Hand Held Radios

[centerlineseal]

Can any of you guys recommend a make and/or model of hand held radios for use hunting birds or big game. Tired of using cheap ones with little to no battery life and minimal range.

I'm looking at some Motorola T605s.

 

[timeout]

Had a pair of ICOM MC-34's for several years now with no issues and rechargeable batteries that have not yet needed replacement.

 

[centerlineseal]

Those are nice radios! Discontinued, new model is M36.
Thanks for the tip.

Anyone else?

 

[muleystalker]

I have used Beo Feg, they work great and I got the longer wis antennas. Very nice radios.

 

[dedogs]

How much range are you looking for?

 

[centerlineseal]

Probably no more than a reliable five miles (during elk hunting), considerably less while chasing Chukars & Huns.

 

[nmkid]

Can't use radios for hunting purposes in some states.

 

[Willie]

I got tired of trying to get good communication from the radios, so switched to the Garmin InReach Explorers. No voice com, but satellite texts work every time + emergency rescue button + GPS w/mapping. Units run about $400 each.

 

[timeout]

I have used Beo Feg, they work great and I got the longer wis antennas. Very nice radios.

Are these what you use?
https://www.ebay.com/i/132680455284...1%26rvr_ts%3D6c082add1670ab66dbe23300ffd748e2
If so, how is the voice modulation? What kind of range do you get on average. I realize terrain makes a difference. Price seems like a real bargain.

 

[stacy]

I have used Beo Feg, they work great and I got the longer wis antennas. Very nice radios.

I SECOND THE BEOFEG THEY WORK GREAT

 

[muleystalker]

Are these what you use?
https://www.ebay.com/i/132680455284?chn=ps&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F1%2F711-117182-37290-0%2F2%3Fmpre%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fi%252F132680455284%253Fchn%253Dps%26itemid%3D132680455284%26targetid%3D598735567167%26device%3Dm%26adtype%3Dpla%26googleloc%3D9018914%26poi%3D%26campaignid%3D1599026280%26adgroupid%3D60762484272%26rlsatarget%3Dpla-598735567167%26abcId%3D1140366%26merchantid%3D118848186%26gclid%3DCj0KCQiA_4jgBRDhARIsADezXciOMIWx28ystnq1WPiekJh815RRny1fUavsLJ7jHFSSdfBru3PXe2kaAtD3EALw_wcB%26srcrot%3D711-117182-37290-0%26rvr_id%3D1765034822631%26rvr_ts%3D6c082add1670ab66dbe23300ffd748e2
If so, how is the voice modulation? What kind of range do you get on average. I realize terrain makes a difference. Price seems like a real bargain.

This is the one we were using, my buddy liked them so much he made me sell the set of 4 to him so he could use for work. depending on the terrain and conditions we talked 20 miles at certain times. But defiantly 5 miles is no problem if conditions are ok, terrain and such. I put the longer whip antenna on them for more range but also because they are thin and very flexible so makes it easier when hunting not breaking the other antennas. Just make sure you are buying from a reputable place when buying acessories like the antennas because there are cheap knockoffs. I bought off of amazon. they make quite a few models, i would do a little reading there may be upgraded and better models by now. The voice is very nice, I used radios in my profession for years all day every day and these sounded just as good modulation wise as what we used. They also have a lot of features. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FLH4R3Y/?tag=accuratescom-20

 

[timeout]

I'm set for radios now but it sounds like if a person was needing some that these would be a good choice.

 

[muleystalker]

Now that I looked again this model I listed above I think replace my model and this one is up graded and is a 3 band radio and comes with 2 antennas, 1 for VHF and UHF and 1 for 220MHz. I think I am going to pick these up to replace what my buddy made me sell him. We used them a lot, up to 12,000' in Colorado elk hunting they were very nice. used them in the canyons in N Ca. chasing hogs and bear they saved a lot of unneeded walking.

 

[centerlineseal]

Thanks for the info.

 

[rkittine]

I love the ICOM Radios. They make them for the Ham Bands, The Commercial Bands and the Public Service Bands. Same with the BeoFeg Chinese knock offs. Keep in mind that if you use the frequency coverage within the Commercial or Ham Bands, you need a license, though who is going to know when your out in the woods.

At these frequencies communications is considered to be Line Of Site. In the Space Shuttle Days, I worked the Hams on board the Space Shuttle with a 5 Watt Hand Held, but in the woods, if you have a hill between you and your companion, it may not work for a hundred yards. Terrain is everything.

Bob

WA2YDV

 

[msinc]

Suggest you take a look at the Cobra Floating GMRS. They are waterproof, they float, they have a 37 mil LOS range and have no trouble going over a hill for quite a ways. Longer than what you would normally walk on a hunt. I caught mine on sale and got three in a package deal. FWIW they also have a small flash light built in.
The biggest problem I had with small radios out hunting is the waterproof thing. Get caught in the rain with most of these and they are done.

 

[rkittine]

I used mine to communicate with the pits, 1,000+ yards away and in a straight line, so 1 watt or less if fine for that.

Bob