Buy Two Way Radios - The Blog

When we first announced Midland's 2008 FRS/GMRS radios, we found it interesting that most new models were offering "extra channels" as a feature. Previously it was an industry standard that all dual service (FRS/GMRS) radios supported 22 channels, each channel representing one of the 22 FRS and/or GMRS frequencies. If they were to remain consistent, the new channels would use different frequencies than existing channels. Only 22 frequencies have been approved by the FCC for FRS/GMRS usage, however, and those 22 frequencies are already represented.

So how do these new channels work? It turns out that these new channels are not channels in the sense that we have been historically used to (where a channel represents a frequency). These "extra channels" use a frequency already used by a standard channel, but have a pre-set privacy code that cannot be changed. This provides the illusion of a new channel, but has some side effects that could cause confusion. For example, if you transmit on Midland channel 24 a typical radio left in scan mode would receive your transmission as if it were sent on channel 3.

While these "extra channels" may make it a little easier for a novice to find an interference free channel, I feel like this is more marketing hype than anything else. A standard 22 channel Motorola or Cobra radio is 100% compatible with every channel of a 42 channel Midland GXT900 (cross reference chart below). Midland makes great radios and there are plenty of reasons to buy their products, but "extra channels" shouldn't be one of them.

The following is a cross reference chart that lists Midland's "extra channels" and the standard channel / privacy code that it matches up with. As of now the only new model available is the LXT460VP3, which has six extra channels. This chart will be updated with all 20 extra channels once the higher end models are released and the frequencies/codes can be confirmed.

Posted by Danny at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

GXT900

More Channels (?)

Five of the eight new models have what Midland is calling "extra channels". The specific number of extra channels range from 6 with mid range models up to 20 with the new GXT900. Since the FCC only has 22 frequencies allocated to the FRS and GMRS services, we were quite curious to find out how these new channels are going to work. Midland wouldn't reveal much at this time, only saying that the "extra channels" would be fully compliant with GMRS.

One thing that I find particularly interesting about these new "channels" is the way it is being marketed. Instead of saying the GXT900 has 42 channels, the marketing materials say that it has "22 channels plus 20 extra channels". I also found it interesting that the manual leaves the frequencies for these "channels" blank. I guess that until the new products are actually available, we can only speculate as to how this will work.

More Power (?)

The most exciting (potential) enhancement is the power improvement in the higher end models. According to the FCC grant, the GXT950 has an output power of 5.33 watts (ERP). This would be a tremendous advance. Last year, the GXT850 was the most powerful radio in this class at 1.63 watts. I would normally take an FCC document at face value, but this is such a major difference that I am going to remain skeptical until we can validate this improvement with an actual performance test. Stay tuned!

Marketing Hype

As usual, the fantastic range claims continue to expand. This year, we're up to "30 miles range" on the high end models. In the meantime, we will continue to educate our customers as to the actual range that they can expect from their radios.

Certified Lead Free

Recently the public as soured toward Chinese imports due to high lead content being found in some toys. Midland has responded to this by removing lead from their products, and having them certified as Lead Free. They will be the only manufacturer in this class advertising lead free products, so that should win them some customers.

New Model Specifics

Here is a look at the highlights of each new model. Pricing information is not yet finalized. LXT models will be available in May, GXT models in June.

GXT950VP4 - Camouflage; 42 "channels"; Voice scrambling; NOAA channels/alerts; Group mode; Direct call; Vibrate alert; VOX; IP4 waterproof; 142 privacy codes; DC adapter; Headsets.
GXT900VP4 - 42 "channels"; Voice scrambling; NOAA channels/alerts; Group mode; Direct call; Vibrate alert; VOX; IP4 waterproof; 142 privacy codes; DC adapter; Headsets.
GXT775VP3 - Camouflage; 36 "channels"; NOAA channels/alerts; Vibrate alert; VOX.
GXT720VP3 - 36 "channels"; NOAA channels/alerts; Vibrate alert; VOX.
LXT460VP3 - 28 "channels"; NOAA channels/alerts; Vibrate alert.
LXT345VP3 - Camouflage; Low end model.
LXT340VP3 - Low end model.
LXT110 - Basic model, no charger, low power.

We look forward to providing you with more information once these models become available.

Posted by Danny at 12:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Most of Motorola's new 2008 consumer (FRS/GMRS) radios are now in stock and ready to ship! There are a couple of unique innovations within this series that I think will win Motorola quite a few new customers this year. Let's take a closer look at the two biggest advances.

Emergency Kit Radios

The biggest innovation is the Motorola EM1000R and EM1000 radios. These radios have features designed specifically to be of use during an emergency. When held for 3 seconds, an Emergency Alert Button will send an 8 second distress alarm alert to all other radios within range. If there are other EM1000 radios within range, they will increase their volume level to the maximum upon receiving a distress call. The radio will then automatically go into hands-free transmit mode for 22 seconds.

The EM1000 also has an LED flashlight built-in. The LED for the flashlight is on the bottom of the radio with the button to turn on the light located under the push-to-talk (PTT) button.

This model supports NOAA weather channels and weather alerts, as well.

With these features the EM1000 or EM1000R will definitely become the logical choice for those putting together an emergency kit. They will also be a consideration for anyone looking for radios for a typical use, such as a cruise or a road trip, but want to keep the radios handy in case of emergencies after their primary use is over.

USB Charging Port

Except for the very low end FV300 and FV300R, all of the new Motorola radios are equipped with a mini-USB port that can be used for charging the radio. There are over 100 million USB cables in use now, and most everyone has on charging a cell phone, MP3 player or some other small device. This same cable can be used to charge your new Motorola two way radio! This is a definite convenience, but it also gives people who need to keep both radios in a different location a charging option. A single two pocket charger doesn't help much when you need to keep one radio upstairs and another down! A cheap USB cable now solves this problem.

New Models

Here is a list of all of the new models, with the top features of each.

T9650RCAMO - Value pack that will include two T9650 radios (similar to T9550), two earpieces with boom mic's, and vehicle charger. Available in May.
T9680R-SAME - Top of the line model. Replaces the T9580R-SAME but adds the USB charging port. Supports advanced S.A.M.E. weather alerts. Available in June.
EM1000R - Emergency alert button, flashlight, USB charging port, VOX hands-free use, NOAA weather channels and alerts.
EM1000 - Identical to the EM1000R, but doesn't include rechargeable batteries/charger. Each radio requires 3 AA batteries.
SX900R - NOAA weather channels and alerts, VOX hands-free use, USB charging port.
SX600R - VOX hands-free use, USB charging port. The packaging claims this model has less power than the SX900R, but this does not appear to be the case.
FV300R - Small and lightweight. Includes pig-tail charging adapter (no charging cradle).
FV300 - Small, low cost radio. No charger is included. Each radio requires 3 AAA batteries.

Discontinued Models

As new models are brought in, old ones are phased out. The following models are no longer being produced by Motorola: T9580R-SAME, SX800R, FV800R, T5000R, T5500AA, FV200.

Congratulations to Giant International, manufacturer of Motorola consumer radios, for some great innovations in this 2008 lineup!

Posted by Danny at 10:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Motorola has recently released their latest series of business radios: the RDX series. The RDX series will eventually replace the highly popular XTN and AX series's, and they provide a number of improvements.

The biggest improvement is in voice clarity and loudness. The RDX models are 30% louder, and the sound clarity that Motorola has achieved is simply astounding. The one watt/one channel models have been eliminated and now all of the "low powered" models are a full two watts and have either two or eight channels. Models without a display are available for those wanting simple-as-possible operation. High powered, fully programmable 4/5 watt models will be available soon.

The following is a breakdown of the new RDX models, along with their primary differences.

The following features are new, or have been improved with the RDX series.

Transmission Clarity - Motorola radios have always been exceptional in terms of noise reduction and transmission clarity, but with the RDX series they have outdone themselves. There is considerable improvement in clarity even over the AX and XTN series radios.
Loudness - 30% increase over AX and XTN series models.
Battery - All RDX radios come equipped with a lithium battery. Lithium batteries provide more life and are more lightweight than the NiMH batteries used by previous series's. The 2 watt RDX radios come standard with a 12 hour battery, and the 4/5 watt models include a 18.5 hour battery. Upgraded battery options are also available.
Configurability - All RDX series radios can be configured via a PC using an optional programming cable and Motorola's Customer Programming Software (CPS). The CPS is a free download from Motorola's web site.
Ease of Setup - The Customer Programming Software is one way to setup a personality for your radios once, and easily copy the configuration to other handsets. Cloning is another. Using an optional cloning cable, you can easily copy settings from one radio to another.
Ease of Use - By offering several models without a display and front panel buttons, Motorola now has options for customers looking for a straightforward, easy to use radio.
Durability - The RDX series radios have an aluminum chassis and are even more durable that their predecessors.
Voice Scrambling - All RDX models support scramble codes.

All Motorola RDX radios are compatible with AX and XTN series audio accessories. Other accessories such as a multi-unit chargers, extra batteries, PC and cloning cables will be available soon.

Posted by Danny at 03:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Popular Communications, an industry publication, has just published a review of the TriSquare eXRS radios! The author of this review, Bernard Bates, does a fantastic job - producing the most in-depth review of the TSX-300 thus far.

The following excerpt details the features that Mr. Bates liked best about the TriSquare TSX300.

There's a lot to like in the TSX300 (see Figure 2), and its many features make it an exceptional price/performance value. It's clear that much thought went into the design of this radio and its accessories. Following are some features I particularly liked:

• Exceptional communications privacy


• No interference from other users


• Advanced technology made easy


• All accessories included


• Geek/coolness appeal


• Good ergonomics


• No license required


• Non-volatile memory


• NiMH or alkaline batteries

I would like to thank Popular Communications for publishing this detailed review. I would encourage any radio enthusiast out there to subscribe to this fantastic publication.

Posted by Danny at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

A fantastic new Kenwood promotion began today on their two channel business radios, the TK2200V2P and TK3200U2P. If you purchase six or more of these radios you qualify for a $30 rebate per radio, up to a maximum of $1080!

This offer is good on radios purchases between February 5, 2008 and April 30, 2008. This is a mail-in offer, direct from Kenwood, that we have been authorized to offer. Click here for full details and rebate form.

Posted by Danny at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We are pleased to be a part of a new Motorola promotion, offering free gas cards to customers purchasing Motorola AX, CLS, or XTN series business radios! For every six Motorola CLS series radios purchased, you qualify for $150 in gas cards. For every six AX or XTN series radios purchased, you receive $300 in free gas! This promo is valid on up to 48 radios, meaning you could earn gas rebates worth up to $2,400! This promotion is valid for radios purchased from September 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007, and is fulfilled by Motorola directly.

In addition, we are still offering our own promotion with Motorola business radios. Buy two Motorola AX, CLS, or XTN radios and receive a Sarge NU-32 Xenon Flashlight. Buy four or more and get the Sarge SKT-160 Flashlight / Multi-Tool set.

With these promotions, our great prices, same day shipping and great support, why would you buy from anywhere else?

Posted by Danny at 03:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Who would have thought these flashlights would be so popular? Customers loved our free flashlight promotion, and when it ended last month we were swamped with emails from customers who wanted it back. Well, we've listened to your requests and made the promotion better than ever before!

Through June 30th, we will be giving away a free NU-32 Xenon flashlight to customers who purchase two or more Motorola business radios (AX, CLS, DTR, and XTN series). Purchase five or more radios and you will receive the Sarge NU-35 model, which is a more durable Xenon model that is rechargeable and includes a nylon holster!

Specifically, this promotion applies to the following models: CLS1110, CLS1410, XU1100, XV1100, XU2100, XV2100, XU2600, XV2600, AXU4100, AXU5100.

Posted by Danny at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Motorola's 2007 GMRS / FRS line up is now in stock. The new models are the T9550XLR, T9500XLR, T8550R, T8500R, FV750R, and FV700R.

This series includes 3 camo colored models, the T9550XLR, T8550R, and FV750R. The 9550 and 8550 camo models also include a pair of push-to-talk earbuds (model 53727). These earbud packs are a nice addition, and gives Motorola a package similar to the GXT600VP4 and GXT650VP4 value pack offerings from Midland.

The feature set is very similar between all of these new models, with the primary difference being the power / range of the radios. The 9500 and 9550 have an antenna that is about 1 1/2 inches longer than current models, giving them a 25 mile range in ideal conditions (typically 2 miles in urban conditions). The 8500 and 8550's advertise an 18 mile range (1.8 in urban conditions), and the FV700R and FV750R's advertise a 12 mile range (1 mile in urban conditions). Motorola has not yet provided us with the actual wattage of the radios.

All of these models include rechargeable batteries and a dual pocket charger, and they all support 11 NOAA weather channels. The 9000 and 8000 series' have the VibraCall vibrate alert.

Posted by Danny at 09:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Our free flashlight promotion is back by popular demand! For the month of May, customers will receive a free Sarge NU-32 Xenon Flashlight with the purchase of 4 Motorola business radios. This powerful flashlight offers powerful Xenon brightness, but also has an LED mode that will allow you to conserve battery life. It has a solid, weather proof aluminum body with a non slip rubber grip - a $25 value! This promotion applies to all AX, CLS, and XTN series two way radios, and expires May 31, 2007.

Posted by Frank at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We have just launched a new site, dedicated to the discussion of two way radios, two way radio accessories, and related products. This new site will be formatted as a message board, or forum, and is called TwoWayRadioForum.com.

If you have any questions at all regarding radios or accessories, we encourage you to post them to this site. We will make every attempt to answer your questions quickly. At the same time, this will hopefully result in a database of common questions and answers that will help future visitors to our site.

Please visit our new forum, and thanks for shopping with us!

Posted by Danny at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We are excited to be participating in a new promotion that is being offered by Motorola on certain Motorola business two way radios! For every 5 XTN or CLS series radios that you buy, you qualify for your choice of either a) one free radio or b) one 6 unit charger. This promotion is valid on every 5 radios purchased, up to a maximum of 40 radios. That means you can qualify for up to 8 free radios or multi-chargers!

If you choose the free radio, the radio radio model that you will receive for free will match the model of radios that you purchased. This is a value of up to $205 when you purchased the Motorola XU2600 radio! If you choose the free charger, you will receive the model 53879 charger ($175 value) if you purchased XTN series radios and the 56531 charger ($139 value) if you purchased CLS series radios. You can view these chargers on our XTN series accessories and CLS series accessories pages.

This is a mail-in promotion being fulfilled by Motorola, not Buy Two Way Radios. After you receive your radios, you will need to claim your free radio/charger by visiting www.motosavings.com and filling out their online form. They will require that you mail them the UPC/serial number sticker from the radio boxes along with a copy of your receipt (which will be included in your package). Your free radio/charger is typically delivered within 4 to 6 weeks.

This offer expires June 30, 2007. Click here for full details.

Posted by Danny at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We frequently get questions from business customers asking if they really need to buy a "business" two way radio. Business radios are generally much more expensive than consumer radios and the features are often very similar, so it is easy to see why this can be confusing. In this post I'll try to explain the common differences between these types of radios, and hopefully provide enough information for you to decide what's best for your business.

FCC Regulations

Whether a 2 way radio is "business" or "consumer" is decided by the frequencies that it uses to transmit and receive communications. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set aside 22 UHF frequencies as general frequencies for use by consumers. These frequencies make up GMRS and FRS channels that are supported by the consumer radios that we sell.

Technically, use of the GMRS channels requires an FCC license. This license is good for 5 years and covers the applicant and his/her immediate family. GMRS licenses are not issued to businesses. Here is a note from the FCC's GMRS license application form (form 605):

Note: For GMRS: effective January 1, 1989, new or major modification applications may NOT be filed by non-individual (business) applicants/licensees. (See Rule 1.929(c) (4) & 95.5(b).

For GMRS radios to be legally used by businesses, each person using the radios would need an individual GMRS license ($80 each). A business could use the radios on an FRS channel without a license, but when using FRS channels the radio cannot transmit at more than a half watt of power. This is generally only good for a quarter to a half mile of outdoor range.

Business radios use different frequencies ranges that have been approved by the FCC for business use. These frequencies are not as popular, so you typically don't have to worry about "chatter" on your channels. You can also get business radios that operate on VHF frequencies, which work better than UHF outdoors or inside of and around wood structures. An FCC license for your business is $105. You will pay more upfront for your business radio, but if there are several employees that will use it you will likely save money after factoring in the license cost.

Durability

Business radios are usually designed to hold up to abuse better than consumer radios. Consumer radios are usually built for infrequent use: weekend hunting trips, multiple car caravans, skiing, camping, amusement parks, etc. They are usually lightweight with a thin plastic casing. Business radios are designed to be used for hours every day, and they will hold up better than consumer radios. Many are built to military specifications.

Battery Life

If your business plans to use radios for more than a few hours a day, battery life is something that you will not want to overlook. Most consumer radios include rechargeable batteries that are good for 8 hours or less of use. As is typical of batteries, this life will likely diminish slightly over time. Some business or professional radios are also limited in their battery life, but others will typically 13 hours or more on a charge.

Accessories

Business radios typically have a better selection of accessories than consumer radios. If accessories, such as headsets or earpieces, are important to your business, you should look at what accessories are available before you choose a radio. Things like rapid chargers and multi unit chargers are only available for business radios.
Accessories

Common Scenarios

There are some scenarios where a business radio is always your best choice. For example, anytime you expect to use the radio frequently and for more than 7 hours with each use. If you purchase a consumer radio for this, there is a good chance you will be disappointed with the battery life. Also, if you are in a "tough" work environment, such as a construction or industrial situation. Consumer radios are not designed to take this kind of beating.

It would best to choose a consumer radio in a light-duty situation where very little range is needed. This would allow you to get away with only using the FRS channels and avoiding the license fees. A great example is a school that needs radios for directing traffic in mornings and afternoons.

I hope this has been helpful. If you have any specific questions you can, as always, feel free to call or email us!

Posted by Danny at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

All of our consumer radios operate on either the GMRS or FRS channels, and most support both. We are sometimes asked for the exact frequencies of these channels. Below is a table showing the channel number, type of channel, and the frequency.

Posted by Danny at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

One question that we are frequently asked is "how can I get more range out of my two way radio?" In the case of consumer (FRS / GMRS) radios the amount of range you can expect is usually not even close to what the manufacturers advertise. There are, however, several things that you can do to be sure you are getting the most range possible from your radio.

If your radio supports GMRS channels, be sure that you are using one. Most consumer radios support 22 channels, some FRS and some GMRS. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) does not allow transmission on an exclusive FRS channel at more than half a watt of power. This means that if you are on an FRS-only channel, your radio will only transmit using its "low power" mode. The FRS-only channels are 8 through 14. Channels 15 through 22 are exclusively for GMRS, and channels 1 through 7 are shared by both FRS and GMRS.

Most consumer radios support two or more power modes. To get the most range, be sure that you are using high power mode. Lower power modes will not use all of your radio's possible the output power and will reduce range.

Finally, if you still find yourself pushing the range limits of your radio you can try the "monitor channel" feature. Enabling this feature will cause the radio to open the channel, allowing you to hear static and transmissions too weak to be received by the radio in normal mode.

Also keep in mind that to get the maximum output power on your two-way radio, you will need to use a GMRS frequency. An FRS frequency will only get you a maximum of .5 watts of output power which will decrease your range dramatically.

Posted by Danny at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

You may have noticed that most of the two-way radios you see around advertise between a 5 mile and 18 mile range. If you are buying a two way radio in hopes of getting this much range, then you are sadly mistaken.

The range that a two-way radio advertises is the range that the radio should get in "ideal" conditions. Ideal conditions are line of sight, open water, open desert -- no interference at all. Chances are you aren't going to be using these radios out in the middle of the ocean. You will probably want two-way radios for things such as hunting, skiing, malls, car trips or vacations. Anything that is not considered "ideal" conditions is going to take a lot of range out of a two-way radio.

So what type of range can you expect from your radio for all other conditions? Not even close to the advertised range. While we can't give you an exact range, we can give you some helpful tips. The amount of range you will get greatly depends on where you will be using the radios and how much interference there will be. Naturally, a football stadium isn't going to have as much interference as being in the middle of a heavily wooded area. These are things that you need to take into consideration when picking out which two-way radio is right for you. You also need to look at the output power of the radio, and also the advertised range. If you are using a .5 watt output power radio advertising a 3 mile range, then you can probably expect no more than a quarter of a mile to half a mile of actual range. If you are using a 5 watt radio advertising 18 miles of range, then you can probably expect one and a half to two and a half miles of actual range.

Posted by Danny at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)