Considering Waterproof Two-Way Radio

[Alex F]

I was wandering if anyone had experiance and can suggest good waterpfoof and good coverage two-way radio (walki-talki). I was looking at some Midland GXT950 or GXT720 models.

My primiary criteria is good range, working through floors (at times when we go on a cruise ships), waterproof (using to communicate with someone on shore or other PWC.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex.

 

[fc3]

Forget it working on a cruise ship. All of that metal will block the signal. If your use is otherwise on the water, get a marine VHF. You already have one on the boat, you just need another for the dink or PWC. I have an Icom. They're the best.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[Alex F]

Frank,

I had the same thoughts, but two things are still pulling me back. One, on cruises I know they rent something that looks like a two-way radio. I saw lots of people using it and some looked like were also brought from home (my guess based on what I saw). You could be 100% correct on metal blocking, but then I wander what type of radios they rent that goes through those floors?

The second, I was thinking to get a nice handheld VHF, but I'm not sure if I could give this to kids when they go to the beach off the boat. There's always a good chance fot them to drop it in the sand or water. So, I figure that there must be something out there (2-way radio) that I should be able to use. So, I'm still debating.

 

[First Born]

Maybe our cruise ship did not have alot of metal but our in-laws; bought regular 2-way radios from Bass Pro Shop (Motorola T5550 Talkabout) for the kids to use and they worked great on our cruise. I actually came back and bought a set to use for when we are on the boat.

 

[Turtlesboat]

I have a pair of motorola T8000 something or other talkabouts. They have excellent range. I take them on all of my vacations and trips. They are rated at 2 miles but with ideal conditions, i've gotten more than 5 miles. On a ski trip in lake tahoe, I was on the top of the mountain talking to my friend in our cabin in town, that was a long ways away. In the city I only get about 1/2 mile, maybe. They don't make them anymore but you can find them on ebay used. they are blue. I haven't found any that work as well as these since (little affordable talkabouts). They also have little headsets which makes me look cool.

 

[avguy]

I do a lot of business in hotels & covention centers where we sometimes carry Motorolas to communicate to the staff. There are 4 larger hotels in our downtown area and they each have there own frequencies as they will bleed over to the other properties. They are 5 watt units & as turtletone said depending on conditions they can easily get a couple of miles up to 5 or 6 miles.

I have an Icom M-504 on the boat & bought 2 Icom M-88 handhelds for use on vacations.
The one thing you may want to consider is trying to buy them from a local communications company rather than at Sam's Club or Boaters world. For a few bucks extra they can give you a frequency different from the "family" channels sold at the box stores. Scott