Works as advertised, but here's a tip they should have included in the user's manual as we almost returned our radios before we found out about it... If you take these through an elevation change i.e. up to the mountains, open the audio jack plug and the charger plug to equalize the pressure. Once done, you can plug them back.
These things are air tight, so with the elevation change there will be a pressure difference between the inside of the radio and the ambience. Unless you equalize the pressure, this pressure difference will muffle the speakers and the mic and consequently will render the radios nearly unusable.
But again, overall good radios and we haven't had any issues with them since we found out about this.
The main reason I decided to buy these over others was because they are P67 Waterproof, but more importantly they float! You can have a great waterproof radio, however if you drop it and it doesn't float what good is it. On my very first kayaking trip with this radio I actually did knock one overboard while fighting a fish. Yes it really did float and I quickly turned around and picked it up and it still works. It's also highly visible in the day time and the light did turn on when it hit the water. There are very important features to me.
Now the not so good comments - I did notice that reception between the radios was clear but only up to about a mile over water. I could see the other kayak, however the communications started to break up a little. I have heard that some other radios have the same issue over water. I was really hoping they would transmit 2 to 3 miles over water, but no such luck. I do not know much about the difference between land and water communications, I plan to read more about this issue, there might be a better channel or trick to it. Last note here, when the base of the radio got wet because to put it in a damp cup holder, the light did turn on. I didn't realize it had gotten wet, the light was on for about 45 minutes I think before I noticed, however the battery stayed strong and lasted over 9 hours.
Overall, I do think the housing and radio is made well, it didn't feel cheep to me, and again being waterproof and floating was very very important to me and it really paid off when it did go overboard.
Update: 2/16/18 We tested out the range of the units. My husband took his with him on a mountain biking trail relatively close by our house near the Wasatch Front. I stayed home and we were able to pick one another up clearly on the low frequency. Tested at distances of 2 miles, 4 miles, and 7 miles with minimal difficulty. The testing area covered a wide range in an urban setting with minimal tree or building obstruction (It isn't he PNW so there aren't many heavy wooded areas). We were able to easily pick one another up and the only disruption or downside was the fact that many many people are using the same frequencies and channels and this cuts off or interrupts communication. I didn't expect there to be so many people using the CB channels so we just need to find a channel that we can use.
The package just arrived today for the T600 Talkabout Radios so this is my preliminary review based on what I see out of the box. A lot of reviews mention bad battery charging, but I haven't tried charging the included batteries yet. We put in 3 AA batteries into each hand held unit and were up and running. In a matter of minutes we were testing the units out around our house and tuning into the local NOAA weather station.
Right off the bat one major improvement that is needed for these to be truly emergency prep based is if the belt clip/whistle had a flat head screw driver on the bottom tip. The flat head is necessary in the event of an emergency in order to be able to open the back battery panel and immediately put in the 3 AA batteries. Without this improvement you will need to carry an extra flat head screw driver which is cumbersome when hiking.
With these hand sets there is an O-ring seal within the battery panel so care must be taken to properly clean and lubricate the O-rings to prevent any water damage. I look forward to testing these in water and cold temperatures.
Been owning and using these for more than a year now. Live in Iceland where it can be very vindy, cold and wet. I've owned two other sets from other producers but these are by far the best I've owned yet. The range is good, the sound quality is good and the battery life is above avarege (I've only used them in high level mode, maxium range which requires more power). They only complain I've about them is that they are far from beeing small, could be more compact, but that could affect the range and utalization for this product. Also that the belt clip could be redesigned. The idea behind the belt clip is good, that you can remove it and use it as a whistle, but if you do not secure it proberly the radio can fall of your belt.
I wish I could give them 4 and a half star, but as that is not possible so I'll give them 4 star. Yes, I would reccomend them
This unit seems very solid and performed well for the most part. The range is over stated and each WT is pretty hefty. I brought it to use on a cruise ship to Bermuda since there isn't any cell service at sea. I could probably have range of a quarter of the ship. The unit lights up in the water, so it was perfect on the beach and neon green is easy to find. The battery life is HORRIBLE, so you will need to recharge on a daily basis and wait quite some time for the battery to power up. Wish it came with a carrying case for the units.
Feature Product
- IP67 Waterproof: Count on the T600 H2O two-way waterproof radio to keep you connected whether on land or at sea ; Use the VibraCall feature where ringing can be intrusive ; The keypad lock prevents your personalized settings from being inadvertently changed.
- Advanced Built-in Flashlight with White and Red LEDs: Select the white LED setting on the built-in flashlight to light your way during evening activities, unexpected emergencies or power outages.Battery Life (alkaline)- up to 23 hours. Battery Life (rechargable NiMH)- up to 9 hours
- 22 Channels Each with 121 Privacy Codes: With 22 channels and 121 privacy codes, totaling 2,662 combinations, it's easy to find an available channel ; Low battery alert present to remind you when batteries are running low
- Know the Weather In Advance: Keep updated with real-time weather conditions by turning on one of 11 weather channels or initiating weather alerts. NOAA radio service may not be available in all areas.
- Compatible with Any Radio: You can communicate with other FRS/GMRS radios regardless of brand by being on the same channel and privacy codes.
Description
Stay connected during your wildest outdoor adventures. With a rugged, fully waterproof* design, emergency features and a 35-mile range, the T600 H2O keeps you connected and protected during your extreme outdoor activities. The T600 H2O is packed with top-of-the-line radio features, including the ability to float* and a water-activated flashlight. The flashlight also includes a red LED to preserve night vision. With these exceptional capabilities, you can count on the T600 H2O to deliver reliable communications during your wildest adventures - whether by land or by sea. How far can I expect my radios to communicate? The communication range quoted is calculated based on an unobstructed line of sight test under optimum conditions. Actual range will vary depending on terrain and conditions, and is often less than the maximum possible. Your actual range will be limited by several factors including, but not limited to: terrain, weather conditions, electromagnetic interference and obstructions.
I have Cobras for about ten years, they were good, but batteries died, I ask cobra for replacements, but there are not really a support for it, they don't care about my problem. So I call Motorola customer support before buying, they give solutions for every thing about a ten years old model. then I bought this radios and I (we, my family) love it , powerful, extremely rugged, waterproof. in short perfect, for the outdoors and every where.
These walkies are fantastic. I run a wilderness program, and bought some smaller, 5-mile range walkies that were not powerful enough to reach from the house up the hill to the camp. I bought these walkies and they are crystal clear from inside the house, through the woods and the over rock ridges to my camp! They are truly fantastic, and the price is right. Charging is also very easy, with a dual jack AC charger that comes with the radios.
I want to leave a rating, but not necessarily write anything, stupid requirement to add a headline and written review. I like the product "so many stars", enough said!~
We have been through dozens of walkies of various brands and our biggest issue seems to never be addressed in reviews. we don't have distance issues as all are withing a 1/2 mile radius. Our largest issue is audio quality and understanding each other on the fly. The motorola T600 (digital volume) and T460 (manual/dial volume) sets that we have purchased have very significantly higher quality Audio sound than the 2 other major brands that we have tried. Very happy with these purchases and more on the way.
Hiking trip, different interests, large group, whatever the issue you won't go wrong or get lost, walking in circles trying to find your partner or the kids with a pair of Motorola. Lightweight and holds a charge. Communication glitches are a thing of the past.
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