Review of compact radios: ready to talk radio?

In this review, we look at the compact radios LPD PMR – 446 MHz, a wavelength of 70 cm., not requiring registration in the bodies of Rossvyaznadzor. What it means? PMR – Personal Mobile Radio. From here, LPD PMR range – a range of frequencies specifically allocated to radio stations low power for individual use. Frequency range, which is divided into 8 channels, and in which the radios in the review work: 446.00625-446.09375 MHz. Frequency step between channels 1-8 within this frequency range – 12,5 kHz .

Author: Andrew Kashkarov, Saint-Petersburg

Walkie-talkies for the review were selected on the principle of comparability in terms of technical characteristics, functionality and price range of models by different manufacturers.

All models considered below have:

• 38 standard sub-tones CTCSS ,
• Voice activation mode VOX,
• Auto Noise Reduction function,
• battery saving mode,
• channel switching interlock keypad ,
• low battery indicator battery ,
• push-button volume control,
• transmission mode indicator,
• LCD display with programmable backlight.
• Each package contains two radios and batteries.

Nevertheless, it is very popular radios, which can be used both in nature and in the city, and even on the water.

Communication via radio channel does not depend on the coverage area of the cellular operator and therefore has its own characteristics and prospects. In order to choose a walkie talkie for quality communication further consider the features of some of them.

Table of prices for a set of 2 radios

Motorola XTR446	Midland G5	Midland M24	Midland M48	Midland M99	VOXTEL MR850 TWIN Black-Grey
3300	900	1200	2500	2800	1800

Durable operation in compact radios provides automatic energy saving mode, which is available in each of them. If the battery is still low, you can use regular batteries to continue communication.

For comparison in terms of functionality see table of differences.

Table of functional differences

Comparative specifications	Motorola XTR446	Midland M99	Midland M48	VOXTEL MR850 TWIN Black-Grey	Midland G5	Midland M24
Standby time in reception , h	10	12	12	10	35	12
Number of batteries and type*	4 AAA size Ni-Mh batteries AAA batteries	4 AAA size Ni-Mh batteries/ACB. Equivalent power supply voltage 6 V	4 AAA batteries or accumulators , total voltage 6 V	4 AAA batteries	4 AAA batteries	4 AAA batteries

Weight of one station, without batteries, g	171	150	164	340	63 The lightest walkie talkie	118
Manufacturer’s stated real range km **	8/2,3	10/4	8/3	6/2,9	5/1,9	10/3,3
Number of programmable channels inside PMR	40	99	40	48	12	24
Features for comparison	Splash-proof case, double cup charger, 2 headsets	2 clips for fastening on the belt	Voice control VOX 3 levels , crystal clear sound, vibration call. Roger” signal transmission – “reception”	Relatively high sensitivity at the level of professional stations 0.18 μV/m.	Pleasant green backlight, “Monitor” function
Additional comfort is provided by the MA21L headset, for protection from damage there are 2 covers.	No need to constantly hold the device in your hand. Nice green backlight.

Notes:

* – as a battery can be used rechargeable batteries. They have a rated voltage of 1.2 so the equivalent will be slightly less than from batteries with a rated voltage of 1.5 V each .

** Tests were conducted in Tikhvin District, Leningrad Region in June-August 2012.

Motorola XTR446

Has a rubberized, ergonomic body of impact-resistant plastic. There is a “baby monitor” mode.

VOXTEL MR850 TWIN Black-Grey

The radio is the heaviest of all reviewed here, however, fits well in your hand, but for a pocket it is a little too big.

Midland M99

Handheld Radio Midland M99 has 99 channels: 91 pre-programmed, and 8 in the PMR band 446 MHz . In order to select a free channel when the radio air is busy – for broadcasting use the scanning function. The manufacturer claims that the radio has an “extended range” that allows you to use it at a distance of up to 10 km.

Nevertheless, practical tests in Tikhvin area of Leningrad region in the winter of 2013 showed different results. So, on Tsaritsyno Lake on the icy surface of the frozen lake at ambient air temperature -14 ° C on a cloudless day, at 12-13 hours in the afternoon, the range of reliable radio traffic between the two correspondents barely reached 4 km.

Midland M48

Midland M48 walkie-talkie has all the advantages already described for walkie-talkies of a similar class. There is a voice activation mode, and the ability to program subchannels in the PMR band there are 40 programmable channels within 8 fixed frequencies.

To improve signal quality, this model is equipped with background noise suppression. In tests conducted in winter 2013 in St. Petersburg, in dense and rugged terrain found that its maximum range of only 800 meters.

To increase the range of radio communication we tried to turn off with buttons the noise suppressor the noise level will increase significantly, but we can still hear something at the distance of up to 1.2 km. It may help someone.

Also keep in mind that the results of this “urban” test may be in other cities and conditions different. In the countryside, the range is up to 4…4.2 km tested in November 2012.

Its functionality is not limited to this: Midland M48 beeps when a call comes in and at the end of the broadcast mode “transmission” .

General features

38 CTCSS tones ensure communication between users without interference from other subscribers. There is also a function “scan”: it is selected when you want a free channel. But we must take into account the fact that when you turn on a subtone, somewhat lower power, about 10% of the nominal code “00” when programming the subtone means sub-tone is off .

MIDLAND G5

The model is compact, but with a small range, as if the manufacturer intended to compensate for one – at the expense of the other. The range in an urban area of St. Petersburg is approximately 400-500 meters, in the countryside about 1 km.

Undoubted advantages:

• Small size and weight.
• Relatively high sensitivity at the level of professional stations 0.18 μV/m. at a signal to noise ratio of t.The battery is comparable to a professional Kenwood TH-F7
• Battery equivalent voltage of 4.5 V and rechargeable batteries three 1.2 V batteries gives an equivalent voltage of 3.6 V are available. In the second case, the walkie-talkies are working with a relatively low output power, which also affects the range a common condition for all models under consideration .
• If you compare Midland G5 with Voxtel MR350, G5 wins in “instant” transmission of the message no need to wait for 1-2 seconds after pressing the PTT button like in Voxtel MR350 .
• Adjustable squelch.
• Universal jack for external headsets: charging through the microphone jack.

Undoubted “minuses”:

• Rubber buttons squeezed in the second month of use
• no battery charging indicator the icon on the display appears only when the battery is low .
• Plastic case slips in your hands.
• In the kit does not charge the “cup”, which availability, for example, as in Motorola T6 is convenient to charge both radios in the kit, along with the batteries, and use them in the same included active state, but when charging from an external power source adapter through the microphone jack decision Midland engineers station can not include.
• The included “weak” battery with a capacity of only 550 mA h, so it is better to buy a battery of higher capacity 2200 mA h the same size.

Midland M24

Claimed manufacturer’s radius of action is 10 km. In reality it is different see. comparison tables . The kit comes with 8 alkaline batteries for 2 radios and 2 clips to carry the unit on your belt. Ni-Mh AA size batteries can be installed instead of batteries.

To listen to weak signals Midland M24 has a function “Monitor”. The model notifies about the end of a broadcast with an audible signal.

On the plus side it has compact size and low weight, which allows you to comfortably carry it virtually everywhere, including in public places.

To use the device can be used as Ni-Mh batteries, and conventional batteries.