Two-Way Radios Reviews

I have bought several different types of 2 way radios. I have found that these are simple to operate. My kids prefer this model. Only prob that i have found is that everyone and there dog no matter what radio model they have can communicate.

Nice little FRS. Very basic 14 ch & 38 subcode, very compact, foldable antenna is a nice feature, especially for work use, it does not get in the way. Durable also, I bought this for one of my emps, he dropped it a couple times & it still works great, a few scratches though.

The volume level isn't too loud, but acceptable. There is no channel lock, or channel scan. But these 2 features are not necessary for work use. Also it takes 4 AAA batteries, compared to 3 in some other Audiovox or other companies FRS.

But for the price, it's cheap & very handy to have. I think this is an older model Audiovox, but they work really good, no real complaints, since I knew what this FRS is all about.

I've purchased 6 of these radios. They work very well and have the added bonus of being very small. I have not found any smaller. Great for taking along on vacation trips to let the group split up and stay in contact. Great in big department stores or sporting events, too -- your group can split up and stay in contact. Good battery life -- fresh batteries last for several days of 24 hr use. 14 channels x 38 subchannels each is enough to find a clear channel even in large crowds, like theme parks. Range is good. Have used them when staying in different hotels to keep group in contact. Simple to use -- children can use them. Good value for price. Great for security and safety purposes for you group.

These Audiovox have met our expectations. They have a great range - not any bleeding of channels so far (even in the mall) and they are lightweight and compact. We used these in our cars on our 700 mile move last month, and they worked great on the interstate (no CB interference and we even took them into the rest stops as a safety feature). My only complaint is that the belt clips are not very flexible, and both clips broke fairly easily (within 2 months). I would recommend these if you're looking for an inexpensive 2 way radio system.

Tips: Remember, even though this unit is an "FRS/GMRS*" radio, you need to get a license to use it from the FCC. An FCC GMRS license is currently $75 for 5-years, and is available online. Dual FRS/GMRS radios require an FCC license even though you may only want to use the FRS channels.

Pros: Quality manufacturing, and good look-and-feel for such an inexpensive radio.

Many useful features (e.g., Scan, NOAA WeatherRadio built-in, VOX mode option [i.e., Voice-Only-Transmission...no pushing of "talk" button], Dual Watch mode [i.e., "watch" 2 channels simultaneously], Call Ringer selection [like on your cell phone]).

Fairly easy to operate (although you'll want to familiarize yourself with all its operations before putting it to the test in the field).

Removable belt clip.

Cons: Not rugged-ized. It's made of some kind of hard plastic, and has no rubbery outside covering. Although of quality manufacture, it may get banged-up more than a rugged-ized radio.

No battery charger I can find [even on the AudioVox website], and it has two metal contacts on the bottom that 'look' like recharger contacts. So, you have to use disposable AAA batteries, or charge your own rechargeable batteries outside the unit. [This 'con' is a nit, in my opinion.]

No other accessories (e.g., leather case, swivel belt clips, etc.) I can find [even on the AudioVox website] other than a generic set of headphones. [This 'con' is a nit, in my opinion, too.]

Conclusion: A very nice radio for the price.

*FRS = Family Radio Service. Best for use with your family on informal outings. No FCC license required for FRS-only radios.
GMRS = General Mobile Radio Service. Best for more formal use [although business use not permitted], like a road rally, or bicycle competition, or the like, and slightly longer distance. Requires an FCC license, and can only be used with your family and close relatives. Friends need their own license according to FCC rules.

For most people, an FRS-only 2-way radio is a better choice for an informal, infrequently-used "walkie talkie"; you get [nearly] the same functionality without the need to get licensed.

This radio is no longer manufactured since cherokee (wireless marketing) went out of business in 1999. A company called entel in europe makes the same radio today only in europe. It is called the eurowave and operates on the licence free pmr446 frequencies. When the radio arrived it would not turn on. Since there was no possibility of warranty I took the radio apart and discovered that the battery contacts were not installed properly. Now it works fine. The radios is constructed well and audio is clear. I like the small size. On the downside it used AAA batteries which do not last as long as the AA batteries. I use rechargeable AAA nimh batteries which work fine. All around great radio...too bad it is no longer manufactured.

I have had this Radio for 2 1/2 years and has worked fine, although I would suggest getting a better mic, the stock one leaves a lot to be desired. But all in all a great radio for the money!!!!

This replaces the FA-CH charger and will function with FABP battery pack installed or removed from the FRS units. The FA-CH only allow one pack installed and one pack removed from the FRS.

Note: the FA-CH comes with a car adapter cord but the FA-CR deosn't.

I purchased a pair of these a month ago, and tested the range at a local park. I got range of over one mile, although the audio started to break up at the extreme end of the range. The only thing they lack is the CTCSS feature (commonly mislabeled as a 'privacy codes', since using CTCSS does NOT keep your conversation private

Now I take them anytime I go out with my kids. I'm very happy with them, and they work with NiMH batteries.

As it often happens, new model *LOST* some nice features of older model (frs 250):

1) swing antenna 2) belt clip 3) strap

also, "call" feature is not compatible with older model, so if you want additional stations -- you can talk, but "call" tone from old model won't get to the new one.

Battery indicater is not very linear and once its not full-- get ready to replace 4 AAAs. When batteries are low, high tone pitch replaces incoming voice until you lower the volume

Apart from that, Cobra provides perfect communicator for the money with all you need -- 14x38 channels, good battery life, weather resistant. No need to pay more to get Motorolla.

To consider: 1) audiovox (model with 14x38 channels) 2) higher end Cobra with vibra alert 3) never buy FRS with less than 14x38 channels as air is saturated with users!