Radios: What works best?

[sledhead5000]

Hey,

Looking at picking up some radios for use while sledding, quadding etc. Just wondering what others would recommend in terms of range, battery life, weatherproof, and tough casing. What radios do best when there's half a mountain between them etc.

I'm going to guess that the more I spend, the better the radio, but was hoping to figure out what features I need for sure.

Thanks

 

[Taminator]

Research which ones don't effect your avy beacon. We are considering the rhino's but our avy instructor has found they effect the beacon signals of many beacons. They noticed this in the courses when testing everyone's beacons...had some issues and discovered it was dudes rhino radio

This would be something you might not know ahead of time unless you test everyone's beacons while having the radio on ahead of time to make sure there's no interference.

 

[imdoo'n]

most of the hand held radios are mainly line of sight, 50 km claims are a little bit bogus. make sure you can take them back if they don't get the distance. rhino radios work the same, line of sight, but are also have gps map and polling which locates other rhino radios. the higher the power the better.
Just about all electronic equipment{radios cellphones etc} will affect your avi beacon, try using the beacon near a running sled.

for my money i have 2 rhino 530chx radios, worth every penny. try finding someone giving directions, good luck. you are limited by range, terrain etc. you may try one of the communication radios, they may get a little farther, very pricey.

 

[Modman]

most of the hand held radios are mainly line of sight, 50 km claims are a little bit bogus. make sure you can take them back if they don't get the distance. rhino radios work the same, line of sight, but are also have gps map and polling which locates other rhino radios. the higher the power the better.
Just about all electronic equipment{radios cellphones etc} will affect your avi beacon, try using the beacon near a running sled.

for my money i have 2 rhino 530chx radios, worth every penny. try finding someone giving directions, good luck. you are limited by range, terrain etc. you may try one of the communication radios, they may get a little farther, very pricey.

Yep - gotta agree there about the range. Even in the mountains the higher $$ ones get about 1/10th of the range they claim, I bought some better ones for our cabin (paid about $300 for the set), thinking that more $$$ would surely improve the range (same as your thought process) and the best I could ever do with them is about 5 kms (claim 20-30 kms in the mountains), and that was quadding to the top of a clear cut overlooking the lake and radioing down to the cabin near the beach, pretty well in direct line of sight. When we are on the logging road it is maybe 1-2kms at best.

As stated, most of the handhelds seem to be about the same, within reason of the standard prices, unless you step up to a $1000 radio or vhf.

 

[sledderdoc]

Research which ones don't effect your avy beacon. We are considering the rhino's but our avy instructor has found they effect the beacon signals of many beacons. They noticed this in the courses when testing everyone's beacons...had some issues and discovered it was dudes rhino radio

This would be something you might not know ahead of time unless you test everyone's beacons while having the radio on ahead of time to make sure there's no interference.

Didn't know that Tam, we are looking at the Rhinos too.

 

[Taminator]

Didn't know that Tam, we are looking at the Rhinos too.

Us either Doc, but they said it's the only radio they encountered in their classes that disrupted the beacon signals...there were other radios used, but that's the only one they found issues with during the beacon training They tested it with various beacons to see if it just affected one make/model, but it messed with multiple ones.

They (avy dudes) use regular radios...which they haven't encountered problems with beacons with. We have those too, but the distance sucks bad on ours. We liked the idea with the rhino that Steve can find me in the bush with a signal...which would've come in handy time and time again

Maybe Ryan/Hangfire will get on here and share his .02

 

[imdoo'n]

i ride with a rhino radio, with a beacon, have not noticed any problems. each situation is different. shut radio and any other electronic equipment off before using beacon in search mode. or check beacons performance with your group before you get going, this would be the best scenario. catch problems before they happen, generally better said than done.
been there done that BS.

 

[oler1234]

were using a set from walmart lol 2 way motorolas, i think they were 40 bucks. they are good for roughly 1km in dense trees and roughly 2-3km in the open or some trees. Battery life is good and will last roughly 3 days or better.

 

[Taminator]

i ride with a rhino radio, with a beacon, have not noticed any problems. each situation is different. shut radio and any other electronic equipment off before using beacon in search mode. or check beacons performance with your group before you get going, this would be the best scenario. catch problems before they happen, generally better said than done.
been there done that BS.

Problem lies with you being burried with your radio on... I know most peeps keep the radios on so they can be ready for calls, doesn't help if it's off as you don't know when someone's going to need you)

Always check beacons before a ride...but sometimes you won't pick this up with a quick beacon check...and always gotta make sure whoever has a radio has it on when you check your beacon. How do you actually know you haven't had a problem?? Have you been buried or have to search for a buddy?? Have you buried a beacon with a radio and tried to find it?? or vice versa..?? just curious...we know guys who have them too and say 'no problem'...same as guy at avy course...but you may notice a problem when you actually try searching for someone. Could depend on how/where the signal is being sent out...and whether or not it interferes with the circles the beacon is sending out

 

[sledderdoc]

Problem lies with you being burried with your radio on... I know most peeps keep the radios on so they can be ready for calls, doesn't help if it's off as you don't know when someone's going to need you)

Always check beacons before a ride...but sometimes you won't pick this up with a quick beacon check...and always gotta make sure whoever has a radio has it on when you check your beacon. How do you actually know you haven't had a problem?? Have you been buried or have to search for a buddy?? Have you buried a beacon with a radio and tried to find it?? or vice versa..?? just curious...we know guys who have them too and say 'no problem'...same as guy at avy course...but you may notice a problem when you actually try searching for someone. Could depend on how/where the signal is being sent out...and whether or not it interferes with the circles the beacon is sending out

I think we'll still go with the Rhino's. Must be the Gps thing screwing up beacons. We ride with radios off and only use them if separated. Maybe if you carry them elsewhere or something.

 

[sumx54]

From what I've read and heard the issue with the Rhino is not "radio" related really. Its because the rhino "transmits" its position constantly to other rhino users to verify its position. This function can be turned off rendering the rhino as functional as any other frs radio on the market. I use the rhino and have also had good luck with my simple little yellow Motorola radios. They say they are not waterproof but trust me when I say I have had mine under water a few times, froze, dropped, lost in the mud, you name it and they still work fine. $89 at crappy tire.

 

[maierch]

I would assume that the Rino simply sends out a proprietary sentence containing the units location and name (ignored by all other radios)via GMRS or FRS when the call or talk is pressed. Reading through the manual it doesn't talk about any other type of transmitter so it must be piggybacking on the radio function.

I can't speak for all Beacons but I know that DTS recommends that ALL electronics be kept away from their beacons.

 

[Taminator]

I think we'll still go with the Rhino's. Must be the Gps thing screwing up beacons. We ride with radios off and only use them if separated. Maybe if you carry them elsewhere or something.

Thinkin' the same thing doc...we currently use the Motorollo ones sumx talks about and they work great but want something 'more'.

And I really want Arborist to find me when I'm lost...I don't know how many hours I spent MIA this year
(he thinks I should stop getting lost )

 

[imdoo'n]

i would suggest trying the units out, together. not saying that you won't find problems, all electronic equipment gives off radio waves, some may affect the beacons. i have found other beacons and other beacons have found me, all while wearing (using ) the rhino radio. the best feature of the rhino is to be able to mark the position of buds although you are range sensitive. sure beats the old i'm behind the fir tree over here, call. also with the polling feature i think you can follow buds route to where he is.

 

[Modman]

I just use loud exhaust pipes - everyone knows where I am.....never not been found yet....LOL

See - Loud pipes really DO save lives.






OK - I'm not really advocating using loud pipes. I was only joking.

 

[imdoo'n]

I just use loud exhaust pipes - everyone knows where I am.....never not been found yet....LOL

See - Loud pipes really DO save lives.






OK - I'm not really advocating using loud pipes. I was only joking.

you were missing?