It’s necessary to keep in touch with people. Although the telephone has now dominated the way of communication, two-way radios are still incredibly useful in certain situations. What’s more, they are also highly cost-effective, and tend to be more reliable than mobiles while participating outdoor activities. Whether you intend to use two-way radios for a kayaking holiday, camping trip, a skiing holiday, or as a present for your children, this article will show you how to buy a two-way radio.

There are 5 things you need to know about.

1. Maximum Range

One of the most important factors to consider when you wanna buy two-way radios is the talk range you need them to cover. No matter what kind of frequency range you wanna use, such as PMR446, when you want them to reach long enough range you want, that could only be achieved in ideal confitions: at a high altitude with no obstacles between the two radios. Unless you are using your walkie talkies to communicate between two mountain tops, it’s unlikely that you will achieve this sort of range. If you use in a urban environment, the maximum range is likely to be shorter. However, a good quality radio should provide adequate range for the vast majority if users.

2. Speaker & Sound

The sound quality of the speaker is an important part of the quality of the two-way radio, which determines whether you can hear the other party’s voice clearly and whether you can accurately transmit what you want to say. And in some bad conditions, the speaker is also an important factor that determines the service life of the two-way radio. For example, in desert areas, you need to choose a two-way radio with an anti-magnetic speaker, which can prevent the speaker from being damaged by dirt to a certain extent.

3. Channels & Privacy Code.

License-free two-way radios have a fixed frequency that they can transmit on, such as PMR446 frequency range. You can use it with 8 or 16 channels, which tune the frequency on which the handsets communicate with one another. In addition to channels, there are privacy codes. The codes can effectively protect the conversation between you and your family or friends from being eavesdropped by others. It can also prevent the two-way radios to a certain extent.

4. Battery & Charger

Nowadays, people who buy two-way radios pay attention to the long standby time. Some two-way radios with long standby time can be used for a whole week without charging. When you participate in long outdoor activities, you can choose this type of walkie-talkie with a long standby time. Because it is not easy to charge outdoors, whether it is a mobile phone or other electrical equipment. But now there are power banks, so charging is not that difficult, so this has also caused many manufacturers to start production as long as they use common Android chargers to charge the two-way radio. This makes the use of two-way radios much more convenient.

5. VOX & Hands Free

Voice Activated Transmit, or VOX, allows you to use your two-way radios hands-free, If you are mountain climbing, or part of a motorbike convoy, then this can be an extremely useful feature. With this mode activated, the radio’s microphone remains on at all times. When it picks up the sound of your voice, it will automatically start transmitting, and switch off when you stop speaking. These models will also come with a socket for a headset or throat mic. Not all two-way radios come with VOX, so be sure to check the product specs if this is something you’re looking for.

Finally, Choosing a new two-way radio isn’t a decision to take lightly. You’ll want to think carefully about your specific needs, and then choose a model which offers the right set of features for you. We hope that this buying guide has helped give you a clear starting point on how to find the right two-way radio for you. If you need any more help or advice, then our customer service team will be more than happy to assist. Get in tough via phone#, email, or WhatsApp/Skepe, and we can help you make a fully informed decision. Alternatively, for more information on specific two-way radio models, start shopping for two-way radios now.