Updated March 18, 2026.
In a previous two way radio blog post I briefly talked about the origin of the hand-held walkie-talkie radio. More than just the basic concept for a two way radio was developed around War World II, though. Many of the basic features common to most two way radios were also first introduced.
The most interesting one is the push to talk button. Yup, the PTT button found on most two way radios and even cell phones. While a lot larger than the buttons found today, the SCR-536 handie-talkie had a push to talk button on the side. The SCR-536 handie-talkie is regarded as the first hand held two way radio. To turn it on, a collapsible antenna would be extended (activating a switch), then to send a message you would then hold down the push to talk button. It also weighed around 5 pounds, think about that clipped to your belt!
The replacement for the SCR-536 was the AN/PRC-6. The AN/PRC-6 was used from the 1950s through the 1960s, even into the early 1970s. It used 13 vacuum tubes, a metal case, and had a removable 24 inch antenna. It was VHF and had a range of about one mile. Some things never change... In the 1970s, a series of new handie-talkies were introduced including the AN/PRC-68 made by Magnavox.
One of the big changes that came along in later decades was the move from vacuum tube radios to transistor-based designs. Early radios like the AN/PRC-6 relied on tubes, which meant they required more power and generated more heat. When transistors began replacing tubes in the late 1950s and 1960s, radios quickly became smaller, lighter and far more reliable. This was a major step toward the portable handheld radios that we are familiar with today.
Another improvement was better battery technology. Early field radios often required bulky battery packs that could be almost as heavy as the radio itself. As battery design improved, manufacturers were able to create handheld units that could operate longer and be carried more easily in the field. Rechargeable batteries later made two way radios even more practical for everyday use.
By the 1970s and 1980s, handheld radios had begun appearing everywhere outside the military. Police departments, fire crews, construction teams and event coordinators all started using portable radios as a standard tool for communication. Around the same time, simpler consumer models began appearing on store shelves, introducing the familiar walkie-talkie to families, campers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Today’s handheld radios may look very different from the SCR-536 or the AN/PRC-6, but the basic operating concept remains almost exactly the same. Press the push-to-talk button, speak your message, and release to listen. It is a simple idea that has stood the test of time and continues to make two way radios one of the most practical communication tools available.
So, do you have any stories, or fun facts about the early two-way radios? Just leave a comment, send us an email, or head over to our walkie-talkie radio forum!
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