Two Way Radios

Two way radios can be an incredibly convenient communication system. I highly recommend having a set of small portable radios for any adventure or remote project you may be embarking upon. A two-way radio is a powerful walkie talkie with a range of about 1 to 5 miles. It is like the CBs used by truck drivers. You and your group pick a channel to talk on, and then you can freely broadcast messages back and forth to each other between the 2 way radios.

Walkie talkies are great for use in the outdoors for a number of reasons. They are lightweight; they operate anywhere, have no service fees, have small power requirements, and work over a large range.

Now, when buying a set of radios, the best radio for you depends most on what you need it for. Most radios operate from about 462 - 467 Mhz, which is just above amateur level.

Keeping that in mind, here are some things to look for when buying radios:

• Cost: Generally, the more the radio costs, the better it is. If you will be mountain climbing you will want a better radio than you would use at the mall with your kids.
• Quality: Can the casing get wet? Can you throw it in a tool box without ruining it? Is there a guarantee? Find something that will work in any emergency scenario you might find yourself in.
• Electrical power: What kinds of batteries does the radio need? Can you recharge them? How long will the radio batteries last if left on for a few hours?
• Watts : More watts equals more power and thus further distance. Remember that milliwatts are less than watts. Also remember that manufacturer claims on range of their radios depend on ideal conditions. You will not get as far a range as it says on the box if you are in rugged terrain.
• Antenna: The "rubber ducky" antenna that comes with most of these radios is the least effective antenna. You can buy a better antenna at Radio Shack to increase your range.

Which ever radio you end up buying, I think you'll be pleased to have the ability to communicate on these marvelous inventions!

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