Cobra

The new Cobra CXR725 has arrived here at our two way radio headquarters and so far we like it a lot. Cobra claims the CXR725 is the "world's smallest high-powered GMRS/FRS radio" and we think that may very well be the case. It has a very compact design (though not much different from previous CXR series radios) that will make it very easy to carry around. It is not much bigger than a cell phone, so those of you looking for a small, but feature rich radio, should give it a look.

The Cobra CXR725 has VOX hands free operation, VibrAlert® silent paging, a backlit display, and it comes standard with rechargeable high capacity lithium ion battery. In fact, the CXR725 is one of the few GMRS radios with a Li-ion battery.

We have the Cobra CXR725 here in stock and ready to ship out for $49.99. If you have any questions then just give us a call (1-800-584-1445 ), send an email, or leave a comment here on our walkie talkie blog.

Cobra has a new model that is very easy to use, and very compact. The Cobra microTALK CXT125 two way radio has the features you would expect in an entry-level GMRS radio including 22 FRS/GMRS channels, LCD screen, call alert tones, and battery saver. One thing we especially like, The CXT125 is a lead free product and has eco-friendly packaging.

We have the Cobra microTALK CXT125 here and ready to ship out for $29.99. As always gives us a call or send an email if you have any questions.

We had a brand new radio show up here at our two way radio lab today. The Cobra microTALK CXT425 is a mid-level model from Cobra that features 22 GMRS/FRS channels, 142 privacy codes, VOX hands free operation, 10 channel memory, and 10 call alerts.

One of the features we like a lot are NOAA weather alerts. So we were pleased that the CXT425 also has them, making them great to use as an emergency radio or even for your next camping trip!

We have the Cobra microTALK CXT425 here and ready to ship out for $44.99.

One of the new radios we just got in stock is the Cobra microTALK CXR925 GMRS two way radio. Not only is the design original compared to most two way radios, it also uses lithium ion batteries. Most consumer radios use nickel cadmium batteries which honestly are just not as good. Li-Ion batteries last longer and also do not suffer from "memory effects" when charging.

The CXR925 is the "big brother" model to the popular Cobra CXR700. The CXR700 is another GMRS radio that we like a lot. So many radio are copy cat designs of each other, we like the originality in the two Cobra models.

The CXR925 is relatively compact and has all the features you would expect form a top of the line GMRS radio (142 privacy codes, VOX, NOAA channels, silent alerts, and key lock). It also has the Rewind-Say-Again® feature. You can replay calls and record messages for playback.

We have them in stock and ready to go for $74.99. The CXR925 value pack comes with two radios, Li-Ion batteries, desktop charger, and wall adapter.

The Cobra LI-7200-2WXVP two way radio is a full-featured GMRS radio. It has 5 watts of power (the maximum allowed by law), 10 NOAA weather channels, silent paging, 10 channel memory, and a lithium battery (They can be used up to 12 hours without needing to be recharged).

We have them in stock and ready to ship out for a special price of $49.99. For a limited time we are also offering $5.00 shipping!

The LI-7200-2WXVP two way radios have great range, features, and a great price. Each pack comes with two Cobra LI-7200 WX two way radios, two belt clips, one dual pocket desktop charger, and lithium rechargeable batteries.

Here at Buy Two Way Radios we get to learn about all kinds of great walkie talkies and other communication items. Sadly we often do not have the time to play with every item as much as we would like. Ahem, I mean to properly test each product in a laboratory setting adhering to strict engineering standards. That is why we love it when all of you let us know what you think. It has a direct impact on what we carry and what we recommend to people.

Since we are not some large chain store, or part of a mega-industrial conglomerate, we have a lot of freedom in the products we provide to our friends and customers. The feedback we get from all of you helps us carry the two way radios and accessories all of you like. This in turn keeps our inventory current, full of exciting items, and also helps to keep our prices down since we do not buy things people do not want.

Over on our two way radio forums, we have a great bunch of folks. They let us know real quick about what they think about the radios we carry. Today I am just going to link to you some reviews done by forum member jwilkers:

Midland GXT1000 Review
Motorola MR355R Review
Cobra CXR900 Review

We love unbiased reviews like these. If you have feedback on an item, leave a comment here on our two way radio blog, over on our walkie talkie forums, or just give us a call. Everyone here at Buy Two Way Radios looks forward to hearing from you! You may even be mentioned here on the blog.

Four new Cobra radios are now in stock and ready to ship. Here at Buy Two Way Radios we are often impressed by Cobra radios. Compact, affordable, and loaded with features they are a great value and often a good solution for those that are tired of larger and bulkier radios. New for this year, they are all certified lead free and even come in an eco-friendly package.

First we have the Cobra microTALK CXT90, a great little entry level radio. It has 22 GMRS/FRS channels and 121 privacy codes, VOX hands free operation, scan feature, selectable roger beep, and a key lock all in a small case. This is a good "starter" radio for a very nice price.

Next we have the Cobra microTALK CXT400. The 22 GMRS/FRS channels and 121 privacy codes, VOX hands free operation, scan feature, selectable roger beep, NOAA weather alerts, and a backlit display are just some of the features.

The Cobra microTALK CXR700 is another feature packed radio in a small case. The radios have 22 GMRS/FRS channels and 142 privacy codes. It also has VOX hands free operation, VibrAlert® silent paging, scan feature, selectable roger beep, NOAA weather alerts, and a key lock. This radio is very compact and could be a great alternative to those replacing cell phones with two way radios.

The final new radio is the Cobra microTALK CXR900. This model is also rather compact compared to other similar radios. With 22 GMRS/FRS channels and 142 privacy codes, VOX hands free operation, 10-Channel NOAA All Hazards Radio, VibrAlert® silent paging, scan feature, selectable roger beep, and a key lock it is loaded with capabilities. It also has a new feature we really like. With the Rewind-Say-Again® feature you can replay calls and record messages for playback. This is great for noisy environments.

What kind of marine radio should I get? Let's face it, there are a lot of choices available. We hope you at least now know that just one radio may not cover every situation, but should you just have two hand held marine radios?

For many of you, hand held marine radios are the perfect solution. You do not go far from shore, or stay out very long. You may even want a set of GMRS radios as well for shore use. However, for many of you a more powerful radio is the way to go.

Not only can you mount one of our marine transceivers so it is easy to find, and well, not sliding all around, they also have some great features. With selectable output (1-25 watts) they give greater flexibility and range than most handheld sets. You also connect them to an external antenna which gives you a lot more range than any hand held radio can provide (dependent on the quality of the antenna of course).

Add to this the features now available in modern VHF marine radios such as NOAA alerts, channel scan, and dual channel watch, all combined in a rugged, compact design that meets JIS7 waterproof standards. So go and give a look at our Cobra Marine MR-F55, or Cobra Marine MR-F80B radios and contact us with any questions you may have.

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. We have now updated the chart to show all 42 of these channels.

With some radios such as the Motorola Talkabout you will need to add 38 to the code listed above. (Example: For channel 32, the code would be 4 + 38 = 42)