Two way radios are some of the most advanced pieces of technology on the market today. Even better, good two way radio gear can be purchased for a relatively low price. The latest cell phone or laptop can cost a thousand dollars or more, while some great pieces of two way radio gear can be had for less than a hundred bucks. Of course, you need to know what to look for to make sure that you get the best radios for your budget. Some things that you should look at include batteries, range, number of channels, and the display. To learn more about buying the best two way radios for your money, read on.
Batteries
People often underestimate the importance of batteries when buying any sort of electronic device, including two way radios. Radios are fairly high demand devices, which means they need a lot of battery power. Traditional batteries may only sustain a few hours of usage. Lithium ion batteries, on the other hand, last far longer and are specially designed for demanding devices. They are a bit more expensive, which is why you should check the listing for any two way radio you are considering purchasing and see if it comes with lithium ion batteries.
Range
Radios vary wildly in terms of range. Some of the cheapest radios have ranges of a mile or less. Some of the more expensive devices can transmit signals well over a dozen miles. It is important for you to keep in mind the sort of range you’ll need for your own usage. While it may be tempting to get the radio with the longest range without considering the item’s other features, this may result in spending too much money or buying a radio that doesn’t have other necessary features.
Number of channels
If you are in a populated area, you may find there is a great deal of interference or even other people actually using some of the channels available to your device. It is important that you purchase a radio with multiple channels, so that you and your partner can find a clear frequency. Usually, ten or so is more than enough. More than ten may result in a large expenditure without significant added benefit.
Display
Many radios come with displays that showcase a great deal of information. You may be able to see the distance or direction of the person you are speaking with, for example. Modern radio displays also often show the signal strength and battery level. These two measurements are the most important for many people, and you should not purchase a radio that doesn’t display them.