663 times)

Offline carpsniperg2

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Best handheld long range radios?
« on: May 07, 2021, 03:59:28 PM »
I know nothing about radios but in need of a good set.

I need a good long range set that is easy to use, not to huge and easy to fit in a pack.

Let me know your thoughts
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Offline Boss .300 winmag

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2021, 04:14:36 PM »
🤔
"Just because I like granola, and I have stretched my arms around a few trees, doesn't mean I'm a tree hugger!
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Offline Magnum_Willys

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2021, 06:36:20 PM »
Like marine vhf stuff ?   We don't use anything but Rhino's for hunting (where radios are allowed that is) - its just too handy seeing everyones position on the screen to fool with anything else and radio strength is pretty good 1 to 5 miles I would say depending on terrain.  But yea stupid expensive for just a radio.    I also use it as a backup gps to the iphone.    Caveat - the newer ones that charge by USB can take forever to charge - had two and both super slow???  Hope they fixed that.  I have to take battery out and put in an older style broken phone I use just to charge to charge. Don't throw those old rhinos away !
« Last Edit: May 07, 2021, 06:53:33 PM by Magnum_Willys »

Offline shmacker

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #3 on: May 07, 2021, 06:43:12 PM »
+1 on the rino

Offline Russ McDonald

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #4 on: May 07, 2021, 07:19:10 PM »
As Willy said max range on any radios is going to be 1-5 miles depending on terrain.  They all operate on line of site and no more than 2 watts.  Any packaging that says more range than that is full of it.  The only way you will get that is one person sitting on a high ridge talking to people below.

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Offline MADMAX

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2021, 07:25:26 PM »
+1 on the rino

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Offline ghosthunter

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #6 on: May 07, 2021, 08:19:53 PM »
+3 Rhinos
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Offline Boss .300 winmag

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #7 on: May 07, 2021, 09:30:04 PM »
Sat phone.😉
"Just because I like granola, and I have stretched my arms around a few trees, doesn't mean I'm a tree hugger!
Hi I'm 8156, our leader is Bearpaw.
YOU CANNOT REASON WITH A TIGER WHEN YOUR HEAD IS IN ITS MOUTH! Winston Churchill

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Offline Bob33

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2021, 09:48:57 PM »
I've used quite a few different FRS and GMRS radios including Motorola, Midland, Audiovox, Cobra and several iterations of the Garmin Rino radios. My experience is that none work very well in dense canopy with hills: 1/2 to 1 mile distances in difficult situations is not uncommon. All of them work well ridgetop to ridgetop: ten miles or more is possible. None of them work at 36 miles unless they're on the moon. :twocents:
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Offline carpsniperg2

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2021, 12:50:02 AM »
Thanks guys. I have heard the rhinos are great. I went and looked and the rhino I looked at on amazon had a lot of bad reviews mostly about the battery.

So if anyone has links to the better ones that would be great.

I am not expecting to much from it. Terrain is blended with some steep hills and canyons. 1 to 2 miles would be nice but I get that it depends a lot with where you are at.
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Offline gee_unit360

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2021, 06:36:04 AM »
Thanks guys. I have heard the rhinos are great. I went and looked and the rhino I looked at on amazon had a lot of bad reviews mostly about the battery.

So if anyone has links to the better ones that would be great.

I am not expecting to much from it. Terrain is blended with some steep hills and canyons. 1 to 2 miles would be nice but I get that it depends a lot with where you are at.

You’re not gonna have problems with the batteries on the rhino’s unless you’re on the radio constantly all day. They also sell extra lithium ion and double A battery packs if your worried. I’ve had my rhino for 5 years and never ran out of battery.

Offline HntnFsh

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #11 on: May 08, 2021, 07:41:11 AM »
Thanks guys. I have heard the rhinos are great. I went and looked and the rhino I looked at on amazon had a lot of bad reviews mostly about the battery.

So if anyone has links to the better ones that would be great.

I am not expecting to much from it. Terrain is blended with some steep hills and canyons. 1 to 2 miles would be nice but I get that it depends a lot with where you are at.

You’re not gonna have problems with the batteries on the rhino’s unless you’re on the radio constantly all day. They also sell extra lithium ion and double A battery packs if your worried. I’ve had my rhino for 5 years and never ran out of battery.

Agree with the longevity of the batteries. They last a long time.

Offline Bob33

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #12 on: May 08, 2021, 08:03:49 AM »
Thanks guys. I have heard the rhinos are great. I went and looked and the rhino I looked at on amazon had a lot of bad reviews mostly about the battery.

So if anyone has links to the better ones that would be great.

I am not expecting to much from it. Terrain is blended with some steep hills and canyons. 1 to 2 miles would be nice but I get that it depends a lot with where you are at.
Screen brightness setting has a pretty significant effect on battery life. I keep mine on a low setting when not in use and have no issue with battery life.
Nature. It's cheaper than therapy.

Offline carpsniperg2

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #13 on: May 08, 2021, 11:17:30 AM »
Good deal that’s why I like to ask instead of trusting online reviews.
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Offline KFhunter

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Re: Best handheld long range radios?
« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2021, 11:20:36 AM »
I've often wondered if everyone had a garmin inreach, and texted one another, if that would work good enough?

Might be too slow on the send/recieve texts though.

 


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