• Two-Way Radio Handsets Tested – The Results

    Posted in: Consumer Reviews

    Testing 10 two-way radios - walkie-talkies / HTs Handy Talkies

    Tweet about this on TwitterShare on Google+Share on FacebookEmail this to someoneDigg thisShare on RedditShare on Tumblr
    • Placeholder image

      Click to view the playlist

    • Playlist Content

      • more detail less detail
        Placeholder
        Two Way Radio Review / Range Tests – Part 1
        1. Two Way Radio Review / Range Tests - Part 1

        Radios Tested:

        Motorola RMM2050 MURS VHF
        Midland GXT950VP4 FRS / GMRS
        TYT MD-380 UHF Analog / Digital
        Baofeng UV-82HP UHF / VHF
        ICOM IC-F4001 UHF
        Midland 75-822 AM CB
        Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUS UHF / VHF
        Midland LXT600VP3 FRS / GMRS
        AnyTone Termn-8R UHF / VHF 5W
        Tera TR-505 UHF / VHF

        Tests conducted:
        * Vehicle to vehicle (car to car) – neighbourhood watch
        * Line of sight
        * Urban mix
        * Through trees
        * Over hills
        * In a building
        * Mobile to hand held radio

      • more detail less detail
        Placeholder
        Two Way Radio Review / Range Tests – Part 2
        2. Two Way Radio Review / Range Tests - Part 2

        Radios Tested:

        Motorola RMM2050 MURS VHF
        Midland GXT950VP4 FRS / GMRS
        TYT MD-380 UHF Analog / Digital
        Baofeng UV-82HP UHF / VHF
        ICOM IC-F4001 UHF
        Midland 75-822 AM CB
        Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUS UHF / VHF
        Midland LXT600VP3 FRS / GMRS
        AnyTone Termn-8R UHF / VHF 5W
        Tera TR-505 UHF / VHF

        Tests conducted:
        * Vehicle to vehicle (car to car) – neighbourhood watch
        * Line of sight
        * Urban mix
        * Through trees
        * Over hills
        * In a building
        * Mobile to hand held radio

  • 1. Overall Rankings

    Click the image to buy from Amazon and support MJLorton.comTwo-Way Radio Make and ModelRange RankConsumer RankPrice - single ($ USD)Price - pair ($ USD)
    Baofeng UV-82HP1962.89
    TYT MD-38028134.99
    Termn 8R imageTera TR-5053199
    Termn 8R imageAnyTone Termn-8R42158.95
    Motorola RMM2050 MURS53189
    BaoFeng UVB2 Plus VHF UHFBaofeng BF-UVB2PLUS61032.80
    ICOM IC-F400177124.99
    Midland LXT600VP38442.48
    Midland 75-8229678.98
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		10564.86

     

    2.1 Specs

    Two-Way Radio Make and ModelRadio BandModeBandwidth (kHz)Radio Power (Watts)
    (actual measured power)
    AnyTone Termn-8RUHF / VHFAnalog255 / 6 (4.6 / 6.2)
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSUHF / VHFAnalog254 / 4 (4 / 5.4)
    Baofeng UV-82HPUHF / VHFAnalog257 / 8 (5.3 / 7.3)
    ICOM IC-F4001UHFAnalog25 / 12.54
    Midland 75-822AMAnalog44
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog255
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog255
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog202
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital / Analog12.55 (4.1)
    Tera TR-505UHF / VHFAnalog11.25 / 254 / 4 (4.1 / 4.8)

    2.2 Licensing

    Two-Way Radio Make and ModelType Radio of License RequiredFCC Approved Use
    AnyTone Termn-8RNone / GMRS / HAM / CommercialMURS (part 95J) / GMRS (part 95A) / HAM (part 15B) / Commercial (part 90)
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSHAMNone
    Baofeng UV-82HPHAMNone
    ICOM IC-F4001CommercialCommercial (part 90) / HAM (part 15B)
    Midland 75-822NoneCB (part 95D)
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		GMRSFRS (part 95B) / GMRS (part 95A)
    Midland LXT600VP3GMRSFRS (part 95B) / GMRS (part 95A)
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSNoneMURS (part 95J)
    TYT MD-380HAMNone
    Tera TR-505None / GMRS / HAMMURS (part 95J) / GMRS (part 95A) / HAM

    3.1 Test 1 – Over the Hills

    Over-the-Hill-Range--v7

    Two-Way Radio Make and ModelRadio BandModeBandwidth (kHz)Radio Power (Watts)Over the Hill (miles)Test Rank
    Baofeng UV-82HPVHFAnalog2580.91
    TYT MD-380UHFAnalog12.550.852
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.550.853
    Baofeng UV-82HPUHFAnalog2570.84
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.510.85
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog11.2520.86
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog2020.87
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSVHFAnalog2540.88
    ICOM IC-F4001UHFAnalog2540.89
    AnyTone Termn-8RUHFAnalog2550.810
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSUHFAnalog2540.811
    Midland 75-822AMAnalog440.812
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog255NANA
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog255NANA
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog12.50.5NANA
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog12.50.5NANA

    3.2 Test 2 – Through the Trees

    Through the Trees - 18
    Two-Way Radio Make and ModelRadio BandModeBandwidth (kHz)Radio Power (Watts)Through the Trees (miles)Test Rank
    Baofeng UV-82HPVHFAnalog2581.051
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog11.2520.582
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog2020.583
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.550.584
    Baofeng UV-82HPUHFAnalog2570.585
    AnyTone Termn-8RUHFAnalog2550.586
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSVHFAnalog2540.587
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSUHFAnalog2540.588
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.510.449
    TYT MD-380UHFAnalog12.550.4410
    ICOM IC-F4001UHFAnalog2540.4411
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog2550.4412
    Midland 75-822AMAnalog440.4413
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog12.50.50.314
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog255NANA
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog12.50.5NANA

    3.2 Test 3 – Urban Mix

    Urban-Mix-Range-v10
    Two-Way Radio Make and ModelRadio BandModeBandwidth (kHz)Radio Power (Watts)Urban Mix (miles)Test Rank
    Baofeng UV-82HPVHFAnalog2581.91
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.551.92
    TYT MD-380UHFAnalog12.551.753
    Tera TR-505VHFAnalog2541.754
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog11.2521.55
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog2021.56
    Baofeng UV-82HPUHFAnalog2571.57
    AnyTone Termn-8RUHFAnalog2551.58
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSVHFAnalog2541.59
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSUHFAnalog2541.510
    Tera TR-505UHFAnalog2541.511
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.510.6312
    ICOM IC-F4001UHFAnalog2540.6313
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog2550.6314
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog12.50.50.6315
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog2550.6316
    Midland 75-822AMAnalog440.6317
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog12.50.50.518

    3.3 Test 4 – Vehicle to Vehicle

    V-V Range-v3
    Two-Way Radio Make and ModelRadio BandModeBandwidth (kHz)Radio Power (Watts)Vehicle to Vehicle (miles)Test Rank
    Baofeng UV-82HPVHFAnalog25811
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.5512
    TYT MD-380UHFAnalog12.5514
    Baofeng UV-82HPUHFAnalog25713
    AnyTone Termn-8RUHFAnalog25515
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSVHFAnalog25417
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSUHFAnalog25418
    ICOM IC-F4001UHFAnalog25416
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog11.252NANA
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog202NANA
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.51NANA
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog255NANA
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog12.50.5NANA
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog255NANA
    Midland 75-822AMAnalog44NANA
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog12.50.5NANA

    3.4 Test 5 – Inside Building

    Building-v6_1000
    Two-Way Radio Make and ModelRadio BandModeBandwidth (kHz)Radio Power (Watts)Inside Building (floors)Test Rank
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.51181
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.55182
    Baofeng UV-82HPUHFAnalog257183
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog11.252184
    TYT MD-380UHFAnalog12.55185
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog202186
    AnyTone Termn-8RUHFAnalog255187
    ICOM IC-F4001UHFAnalog254188
    Baofeng UV-82HPVHFAnalog258189
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSUHFAnalog2541810
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSVHFAnalog2541811
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog2551812
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog12.50.51813
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog255914
    Midland 75-822AMAnalog44915
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog12.50.5716

    3.5 Test 6 – Line of Sight

    Line of Sight-v13
    Two-Way Radio Make and ModelRadio BandModeBandwidth (kHz)Radio Power (Watts)Line of Sight Range (miles)Test Rank
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.557.31
    TYT MD-380UHFDigital12.517.32
    Tera TR-505UHFAnalog2547.33
    Baofeng UV-82HPVHFAnalog2587.34
    Baofeng UV-82HPUHFAnalog2577.35
    TYT MD-380UHFAnalog12.557.36
    ICOM IC-F4001UHFAnalog2547.37
    AnyTone Termn-8RUHFAnalog2557.38
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSVHFAnalog2547.39
    Baofeng BF-UVB2PLUSUHFAnalog2547.310
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog11.2526.211
    Motorola RMM2050 MURSVHFAnalog2026.212
    Midland GXT-950VP4
    (now replaced by GXT-1050VP4)    		UHFAnalog255513
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog2554.114
    Midland LXT600VP3UHFAnalog12.50.51.5515
    Midland 75-822AMAnalog441.5516
    Midland GXT950VP4UHFAnalog12.50.50.517

     

    • Buy equipment related to this post and support MJLorton.com

  • If you're unable to see the products related to this post it's very likely that you have your browser's ad-blocker enabled. Please support content creation on MJLorton.com by turning off your ad-blocker. Thanks, Martin