Consumer Radios

Believe it or not, there is a right and a wrong way to hold a two way radio. How you hold it can even affect its range! In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony from Buy Two Way Radios shows you how to hold a radio properly for the best transmission and reception possible.

A common term heard among two way radio operators is squelch. It is a standard feature of FRS, GMRS, business, amateur, air band, marine, and CB radios. But what is it? What does it do? In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony from Buy Two Way Radios explains what squelch is and how it works.

Most higher end consumer FRS and GMRS two way radios usually have a feature known as VOX. But what is it? What does it do? More importantly, how can I use it in my application? In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony from Buy Two Way Radios tells you exactly what VOX is, what it does and how to determine if this feature is right for you.

One of the most frequently asked questions regarding consumer radios is about compatibility. Are all FRS and GMRS two way radios compatible with each other? In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony at Buy Two Way Radios answers that question and gives you the simple facts.

When it comes to choosing and using your two way radios, we want you to be informed. There are informative blogs, articles, podcasts and videos available with tips, tricks and reviews to help you navigate the world of radio technology and keep you ahead of the curve. We have a number of resources at Buy Two Way Radios to help you get the most out of your radios. To make them even better, Here's one more. We now carry books about two way radios!

Our new premium selection of books covers every type of two way radio available, including FRS and GMRS radios, marine radios, UHF/VHF business radios, CB and Ham. They're all listed right here on our web site and available now.

Need a basic book for beginners? Two Way Radios and Scanners for Dummies is the perfect choice. It's easy to read, easy to understand, humorous and just a little technical without being boring.

If you want to get into amateur radio, Ham Radio For Dummies is also a great choice. This book how to understand Ham jargon, prepare for your amateur license and how to set up a station. Getting acquainted with amateur radio has never been easier!

Need a technical book for the serious amateur? The ARRL Handbook is a must read for you. Recognized as the standard reference for amateur radio operators everywhere, this handbook covers nearly every aspect of radio communication and is now available in a hard cover 90th edition for 2013.

The ARRL Repeater Directory is a handy resource for locating repeaters across America. The directory lists 21,800 repeaters across the country in a spiral bound 2012-2013 desktop edition.

These are just a sampling of the publications now available to provide you with the knowledge you need maximize the potential of your radios and put you in control of your communications. Whether you are new to two way radios, or you're a seasoned pro, There's a radio book waiting for you.

If the publication you need is not listed on our site, please contact us and let us know.

We've talked on the Two Way Radio Show about how two way radios are used by model railroaders. Well, we just got a great review from Chris The Train Guy of Falls Church Station, Virginia that we thought we should share! Chris purchased an XLT Communications HS150-MT headset for his Motorola Talkabout radio on the recommendation of other members of his model railroad club. Here's what he had to say:

Good morning! I am a first time buyer, and am duly impressed with the service from Buytwowayradios.com! On the recommendation of several members of my Vienna Virginia model railroad club, I ordered an XLT HS150-MT headset last Friday afternoon, and BOOM, it arrived, carefully packed, by Priority mail, on Monday afternoon! Thanks and a tip of the engineers hat to the good Folks in the SHIPPING DEPT., the unsung heroes of any mail-order business!!!

Thanks for the kind words, Chris!

This has been an exciting year for GMRS two way radios. Major manufacturers such as Cobra, Midland and Motorola have announced or launched a number of new models for 2012 with new designs, upgrades and features. Not to be outdone, Uniden has recently updated their product line as well, with such models as the GMR3799, GMR4099 and GMR5099. In fact, they are still at it. Uniden just introduced two new entries in their GMR Series of two way radios, the GMR4040-2CKHS and GMR5089-2CKHS.

We talk about using FRS radios in assorted recreational activities. We also review the new Motorola Talkabout MT350 Series of two way radios.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:18

Topic Discussion 1:38
Today we'll learn the basics of the Family Radio Service and introduce some popular pastimes that rely on FRS radio communications, such as model railroading, model rocketry, bird watching, paintball and laser tag. We also recommend some FRS radios for use in these activities. Radios discussed include the Cobra CXT135, CXT225, Midland LXT500VP3, LXT535VP3, LXT560VP3, Motorola MD200R, Motorola MH230R, and MH230TPR FRS/GMRS two way radios. For more information about FRS frequencies, refer to our chart of FRS and GMRS Frequencies.

Commercial Break 19:49
buytwowayradios.com 1:00

Product Review 20:48
Today we review the new Motorola TALKABOUT MT350R and MT352R two way radios.

Questions and Answers 27:10
Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

Wrap up and Close 33:21
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!

© 2012 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

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We just received word that TriSquare is going out of business and its products will no longer be available. The entire TriSquare TSX Series has been discontinued.

We know a lot of our customers are fans of TriSquare radios. It's no big secret why. First, the TSX Series radios use Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology, allowing operators to choose from up to ten billion channels for greater privacy and more secure communications than typical business or consumer two way radios. Second, the radios often include advanced functionality typically found on cell phones, such as direct call, text messaging, contact lists and great displays.

Most importantly, TriSquare radios can be used by anyone or any business without a license, unlike GMRS. They operate in the 900 Mhz range, so no FCC license is required, yet coverage and performance is roughly equivalent to a conventional GMRS two way radio.

However, there is one caveat to TriSquare TSX Series radios - these models only communicate with each other and are not compatible with other makes and models of two way radios. This is important to consider when buying TriSquare radios, especially now.

We have sold out our last inventory of radios and TriSquare accessories at Buy Two Way Radios. Since these models are no longer manufactured, they will not be restocked. If you are shopping around for radios and considered purchasing TriSquare, we recommend that you choose among our other business or consumer two way radios instead.

For those who are die-hard fans of TriSquare (and there are quite a few out there), your long term options are to either continue using the TSX Radios available to you or replace them with conventional radios. if you do decide to stay with the TriSquare radios, The TSX100, TSX100-2VP, TSX100R-2VP, TSX300-2VP, and TSX300R-2VP are no longer available. All Accessories such as the TriSquare Replacement Battery (TSX-BP) and the TriSquare TSX10A Accessory Pack are now sold out.

If you recently purchased TriSquare radios from us and are concerned about warranty and support issues, not to worry. TriSquare informed us that your warranty is valid and they will continue product warranty and support for the radios "for as long as needed". If a warranty or support issue arises, the company recommends customers contact the service or sales email addresses on their web site for assistance or call Buy Two Way Radios at 1-800-584-1445.