Radio Reviews

With two very young children, our outings can be very unpredictable. Time is tight too. The Motorola 280's have been a great time saver. Sometimes we split up in the mall. One of us goes to do some shopping while the other has fun with the kids. We don't have to worry about setting up a time and place to meet up. It's easy to ask a question or change/make plans from 1/2 mile away.

We use it on hikes and while walking around the neighborhood. They're also great when you are travelling with more than one car.

The range is supposed to be about 2 miles. It can differ depending where you are.

Everything I've said is a good reason to by any 2-way radio. Why did I choose this model even though it costs a lot more than some of the other ones?

-They're rechargeable. It's real convenient to plug them in for a couple hourse after -They're compact. Even more compact than the the 280's that take regular batteries. Their size makes them easy to bring along anywhere. They also have a removeable belt clip. Clip them on your pants or belt or remove the clip and they slip easily into your pocket. -They're rugged. The 280's survived drops onto pavement and gallons of baby drool. -They have 14 channels and 38 privacy codes. If you go somewhere where there is a large crowd, you will run into other people with radios. The extra channels help you find a quiet channel. However, we rarely have to change channels.

We've had ours for almost 2 years now and they have been very useful.

The Motorola TalkAbout 280SLK is nothing like a Motorola FR50 Radio. These radios DONT COMPARE! The talk About 280SLK has a rechargeable battery ans has 532 channels. There Are 14 main channels and 38 sub-chanels. the FR50 has only 14 channels and no sub-codes. The 280SLK also has a call feature which has 5 calls the Fr50 has only 1 call. The talkabout 280SLK also has a channel scan which helps find active or free channels. The FR50 does not have this. The 280SLK has a vox feaurure which enables hands free opperation! You can set it to 3 sensitivity levels. The FR50 does not have this. The 280SLK also has a mute feuture which the FR50 does not have. You can also set your 280SLK to turn off at a spefic time! THESE 2 RADIOS DO NOT COMPARE! The TA280SLK is much Better! The FR50 is also twice the size of the 280slk. This is a great product! (280SLK)!

these 2-way radios are great - the ta280slk is the best small 2-way radio that we have used - great reception, clear voice over at least 1.5 miles in heavy cover and in the clear - they go more than the 2 miles advertised - great features and very easy to use - my 9 year old grandson was using these radios inside of 2 min. - these are so good that we have ordered another pair - now all of the family can have a radio when we are out and about - another great point - over the water from our boat to a friends the broadcast range was more than 2 miles by a long shot -- some users complain about the broadcast button being in a awkward place - we do not feel that way at all - great tools for the outdoorsman and women - and great for keeping track of the kids and grandkids

parki

With two very young children, our outings can be very unpredictable. Time is tight too. The Motorola 280's have been a great time saver. Sometimes we split up in the mall. One of us goes to do some shopping while the other has fun with the kids. We don't have to worry about setting up a time and place to meet up. It's easy to ask a question or change/make plans from 1/2 mile away.

We use it on hikes and while walking around the neighborhood. They're also great when you are travelling with more than one car.

The range is supposed to be about 2 miles. It can differ depending where you are.

Everything I've said is a good reason to by any 2-way radio. Why did I choose this model even though it costs a lot more than some of the other ones?

-They're rechargeable. It's real convenient to plug them in for a couple hourse after -They're compact. Even more compact than the the 280's that take regular batteries. Their size makes them easy to bring along anywhere. They also have a removeable belt clip. Clip them on your pants or belt or remove the clip and they slip easily into your pocket. -They're rugged. The 280's survived drops onto pavement and gallons of baby drool. -They have 14 channels and 38 privacy codes. If you go somewhere where there is a large crowd, you will run into other people with radios. The extra channels help you find a quiet channel. However, we rarely have to change channels.

We've had ours for almost 2 years now and they have been very useful.

The Motorola TalkAbout 280SLK is nothing like a Motorola FR50 Radio. These radios DONT COMPARE! The talk About 280SLK has a rechargeable battery ans has 532 channels. There Are 14 main channels and 38 sub-chanels. the FR50 has only 14 channels and no sub-codes. The 280SLK also has a call feature which has 5 calls the Fr50 has only 1 call. The talkabout 280SLK also has a channel scan which helps find active or free channels. The FR50 does not have this. The 280SLK has a vox feaurure which enables hands free opperation! You can set it to 3 sensitivity levels. The FR50 does not have this. The 280SLK also has a mute feuture which the FR50 does not have. You can also set your 280SLK to turn off at a spefic time! THESE 2 RADIOS DO NOT COMPARE! The TA280SLK is much Better! The FR50 is also twice the size of the 280slk. This is a great product! (280SLK)!

these 2-way radios are great - the ta280slk is the best small 2-way radio that we have used - great reception, clear voice over at least 1.5 miles in heavy cover and in the clear - they go more than the 2 miles advertised - great features and very easy to use - my 9 year old grandson was using these radios inside of 2 min. - these are so good that we have ordered another pair - now all of the family can have a radio when we are out and about - another great point - over the water from our boat to a friends the broadcast range was more than 2 miles by a long shot -- some users complain about the broadcast button being in a awkward place - we do not feel that way at all - great tools for the outdoorsman and women - and great for keeping track of the kids and grandkids

parki

I wanted to get a combo FRS for my nieces to use. I've been waiting for these to drop in price at a local electronics store. Finally did...

Why I decided on the T5200, it has 14/38 channels. Also, you can lock the settings you have, it also has 5 call sounds. Very simple to use, I have my 2 1/2 yr old easily learning how to use it. The sound is very clear, the screen is easily seen. Size is perfect, fits the hand nicely. Actually, it's a bit wider than the other Motorola FRS I own. Since I own a T6320, T6210, & a pair of T6200's, everyone in my family has no problem w/ the call button being in the middle. All they have to do is press the talk button & release to listen.

Another nice feature the T5200 has that I wish the 6200 series has, it's minor, but the mic is on the left side. It is not under any button & being on the right side, like the 6200 series. The kids can easily see where the mic is on the T5200, & know that's where you speak into. The problem w/ the T6200 w/ the mic, it's under the squelch button on the right/middle of the radio. This does have a tendency to be covered up when my daughters are using them.

I have added a split ring on the top, so I can attach a lanyard w/clip. I don't trust the kids on having the radio attached to the belt clip. I figure that's inviting for the radio to get lost or for them to accidentally drop the radio while trying to clip it back on. Now the radio hangs around their neck, they can hear & answer calls w/o a problem.

One thing I wish this radio has, that the upper line Motorola FRS has, would be a volume control +/- button, instead of the volume dial on top of the radio. It's minor, I knew that this would be something to consider, but since my nieces are older, they will leave the volume preset.

Haven't had a chance to check the distance, but we're going to Knott's Berry Farm this weekend. I'll see if the T5200 have the same great range that the other Motorola radios I own.

If you're looking for a great combo FRS, this is the one. The price is great, Motorola quality, ease of use, & it takes 3 AA batteries w/ 30-35 hrs of use. Not 4 AAA like the Audiovox or Cobra brands. I only have to buy one style of batteries. It's a great basic 14/38 channel FRS. I'm giving these 4 stars, since I want to check the distance clarity. but I'm sure they're a 5 star!

UPDATE: We had a chance to use all our two ways plus the new ones at Knott's this past Saturday. The T5200 worked wonderfully, no problems at all. The volume dial was never touched, so my nieces heard all calls & answered. They were thrilled to have their own radios to communicate. The range was pretty good. From most of the park, we could talk to one another. I changed my rating to 5 stars, for the price, quality, brand name, this is great. A must buy this Christmas season.

I did notice a few 2 way radios, mostly the older Motorola 250 & some Cobras at the park. Wow, two ways are really starting to be popular keeping in touch w/ family or groups. I wonder what it would be like up in the slopes, I wonder if many more people are using them???

Let me start out by saying that I am a ham radio operator and know a thing or two about radios.
I first picked up a pair of Uniden FRS-420's, looked nice(bit toylike however), loved the carabiner clip idea and th price was right ($40). Nice form, poor function however. Steady static fron 0.1 to 1.5 miles, button placement was problematic and the audio was inadequate (not loud enough and the radio would break up at full volume). Back to the store thay went.
My next purchase was set of Motorola T6620's (many nice features)which added up to $35 a piece with the rebate (not bad). Audio problems were evident (muddy sound, need for more mic gain even with menu gain adjustment) and I could only attribute it to the mic placement UNDER a button. Bad idea, the mic location should be evident and it should be open to the audio source (ie: your mouth). Second problem was the battery cover. Poor fit and finish here with a 1/8" gap after the cover is secured (and I use that term loosely since the cover becomes UNsecured very easily and will likely lead to many lost battery covers). Not very weatherproof construction and just plain cheesy. Cmon' Motorola, get it together! Back to the store they went.
Finally picked up a pair of T5200's for $50 and am very satisfied. Good audio (at FULL volume) and mic placement, good range with minimal static at 1.75 miles line of sight transmissions, basic functions with CTCSS codes only (which is good for me since I will be using a "special" radio with these two 0.5 watt models-can't use scramble or QuieT6000 feature of T6220 anyway and it is no guarantee of secure transmissions anyway so ALWAYS use these radios as if someone is always listening to you), lock function is good, no scan or button beep on/off -too bad but no biggie, CTCSS automatically stores on all channels making programming easier, cheesy belt clip (I use a split ring and plastic key hook attached to the radio lanyard hookup to secure the things to belt hoops, diaper bags, strollers etc), simple to operate (good for XYL), like the conventional on/off volume control (no probs with this at all re: unwanted changes in volume).
This is an inexpensive FRS radio that performs as well as it should with the necessary CTCSS functions - no fluff, and it doesn't look like a toy. If you want other functions, buy another radio, but beware that even the "better" models may not be the better choice. Nice job Motorola.
PL

The Motorola T5200 is a great radio for camping, walking in the woods,and for other uses.The one thing I like about this radio is that it has alot of features in it and it is palm sized.But the thing is that it only goes up to two(2)miles and after you out of range you cant hear the other person.The other issue is you have to be buying batteries for it.What I would recommend is if they can make it with rechargable batteries. But other than that, I think this is a great pair of radios.

I wanted to get a combo FRS for my nieces to use. I've been waiting for these to drop in price at a local electronics store. Finally did...

Why I decided on the T5200, it has 14/38 channels. Also, you can lock the settings you have, it also has 5 call sounds. Very simple to use, I have my 2 1/2 yr old easily learning how to use it. The sound is very clear, the screen is easily seen. Size is perfect, fits the hand nicely. Actually, it's a bit wider than the other Motorola FRS I own. Since I own a T6320, T6210, & a pair of T6200's, everyone in my family has no problem w/ the call button being in the middle. All they have to do is press the talk button & release to listen.

Another nice feature the T5200 has that I wish the 6200 series has, it's minor, but the mic is on the left side. It is not under any button & being on the right side, like the 6200 series. The kids can easily see where the mic is on the T5200, & know that's where you speak into. The problem w/ the T6200 w/ the mic, it's under the squelch button on the right/middle of the radio. This does have a tendency to be covered up when my daughters are using them.

I have added a split ring on the top, so I can attach a lanyard w/clip. I don't trust the kids on having the radio attached to the belt clip. I figure that's inviting for the radio to get lost or for them to accidentally drop the radio while trying to clip it back on. Now the radio hangs around their neck, they can hear & answer calls w/o a problem.

One thing I wish this radio has, that the upper line Motorola FRS has, would be a volume control +/- button, instead of the volume dial on top of the radio. It's minor, I knew that this would be something to consider, but since my nieces are older, they will leave the volume preset.

Haven't had a chance to check the distance, but we're going to Knott's Berry Farm this weekend. I'll see if the T5200 have the same great range that the other Motorola radios I own.

If you're looking for a great combo FRS, this is the one. The price is great, Motorola quality, ease of use, & it takes 3 AA batteries w/ 30-35 hrs of use. Not 4 AAA like the Audiovox or Cobra brands. I only have to buy one style of batteries. It's a great basic 14/38 channel FRS. I'm giving these 4 stars, since I want to check the distance clarity. but I'm sure they're a 5 star!

UPDATE: We had a chance to use all our two ways plus the new ones at Knott's this past Saturday. The T5200 worked wonderfully, no problems at all. The volume dial was never touched, so my nieces heard all calls & answered. They were thrilled to have their own radios to communicate. The range was pretty good. From most of the park, we could talk to one another. I changed my rating to 5 stars, for the price, quality, brand name, this is great. A must buy this Christmas season.

I did notice a few 2 way radios, mostly the older Motorola 250 & some Cobras at the park. Wow, two ways are really starting to be popular keeping in touch w/ family or groups. I wonder what it would be like up in the slopes, I wonder if many more people are using them???

Let me start out by saying that I am a ham radio operator and know a thing or two about radios.
I first picked up a pair of Uniden FRS-420's, looked nice(bit toylike however), loved the carabiner clip idea and th price was right ($40). Nice form, poor function however. Steady static fron 0.1 to 1.5 miles, button placement was problematic and the audio was inadequate (not loud enough and the radio would break up at full volume). Back to the store thay went.
My next purchase was set of Motorola T6620's (many nice features)which added up to $35 a piece with the rebate (not bad). Audio problems were evident (muddy sound, need for more mic gain even with menu gain adjustment) and I could only attribute it to the mic placement UNDER a button. Bad idea, the mic location should be evident and it should be open to the audio source (ie: your mouth). Second problem was the battery cover. Poor fit and finish here with a 1/8" gap after the cover is secured (and I use that term loosely since the cover becomes UNsecured very easily and will likely lead to many lost battery covers). Not very weatherproof construction and just plain cheesy. Cmon' Motorola, get it together! Back to the store they went.
Finally picked up a pair of T5200's for $50 and am very satisfied. Good audio (at FULL volume) and mic placement, good range with minimal static at 1.75 miles line of sight transmissions, basic functions with CTCSS codes only (which is good for me since I will be using a "special" radio with these two 0.5 watt models-can't use scramble or QuieT6000 feature of T6220 anyway and it is no guarantee of secure transmissions anyway so ALWAYS use these radios as if someone is always listening to you), lock function is good, no scan or button beep on/off -too bad but no biggie, CTCSS automatically stores on all channels making programming easier, cheesy belt clip (I use a split ring and plastic key hook attached to the radio lanyard hookup to secure the things to belt hoops, diaper bags, strollers etc), simple to operate (good for XYL), like the conventional on/off volume control (no probs with this at all re: unwanted changes in volume).
This is an inexpensive FRS radio that performs as well as it should with the necessary CTCSS functions - no fluff, and it doesn't look like a toy. If you want other functions, buy another radio, but beware that even the "better" models may not be the better choice. Nice job Motorola.
PL

The Motorola T5200 is a great radio for camping, walking in the woods,and for other uses.The one thing I like about this radio is that it has alot of features in it and it is palm sized.But the thing is that it only goes up to two(2)miles and after you out of range you cant hear the other person.The other issue is you have to be buying batteries for it.What I would recommend is if they can make it with rechargable batteries. But other than that, I think this is a great pair of radios.

I received a pair of the FR60s for Christmas, and I had my first real chance to try them out yesterday. The sound quality is good. Nowhere near a cell phone, but certainly easy to understand. The controls are pretty easily figured out even without a manual. The range in city with buildings, houses, etc. in the way is roughly 3/4 of a mile. I'm sure at some place like an amusement park or in the woods or beach the range would be greater.

Two minor drawbacks. One, the beeps emitted when changing channels or features are unusually loud, and there is no mechanism for turning them off or reducing the volume. Second, the range while driving inside my car was greatly reduced. Once I stepped out of the car, I was able to communicate easily. I wouldn't trust them for car to car communications on a road trip unless I were close enough to see the other car.

I haven't been to an amusement or some other place I would expect heavier use of these Family Radio Service frequencies, but so far I have yet to hear anyone else on any channel, other than the person I was speaking to. This is not like CB radio where there is a constant chatter on every channel. And even if there were a fair amount of traffic, these radios have the filter feature of the codes. Anyone not trasmitting with that specific code is squelched out.

One thing to keep in mind about these FRS radios, just because you are using a code, does not mean your communications are private. The code acts as a filter to prevent you from hearing unwanted transmissions. It does not scramble your communications or make them private. Anyone else with an FRS radio can hear them fine if tuned to the right channel.

This is a great basic unit to introduce your technophobe friends & family to the fun & convenience of the Family Radio Service. Here in suburban Los Angeles, I've had no problems finding a clear channel without using the 38 "privacy codes" (sub-audible tones inserted onto the outgoing signal to be recognized by the receiving radio set to the same "code" tone) Signals are crystal clear w/great sound quality through all 19 floors of my work hi-rise and hilltop range 'line-of-sight' is well in excess of the advertized 2 miles. Fortunately, the transmit button is ergonomically correct, on the left SIDE, unlike the incredibly awkward face-center ones on the SLKs. The heavy duty construction makes for a solid, substantial though still compact radio, much more impressive than the toy-like feel of most other FRS units. My only complaint about the FR60 is the overly loud beep that accompanies every button push (except transmit). Overall - GREAT RADIO !

I went into the store to buy some Cobra Family Radios, and the salesman was so adamant that these were better, and that their range beat the Cobra hands down, that I reluctantly gave in. Now, I've never tested them against the Cobra, but I have tested them, car to car, simultaneously against my mother's Audiovox pair. NO CONTEST. The Audiovox's were full of static, and were out of range long before the Motorola's. She even thought her Audiovox's were defective and sent them back, but the replacement pair was just as bad.

These are easy to operate--you need not carry the manual around with you. Easy to change channels, and BTW, we've been on the same channel for the couple years we've owned these, and have only experienced interference once. If you have the batteries out for too long, the channel resets to #1, so watch that.

We use them often to communicate from car to car on trips. We use them at sports events when the kids are playing at the same time, and even in the grocery store. The only challenge is remembering to take them along!

This is a simple, no frills, no gimmicks radio. Believe it or not, it was hard to find a radio with those qualities. Modern radios are teeny-tiny, and have tons of "features". I needed this radio for someone who was visually impaired, had severe arthritis, and was well beyond the age of dealing with multi-functional gadgets. Fortunately (?) GE is still in the business of making things "the old fashioned way".

To me, the GE brand has always meant "cheaply made". To be fair, it once meant superior quality and cutting-edge innovation, but GE along with General Motors and a few other "Super Conglomerates", took a vacation from quality and innovation in the latter half of the last century. Now they're madly playing catch-up, and this little radio, even though it's a throwback, is the first sign I've seen that they're making progress.

It's a simple am/fm radio. It's a little too bulky, has very nice monoraural sound, and the knobs are a bit too small for arthritic fingers. Still, it's just what I needed, and it's the first GE product I've intentionally purchased in over thirty years. Either my standards are coming down, or they're actually improving their quality.

I purchased this radio so we could enjoy music outside during the summer. Now that it's winter, we've brought it into the kitchen. It's light in weight and gets great reception. It's also a perfect size to take to the park or the beach. If you're looking for great sound & reception mixed with convenience, this is the radio for you.

I needed a serviceable little radio that would play my favorite FM and AM stations while I work the graveyard shift. While not traditionally a big fan of GE's products, the string of favorable customer reviews sold me on this unit. After two weeks, I can say I am not disappointed. For the price of a couple hamburgers, the radio manages to pull in the stations I like, at least until I get too close to all the old CRTs and their EM radiation, which is probably strong enough to render any reciever useless. At home, the story is different, will bell-clear reception on both bands and decent sound from the 3" speaker. Keep in mind that this thing is exceedingly simple, consisting of the power supply (AA batteries or built-in transformer--no bulky adaptor,) tuner, speaker, stereo headphone jack, and power/volume dial. That's it. And for a lot of people, that's good enough. Oh, and the case is nearly bulletproof.

After an additional month of operation at high volume, on the original batteries, this thing is still rocking. That's like almost 40 hours, by my estimate. This radio's the mack. Unless you get real lucky at a yard sale, this is the best $10-$15 radio out there.

This gadget is very well made. It is rugged and allows for a good grip. Its audio quality is quite good. However, there appears to be no volume control - so the 'call' becomes useless in crowded situations. However, the 'phone' like feature comes in handy in such situations. Range is acceptable - 2 miles in best of situations, but more like 1 mile for practical purposes. I wish the PTT (press to talk) button were a little bigger. Overall, I am very happy with the product - it is a steal for the price it is going for at this time.

This FRS radio has some nice features, like a flip out switch on the bottom to let you use the radio like a phone, by automatically reducing the speaker volume. This affords more privacy than the usual broadcasting-to-everyone-around method of the other radios. This could be simulated on other radios by just reducing the volume, but the transmit buttons are not usually placed for easy operation while holding it up to your ear.

The buttons are a bit smaller, which takes some getting used to. It has the usual lockout feature to prevent accidental changing of the channel and modes after you've set it up.

The fold up antenna makes for a smaller size when not using it, but it does give it a more delicate feel, giving some concern about breaking it off. The antenna is flexible to allow it to handle bending it the wrong way, so it shouldn't pose a problem with reasonable care.
The radio looks more like a little cell phone than a radio, which is nice at times, when you don't want to walk around talking into a bright yellow gizmo, broadcasting to everyone around you.

The transmission audio has a more tinny characteristic compared to the Motorola 250 and 289; it has a more 'electronic' sound which sometimes makes it harder to understand from the other end. I found the Motorola has a more natural sound to its transmissions. It has a lower number of steps on the volume control than some other radios, but it does the job.

The call tones on the unit are annoyingly long; they go on for a much longer time than is necessary to notify the other party of your incoming transmission.

These items are just minor problems, though; with the significant rebates that Panasonic offers on these radios, the value is hard to beat-

everyone like's all kinds of stuff if anything i trust panasonic,some like sony all i could say is find some thing u might really need but get something u can trust.

The motorola talkabout 250 is an excellent product. It may not have some of the features that some of the other do, but is a very good radio. If you plan on using it in very populated areas, some radios with better scan features may work better for you. But, if you plan on using it out in the more open country, it is a very good choice. For camping,hunting,backpacking or any other outdoor sports it is probably the best. It has excellent range and I feel is the most durable radio on the market. For example, I was using mine when rock climbing with some friends, accidentally I dropped mine 100 feet on to a rock ledge. Amazingly the radio still works. It had a few cracks but we still use it today.

I bought a pair of these for a Wednesday-to-Friday trip to Disneyland in May 2000. I felt it would be a good "acid test" since there might be enough interference from other FRS radios and all the structures at the park. The TalkAbout performed surprisingly well; but I also realized that it lacked some features which I needed. Here's my best breakdown of the issues. RANGE: Exceeded my expectations. I was able to get a clear reception from outside the Candy Cane Inn (Harbour and Katella) to the area just outside Small World. I haven't calculated the distance but I think it's about 0.5 miles (you may want to check this). We got a bit of static from the Disneyland Hotel monorail station to the Matterhorn. CLARITY: I can't really compare this model to other FRS radios (haven't tried them) but the only time we had problems understanding one another was when we would get "stepped-on" by less-considerate FRS-users on the same channel and code. The CTCSS codes (aka "privacy codes") were effective in squelching out other transmissions. I recall only receiving two calls from other parties on Friday when the park was really crowded. The microphone was remarkably sensitive. I had the unit clipped to my camera bag strap which ran across my chest (about 5-6 inches under my chin) and was able to talk normally while depressing the transmit button with my index finger. POWER CONSUMPTION: The Kirkland (Costco) alkalines lasted about 29 hours until early Friday. (Yes. You turn them on and leave them on in standby mode.) The battery power indicator was helpful. We probably spent 20% of our time transmitting and the rest on standby. STURDINESS: I dropped one on the concrete and it landed on its bottom. It was fine. The antenna and case are ruggedized but likely not indestructible. EASE OF USE: Even the technically-challenged members of our party had no problem "guessing" how the controls worked. Motorola's button layout is one of the better ones (but I could imagine having some problems with the smaller buttons if you were skiing and had gloves). PROBLEMS: The only problem we had was that there was a lot of channel congestion on Friday at the park. The park can swell up to 77k guests in a day so the 532 combinations can get used up fast. SUMMARY AND WISHLIST: Am happy overall but I think I'll be returning these to get a more expensive unit which vibrates when receiving incoming calls (for those more quiet environments). I'd also prefer a real splash-resistant unit if I was out on a rainy day. I don't think I need a smaller palm-sized unit as this size fit me just fine. The TalkAbout performed well enough that other members of our group decided to buy FRS radios for themselves in preparation for the next family reunion at the mouse-house. We also found these useful for exchanging driving directions when leaving the park for some fancy restaurants in Orange County.

This device is good, but there are much smaller radios on the market. It also does NOT include NOAA weather channels.

Great radio with all 14 channels and 38 privacy codes, yet you don't need a license. Unfortunately don't be fooled by the privacy "codes". Your conversations can still be monitored by other radios. Nice features like a backlit display lets you see the display in the dark and lock alows you to prevent accedental channel changes. Also includes an accessory jack for an optional hands-free (VOX) or push-to-talk headset. Bottom line, great 2-way radio with wonderful range and reception (up to 2 miles) except for the cons listed above and a incovieniently located talk button.

I want to start by saying that the Motorola TalkAbout 250 is the BEST two-way radio out there. I would rate it a 6 or 7, but that does not exist.

HERE ARE A FEW FACTS I HAVE FOUND:

1) The distance is great! I got about 1.5 miles, and there were many houses, trees, and power lines between myself and the person I was talking to. I am sure anyone could get AT LEAST 3 miles in an open area.

2) The sound quality is also great! It is 100% crystal clear. Motorola builds in a device to reduce unwanted noise and static. It really helps!

3) This model has features including: a scan button and a lock button (a must for people with kids).

4) The 14 channels AND 38 subcodes are a great thing to have. I went to a huge antique sale, and there were many people using two-way radios. I would not suggest a radio with only 2 or 14 channels unless you are willing to argue with another person about who can talk on the channel.

5) Having a volume control is also nice. Some brands have a device that electronically increases or decreases volume, and you can NOT manually ajust it.

6) The battery life is outstanding (as much as 30 hours)! Also, the Motorola models without a NiMH rechargeable battery seem to be better. As NiMH batteries gets old, they do not hold the charge as well and you will have to buy a new battery. When the battery doesn't charge well, the radio quality goes down and the sound is not always as clear. I suggest an Alkaline battery version!

7) The indicator light is also good, so you can vissualy see if the PTT button is pressed.

Hopefully you will decide to buy the Motorola TalkAbout 250. It only costs a little more than a different brand with the SAME features. Motorola also offers a wide variety of accessories including: headsets, remote speaker/microphones, and carrying cases.

A friend of mine has 13 year old twins and never knows where they have gotten off to. She mentioned to me she was thinking of getting some 2 way radios to try to keep track off them. So I bought her these for Christmas. She seems quiet pleased with them, the kids do not share her joy. These also work well inthe mall or when at a big outdoor event. They fulfill there pupose and are smallenough that they can go in a purse or knapsack with little bulk from them.

Well the RCA RP1667 is simply the best radio player of it's kind in its price range!!! This radio is better and cheeper than most of the sony portabe radios i've tried yet!

the included headfones are CRAP and need to be replaced by mediume or high end headfones!!

The head fones surve like an fm antena so the longer the cord is the better the reception is.

NOTE: Cordless headfones are useless for this product!!!

The case is well designed and prety strong (in testing a 60kg (140 pounds)were placed on it's surface and it survived the sony's usualy don't hold more than 20 kg...

I bought several radios and returned them all because of poor quality and reception. This radio is definitely what I was looking for. It's compact and I get excellent reception. I bought it for the gym so I can tune into the TV through a FM channel and it is crystal clear. I also use it while I walk and at the beach and have never had a problem. Excellent all around- size, durability, reception, earphones. I LOVE IT!! And a great price! I highly recommend it!!

This is a very nice little personal radio for the price. I use it at the gym and in other situations and am very happy with it. A totally pleasant little product, in my opinion. (You may prefer to get regular earbuds, as I did.)