Two Way Hand Held Radios

[Krayzcolt]

I am looking into buying some hand held radios for the family. I want to make this apart of my survival gear. I would like to communicate with the family while doing my perimeter sweeps. Any suggestion?

[Librarian]

FRS/GMRS radios if your distance is a mile or so.

Midland or Motorola brand. AA battery-capable.

[wpage]

The motorola's are a little pricey. Midlands a better value.

[KevinB]

I have some Motorola's that are over 10 years old. We use them everyday.

I think they are a excellent radio.

[Onetyme]

I have 6 motorolas. They work very well. Don't forget to get your license for usage. Covers your whole family.

[Yehosha]

I have 6 motorolas. They work very well. Don't forget to get your license for usage. Covers your whole family.

The license is needed for the higher powered/longer range GMRS channels. If you don't need to use those channels, then you don't need the licensing. The license cost $85 for 5 years last time I checked.

I have these and have zero complaints so far. Can use the rechargeable batteries they come with or AA and actual range in an urban environment is about 2.5 miles.

[G-forceJunkie]

I have a few pairs of these and they have been rock solid. Use them for comms on off road bikes so I dont treat them well yet they have worked great.

http://www.amazon.com/Midland-GXT1000VP4-36-Mile-50-Channel-Two-Way/dp/B001WMFYH4

[TheChief]

I have a few pairs of these and they have been rock solid. Use them for comms on off road bikes so I dont treat them well yet they have worked great.
http://www.amazon.com/Midland-GXT100.../dp/B001WMFYH4

+1 on these. However dont plan on much more than line of site without the repeaters. I have tested them in my neighborhood and got all of about three to four blocks away before the signal was gone. On a camping trip at a lake I was able to clearly talk for 3-4 miles across the water. This was a far away as I hiked so it may have been able to go much further.

[Librarian]

I have a few pairs of these and they have been rock solid. Use them for comms on off road bikes so I dont treat them well yet they have worked great.
http://www.amazon.com/Midland-GXT100.../dp/B001WMFYH4

Same ones I bought - CERT folks like them. Haven't tested my neighborhood yet, but '36-mile' must be between mountain tops ...

[SURVIVOR619]

The license is needed for the higher powered/longer range GMRS channels. If you don't need to use those channels, then you don't need the licensing. The license cost $85 for 5 years last time I checked.

I have these and have zero complaints so far. Can use the rechargeable batteries they come with or AA and actual range in an urban environment is about 2.5 miles.

I've had these for a couple of years and they work well for me...

[Californio]

I like MURS because you can buy a high gain antenna for the HT.

[zx9rdr]

Motorola ms350r

Repeater capable
NOAA weather radio
LED light
4 AA batteries but comes with rechargeable and drop in charger
Waterproof... use them on water and have had them on me when going ship to shore, swimming...
$79 pair at frys or rei.

[johnny1290]

Just throwing it out there, if your radios had marine frequencies it would provide some less used channels in a emergency situation. I heard some guy in hollywood testing? on marine band the other day

[Californio]

Not to be a HAM Nazi because I am not. Most people I hear on the radio including HAMS do a poor job of giving good radio. The local HAM club only has a few people that really have a radio voice and move the traffic along.

Going into the West End of Catalina last summer, the number of Marine VHF idiots stepping, there is a 1watt button, on each other and not reporting their location and needs was sad. If the CG is around they will blast you off the air, so I would not count on highjacking that service unless I was 100 miles inland.

I assume that it will be a mess until the first wave runs out of batteries or power and then it will settle down.

[Hans Gruber]

We use Midland GXT1000VP4's in our ER2 kits and they're available as optional upgrades in our Bug Out Bags. Of course we configure them, test them and repackage all of the accessories to minimize weight and size before we install them in our emergency kits.

They're great all around performers and come standard with rechargeable battery packs and AA compatibility for backup. They also come with both AC/DC chargers and even headsets.

For a civi set I don't think that they can really be beat. Of course I'll be at SHOT show next week so maybe I'll find something new