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Monthly Archives: February 2013

  • T-shirt slogan contest winners announced!

    t-shirt_4.jpgA couple of weeks ago we launched the Two Way Radio T-Shirt Slogan Contest in our Two Way Radio Forum. The contest was open to the the public and there were two ways to win: either submit a creative, pithy slogan for our new t-shirts or simply vote on one of the ten slogans we came up with in a poll in the forum. Those who submitted slogans had the opportunity to win a pair of radios and a T-shirt with their slogan on it. Those who voted would be entered into a drawing for a free T-shirt with the slogan that won the most votes in the poll.

    Well, the contest is now over and the official results are in. We are proud to announce that we have a winner each way!

    The winner of the slogan submission is (drum roll please) Circuitrider! The winning slogan: It's not the wavelength. It's how you use it. Circuitrider wins a pair of two way radios of his choice (up to $100) plus a t-shirt with his winning slogan printed on it.

    We also drew a winner who voted on the ten slogans in the poll. The slogan with the most votes - Do it with Frequency. The winner of the drawing - MrRyker. He wins a FREE t-shirt with the winning slogan from the poll plus another t-shirt with the winning slogan submitted by Circuitrider.

    Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who participated in the Two Way Radio T-Shirt Slogan Contest sponsored by Buy Two Way Radios!

  • Radio 101 - Two way radio charging options

    Charging a consumer walkie talkie used to be limited to just a couple of options. Today there are many different options available for charging Cobra, Midland, Motorola, Uniden and other brands of FRS and GMRS two way radios. In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony from Buy Two Way Radios will tell you what your options are.

  • TWRS-52 - Midland GXT1000 and GXT2000 Comparison

    We compare the new Midland GXT2000 FRS/GMRS two way radio with the GXT1000. We also review the new Midland GXT2050VP4 two way radio.

    Intro :00
    Billboard 1:19

    Topic Discussion 1:38
    We perform a detailed comparison between the Midland GXT1000VP4 and the new GXT2000VP4 walkie talkies. We'll compare the power, features and range of these radios and tell you which model we think comes out on top. For a complete out-of-the-box experience, watch our new video Midland GXT2000VP4 two way radio unboxing and first look. For a complete review of the GXT2000, read our blog post Midland GXT2000VP4 Two Way Radio Review. For tips on using your two way radios, watch our new Radio 101 video series hosted by Anthony.

    Commercial Break 29:56
    buytwowayradios.com 1:00

    Product Review 30:54
    Today we review the new Midland GXT2050VP4 Two-way Radio.

    Questions and Answers 37:48
    Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

    Wrap up and Close 45:37
    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!

    © 2013 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

  • Enter the Two Way Radio T-Shirt Slogan Contest and win!

    t-shirt_3.jpgWe're well known for our selection of walkie-talkies and two way radio accessories. But did you know that we carry apparel as well? More specifically, our Buy Two Way Radios T-shirt. It's not an item we've promoted much in the past, but our customers still manage to find it.

    Lately, we've been thinking about re-designing our classic t-shirt to making it a lot more creative and personal. We came up with some new ideas for designs and snappy slogans so you can tell the world how you really feel about your radios.

    Then, Danny had a really great idea. Let's make it really personal and give you the final say. Thus, the Two Way Radio T-Shirt Slogan Contest has now begun!

    Since we are all about two way communications, we're going Two Way all the way. The contest is currently underway in our Two Way Radio Forum, complete with two prizes and two ways to win!

    1. You can vote on one of the slogans we created. We came up with a list of ten snappy sayings for our new T-shirts. Simply vote on your favorite and you will be entered in a drawing to win a FREE T-shirt with a winning slogan printed on it. One vote is permitted per forum member.

    2. You can create your own clever caption and post it in the forum. If we choose your saying for a T-Shirt, you win a pair of two way radios and a T-shirt with your winning slogan printed on it. There is no limit to the number of entries, so the more pithy phrases you post, the more chances you have to win.

    The first way is quick. The second way is creative. You can also enter both ways. Either way, you can still win!

    Note: The deadline for all votes and entries is Midnight Sunday, February 24, 2013. Winners will be announced in the Two Way Radio Forum, on our Facebook page in our blog and on Twitter.

  • Radio 101 - How to reset a Motorola CLS Series two way radio

    There may be a situation in which you need to reset your Motorola CLS1110 or CLS1410 two way radio back to its original factory configuration. In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony from Buy Two Way Radios will show you how to do it in one simple step.

  • Kenwood Protalk Two Way Radios and Narrowbanding

    With the deadline for the FCC's 2013 narrowband compliance requirements having recently passed, it seems that we are getting more questions than ever about this subject! Kenwood Protalk radios seem to be of particular interest, so we thought it might be helpful to detail which models are compliant and how to bring your radios into compliance.

    TK2300/TK3300 Series Radios
    If you didn't require any special programming and you are using one of the frequencies "right out of the box" then this information applies to you. If your radio was programmed to special frequencies, then this will likely not apply.

    Kenwood made a change to the default programming on the models in this series in the summer of 2012. All radios in this series purchased after August 1, 2012 are preset to 100% narrowband frequencies. If your radio was purchased prior to August 1, then you likely have some channels that are not in narrowband mode. For these models, refer to the list below for the channels that are narrowband compliant.

    TK-2300 - Channels 5, 15, and 16 are the only channels on this model that are preset for narrowband. This means that if you have the four channel model (TK-2300V4P) then all channels are wideband.

    TK-2302 - Channels 13, 15, and 16.

    TK-3300 - Channels 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15 and 16 are narrowband by default.

    TK-3302 - Channels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16.

    Protalk TK-3230 XLS
    Owners of the Kenwood ProTalk TK-3230 XLS have nothing to worry about, as this radio has been 100% narrowband by default for the entire existence of the product.

    TK-2400/TK-3400 Series Radios
    If you own one of the new Kenwood 400 series radios, you don't have to worry. These models are all preset to the same frequencies as the post August 1st "300 series" models above.

    TK-2200/TK-3200 Series Radios
    This is an older series that was replaced a couple of years ago with the TK-2300/TK-3300 series models above. For these models, refer to the list below for the channels that are preset to narrowband.

    TK-2200 - N/A (no channels are narrowband)

    TK-2202 - Channels 13, 15, and 16.

    TK-3200 - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (all channels are narrowband)

    TK-3202 - Channels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16.

    What To Do Now
    All of this is great information but I know what you're thinking: What am I supposed to do now? The good news is that all of the models mentioned above fully support narrowband. The bad news is that it isn't a setting that Kenwood makes available through the radio itself. A radio dealer that has access to the programming software (like us!) has to change the setting.

    The best option is to send us your radios and allow us to change the bandwidth setting for you. If you bought the radios from us then you're in luck! We offer free programming for the life of the radio, so this will only cost you the amount of the shipping. (We've heard that some dealers are charging $50 per radio for programming!) If you like this option, just contact us and we will tell you how to get your radios to us.

    If you can't afford to be without your radios for a few days, another option is to just send us a single radio. All of the Kenwood models listed above support wireless cloning, so when you receive your narrowband compliant radio back from us you can simply wirelessly clone the settings to the rest of your fleet!

    If you've purchased a ProTalk radio after August 1st but also have older radios, you can simply clone your newer ProTalk radio to the older ones. No need to mail anything in for programming! Just follow our wireless cloning instructions or you can follow this handy insert that Kenwood has started shipping with newer radios.

    Yet another option is to just be sure that you only use a channel that is already narrowband compliant (listed above). This may seem like the easiest option, but there are a few drawbacks. First of all, your license may not include the frequency of the channel you are switching to. Before doing this you would certainly want to make sure that your license covers the new frequency, as switching from a wideband channel to an unlicensed one is just trading one potential problem for another. Also, leaving wideband channels on the radio would create the possibility that employees may start using these channels at some point in the future.

    Changing Your License
    Your frequency license also needs to be updated to add an "emissions designator" for 12.5 KHz narrowband. We can assist with this if you are not familiar with modifying your license through the FCC's ULS system. If you happen to be using the radios without a license, this would be a good opportunity to acquire a business radio license. A license is good for 10 years and provides you with exclusive use of your assigned frequencies.

    The new FCC narrowbanding requirements are a complicated topic that can't possibly be covered in a single article. We are here to help! As usual, do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

  • Cobra's New Two Way Radios For 2013

    Are you guys tired of all the new product announcements we've had lately? If you said yes you should stop reading now, because in this post I'll be talking about some new Cobra walkie talkies that will be available soon!

    Cobra has announced six brand new additions to their microTALK FRS/GMRS radio lineup for 2013: the CX112, CXT145, CX312, CXT345, CXT390 and CXT545. The CX112 and CXT145 models will be redesigns of the current "100 series" models, but the CX312, CXT345, CXT390, and CXT545 will be completely new.

    Micro USB Support, Waterproof Radios, and Other New Features
    The most interesting new item for me is that all of the new radios will support charging via a Micro-USB port. Motorola was first to offer walkie talkies with USB charging ports, but they use the older and slightly larger Mini-USB. I love seeing radios moving to industry standard charging solutions. Sure, we'll probably sell fewer overpriced replacement chargers, but I still believe that if our customers are happier we'll benefit in the long run.

    Cobra CXT545
    Cobra CXT545 Walkie TalkiesThe CXT545 is a two watt radio that is packed with quite a few features that are new - at least to Cobra. This radio just looks like it was designed for the outdoors, and has features to match. It has a rugged look with rubberized grips and adds a NOAA weather alerts feature. You no longer have to be actively listening for weather info to be notified that severe weather is approaching. A handy LED flashlight is also a new addition.

    The CXT-545 also meets JIS4 standards for water resistance. While not fully submersible, this means the radio should easily withstand rain. This level of weather resistance is equal to that offered by the Midland GXT1000, but is not as good as the Motorola MS350R or Uniden GMR5089.

    The CXT545 has the best of both worlds when it comes to charging options. It includes NiMH batteries and supports plug-in charging through its Micro-USB port, but a drop-in cradle charger is also included. So whether you prefer drop-in or plug-in charging, the CXT545 has you covered. This model is expected to be available in April, 2013 and has an MSRP of $89.95.

    Cobra CXT390, CXT345, and CX312
    Cobra CXT390, CXT345, and CX312 Walkie TalkiesI'm combining all of the "300 series" models into one category because, well, they are all the same radio. Each of these models is a package containing the exact same radios - the only differences are with the charging options. The CX312 is a basic radio-only package - you have to use 4 "AAA" batteries or buy your rechargeable batteries separately. The CXT345 includes NiMH rechargeable batteries and a wall charger with plug-in Micro-USB ports for the radios. The CXT390 has all of that, plus a drop-in charger.

    These are nice looking, mid range radios. They have one watt of power and all of the features that most people are going to be looking for in a set of radios, but not a lot of bells and whistles. One nice addition is that the proactive NOAA Weather Alert is included with this model, so these radios would be good to have around on an outdoor adventure.

    Each of these models is expected to be available in March of 2013. The CX312, CXT345, and CXT390 will have MSRP's of $49.95, $69.95, and $74.95, respectively.

    Cobra CXT145 and CX112
    Cobra CX112 and CXT145 Walkie TalkiesLast year, when Cobra announced the CXT135, they immediately had the lowest priced two way radio that included weather channels. They are continuing that trend this year as both the low priced CX112 and CXT145 will offer this feature. While these models are still considered entry level, the weather channels will definitely set these apart when comparing them with similar models from competing brands. With a half watt of output power, however, they are not the right choice when you need a long range radio.

    Like the 300 series above, the CX112 and CXT145 are identical except for their charging options. The CX112 will not include rechargeable batteries or a charger and will have an MSRP of $39.95. The CXT145 will include NiMH rechargeable battery packs and a plug-in Micro-USB charger.

    What's Being Discontinued
    For years now, Cobra has led the way on lithium battery powered FRS/GMRS radios. If you're a big fan of their powerful and lightweight lithium models, don't worry - they're not going anywhere. The CXR925, CXR825, and CXR725 are going to remain a part of Cobra's lineup for 2013.

    Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing for the non-lithium models. Radios like the CXT425, CXT235, and CXT135 will be phased out over time.

    All of the products mentioned here are packages that include a pair of radios.

  • Rebates on new Kenwood radios!

    Note: This promotion expired April 30, 2013 and is no longer available.

    rebate-kenwood-q1-2013.pngKenwood is offering special a rebate on select two way radios in its new ProTalk® 400 Series!

    For a limited time, when you purchase at least 6 Kenwood TK-2400V16P or TK-3400U16P two way radios, you can get a $30 rebate per radio purchased. This offer is good for up to 60 radios purchased from now until April 30, 2013. If you're shopping for new radios or are planning to add to your current fleet, now is the time to buy and save!

    In addition, Kenwood is also offering a $25 rebate on the TK-3230. You can purchase up to 60 from Buy Two Way Radios for a total savings of up to $1500!

    Model Min Purchase Max Purchase Rebate
    TK-2400-V16P 6 60 $30
    TK-3400-U16P 6 60 $30
    TK-3230 6 60 $25

    To redeem your rebate, visit the Kenwood ProTalk Rebate Center and follow the instructions. This offer is fulfilled by the Kenwood directly, so the rebate will be mailed to you after Kenwood receives your rebate form. The Kenwood Rebate offer expires April 30, 2013, so if you want to take advantage of it, now is the time to buy.

    NOTE: Rebates must be postmarked on or before May 6, 2013. The Kenwood rebate is NOT valid on radios delivered before February 1, 2013 or after April 30, 2013, regardless of invoice date.

    Read the Kenwood promotional flyer for full details.

  • Radio 101 - Are GMRS radios user programmable?

    A commonly asked question by new users of walkie-talkies is about programming consumer FRS/GMRS radios. Are GMRS radios user programmable? In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony from Buy Two Way Radios gives you a fast, matter-of-fact, no-nonsense answer.

  • TWRS-51 - New Kenwood 400 Series Radios

    We discuss new products just released this year from Kenwood. We also review the new Kenwood TK-3400 business two way radio.

    Intro :00
    Billboard 1:10


    Topic Discussion 1:29
    We look at the new Kenwood ProTalk 400 Series two way radios and the new Kenwood C-Ring Earpiece, and tell you what we think of these new products. For tips on using your two way radios, watch our new Radio 101 video series hosted by Anthony.

    Commercial Break 11:44
    buytwowayradios.com 1:00

    Product Review 12:42
    Today we review the new Kenwood TK-3400-U4P and Kenwood TK-3400-U16P two way radios.

    Questions and Answers 21:30
    Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

    Wrap up and Close 27:57
    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!

    © 2013 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

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