Which radio station should you choose for yourself? A selection of affordable walkie-talkies for beginners and more

In everyday life, it is impossible to imagine our life without cellular communications, which, unfortunately, cannot be used in places that are difficult to reach in terms of location and natural terrain. The panacea in this case is the walkie-talkie. It is definitely included in the equipment of amateur drivers, truckers, climbers, extreme tourists, hunters and fishermen. Representatives of special services (police officers, rescuers, doctors, taxi drivers, couriers, security guards) also use compact radios for operational communication.

Depending on the purpose and frequency of operation, when purchasing a device, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

• weight, dimensions, body material;
• antenna type;
• operating power;
• frequency range for which a license is/is not required;
• operating time without recharging in different modes;
• number of channels;
• additional functionality (noise reduction, flashlight, SOS channel, etc.).

Our rating presents the best models from brand manufacturers in the most popular categories.

Inexpensive products

ROGER KP-55

This is an ideal device for people who prefer active recreation such as cycling, skiing, and so on. The weight of the product is only 60 grams with overall dimensions of 47x74x14.5 mm. The radio is placed in a housing made of rubberized plastic. The assembly is excellent, no extraneous creaks, backlashes or other manufacturing defects were found. It reliably protects internal elements from the penetration of dust and moisture - the assembly complies with the international standard IP57. This can tell the user that the radio will work quietly even in the most dusty places; it can be immersed in water to a depth of 1 meter and kept there for an hour. In urban conditions, the communication range of the device ranges from 500 meters to 1 km; in open areas this figure is much higher.

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The radio is equipped with a DSP processor, which allows you to make the device circuit simpler and achieve minimal overall dimensions. It is worth noting that such a product is susceptible to various electromagnetic interference. Speech on the radio can be heard very well. The autonomy of the product is also quite decent - about 15-17 hours in a 5/5/90 cycle, but if you use the maximum settings with the highest power, the battery will last for about 6 hours of continuous operation. The model is charged from a power supply with a micro USB connector. The antenna here is soft, so it will be almost impossible to break it. Despite the fact that the device looks more like a toy, it is of quite high quality and allows you to create a completely acceptable communication channel. The product operates in the frequency range of 446 MHz at ambient temperatures from -20 to +55 degrees.

Advantages:

• A mode of reduced battery energy consumption is provided;
• If necessary, you can instantly copy settings from one device to another;
• Noise reduction can be adjusted manually;
• Minimum overall dimensions and weight;
• Reliability and durability;
• Waterproof housing.

Flaws:

• There is no ping system;
• It reports a low battery too late.

ROGER KP-55

BELLSOUTH T-388

This kit is characterized by high quality workmanship and low cost. With the help of these walkie-talkies, you will be able to always stay in touch on tourist and out-of-town trips, including where there is no mobile connection, and where there is one, you can save a lot on these costs. The overall dimensions of the devices are small. The body is made of matte plastic with medium roughness, which will never slip in your hands. Its shape is ergonomic, the radio fits comfortably in the hand, the finger grooves are located in such a way that the product is very comfortable to hold in both large and miniature hands. At the top of the structure there is a rigid, rigid antenna, a high-brightness LED flashlight, and a jack for connecting a headset. On the front side there is a speaker, which is covered with a perforated plastic plate. There are also functional buttons and a backlit liquid crystal display, where all the information the user needs will be displayed.

Performance qualities for a model in this price category are quite high. The maximum communication range reaches 5 km in open space. Each radio operates on the basis of 4 AA batteries. This ensures long-term autonomy of the device; if necessary, the batteries are changed within seconds, which saves a lot of time on charging the battery. The flashlight is quite bright, it will be very useful in the dark. The noise reduction system is very reliable, it works stably, the sound is crisp and clear.

Advantages:

• The design is equipped with a 2.5-inch liquid crystal information display;
• Operating the product is very simple;
• High-quality noise reduction system;
• Convenient ergonomic body shape;
• Reasonable price.

Flaws:

• The information on the display is difficult to read under bright sun.

BELLSOUTH T-388

TYT TH-UV8000D

Another quite affordable design, which is characterized by decent equipment. In particular, this device comes with two sets of antennas - one standard, 17 cm long, and an extended one - 35.5 cm. The design is quite interesting, the shape is streamlined, all corners are rounded, the surface of the case will not cut into your fingers or palms . The case is made of high-quality medium-density plastic; users in reviews regularly note the high quality of the build: there are no backlashes or extraneous creaks, all elements are carefully fitted, the gaps between them are minimal. The design has a built-in lithium-ion battery, which has a significant service life. All controls are located very conveniently. All the keys are plastic, they are pressed with characteristic clicks, the travel is average, you don’t have to apply much effort when pressing.

The maximum power of the radio station is 10 W, which allows it to be used effectively even over fairly long distances. All settings can be changed by connecting the equipment to the computer - to do this you will have to download the appropriate driver and application. The radio operates reliably both in open spaces and in difficult terrain. There is a liquid crystal display with three backlight modes, which allows you to comfortably use the equipment both on sunny days and in bad weather or in low light conditions. There is a monitoring function that allows you to capture and listen to even weak signals and scan all channels; there is a connector for connecting a wired headset, which is also very convenient.

Advantages:

• Quite a powerful device;
• Long-term operation on a single battery charge;
• High-quality assembly;
• Attractive appearance;
• Ease of use.

Flaws:

• Tight connector for connecting an antenna.

TYT TH-UV8000D

Baofeng BF-888S

Among inexpensive products, this walkie-talkie is the most popular not only among Russian users, but also among many foreign fans of such equipment - this is evidenced by statistical data from various electronic trading platforms. The radio is equipped with a built-in memory for 16 channels, and they can only be programmed through a personal computer. The model is placed in a plastic case, the assembly is reliable and does not cause any complaints. There is no display here, which makes it impossible to access important functions such as activating the noise reduction system. The power of the radio is 5 W, it operates at a frequency of 400-470 MHz. The overall dimensions of the device are 115x60x30 mm - it is quite comfortable to hold in both large and small hands.

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This radio has a minimal set of features, but it is quite sufficient, especially at such a low price. Often a station is purchased as a spare channel. A battery charger is supplied with the design, there is a clip that allows you to hang the walkie-talkie on your belt, and there are also headphones. The antenna length is 11 cm. The device is also equipped with an alarm and a very powerful LED flashlight, the capacity of the lithium-ion battery is 1500 mAh at a voltage of 3.7 V, thanks to which the model can work in autonomous mode for up to 8 hours, the battery will be fully charged within 4 hours.

Advantages:

• Quite decent connection quality;
• Reliable battery that ensures long-term operation without recharging;
• Acceptable power output;
• There is everything you need for comfortable use.

Flaws:

• The flashlight begins to flicker after a while.

Baofeng BF-888S

The best models for fishing and hunting

Motorola TLKR-T80 Extreme Quad

This is a very convenient means of communication when used outdoors over short distances, especially when mobile communications are intermittent or do not function at all. The walkie-talkie is quite simple to use - even a person who has no previous experience with radio stations can set it up. The device operates in a range that does not require registration. In open spaces, the maximum communication range can reach about 10 km, but the manufacturer does not indicate in the instructions that this can be achieved in sunny weather, in the absence of wind and exclusively in open areas. For power, you can use standard AA batteries or rechargeable batteries; in addition, there is a built-in nickel-cadmium battery, but you cannot recharge it - you first need to completely charge it, and then put it on charge.

The set went on general sale literally a year ago. The set comes with four radios at once - very convenient for hunting enthusiasts; there are also two stations for charging devices. There are 8 channels for communication, this is quite enough for a full conversation. The case is waterproof and rubberized. There is a liquid crystal display, it is equipped with a convenient backlight and a charge indicator. The weight of one radio is 140 grams. The functionality is wide, there is the ability to scan channels, you can simultaneously monitor two channels at once, if necessary, the keyboard is locked, and automatic shutdown is provided.

Advantages:

• Easy to use;
• You can use ordinary AA batteries;
• There is no need to register radios.

Flaws:

• Shows battery discharge only when it is already completely discharged.

Motorola TLKR-T80 Extreme Quad

KENWOOD TK-2406M

This radio operates in the VHF range at a frequency of 136-174 MHz, allowing it to provide the highest power of 5 W. The user can use one of 16 communication channels. There are two programmable buttons on the body that a person can configure depending on their own needs. The radio has a so-called panic button. In order to quickly select an available communication channel, there are scanning modes. It is worth noting that this model is capable of functioning normally in a fairly wide temperature range - from -30 to +60 degrees. The weight of the product is insignificant, the body is of high quality, made of rubberized materials. There are rubber inserts on the sides that will prevent the radio from slipping out of your hands. The quality of sound transmission is very high, largely due to the installed powerful speaker. The device is perfectly protected from moisture - IPX5 standard.

All settings are programmed using a personal computer or laptop. In addition to the function of high-quality suppression of extraneous noise, there are a number of additional features. In particular, there is activation of the walkie-talkie by voice through the headset. The battery power is not very high, so it discharges quite quickly, especially if the device is in the cold.

Advantages:

• Good workmanship and assembly quality;
• Clear sound, voice can be heard easily;
• Long service life;
• There is nothing superfluous on the surface of the case.

Flaws:

• Weak battery.

KENWOOD TK-2406M

Vector VT-43 H2

This device is perfect for those who love hunting or fishing. This radio is capable of operating in two bands – VHF 136-174 MHz and UHF 400-470 MHz. The maximum power of the equipment is 5 W, if desired, the user can select low radiation with a power of 1 W, which can significantly save battery power. There are quite a lot of memory channels here, all of them provide quick access, and switching between frequencies is carried out almost instantly. The design is equipped with a functional liquid crystal display, where not only the necessary information is displayed, but there is an additional opportunity to gain access to all the capabilities of the product. In particular, it can be used to configure the operation of a tone or digital noise reduction system.

The body of this walkie-talkie is made of polymer materials; it contains a full-fledged push-button keyboard where you can enter the required frequency. When scanning the broadcast range, it is possible to use a frequency grid. The walkie-talkie has a jack for connecting a wired headset. It is equipped with a fairly powerful lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 2800 mAh, which allows for a long battery life. This radio is quite suitable for daily use in a wide variety of conditions. The case is waterproof and also protected from dust.

Advantages:

• Display with universal backlight;
• The keyboard can be locked if necessary;
• The radio can be programmed both offline and via a computer connection;
• High-strength housing;
• High battery capacity;
• Reasonable cost;
• The battery charge indicator displays current data.

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Flaws:

• Not detected.

Vector VT-43 H2