To start with, I wanted to mention that I am a licensed ham radio operator. I state this fact not to impress you, but to convey the fact that I have better methods of communication at my disposable than a pair of FRS / GMRS radios. So why would I want this? Simple. Not everyone is licensed, and there may be times I may want to communicate with my spouse, or someone else in a more relaxed setting. Say hiking, camping etc. Disclaimer - The FCC requires a license to use the GMRS frequencies of this radio. What's this? The Motorola T800 comes with a total of 22 channels. These 22 channels are divided into FRS (Family Radio Service) channels 8-14 and GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) channels 1-7 and 15-22. No license is needed to operate the radio on the FRS channels. However, to be completely legal - and to use the higher power GMRS frequencies, the FCC will be more than happy to sell you a GMRS license for around $65 or so for a 10-year period. The good news is, that the GMRS license does not require the passing of any tests, it covers not only you, but also other members in your household. So, from that perspective, the license fee is not bad at all. Enough of the legalize - now onto the features of this radio. There are many FRS / GMRS radios available for sale all over the place, for a lot less money than this set. So, why spend the extra cash? Easy. These radios can transmit text and location data from a smartphone via a bluetooth connection to the radio. This feature is fairly new, and is great for hiking or other off-grid type situations where cell phone service may not be available. One simply has to download the Talkabout app from the respective app store for Android or iOS, sync ones mobile phone via bluetooth to the radio and create an account (optional). And the whole process is fairly straight-forward, as the app walks one through each step of the way. Note, the bluetooth functionality has to be turned-on first on the radio, before trying to connect it to ones mobile phone. The phone app can also be used to view individuals / group locations on a map, to record routes and track statistics, set boundaries, and control the radio settings. The overall radio range is going to be limited by terrain. The package states a range up to 35 miles mountain to valley communication, up to 6 miles over open water, and up to 2 miles in a neighborhood. Your mileage will vary. To me, the blue LCD display is easy to read. It dims and then disappears after 20 seconds or so, only blinking a tiny blue indicator and/or a flashing bluetooth symbol. This is done to conserve the battery. This radio is weather proof to IPX4 standards, but not completely water proof. In other words, in can get slightly wet provided all of the ports (battery cover, headphone cover) are sealed. It also includes a NOAA weather radio and a built-in flashlight (LED). Another great feature I really appreciate is the dual power option. These radios come with a rechargeable NiMH battery pack for each radio or can be powered by 3x AA batteries. A USB charger with y-adapter so both radios can be charged at the same time is also included in the box. You'll also get easy pairing (through a button on the side of the radio, or through the app), emergency alert function to alert other users on the same frequency, vibration alert, and hands-free VOX operation. In other words, these radios are feature packed! On top of that, Motorola has been producing radios for many years. You'll get great equipment, awesome features, at a great price. On top of that a 2-year warranty which is really outstanding! Yours truly highly recommends these radios if you want to go beyond the same 'ol FRS bubble pack radios you find at the big box stores. And one last thing... If your're interested in any type of emergency comms. I think a good set of FRS / GMRS radios fit right into the mix along with more sophisticated communications like ham radio. Plus, you can use these while just out having fun too.
