Motorola TalkAbout T5420 AA 2-Mile 14-Channel FRS Two-Way Radios (Pair)

• 14 channels
• 2-mile range
• 38 sub-channels
• 5 audible call tones
• VOX (hands free) capable

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.

Buy Motorola TalkAbout T5420 AA 2-Mile 14-Channel FRS Two-Way Radios (Pair) Now

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.

Read Best Reviews of Motorola TalkAbout T5420 AA 2-Mile 14-Channel FRS Two-Way Radios (Pair) Here

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!