Walkie Talkies

iphone

We bought two Motorola RDV2020s on eBay. They are not cheap, but the clarity is much better than the cheap two way radios. You have a choice of two channels (if you find that one is full of static or in use). They have quite a range and work well for us. When I am backing up, I place it on the console and just listen. She has the PTT (push to talk) button depressed all of the time, so that she can immediately communicate to me to stop or change direction. It has worked well for us for over 10 years now.

Scott

These are much newer tech than the old Motorolas and far cheaper. Be advised you are supposed to apply for a license to use these or the Motorolas. The exam is quite simple and there is a free online "tutor" program where you just go through it and once you pass it's test, you will pass the real thing. These have the advantage of MANY channels including NOAA weather and can access the Ham radio repeaters to give you coverage almost anywhere. They serve as emergency communication from almost any location.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/403225116390?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item5de216fee6:g:u78AAOSwq~ZhMb5x&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACkPYe5NmHp%252B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsS%252BMKizvpuEDUfX4dvRWfUzYEhLJRWcbIwQMEwgnolK5H9FpRk1g2r6Zhyy2W0L%252BqtTmBnxcrix%252FZIK6uydBa1WbdnB1CeHfRLMItrrReFNqhL1q6YU8l%252FF92OlKBQZJPshiuA3aRDQtBMGQD7mqtP8PxVgRorq76rmWzr%252F2a%252F39a1kTk3WARkYB1A20dwt8HKeEkoQNiOX7nsdwt4EeNEnYA15rc6Bl4eZVWlrNh7I%252BgeOyfFzpfihgYMTOqcgc7dTEwqA8WsOuriXHip8cT5C9BbDTwhyQaz5q4qU2sML8LZ6XpNTIipkJ9mtAIpkiyTnXGwz1LIv3gInujSGBxYDNgCO7bBD56rVazCeQa6CMwzRsLbpqpaoIwai%252BaUEutqvqDS32wFFMrl9UxHEQvo98AEOm56MVpPTHTswLRJdPeOB%252F4TIle69E%252FNye8PmfidWY1KHa3dpgd39EkmoMigebwfyKQhchny7UZa1I%252F3e1%252Bh5YnxfsxkmE5iywLlNS4Gks4eZfdGzvyL0zoipNRREEKIJ14wwJAPvyN%252BePOt6KMKIhbwicUD4bH%252Fkst0mL2Qzmp1%252BdscvOTngcqWad7ulV6mDtnqqiyp7zADLFKWhIrvp5CVxeO7IZSZ5Tyz7LL7Kc%252Bof6mg6K%252BNQYM6tXzhktgm7mo9daNvv%252BK17hOGcsCQxYiGYOOy20BhhCfbxp0Ztf%252F3N6wugDhzViXD7mPbMkxHNu2bafOt6faeuCAWSADdknZbRlERkjNQVierWR5XqIAxGES%252FUTRAiHCj%252F9W7OR5LdSWWCAXFuQIztixd6ZcullhwTRV4R949SUdyTtmC%7Cclp%3A2334524%7Ctkp%3ABFBMxPbi2t9f

larry cad wrote:
iphone

And, if there is no cell service?

I recently purchased this set and I'm very pleased with it. It worked as far as 1.7 miles in a semi-rural area.

COTRE Two Way Radios

two-way handheld radios regardless of the brand have one thing in common: they are all limited to line-of-sight range. depending on your terrain that could be several miles or much less. if you both have amateur radio licenses and there are "repeaters" in the area where you are camping the useful range of hand-held radios can be greatly extended. otherwise you are limited to the GMRS, FRS or MURS radio service. disregard mfg claims of magical useful range claims.

We have had a similar set of these for many years. Cobra radios

https://www.ruggedradios.com/

My son uses them when dirt bike riding and said they are amazing.
Kinda pricey, but you get what you pay for.

Line of sight limits the usefulness of walkie talkies for the purpose you stated.

hedgehopper wrote:
I know this topic has been covered before. But technology is constantly changing and improving(?)

I want a pair of walkie talkies that the wife and I can use when she is hiking and I am at our campsite. What brand and model have you used in this way and would recommend?

There is no "improvement" in personal unlicensed radio communications.

For unlicensed, you are looking at FRS (Family Radio Services) which is a UHF band FM radio with power and antenna size limitations. UHF band is very line of site, does not bend with the terrain making long distance communications almost impossible with the FCC limitations. Basically on a good day with absolutely nothing in between you and the other person about 2 miles distance is about it. Add in trees hills and structures and that distance gets a lot shorter.

Don't fall for the hype, one of the Cheap import radios someone posted a link to states 32 miles, that is a marketing lie.

Cobra and Midland are good choices, other cheap no name imports however, may or may not be FCC type accepted which means may or may not follow the FCCs rules..