Those Uniden GMR1235-2 2-way Radios are so compact, you can easily hold both in one hand (see my Customer Image). They are also very inexpensive (around $20 for a pair), so one may think of them as just toys for kids, But in fact they can be used by kids and adults alike provided that you start with the correct expectation.
First of all, forget about the manufacturer's claim of '12-mile' range. That is only possible under the most optimistic test condition (transmitting from one hill top to another with clear line-of-sight). In an urban environment, you are lucky if you can get one or two miles. With this limited range in mind, this walkie talkie set can still be very useful in many places (such as in a National Park, or a large shopping mall). The sound quality is quite decent similar to an AM radio.
Next, this thing is a battery-eater if you use disposable alkaline cells (three AAA per radio). The manufacturer claims an average battery life of '20 hours'. But again, this is under a special test condition of '5/5/90', which means 5% transmit, 5% receive, and 90% idle time. The device consumes different amount of current during different operation modes, as shown below:
While transmitting: 400mA
While receiving: 50-100mA (depending on volume level)
While idling: around 15mA.
If you do a lot of transmission, a set of alkaline cells is likely to run flat in less than two hours (because alkaline cells are very inefficient at high current). My advice is to buy some good quality AAA rechargeable cells, such as the Sanyo Eneloop or Rayovac Hybrid, to power those radios. That way, not only will you save money on batteries, you can even get longer run time per charge.
[Update on June 8, 2011]
I should add that this pair of walkie-talkie is still working well after 2.5 years, and I'm still using the same set of rechargeable batteries (Kodak Pre-Charged AAA) in them.
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I bought a pair to see how they would work for a local communications net and they were great! Sure, they lack a lot of the fancy bells and whistles but they have range and clarity that some of the other hand-held radios in the net lacked. Some of the other members were so impressed, they wanted to know where they could get some. I'm buying some more now before these babies sell out, again!
Good, basic communication option. Fairly long range, easy to use, batteries included, and good price. What's not to love?
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Bought these as knock around radios for the kids so they didn't need to play with my nicer Motorola talkabouts. For the price these are excellent radios. They have been tested out to just under 1 mile over water (opposite sides of the local lake). The included batteries are kind of like the inkjet cartridges you get with your printer... just enough juice for you to test the product, but not enough for real work. Don't head into the field on the included batteries! A buddy and I hiked into a high mountain lake to fly fish with these radios and they were great for us to brag "fish on" when we were too far apart to see each other. At $10 each they were a guilt free purchase, even knowing they won't see daily use. Very happy with the quality and performance at this price point.
Honest reviews on Uniden GMR1235-2 12-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)
The battery life is terrible. If you read nothing else in this review, know that. But first:
Upon opening, the first thing you'll realize is that no matter how small you think they are, they are even smaller. They measure about 3 inches tall. Maybe 4.5 with the antenna. They are quite easy to grip though, and look and feel rugged enough to live through a few drops without an issue.
The sound quality in close proximity is great. Anything under 100 yards is very clear, even if you are going through brick walls and steel doors. I can hear my roommate just fine through 3 highrise apartment complexes. At distance, however, the quality breaks down quickly. No one expects 12 miles from a 2-way labeled as 12 mile capable, but 3 miles? 2 miles? Not likely unfortunately. If you get 1.5 residential area you should be thrilled.
The design seems rather straighforward, (volume up and down, channel up and down, power, scan, lock, squelch)The onlything I find odd is the placement of the belt clip. You need to remove it before you remove the battery cover. Makes replacing the battery a little more of a chore since the clip doesn't come off very easily.
Finally the battery life. This comes with 3 batteries for each radio. In the first use, our batteries lasted 4 hours. Now keep in mind, this was not constant communication. This was 90% standbye time. The manual says that after 2 minutes of non-use, the radios will switch to a power-save mode. That seems a little long to wait. They're fine for very casual use, but in any type of emergency situation I wouldn't be able to trust them. It's unfortunate, but I'm going to have to purchase my third set of walkie talkies simply because of the batteries.
Overall, it does fine for the cheap price. I didn't expect to much, but I'd look elswhere for a rechargeable unit if you need to rely on communication for anything critical.
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Those Uniden GMR1235-2 2-Way 12 Mile Radios are so compact, you can easily hold both in one hand (see my Customer Image). They are also very inexpensive (around $20 for a pair), so one may think of them as just toys for kids, But in fact they can be used by kids and adults alike provided that you start with the correct expectation.
First of all, forget about the manufacturer's claim of '12-mile' range. That is only possible under the most optimistic test condition (transmitting from one hill top to another with clear line-of-sight). In an urban environment, you are lucky if you can get one or two miles. With this limited range in mind, this walkie talkie set can still be very useful in many places (such as in a National Park, or a large shopping mall). The sound quality is quite decent similar to an AM radio.
Next, this thing is a battery-eater if you use disposable alkaline cells (three AAA per radio). The manufacturer claims an average battery life of '20 hours'. But again, this is under a special test condition of '5/5/90', which means 5% transmit, 5% receive, and 90% idle time. The device consumes different amount of current during different operation modes, as shown below:
While transmitting: 400mA
While receiving: 50-100mA (depending on volume level)
While idling: around 15mA.
If you do a lot of transmission, a set of alkaline cells is likely to run flat in less than two hours (because alkaline cells are very inefficient at high current). My advice is to buy some good quality AAA rechargeable cells, such as the Sanyo Eneloop or Rayovac Hybrid, to power those radios. That way, not only will you save money on batteries, you can even get longer run time per charge.
[Update on June 8, 2011]
I should add that this pair of walkie-talkie is still working well after 2.5 years, and I'm still using the same set of Pre-Charged rechargeable AAA cells (Kodak) in them.
