Best Two-Way Radios

Best two-way radios for non-commercial use

The Motorola MR350 (*Est. $55 per pair) is a FRS/GMRS hybrid radio with excellent features and extended range, as well as an affordable price. This 22-channel, 35-mile range (under optimum conditions) two-way radio features seven NOAA weather channels, hands-free communication and 121 privacy codes to prevent eavesdropping.

Outdoorsy types will like extra features such as weather alerts and an emergency alert button that allows you to let others in your party know of impending hazards. The extra-large buttons mean ease of use with gloved hands and the ability to enable silent vibration for incoming calls will be especially attractive to hunters. A built-in flashlight is another plus. Push-to-talk power boost adds to the transmission distance when talking but conserves battery power when the radio is in standby. The Quiet Talk removes interference from other, non-Motorola radios.

Owners at Amazon.com are impressed by the sound clarity of these radios and find the range acceptable, though not anywhere near the 35 miles claimed. Many say that they are happy with the radio's ruggedness and ability to withstand moisture. Most are happy with the battery power and a review by Stephen Regenold for Outside Online mentions nine hours of use on a single charge.

For a few dollars less, the Motorola EM1000 (*Est. $45 per pair) is also a good choice, and does well in consumer reviews at both Amazon.com and Walmart.com. The feature lineup is smaller -- niceties like push-to-talk power boost and vibration alert are missing, for example -- but this radio remains an able companion on outdoor excursions. The range is only 20 miles (with the usual disclaimers), which is much shorter than the MR350. Like the MR350, you may use this radio license-free as long as you limit yourself to the FRS channels (8-14), but you'll need to secure one to legally use the GMRS channels and power.

The camo-clad Motorola MR355R (*Est. $65 per pair) has many of the features of the Motorola MR350, but lacks the weather-alert function, though it does receive NOAA weather reports. A major plus, however, are special repeater channels that let you make use of a local repeater station (where available) to greatly extend the range of your communications.

Reviewers at Field & Stream and the Two-Way Radio Forum were very impressed by this radio, the latter particularly liking the repeater function. Consumer ratings are fair-to-middling for these radios, but so far there are relatively few reviews. Again, the lack of range (like the MR350, it is advertised at 35 miles) is the major complaint.

If you want the best privacy and don't want to worry about getting an FCC license, the TriSquare TSX300 (*Est. $70 per pair) communicates over the 900 MHz band resulting in less interference. The TriSquare two-way radio boasts numerous features such as two-way text messaging, call waiting, caller ID, an NOAA weather receiver, a backlit keypad, a phone book that stores up to 1,000 contact entries, and voice-activated transmit. It is also very rugged and, as a few reviewers have attested to, moisture resistant. An additional plus for radios using the 900 MHz band is that many more persons can use them at once without interference. A review by Tim Burton at the Tippmann X7 Operators Group Forum references a Kansas State University study that estimated up to 100,000 users could use these radios at once without interference. TriSquare also offers an entry-level 900 MHz two-way radio with limited features, the TSX100 (*Est. $55 per pair).

TriSquare makes no claims on range, but it does state that under the same conditions, their two-way radios will meet or exceed the range of FRS/GMRS radios. Blogger Albert Rasch tested a pair of TriSquare TSX300 radios and was very pleased with the range. Consumers give this radio somewhat less positive feedback than the FRS/GMRS radios described here, with the lack of range, inability to synchronize units and complexity of the radio features gathering the most negative comments. According to Burton, many of the problems consumers report with using several of these radios at once has more to do with learning the features and less to do with the radios themselves. He acknowledges that the TriSquare is more complex than many FRS units, but "no worse than a Blackberry."

Two-way radio with GPS

If you want a two-way radio with GPS, the best choice is a model by Garmin, which makes many types of electronic devices containing global positioning system receivers. Garmin's top-of-the line model, the Rino 530HCx FRS/GMRS two-way radio with GPS (*Est. $385 each) has become a consumer favorite, scoring high ratings at retail and other user-review sites. In addition to a feature set that compares favorably with other two-way radios, the 530HCx also boasts a robust GPS feature set, including pre-loaded basemaps that are easily expandable with the use of MapSource cards. The large, crisp display is easy to read and the rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack delivers approximately 14 hours of use per charge. The unit also comes with a barometric altimeter, compass, and a hunting/fishing calendar.

Users love that they can pinpoint where other, similarly equipped members of their party are located and quite a few say that they have used the radio for days without having to recharge the battery. Many find the features useful and easy to use. Despite its relatively hefty price tag, most owners feel that the unit is worth the money. The few complaints registered concern the bulkiness of the device, and some bemoan the fact that more maps don't come pre-loaded.

If the Rino 530HCx is a bit out of your price range, the Garmin Rino 110 (*Est. $145 each) may be more to your liking. This model is the cheapest of the five GPS/radios Garmin makes, and it lacks many of the features of the 530HCx. Its transmit power is 1 watt -- whereas the 530HCx outputs 5 watts -- so its range is much less (five miles on GMRS channels versus 14 for the 530HCx). If you are looking for a small, basic GPS radio, however, this model will fit the bill. Though small in size, the Rino 110 weighs 7.6 ounces with the required three AA batteries installed (there is no rechargeable battery pack offered).