I started using these radios and to my surprise the battery endures 5 days yes five whole days and the charging cradles are more than easy to use no more fiddling around to drop or to take them out. Cannot find a way to silence the start up bleep though. Another positive thing is that the XT185 radios are very small and very lightweight. To weather proof them I use zip bags. I started using PMR446 Motorolas with the Ta288 then the XTN the XTNId and the TLKR 80/81 now this XT185. Made a 23 mile contact with my XT185 on channel 08 - 00 from someone on a Motorola T82 that was calling. 23 miles or 38 Km.
Thanks a lot for this cool review! Today I received pair of XT185 units I ordered last week. Nice pair of radios indeed! My requirements were: long standby time, 16 channels, small size, USB charging. And the sensitivity & selectivity are excellent as these are relatively small units.
I’m sure these are fine radios but their toy-like appearance doesn’t convey business radio to me. Would love to see a really long range test with these and the XT420 and T80 radios
No, they don’t have the classic look of the DP1400 or DP4400 or even the XT420 but they’re also considerably lower cost and the fact that you can’t even feel them on your belt or in your pocket is great. Depends what you’re after. 👍🏻
Though I do like the compactness compared to their previous models, have a pair of (T82 Extreme) myself, Motorola should have used USB-C for charging instead of Micro USB. I'd gladly pay a little extra if it did have a version of that.
Yes, that’s always something I think too but I have so many devices that use micro-USB and, while it may be old, it’s reliable and perfect for lower power tech. Everything will probably move eventually but for now I have to use both so it’s no big deal. 👍🏻
How do you change the transmit power? When the radio powers on you could see 'L' and 'H' in the upper left corner, and the manual mentions that those mean 'low power' and 'high power' respectively, but there is no way to alter that anyhow.
Thanks for this review, it is really helpful! I work in film and TV production and am looking to purchase a new set of walkie talkies for use, on set - for small crews of a few people, to 50+. I frequently work with XT 420, from my rental house. I like the simple, sturdy design, but looking at the spec, new generation models like the XT185 or T82 seem to have left the XT420 behind, even though they are close to half the cost! What is the logic for paying double for an XT420 in 2023, does it still beat the xt185, in any respect? If anything, the only thing holding me back, is the toy-like appearance of the XT185 - I'd be afraid that clients would think that I am fobbing them off with a cheaper, lower performance consumer model, even though it seems to have all the characteristics of an excellent PMR business two-way radio. Finally, do you have any thoughts on the T82 Extreme? It is more or less the same price as the XT185, but the latter seems to win, in terms of spec. Again, the only aspect in which the T82 seems to come out on top, is that it looks more like a 'proper' walkie talkie! I understand that this is purely a subjective take. Thanks again for the excellent review and very grateful for any reply to all of the above.
well all walkie talkies used here in the USA are all the same inside so thay will match each other the only difference I would see is one has more dum buttons than the other MY radio's are F R S G M R S 1/2 watt to 5 watts and NO extra dum buttons other than the standerd buttons for the radio
@TDCatTech Can you please answer me a question about scanning on the XT185’s? On my T92’s, if I set scan off from a channel with 0 set on privacy codes, whenever a channel is received from another transmission, their CTCSS or DCS code is decoded & displayed along with the channel number. If scan is commenced from a channel with a code set, then only the same codes as programmed in your radio are scanned. Are the two scan functions available in this unit?
I wonder how does the battery perform in the "off" mode (if there is one)? Like, have it charged nicely and kept aside. Once in a week, you turn it on for a little use and turn it back off. I have a feeling the ones that use AA batteries might actually do better here, as they can just be powered with regular alkaline batteries, that don't lose a lot of charge when not used!
Hello dear I’m watching your review from couple of days good job keep it up. I want to buy couple of walkie talkie for my team as we do sand driving trip and in our country we are allowed to use PMR 446 radio after getting approval. I have selected two option but need some help to finalise it. Motorola XT185 & XT460, can you help me that which one is better and why or what’s the big difference between this two. Thank you
what radio do you recommend for PMR446. T82, T92 or anything else? important for me: Audio Quality, range, battery life. USB-C would be great but not necessary.
It is realy hard for me to under stand meaters when we use miles in the U S A are radio's are under F C C rules here that radio would work at a mile becouse of the 1 half watt TRX.
I started using these radios and to my surprise the battery endures 5 days yes five whole days and the charging cradles are more than easy to use no more fiddling around to drop or to take them out. Cannot find a way to silence the start up bleep though. Another positive thing is that the XT185 radios are very small and very lightweight. To weather proof them I use zip bags.
I started using PMR446 Motorolas with the Ta288 then the XTN the XTNId and the TLKR 80/81 now this XT185.
Made a 23 mile contact with my XT185 on channel 08 - 00 from someone on a Motorola T82 that was calling. 23 miles or 38 Km.
Thanks a lot for this cool review! Today I received pair of XT185 units I ordered last week. Nice pair of radios indeed! My requirements were: long standby time, 16 channels, small size, USB charging. And the sensitivity & selectivity are excellent as these are relatively small units.
300m vs. 10,000m WOW. What a difference. Thanks for posting.
how about doing in miles
Very detailed explanation thank you
I’m sure these are fine radios but their toy-like appearance doesn’t convey business radio to me. Would love to see a really long range test with these and the XT420 and T80 radios
No, they don’t have the classic look of the DP1400 or DP4400 or even the XT420 but they’re also considerably lower cost and the fact that you can’t even feel them on your belt or in your pocket is great. Depends what you’re after. 👍🏻
Though I do like the compactness compared to their previous models, have a pair of (T82 Extreme) myself, Motorola should have used USB-C for charging instead of Micro USB.
I'd gladly pay a little extra if it did have a version of that.
Yes, that’s always something I think too but I have so many devices that use micro-USB and, while it may be old, it’s reliable and perfect for lower power tech. Everything will probably move eventually but for now I have to use both so it’s no big deal. 👍🏻
How do you change the transmit power? When the radio powers on you could see 'L' and 'H' in the upper left corner, and the manual mentions that those mean 'low power' and 'high power' respectively, but there is no way to alter that anyhow.
Thanks for this review, it is really helpful!
I work in film and TV production and am looking to purchase a new set of walkie talkies for use, on set - for small crews of a few people, to 50+.
I frequently work with XT 420, from my rental house. I like the simple, sturdy design, but looking at the spec, new generation models like the XT185 or T82 seem to have left the XT420 behind, even though they are close to half the cost! What is the logic for paying double for an XT420 in 2023, does it still beat the xt185, in any respect?
If anything, the only thing holding me back, is the toy-like appearance of the XT185 - I'd be afraid that clients would think that I am fobbing them off with a cheaper, lower performance consumer model, even though it seems to have all the characteristics of an excellent PMR business two-way radio.
Finally, do you have any thoughts on the T82 Extreme? It is more or less the same price as the XT185, but the latter seems to win, in terms of spec. Again, the only aspect in which the T82 seems to come out on top, is that it looks more like a 'proper' walkie talkie! I understand that this is purely a subjective take.
Thanks again for the excellent review and very grateful for any reply to all of the above.
well all walkie talkies used here in the USA are all the same inside
so thay will match each other the only difference I would see is one
has more dum buttons than the other MY radio's are F R S G M R S 1/2 watt to
5 watts and NO extra dum buttons other than the standerd buttons
for the radio
Did you ever manage to get the full 16 channels available on your XT420?
What the radio that you used in the range test before XT185
Not rugged steep price. Older models far more rugged.Nice video.
Hey man I was wondering if you knew how to activate channels 9-16 on the Motorola T42?
Sound review, do you know how these compare to the Motorola Tlkr T92 H2O (PMR446) thank you.
@TDCatTech Can you please answer me a question about scanning on the XT185’s? On my T92’s, if I set scan off from a channel with 0 set on privacy codes, whenever a channel is received from another transmission, their CTCSS or DCS code is decoded & displayed along with the channel number. If scan is commenced from a channel with a code set, then only the same codes as programmed in your radio are scanned. Are the two scan functions available in this unit?
on are radios here in the USA you cant talk to someone when you don't have there code thay have in your radio all you can do is hear them.
Great review thanks. Do you happen to know the difference between the XT185 vs T72? I see they are a different colour, but is that it?? Thanks.
Apart from colour, no, I can't see any difference.
@@tdcattech many thanks.
@@tdcattech I was gifted (Birthday) a pair of T72's and they are great. All the best.
Congrats compadre u doing good Do You know any good radios that can be charged via USB-C ? Greetings from Cabo Mexico
I wonder how does the battery perform in the "off" mode (if there is one)?
Like, have it charged nicely and kept aside.
Once in a week, you turn it on for a little use and turn it back off.
I have a feeling the ones that use AA batteries might actually do better here, as they can just be powered with regular alkaline batteries, that don't lose a lot of charge when not used!
Very well, it seems. I haven’t used these for a while (a few months) and they’re still showing full charge. 👍🏻🔋
@@tdcattech thanks!
Hello dear
I’m watching your review from couple of days good job keep it up. I want to buy couple of walkie talkie for my team as we do sand driving trip and in our country we are allowed to use PMR 446 radio after getting approval. I have selected two option but need some help to finalise it. Motorola XT185 & XT460, can you help me that which one is better and why or what’s the big difference between this two. Thank you
Im looking for a small-ish walkie talkie with for my water sports and skiing. Hows the speaker quality? Thanks
For the size, decent. These look a little 'toy' like in their design but they're good walkie-talkies with clear audio.
@@tdcattech thanks so much for responding. I’m definitely getting me a set 👍🏻
what radio do you recommend for PMR446. T82, T92 or anything else? important for me: Audio Quality, range, battery life. USB-C would be great but not necessary.
Baofeng's radios!
UV-5R, BF-888S
Retevis RT85
TYT TH-UV98
great review but i am looking for the best i am looking for one better 4w walkie talkies and no more than 120 euros
Im pretty new to walkie talkies. Wanted to ask if that will these walkie talkies will connect to another brand UHF walkie talkie?
are radio's here in the U S A will work together just fine this radio is from the UK
so I dont think thay will work together at all
Are these basically the same as the Motorola T72, just in a different colour?
Certainly looks like it but I've never handled the T72.
@@tdcattech yeah although marketed for a different purpose, but specs look the same. Thanks for the review!
Yes, same user manual, but supplied with different accessories.
Is it available in Egypt
I've no idea. Wouldn't a search help you there?
It is realy hard for me to under stand meaters when we use miles in the U S A
are radio's are under F C C rules here that radio would work at a mile becouse
of the 1 half watt TRX.
Motorola is really regressing in the consumer radio sector
Can someone tell me if these are compatible with all pmr 446 radios?
They are. PMR446 is a standard so if the radio is configured the same, they can be used together.
@@tdcattechcan you make a video on how to connect with other devices and other modes
My walkie-talkie can make calls up to 5,000km, and I don’t need a monthly fee for a free SIM card. It’s very affordable.
No usb-c, how stupid is that
Cb radio better u get out far on ssb band. Pmr 446 ur wasn't ur money and time
CB is much more expensive and sometimes work less than PMR radios, that's my case. And the cb is not portable that's the big difference !
Wasting money for what? How is CB practical for a team working in a pub or leisure centre? PMR446 are perfect radios for what they’re made for.
I would order 4 radios..if l can get them in Canada 🇨🇦...let me know how and where to get them.
Please do the PNI prm r10 pro review