Long range, walkie talkies

[scottyboy]

Anyone have any good experience with 2 way radios at extended ranges? We are going to be in Montana on a hunt this fall and we are wanting them as a cheap insurance policy. I bought a 4 pack of midland from cabelas with a stated range of 28 miles. While I understand this is in a perfect world you could achieve that, so we were hoping for half of it. No such luck, my buddy lives 7 miles from me and we could not reach each other (I live flat/farmland area of Minnesota, so not heavily wooded at all). Needless to say these radios were given to my nephew to use with his friends while out playing.

So we are looking for anything that could work in a 10 mile area (in woods/mountains...again we understand the gotchas here). Would like to keep the price at or below $150 per radio. Open to any and all suggestions

 

[FEENIX]

Anyone have any good experience with 2 way radios at extended ranges? We are going to be in Montana on a hunt this fall and we are wanting them as a cheap insurance policy. I bought a 4 pack of midland from cabelas with a stated range of 28 miles. While I understand this is in a perfect world you could achieve that, so we were hoping for half of it. No such luck, my buddy lives 7 miles from me and we could not reach each other (I live flat/farmland area of Minnesota, so not heavily wooded at all). Needless to say these radios were given to my nephew to use with his friends while out playing.

So we are looking for anything that could work in a 10 mile area (in woods/mountains...again we understand the gotchas here). Would like to keep the price at or below $150 per radio. Open to any and all suggestions

Just so we are referring to the same gotchas ...

Anyways, those radios you're referring to works best in line of sight and if they work a quarter of their claim with clear transmission you're doing good.

You won't get for $150 but the Rino 650/650t >>> https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/cat...ep?compareProduct=521048&compareProduct=82798 is tops for that insurance you are referring to.

Because my hunting buddies and I can't afford them, we found out which spots (normally atop) on our hunting areas where we can get cell phone signals for status checks.

Good luck and happy safe hunting. Cheers!

Ed

 

[Gunpoor]

Business band radios are the only ones I know of that work at longer ranges, and to reach very far you have to be somewhat close to a repeater tower, but I can't remember exactly but I am thinking +/- 10 miles. These radios are a little spendy but I haven't seen a price in looong time and like everything these days they probably made them seem cheap back then.

 

[scottyboy]

Just so we are referring to the same gotchas ...

Anyways, those radios you're referring to works best in line of sight and if they work a quarter of their claim with clear transmission you're doing good.

You won't get for $150 but the Rino 650/650t >>> https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/cat...ep?compareProduct=521048&compareProduct=82798 is tops for that insurance you are referring to.

Because my hunting buddies and I can't afford them, we found out which spots (normally atop) on our hunting areas where we can get cell phone signals for status checks.

Good luck and happy safe hunting. Cheers!

Ed

yes of course. like we often tell people... "we may be dumb, but we are not stupid" we follow every rule to the T (especially when we travel to other states for hunting) as the last thing we want, is to not be welcomed back for any reason.

we recently tried model from Midland and also Motorola, both failed miserably when compared to the rated distance.

so it seems as if we are going to pass on carrying 2 ways and either find a plan B or just stick to our cell phones for any emergency situations..

thanks guys, appreciate the input!

 

[FEENIX]

yes of course. like we often tell people... "we may be dumb, but we are not stupid" we follow every rule to the T (especially when we travel to other states for hunting) as the last thing we want, is to not be welcomed back for any reason.

we recently tried model from Midland and also Motorola, both failed miserably when compared to the rated distance.

so it seems as if we are going to pass on carrying 2 ways and either find a plan B or just stick to our cell phones for any emergency situations..

thanks guys, appreciate the input!

Another option for your consideration is satellite phone rental, i.e., Montana Satellite Services - Satellite Internet Specialists Montana Satellite Services.