FRS-Two-Way-Radio Reviews

Some of the reasons why this offering from Motorola is nearly the best bang for your buck:

(1) Sleek, compact design and pamperingly light-weight
(2) Tone singalling...a tone indicating either party is done talking
(3) Talk button on the side for easy reach
(4) Easy to open battery compartment
(5) A quick release belt clip that snaps into a built in socket, seems more reliable than the Nokia style clips
(6) A water-resistant plastic casing and a changeable faceplate feature (redwood or black)
(7) Apart from the standard 14 channels, 38 privacy subchannels to help keep outside chatter from interrupting your conversations
(8) Built-in support for voice-activated transmissions
(9) Excellent signal, great up to nearly one and a half mile range
(10) Astounding battery life, close to 30 hours nonstop for me
(11) Sensibly designed charger with two bays that will either take the radio itself or the battery pack with an included spacer
(12) And most importantly, an un-ignorable price!

You may also want to consider one of Motorola's vox accessories for hands-free communications -- their handsets are crystal clear, perhaps best on market in terms of quality, but just a LITTLE pricey.

Anyway, this radio comes highly recommended from me if you are in the market for one of these thingies.

I used these radios for two purposes: to stay in touch with my firends on the mountain when skiing, and to talk to people in the other car on the road. In both cases, they worked perfectly. In the past, I had experience with similar radios without privacy codes, and it was a nightmare at a big ski resort because all channels were busy most of the time, and you had to listen to all that chatting to make sure that you do not miss a call from someone from your party. As you can imagine, skiers and boarders use such radios quite often. The privacy codes which this radio is equipped with eliminate interferences with other people completely and reliably - better than I could expect. You still share the same 14 channels with the other people using the principle "only one radio can transmit at a time", but you do not hear the other people talking unless they use the same privacy code as you do. The only way how you know that the channel is in use is blinking on the display. Setting the privacy code to zero enables you to communicate with people with the older radios without the privacy codes.

The radios are compact, and have long battery life. Typically, a set of 3 AA batteries lasts 3-4 days. The reception is clear and loud. The settings of the channel and subchannel can be locked, which is great because this prevents inadvertent switching to another channel when one or another button gets accidentally pressed in your pocket. If this happens, the most difficult part is to recall what setting you used before! The radio also has a "scan" function which I never used and find useless because it is good only to get out of the radio noise and conversations of the strangers. The range of the radio is decent (Motorola claims up to 2 miles in an open area), although it may not to work if you get separated from your party by a mountain ridge. A longer range can only be reached if you use more powerful radios which work in GMRS frequency band and require a government license (which costs, I think, about seventy bucks per year). The last but not least, these radios are weather-resistant and will not get damaged by sweat and moisture accumulated inside of your jacket.

It is my understanding that different brands and models of FRS radios use the same standard, they are compatible, and they all have the same basic features. They difference is only in (a) weight, (b) size, (c) sound quality, (d) weather resistance, and (d) availability of privacy codes. This Motorola is not the cheapest radio on the market, but you get a good value for the dollars paid as it is a well-built compact weather-resistant radio with a good sound quality.

I bought these as a Christmas gift for my husband. We moved into a house and he's been doing a lot of work outside. It's much easier to just radio him than searching all over the place for him!

Tested them out and its true. Took my boat out in the ocean and they work great at 5 miles. Haven't tested them yet in mountains.I'll be doing that soon. Very happy with this purchase from walmart. Everything is cheeper there. Well i been testing them and there a great radio. In the woods you get about 1.5 to 2 miles distance, depending on conditions. In around the wires and house in town about a mile. In open areas 3-4-5-6 miles. Yep i like it.

I tried Cobra 3 years ago (FRS) and the power management was horrible. The batteries were expensive and they didn't work after 2 years! Than we tried Audiovox 1 month ago and we took it back because of the range which was supposed to go 6 mi. But it didn't go even a quarter of a mile going through some trees.

Then I got these Uniden and they are the BEST I have ever had. The menus and the buttons are just perfect. Unlike the others this one had a separate menu to change the channel instead of being in the same menu as the vox, lock, privacy, etc. It's rating is 5 mi without boost and 8 mi with boost. And w\o boost it went three times as far as the audiovox which is rated 6 mi. Then with the boost I got another mile going over hills. And I love how it comes on instanly. Oh and the belt clip is very sturdy. I can't even force it off unlike the audiovox. Also not as alkward to have it on.

I usually am quite a critic and probably never gave a 5 star review but Uniden deserves it they definitely exceeded my expectations.

p.s. I never tried the motoral but after I looked at the reveiws I didn't want one. I Hope this helps you decide!

These radios are exactly what my son and I need so I can keep track of him when he's off playing. I wasted money on the last ones I bought, but these, with the ability to recharge the batteries, are an excellent deal. They have so many channels, there's no interference or "traffic jam" on our channel. The sound is loud and clear; the range is excellent. I'm proud of my shopping selection with these two-way radios and would recommend them to anyone.

I havent bought this yet so I might be one of another. I thought it was going to be pretty bad but from the reviews this sounds awesome. If you have a brother or something an your at a football game he should get one so you can stay in touch!

This is by far the greatest walkie-talkie ever made! It even surpasses regular ones! I thought the range would be just ok. Once you see the range with the tiny little antenna, you will freak! The range is awesome. If you use the GMRS frequencies without a license, you cannot speak, only hear. But channels 1-14 (the majority) are FRS, which is free. Buy this, trust me!!!!!

This is the perfect radio to strap onto you kids when you need to be able to recall them, or just make sure they are doing fine. We use it around the block and camping. Most of the time our higher power radios can reach them far away, but these can not always transmit back. At least they know it is time to come home. These have a great 'COOLNESS' factor and all of the kids want to try it. Have used them for about 2 months and they are still working, that is pretty good. Battery life has been better than I expected, but once it is drained, there is no spare and you are done for the day. Sound quality is also better than I expected out of a small unit, but it is still not as clear as a good Motorola. The kids will have LOTS of fun!

These are good quality radios. The sound is clear and the functions are easy to use. The range is good on open ground and very adequate in the woods. I especially like them when I let the kids go to the neighborhood park or when they are outside with their friends. They are also water-resistant so you can use them during inclement weather and they have a 2-year warranty; the best warranty in the business. Highly recommended.

These have to be the best walkie talkies ever. The range in great! I think that it emits the highest power signal allowed by law! Plus, the reception is great. The faceplates are great. There are so many to choose from(Not to forget that with the silver faceplates already on the walkie talkies, they give you two extra). The layout is so easy to use! Don't forget that you get 2 walkie talkies. Now it seems like everyone has one of these. If you ever have gone to the mall and got seperated from the group, you know what it feels like. But with these, you can keep in touch wherever you go! These are so useful. Buy one!

These were just what I was looking for! They sound great. They're easy to use, so my kids won't have any problems staying in touch on our next trip to Disney World or family camp-out. The price from Amazon can't be beat and what they don't tell you is that you also get TWO extra SNAP fronts with this sweet little deal. The radios have a lit display so you know what channel you're on... something my old Motorola Talkabouts did not have. The call tone is a great feature, too. I know my family will get a lot of use out of these. I liked them so much I bought two pair.

I take this radio fishing and the temperature reading is really nice. Great reception and loud crisp audio. I use NIMH rechargeable batteries with this radio and they work great.

My first experience with this radio was a used one I bought in an auction. There were no instructions and I had to figure out all the features. It wasn't that difficult, but contrary to the description by Amazon, this radio does NOT have the scramble feature. I liked this radio so much I bought a new one. Armed with the instructions, I found features I didn't know existed. The GE 35840 is one of a handful radios that have programmable memory. You can set up to 10 different channel/CTCSS tone combinations. Another feature not found in many FRS radios is the memory scan. Now this may not seem important but it does provide a bit of security to your conversations. I programmed both my GE 35840 radios to scan 4 different channel and CTCSS tone combinations. When I transmit on one, a random selection from the 4 memories I have programed is selected. While scanning the other radio picks-up the transmission in about 1/2 second. What this does is make it difficult for anyone trying to listen in on your conversation to keep track of you. You are talking on 4 different channel/CTCSS combinations at random. They may hear bits and pieces of your conversation, but that's all. Also, when scanning all channels the GE 35840 will sync to the CTCSS tone when it senses a signal. This happens in about 1/2 second. Another nice feature is the temperature display. Along with the temperature, this radio will also receive NOAA weather transmissions. Battery usage is very good and this radio takes 3 AA batteries for a long battery life. The speaker/mic external connections works great with ICOM/Radio Shack speaker mics. You will not have to buy a high-prices model that only the manufactorer sells. Range and sound quality is very good. I have about 7 different brands of FRS radios and this one is my favorite. If you can pickup a couple, do so!

Randy A. Hefner...

The clarity of the hearing of this item is amazing.

I never thought Cobra would make a decent radio but they have with this one. A big advantage over Motorola is the superior voice clarity! A host of other goodies such as a compass and weather radio are useful extras. The selectable power settings on GMRS is good. The range is good, I don't think any of these radios give you 5 miles and the best radio in terms of range and clarity were the original Motorolas FRS Talkabouts of the late 90's. Unfortunately, they ate batteries. I recommend this model of Cobra.

I researched GMRS radios for several weeks before recently purchasing the COBRA 1100 WX. I wanted a radio that would be useful in town and in the woods on runs and while hunting.

I selected the 1100WX for its claim of a 5 mile range and the NOAA alerts. I also had been advised that Cobra produced a reliable product. I found the manual very easy to read and quickly had the radios programmed for my use.

For several days I tried the radios on the way to work and back on the opposite side of town. I didn't have much luck after approximately 1.5 miles from home but this area is very hilly and there are industrial sites in town. This limited the range.

I tried them away from town. First on a 4 mile country run. At the 1/2 way point of 2 miles reception was difficult in the lowland but once I cleared the hill the reception was fine.

Next, I tried the reception at 5 miles to the parking lot at the state game lands. This was over very hilly terrain. The radios picked up a very clear signal. I ran up the mountain on the access road which is approximately 2 miles up to the top of the mountain. The signal was even better.

I would strongly recommend these radios for distances in town of l - 2 miles and outside of town from 2.5 - 5 miles. The voice activation option takes some getting used to, however, once programmed, they are simple enough for a 5 year old to use.

I have hardly any experience with this type of radio, so I read some reviews and took the plunge...and I am very happy with the Kenwood. The radio can be put in FM or FRS or a combination FM/FRS mode, in which you can listen to FM, but be contacted by someone else. Neither FM nor FRS requires the use of the headphones, but I think the headphones probably improve the communications (and without them, the FM is mono). I thought the in-ear headphones might be a pain, but I prefer them to the conventional type. These are small, attractive radios and the controls make sense, although it is necessary to read the manual. Although I'm sure there are lots of other good radios, this one is an excellent choice.

This is probably my tenth radio I have owned (I usually lose them when the snow season is over) Its compact enough that it fits in my jackets poket while im snowboarding. It has very clear sound, I have owned the Motorola radios and this is by far better sounding and the receprion on the mountain isnt 2 miles but its good enough to keep in contact at Heavenly (big resort)

The Fm radio feature is great when I'm on the lifts or sliding down the slopes it totally relaxes me for a better ride. I will be sure not to lose these this year.

I have hardly any experience with this type of radio, so I read some reviews and took the plunge...and I am very happy with the Kenwood. The radio can be put in FM or FRS or a combination FM/FRS mode, in which you can listen to FM, but be contacted by someone else. Neither FM nor FRS requires the use of the headphones, but I think the headphones probably improve the communications (and without them, the FM is mono). I thought the in-ear headphones might be a pain, but I prefer them to the conventional type. These are small, attractive radios and the controls make sense, although it is necessary to read the manual. Although I'm sure there are lots of other good radios, this one is an excellent choice.

This is probably my tenth radio I have owned (I usually lose them when the snow season is over) Its compact enough that it fits in my jackets poket while im snowboarding. It has very clear sound, I have owned the Motorola radios and this is by far better sounding and the receprion on the mountain isnt 2 miles but its good enough to keep in contact at Heavenly (big resort)

The Fm radio feature is great when I'm on the lifts or sliding down the slopes it totally relaxes me for a better ride. I will be sure not to lose these this year.

Purchased two t6320's. Both worked well. Used rechargable AA NiMH batteries without any problem...the battery meter will underread with these batteries because NiMH batteries are 1.2 volts and not 1.5 like the standard alkalines.

Tested the barometers at sea level and they were within 0.01" (on the sea in downeast Maine). These do not have an adjustment to bring you back to sea level if you are above the latter. You will have to interpolate for your altitude. In use, however, it is the relevent rise of and fall of the barometer that counts weatherwise, and not the absolute number. The altimeter also works off the barometer and good for 20 foot intervals. You should set it each time you go out...read the instructions....it is all there.

Compasses were very accurate assuming you know the magnetic declination in your area (-18 degrees in my case). These radios were also a good deal quieter than the t250's that my kids use.

Would definitely buy again.

FRS radios are greatly enhanced walkie talkies of ten or fifteen years ago. While walkie talkies were for the most part short range kids toys, most FRS radios have about a two mile range, and actual practical uses. There are presently 3 major distinctions (price ranges) in FRS radios.

1) The bottom of the barrel cost around 20-40 bucks. They have 14 different channels, and as long as there aren't more than 14 groups of people trying to communicate within a given two-mile radius they will serve your communication needs. If you are going camping where there aren't going to be a whole lot of people around, this category will work just fine without getting mixed up in other peoples' conversations.

2) The next step up offers 14 channels and 38 privacy codes, which in layman's term results in the equivalent of 532 different channels. They can be used in a more crowded area without much interference from other people's radios. They are good for keeping in touch on the ski slopes or the beach on a moderately crowded day.

3) The Motorola 6300 series is the top of the line. It's got 14 channels, 38 privacy codes, and three scramble settings. The scramble settings enable as close to a private conversation as can be achieved on a public radio band. Unless two (or more) radios are set to the exact same channel, privacy code, and scramble setting, clear communication is not possible. You and your group armed with Motorola T6300 series radios all set to the exact same channel, privacy, and scramble settings will have virtually uninterrupted communication, in even the most crowded of venues. The 6300 series is backward compatible with older less sophisticated radios. Simply turn off the scramble settings, and you will be able to communicate with older models.

This particular model, the T6320, comes with extra features including a compass, barometer, alarm clock, and other bells and whistles may be more than you need. Such extras may come in handy for the outdoor enthusiast. For those just looking for the best communication device possible, these features may simply add unneeded complexity to the user interface, in which case the basic (Motorola) 6300 model may be more desirable and a little bit cheaper.

I've used this radio during many jam-packed days on the (ski) slopes and it has never let me down. Though it is not waterproof, a little snow here and there has never hindered it's function.

Bottom line:

If you are a gadget freak, and do not need a radio that may get submersed in water, snap this one up without hesitation. Don't need the added features, but still want the best pure radio out there, go for the (Motorola) 6300. If you are just looking for something for the kids to play with around the house, one of the lower priced radios ought to do the trick just fine.

PURCHASED ON CLEARENCE FROM TARGET=I AM TOTALLY HAPPY WITH THE PURCHASE. THESE ARE CLEARER THAN MY MOTOROLA SP21s PROs. THE SCREEN IS THE BRIGHTEST I HAVE EVER SEEN=PERFECT PLUS LARGE AND EASY TO READ. SIMPLE TO OPERATE NEVER READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. WELL CONSTRUCTED AND PERFORMED VERY NICELY. RECOMMENDED HIGHLY. COULD USE A FEW MORE DIFFERENT RING TONES NOT THE SAME OLD ONES. HAS WEATHER ALERT=WONDERFUL. GOT 3 MILES IN THE BURBS WITH THESE. THATS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. AGAIN ONE OF THE CLEAREST AND CLEANEST SOUNDING RADIOS I EVER HAVE HAD. WELL BUILT AND CONSTRUCTED. I HAVE TESTED ALOT OF THESE FRS AND GMRS RADIOS. THESE ARE THE BEST I HAVE FOUND FOR THE BUCK. RECOMMENDED

I wanted to get something with better range than my basic FRS radios. I went ahead and got the FCC license for these online at the FCC site while I was waiting for them to arrive. If two or more of us were driving on a trip, I wanted something that was clear up to at least a mile. I tested them the other day and I walked about 1 mile down the road. The area between me and the other person was solid trees and they were on top of a mountain and I was down below. At about one mile, we could still talk fine, but the Boost button was needed. That was about the limit thru the trees. I would expect it to be much better in a more open environment. There are only two minor annoyances and the first is you have to wait about 1 second after you push the talk button before speaking. I think this model has the handfree option where you can just start talking, but I don't care for that. The second thing is they feel a little slick on the sides to me. They are not real heavy, but I felt like I had to squeeze a little harder to hang onto it. They do have another model that is the same thing, but has a rubbery outside case and I think it would be a better option. If I order another set, that is what I would get.