Monthly Archives: January 2014

Finally you can have a walkie-talkie that's completely wireless! The Motorola Talkabout MU350R is the first FRS two way radio equipped with Bluetooth®, allowing you to pair it with your wireless headset.

In this video, Danny Feemster from Buy Two Way Radios opens the bubble pack that holds this unique Motorola consumer radio and takes you on a tour through the menu to preview some of the features of the walkie talkie that lets you walk and talk untethered!

We get a lot of customers who contact us on a daily basis and are looking for radios to use on their upcoming cruise. One customer recently contacted me looking for an older Motorola Talkabout model, the T5620. This is a model that has been discontinued for some time and originally sold brand new for under $42 a pair. She mentioned that the cruise company was offering this outdated model as a rental to cruise goers. I asked her what the charge was, and she replied with $8.00 per day, per radio. She is going on a 15 day cruise. If my math is correct, that is $120 per radio, and she needs four of them, bringing the total to $480!! Sounds outrageous to me.

We have tested many different models of consumer two way radios on our annual cruises and we have found certain models work better than others. My personal favorite is the Midland GXT1000VP4. It gets me the coverage I need for my family and other cruise goers in my group. With a price of $69.99 per set, you will definitely come out better in the long run - and have something to show for it when the cruise is completed.

Needless to say, she was stoked by the fact that we could get her the four radios she needed for around $150!

When you are ready to take your next cruise, give us a shout. We will be glad to point you in the right direction.

Happy Sailing!!!

To learn how important two way radios are to have on a cruise, listen to The Two Way Radio Show Podcast TWRS-19 - Cruising With Radios.

Small, lightweight business two way radios such as the Motorola CLS1110 and CLS1410 are popular for use in many industries such as restaurant, retail and hospitality. Now Kenwood has entered the arena with the new ProTalk LT PKT-23 Pocket SIzed Two Way Radio. small, loud, yet lighter than its CLS competitors, the PKT-23 is destined to become quite the contender.

In this video, Danny Feemster from Buy Two Way Radios opens the box and gives you a first look at this new tiny transceiver from Kenwood to show you that big performance can come in small packages!

We tell you about some new radios and accessories recently introduced or coming soon to the market in 2014. We also review the new Kenwood ProTalk LT PKT-23 Pocket Sized Business Two Way Radio.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:17

Discussion Topic 1:35
We talk about some interesting new items from Cobra, some long awaited offerings from Midland and Motorola, and some new accessories from XLT. Products discussed include the Cobra HH450 DUAL Marine Radio, CXT 1035, CWR200 Weather Radio, Midland ER300, Midland AVP-10 Dual Desktop Charger with AC Adapter, Motorola Talkabout MU350R Two Way Radio with Bluetooth, Wouxun KG-UV950P Quad Band Base/Mobile Two Way Radio, XLT SM400 Heavy Duty Speaker Microphone, XLT DR110 D-Ring Earpiece with Lapel PTT Microphone, XLT EB310 C-Ring Swivel Earpiece with Lapel PTT Microphone, XLT HS400 Heavy Duty Single Muff Headset with PTT and Mic, and XLT HS500 Heavy Duty Dual Muff Headset with PTT and Mic.

Commercial Break 28:46
buytwowayradios.com 1:00

Product Review 29:42
Today we review the new Kenwood ProTalk LT PKT-23 Pocket Sized Business Two Way Radio.

Questions and Answers 36:31
Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

Wrap up and Close 41:32
Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show[at]buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

© 2014 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

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The antenna is one of the most crucial components of a radio. While the type of radio, wattage, and battery life are important things to consider, it is the choice of antenna that ultimately determines the overall quality of a transceiver's signal.

A properly tuned antenna is key to obtaining the maximum range of any radio. There are many antennas available on the market today, and the one you choose can not only affect performance, but also the life of the radio itself. However, though there are options, there are also limitations. While base stations and mobile radios allow considerable latitude when it comes to choosing an antenna, handheld transceivers or walkie talkies are another matter.

A handheld two way radio will have one of two types of antennas, either fixed or removable. A fixed antenna is built into the case of the radio itself and cannot be removed. Consumer FRS, GMRS and some low wattage business radios such as the Motorola CLS1410 and RMU2080d have permanently mounted, fixed antennas. Most higher end, higher wattage handheld business two way radios have a removable antenna that is tuned specifically to the band and frequencies used by each model. For instance, a UHF antenna tuned to business frequencies between 403 and 470MHz theoretically should work with a business radio that uses those frequencies.

But there is one caveat. While such an antenna may be removable, it may not necessarily be swappable. This is because the connector on the antenna may be different from the connector on the radio.

There are several types of connectors used for attaching antennas to handheld radios. Most are standard types, but a few may be proprietary to a specific manufacturer. The chart below lists the makes and models of popular radios at Buy Two Way Radios with removable antennas along with the types of connectors used to attach an antenna to specific models. Refer to this chart before you purchase an antenna to ensure it will fit the connector on your radio. To learn more about what these connectors are and how to identify them, see our chart of Two Way Radio Antenna Connector Types.

Many handheld portable business two way radios have an antenna that is removable for replacement or an upgrade as needed. Damaged antennas can be easily replaced by the user at low cost. Swapping a large stock antenna for a shorter, stubby one can make the radio easier to handle. Adding a longer whip antenna may significantly increase range. In any event, there are several advantages for owning a business radio with a removable antenna and a few good reasons why you may want or need to do it.

Removable antennas are not universally compatible with all makes and models of radios - even those that use the same bands and frequencies to which the antennas are tuned. Whether or not an antenna can be physically attached to a particular radio will depend on the type of connector it has.

Manufacturers use several different types of connectors to attach the antennas to the transceivers, and may even use different connectors across different model series. A few, such as connectors found on some Motorola and Vertex Standard business radios, are even proprietary to their brands.

No doubt, shopping for an antenna with a connector that is compatible with your radio can be confusing. Fortunately, Buy Two Way Radios can help. Our chart of Two Way Radio Antenna Connector Types listed below will tell you what these connectors are and how to identify them. To find the right connector for your specific radio, use our Two Way Radio Antenna Connector Chart which lists dozens of popular business radios and the types of connectors they use.

This chart identifies common two way radio antenna connectors. It lists the name of each type of antenna connector with a photo of the connector from the antenna and the radio. Click on the photo for a larger image.

Handheld Portable Radios
Connector (Antenna)	Connector (Radio)
SMA Male (Standard)	SMA Female (Standard)
SMA Female (Standard)	SMA Male (Standard)
SMA Male (Motorola/Vertex Standard)	SMA Female (Motorola/Vertex Standard)
SMA Female (Motorola/Vertex Standard)	SMA Male (Motorola/Vertex Standard)
J Male	J Female

Base/Mobile Radios
Connector (Antenna)	Connector (Radio)
UHF Male (PL-259)	UHF Female (SO-239)
Mini UHF Male	Mini UHF Female
N Male	N Female