2 way radios

[NC308]

Looking for options for a set of 2 way radios for me and my son. We hunt just a few miles apart at most. Looking for one I can turn the beep off as well. Thanks.

 

[rjtfroggy]

I have a set of Motorola supposed to go 26 miles. Don't believe it, maybe over water but not in the woods.
Best thing to use is your cell phones, put on silent and use text.

 

[rkittine]

RTJ is right. At the frequency used, the normal two way radios will give you LINE OF SIGHT use. I have worked the Space Shuttle with a 5 watt Handheld HAM radio, back in the day, but over normal terrain, if you are not close to a direct line with the second radio, the range is extremely limited. Of course, there are a lot of woods without cell phone coverage. If you get some, get the better ones and you should get some range. ICOM, Motorola, Kenwood, Yasue etc. I would stay away from the cheap Chinese imports.

A box of matches and a wet towel will get through on a clear day where the smoke signals can be seen and of course a couple of carrier pigeons could work, but then you also have to carry feed and not mistake them for a game bird while hunting.

Bob WA2YDV

 

[NC308]

I have a set of Motorola supposed to go 26 miles. Don't believe it, maybe over water but not in the woods.
Best thing to use is your cell phones, put on silent and use text.

I agree but he does not have a phone yet. He is only 11. No need for a 11 year old to have a phone!!

 

[jimmymac]

I agree but he does not have a phone yet. He is only 11. No need for a 11 year old to have a phone!!

I commend you for that stance and couldn’t agree more. My wife and I had the same approach. We held off as long as possible.

 

[DaveTooley]

Marine VHF would be your best choice. Even at 5W it might be iffy.

 

[msinc]

For may years we used Motorola Talkabout FR50's. They are small, lightweight and did the job just fine. But, eventually one of the volume knobs fell off. I replaced them with Cobra brand radios and these are waterproof and float. They are also rechargeable. I got mine in a "bundle" of three radios and a charger. They are GRMS, whatever ta hell that is...all I do is talk on mine.
They claim 37 miles and I cant say they wont do it, but I can say that in the mountains I can get about a good mile, mile and a half and I don't ever plan to be that separated from my son while hunting.
Just like with a digital camera I believe "water proof" {not "water resistant"} is very important. Water proof means a little something. Water resistant is like a lot of "MOA warranties" and means absolutely nothing.

 

[muleystalker]

I use the Beo Feng UHF VHF radios they work great. As far as using your phones, you have to have cell service to text. I don't know where you will be hunting but where I hunt out west there very seldom cell service in any spot I hunt, even in town to get fuel is iffy.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I have a 25 yr old set of Motorolos with no sub chanels. Just in off or volume up down. Work just great, often amaze me how far. But, cell phones and text is better as no noise to spook Bambi.

 

[rayporter]

i have a garmin inreach. it is text over satellite so there can be some delay. but you have communications any where. mine worked in alaska and colorado.

there are several models and all have an s.o.s. button for emergency locate and all have a gps built in.

the units will text to each other and also to any cell phone. when they send they will send the coordinates of the user.

 

[7887mm08]

Marine VHF would be your best choice. Even at 5W it might be iffy.

2nd this. We use these chasing coyotes with hounds.

 

[DaveTooley]

We used them in IA in pickups chasing coyotes. Pretty flat and not to many trees in the way.

 

[K9TXS]

I use the Beo Feng UHF VHF radios they work great. As far as using your phones, you have to have cell service to text. I don't know where you will be hunting but where I hunt out west there very seldom cell service in any spot I hunt, even in town to get fuel is iffy.

This is what we use as well in the sage rat fields. They will reach several miles and you can talk with the other hunters and see how they're doing and if you need to relocate. They also work great when you are caravanning to your area to hunt. The Beo Feng is very inexpensive and works well for this purpose. You do need a license to operate them, but that's very inexpensive and easy to get.

 

[searcher]

I think the Motorola units would be your best bet. I have a pair of the older ones (maybe 15 years?) which are about twice the size of the current ones. In heavy wooded area - a mile or two would be no problem in my experience.

 

[Rick300]

I think the Motorola units would be your best bet. I have a pair of the older ones (maybe 15 years?) which are about twice the size of the current ones. In heavy wooded area - a mile or two would be no problem in my experience.

Yep, we hunt with the older T7200 and it's amazing how far into the canyons we can go and still talk to camp. The newer ones....no way, no how, not even close.

 

[jghoghunter]

Yep, we hunt with the older T7200 and it's amazing how far into the canyons we can go and still talk to camp. The newer ones....no way, no how, not even close.

We have the same 7200 best ones we have ever had.