walkie talkies looking to buy need recommendations

Barnney Fife · Mar 15, 2011

I am looking for a pair of walkie talkies but I dont want to buy a set that

wont perform. Could I get some recommendations from some of you all that have

good results with your purchase?

thanks
b

Rustygun · Mar 15, 2011

I am also struggling with what kind of Walkie Talkies to get. I know the ones that say 30 miles are good for 3-5 miles if the sky is clear, the land is flat and there are no obstructions between you and the other person.

I would not mind spending some $ but want to get my moneys worth.

Barnney Fife · Mar 15, 2011

that is exactly where I am. I pretty much know the $ 25 set isnt as good as some more expensive ones but I hate to spend 2 or 3 times that much and not get a lot better set

CamaroMan · Mar 15, 2011

I can't help but would like to hear some of the expert opinions myself. I'd like something waterproof that can go about 10 miles on a cloudy day in a densely wooded area.

EFsDad · Mar 15, 2011

Sat phones gents!

BoomerShooter · Mar 15, 2011

Delete

FAL guy · Mar 16, 2011

I've got the Midland set shown here: http://www.midlandradio.com/Two-Way-Hunting.W8L/GXT1050VP4

They have proven to be much better than the low powered Motorola set I had before. From hilltop to hilltop I have communicated over 15 miles. In a hilly area I have spoken at 4 miles.

Remember, radio is actually line of sight. NASA communicated with Apollo moon missions using 1/2 watt radios. High power radios are simply to overcome loss of line of sight.

Barnney Fife · Mar 16, 2011

FAL guy said:
I've got the Midland set shown here: http://www.midlandradio.com/Two-Way-Hunting.W8L/GXT1050VP4

They have proven to be much better than the low powered Motorola set I had before. From hilltop to hilltop I have communicated over 15 miles. In a hilly area I have spoken at 4 miles.

Remember, radio is actually line of sight. NASA communicated with Apollo moon missions using 1/2 watt radios. High power radios are simply to overcome loss of line of sight.

if you had to buy another set would you choose the same Midland?

BReeves · Mar 16, 2011

Spent most of my life working as a communications tech for Motorola. Bottom line, you can't do it with just walkie talkies or the proper term "portable radios". As said they are line of sight and due to us living on a ball at sea level you can only see about 3 miles. Lower frequencies <100mhz will follow the earth's curve better but low band portables aren't very common and would require an FCC license. The best you can do without licensing is the 150mhz band and they have to be less than 2 watts. This is from memory and it's been a long time so the two watts number may not be accurate and I'm too lazy to look it up. I know it won't be higher but may be less.

The distance can be greatly increased by moving up from the earth's surface and the reason you see all the towers with antennas hanging off the top. What the commercial and government entities do is put in repeaters with the antennas at the top of a tower. Now the portable just needs to be able to see the antenna at the top of the tower. There is a formula for this but I have long forgotten it..

Anyway the best you can reliably hope for out of any portable to portable communications is about 6 miles. This will increase as the two people climb higher and will decrease depending on stuff in the way, trees, buildings etc.

FAL guy · Mar 16, 2011

Barnney Fife said:
if you had to buy another set would you choose the same Midland?

I would absolutely.

walkie talkies looking to buy need recommendations

Barnney Fife

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Rustygun

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Barnney Fife

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CamaroMan

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EFsDad

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BoomerShooter

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FAL guy

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Barnney Fife

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BReeves

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FAL guy

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