Two-Way Radios are changing year by year, and every time we turn around the quality and range seem to change exponentially. We chose our top 3 two-way radios to break down and help our readers decide the right unit for the kind of hunting and exploring they are doing. We talked with one of our readers and realized this article was long overdue. They use two-way radios to connect while duck hunting on the Mississippi River. Both hunters hunt the river, but one friend puts in on the Minnesota side of the river and the other on the Wisconsin side. When it is pouring rain and they get into the duck boats, they use radios to connect and head up the river which keeps both of these men and their friends safe.
MIDLAND MXT275 Micromobile Two-Way Radio
The MIDLAND MXT275 Micromobile is the perfect unit for the duck boat, UTV or truck. It provides NOAA Weather Radio from the National Weather Service and broadcasts on 15 GMRS channels and eight high-powered repeater channels. This 15-watt unit comes with a mounting bracket, 12v power cord, detachable antenna and magnetic antenna mount. This is the unit that you want mounted into your vehicle. The power on this unit, along with the detachable antenna, allows you to gain better reception. The controls for the Midland unit are on the microphone. The entire unit can be operated on silent mode which allows the user to turn off all of the tones. $149.95
COBRA Chat Tag ACT120B
Cobra brought the Chat Tags to the market this year. For a 12 mile, wearable hands-free two-way radio, we were blown away. We have had some significant experience in testing these units out because the kids really like them. The entire unit is smaller than a standard donut and clips to the straps on your backpack. These work equally well in the city as they do in the field. The Chat Tags have a 10 hour battery life, and you can plug in headphones and a microphone. They are water resistant but not water proof, and they cover 22 channels. We like the belt clip on these, and the small weight of these units makes them easy to carry. $49.95. Editor’s note: Cobra has just launched the new COBRA Chat Tag Rock that looks a little beefier but is slightly more money. We found the original to be more than adequate.
MOTOROLA Solutions TALKABOUT T265
The Talkabout uses push-to-talk capabilit, and a long range of up to 25 miles with 22 channels and 121 privacy codes. The Talkabout also offers NOAA Weather alerts and iVox/VOX hands-free use with recharging capability. We found these to be excellent inside the city as well as out in the canyons where we hunt. The package comes with a carrying case, 2 T265 radios, 2 belt clips, a single charging cable, 2 batteries and 2 earpieces with boom microphones that are perfect for silent operation while hunting. We tested these out to about 10 miles with great accuracy. We liked that we could charge the pair together on one charger. The battery is good enough to last up to 12 hours on full use which was enough for what we needed. Of course, you can always carry a set of 3 AA batteries age for an additional 24 hours of use. These radios come with a 2-year warranty and the pair can be purchased for $84.99.
Motorola has stepped up their game the past few years! We love them at our deer camp! Great read!