I’m looking to get some first hand input from people that can get 2+ miles reliably. I will be primarily using them for ice fishing so it’s all line of sight. I’ve got some that are 15 years old and claim 5 miles range. In reality the range is more like 1.5 miles.
I’m still undecided if I want rechargeable batteries or not.
Lol, when we were kids we called them walkie talkies, now I think they are just VHF radios. I have a pair of Midland radios that weren’t very expensive and work really well.
They sit in a recharging stand when not in use.
I have this pair of Midland walkie talkies.
They claim 36 mi range which as you’ve pointed out is way more than what you would get under real-world conditions.
With that said I know I have used them to cover distances of over five miles up in Canada. These things are absolutely terrific when you’re off the cell phone grid.I got some funny looks when I first got them but pretty soon everybody absolutely loved the ability to talk between boats.
A couple of things. First these radios mix FRS and GMRS channels. Some of these channels are lower-powered than others. The radio output is lower on some channels due to regulations. Read the manual and make sure you are using the channels that allow maximum power.
I would absolutely get a set with rechargeable batteries. Most sets come with a 12-volt plug so that you can recharge the radios in the car or boat. Totally worth it.
Grouse
They no longer sell the radios with both FRS and GMRS frequencies. It’s one or the other, so pay attention to which one you want and are buying. Not many people know this and even fewer follow the regs, but a license is required to legally operate on GMRS frequencies.
I have a pair of Midlands as well. Rechargeable. We use them on houseboat trips when we deploy the fishing boat to find a spot to park. Over.
Why not a handheld marine radio?
Yeah, I don’t know all the techno details, just saying that the manual that came with my Midlands says some channels are low power and some are high. The point is read the manual and use the high power channels if the maximum range is the requirement.
Very handy to have a good pair of walkie talkies when you have a group together fishing and even where cell phones are an option, it’s a lot easier to just hit the button and talk knowing the other party will hear it.
Why not a handheld marine radio?
The cost to buy a pair of marine radios is my reason for not going this route. You could also go CB handhelds, but again much cheaper to go with the walkies.
Grouse
I would primarily use them for ice fishing. And as we all know the cold is hard on batteries so having a compact walkie that you can keep warm inside your jacket is nice.
I think I have the lower power version of the radios Grouse linked. And just like him my buddies gave me a hard time until they started using them.
We have about a dozen of the GT 3 TP units. Get excellent clarity and awesome range in the mountains. Only ones I Cary
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