The Best Walkie Talkie? Real World Testing Rocky Talkie Radios. We're Impressed!
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2022
- Welcome back to the channel. We're excited to talk to you about walkie talkies today! In this video, we go over the Rocky Talkies and show some real world testing. We'll have some follow up videos that are shorter and to the point because these things are amazing!
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yes I know frs channels 15 through 22 are
g m r s off repeter channels
I did a range test with 8 different FRS radios and found the Rocky Talkies performed best. Got about 2.7 miles range in a dense urban environment!
Thanks for watching and sharing that great information. We love ours!
Small correction, at 1:04 you say it's the highest power you can use without an FRS license. FRS is the unlicensed band that the Rocky Talkie uses, you probably meant a GRMS license. Thanks for the review!
Good catch and thanks for watching! I don't practice these things so sometimes I mess up.
Great safety equipment, I bought a set of radios for backing into spots when I am towing the jeep with the van.
Great range test and demonstration.
👍
Thanks for watching! They definitely come in handy when backing and trying to get into camp at night when our backup camera isn't the best.
Thanks for video! Good job on testing these!
Thanks for watching! We've been really happy with them so far.
Considering that the FCC is only charging $35 for your GMRS license with NO tests thats good for 10 years thats goof for everyone in you immediate family i would recommend it. Plus you get more power out put and can use repeaters to really maximize your range a great deal. Plus with the use of changeable antennas can greatly help performance. It would blow FRS radios out the waters.
Thanks for sharing! That doesn't sound like a bad deal for folks that could use the extra juice. These have been fantastic for our travels so far and the batteries last a long time.
If I used a gmrs radio with the a repeater can I talk to my family from California to Texas?
No. Repeaters only reach arounnnnd 10-30miles depending on the specific one in question@@jonathanaldana4941
@@jonathanaldana4941You'd need hundreds of repeaters.
I would say yes I just googled gmrs radios in cal there are three but thay do not link
them up withers sorry
It is also best to transmit with the radio at least 6 inches from your body as your body can soak up some of your transmitted signal. About 2inches from your mouth with antenna as vertical as possible will work best.
Thanks for watching! These are great tips to make these work even better.
Thanks for this! Really helpful.
Thanks for watching and for the comment! We're still very happy with them. If you buy some, please use our link - thank you!
We've gotten down on some adventures with rocky talky they were great for long multi-pitch climbs when we lost sight of each other.
Thanks for watching! They have been great for us so far and we're stoked to have them for our next Baja trip.
Thanks for testing, what is the make and model of the carry case on the back of your bike.
Thanks for watching! Here is an affiliate link to the motorcycle box. We love it! amzn.to/3XoF1Iz
It is the NRS Boulder Box.
I'm looking for a set of good talkies, this is the best demonstration hands down!
Thanks for watching! We really like our Rocky Talkies. They sent us the 5 watt version too. They are both great but have different benefits. Please use our link in the description if you end up purchasing any. It helps support the channel so we can continue creating.
Good review. I am thinking of getting a pair for me and my wife for our next trip to Europe/Cruise. On our last trip, there is a good chance to get separated from your tourgroup, or we could be on separate places while on a cruise. Having the ability to communicate is very nice.
That would be a great idea! Especially considering you likely won't have phone service. That's for watching and enjoy your trip!
You Guys need some sweet code names with those Rocky Talkies!
That's a great idea! Got any suggestions?
ONLY to be used on family service side the groups use call signs example
W R X N 824 Minneapolis minn good afternoon I use rugged radio
thay have a tec in store
FRS is licensed by rule. This means an individual license is not required to operate an FRS radio provided you comply with the rules. You may operate an FRS radio regardless of your age, and for personal or for business use if you are not a representative of a foreign government.Sep 27, 2022
Thank you for sharing and also sharing that information.
@@DrifterJourney thank you for the video also I been looking for walkie talkies good enough for when i travel to different countries and the ranges I need some good one I been looking all week
G M R S are licensed no family service each radio has two sides frs 2 watts g m r s is 5 watts
and my 45 watt base
but you still need to stay in a 2 mile circle or your out
IT's the same in 2024
did you think you mite need a license on the 5 watter since you use a tower grid
and the radio need's to be tuned to the tower I have a license to do that
Thank you for watching. I did get my license when I started using the 5 watt model.
Hi Greg! Thanks for the video on Rocky Talkie. What do you think about the cobra vs Rocky ?
Thanks for watching. I haven't used the Cobra products but I love my Rocky Talkies. We had some friends with Cobra in Baja last year and they didn't seem to work as good and the batteries didn't last nearly as long. One of those folks snagged a set of Rocky Talkies for this season if I'm not mistaken. I will say I did not pay for mine but was planning to buy them if I wasn't able to partner. If you decide to get them, we would love if you use our link in the video description. It helps us a lot and allows us to continue relationships with brands.
the in sides are the same the out side cover changes so there all the same
What kind of glasses are those - the black wrap around s - ?
Thanks for watching! You can get them here. amzn.to/42RAFgI
I've had them for years and love them. They are finally due up for replacement but I just keep wearing them even though they don't look so great anymore. The strap is from Croakies and can be found here.
amzn.to/3OWxVZN
Are these for outdoor use or will they be good for going in abandoned buildings?? Thanks
That's a great question. We have only used them outside so far.......but I can say that we can talk to friends in other vans (more or less faraday cages) about a mile or 2 apart. They're awesome! We'd appreciate if you use our affiliate link if you get some. It helps us stay on the road. alnk.to/7X0EkWn
shopping malls thay will work
I would not use them under ground there may be gas and your radio could set it off
If you were to buy two sets would they all work with each other or just their pair?
Thanks for watching! They would definitely work with each other if you're on the same channel. They also work with some other brands that our friends have. They are just a far superior product to the ones our friends were using......transmit further and battery lasted much longer. Make sure to buy through our link in the description if you get some to help support the channel. Same price but gives us a small kickback to keep doing this.
Not bad, that's pretty good range for handhelds!
Thanks for watching! They've been pretty impressive so far. We like that we are able to link them up with other brands too.
Pricing is extremely reasonable FINALLY. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SEE $300 TO 600.00 TO WHICH I WOULD HAVE LAUGHED
Thanks for watching! I don't think they were ever that high but that would be a tough pill to swallow if they were.
@@DrifterJourney
I just wouldn't buy them if they were higher. Why subject myself to something ridiculous in price when I don't have to? Besides once the novility wears off that would be it
For sure
Will these run on non rechargeable batteries in the event electricity isn't an option for charging
That's a great question but I don't believe they can. We keep a small power station with a solar panel as our backup for power these days. That way we could still charge them and other items during an outage.
yes thay will
yes and charge an extra set for both radios
if you can put in standerd battery's use re charge able charge extra battery s and bring the spars along for the day simple
@@donalderickson-si8ww I always have spare rechargeable batteries. Over 400 of them. My question was not in regards to an ideal situation. Options need to be open in the event of a long-term situation. Think beyond a cute little family camping trip
I don't understand why it has so many channels when FR-S is only legal by the FCC from Channel 8 through 14. And shared some Channels with gmrs. So why does it have so many channels? Plus i noticed when you tried talking to her at about a half mile you held the radio side ways. That changes polarization during communication. Try making sure the antenna is vertical.
Thanks for watching! I'm no expert but I believe the channels just are repeats with different privacy codes built in so the odds of being on with random people is less. Don't quote me on that though.
the quote is ch 1 through 22 are f r s channels and 8 channels are repeter ch's
thay requier a f c c license as you are talking 20 miles
the answer is NO channel 1 through 22 are family service only and 2 miles or line of site
channels are 15 through 22 thay are repeter channels and you need to link your radio to them
to use them and a license is required by the f c c then you are in with me as I am W R X N 824
checking in from minnesota
F R S is 22 channels 1=22 no license needed
@@donalderickson-si8ww wrong. Actual FRS channels are not 22 channels some of those channels are actually gmrs
Im looking for a walkie talkie for my friend and I that lives like 20 minutes from me 😂 any recommendations? Mainly for the city
I think I know what you're going for here and would be curious to see how these would work. What is your distance? 20 minutes could be really close on city streets. I believe they bounce off objects (buildings) pretty good so there's a chance they could work. I'd definitely check the return policy before buying in case they don't though. If not, you'd probably have to get a license and higher powered units. Good luck and let us know what you find out.
both radio's transmit 2 miles so you need to over lap your signel try it
if 20 minutes is less than two miles then yes thay will work well.
that answer is how far away is he in miles if more then 2 then it wont happen because of the 2 mile range and I have real out door radios from R U G G E D R A D I O and thay do not sponcer me I bought from them and have a 2 year worenty and grate service with non kick backs
THE REAL ANSWER is miles not mimmets IF you are more then 2 miles thay nore
ANY F R S radio workes 2 miles or line of sight only
You would have had much better results if you didn't hold the antenna close to your body like that. 😉
Good advice and thanks for watching! I'll try that in my next test video. I've been impressed regardless.
Did not mentioned what channel frequency was used.
I'm not sure what the question is. I was on a high power standard channel. The actual frequency is hidden to keep these user friendly.
@@DrifterJourney You said it have 128 channels but did not mention which one you are using. Because the frequency you use does matter on the distance.
As someone and me mentioned before.. it’s just channel 1 to 22 and after that is just repeated same frequency with different tones.
Manual with the channel and frequency: alpine.caltech.edu/documents/22338/RockyTalkies_UserManual_V2_3_1.pdf
Good to know. I went on a high power channel and it worked great. Maybe 92.
@@DrifterJourney Base on that I think channel 15 would travel furthest as it is lowest frequency number and highest watts there which is 2 watts.
Normally lowest frequency would travel furthest but it depends…. need to test to know… factor includes the area you’re at and the antenna size and what the antenna frequency was designed for.
Excellent info! I'll look into more in the future.
Line of site is key! Moon to Earth - 4 Watts!
It really does make a huge difference! That's crazy about moon to earth - had no idea!
Sight
line of site and 2 watts.
moon to earth thay are 2 watts by the F C C rules for that radio
Pretty sure it uses FRS. Basicly non removable antenna at 2watts. Your better off getting a GMRS license for $35 non test. Then buying a UV9G 5watts and getting a stubby short antenna and a 15inch wipe. The benefits is the whole family can use it and you get very far range along with Repeaters access. The download your required to say a call sign. But the whole family can use the same call sign only 1 person needs to get the license.
BTW going in a car/van will reduce range. Thats why people put antennas on there car.
Thanks for watching and the thorough comment. I'm learning so much. I love the Rocky Talkies for ease of use and their quality construction. I am excited to look into setting up a repeater system with another brand once I find that need (probably hunting someday) but these are more than sufficient for what we're using them for.
Dude, not everybody can afford that type of setup. Radio nerds need to stop with this recommendation on these videos.
@@tacticalsweater5119 Rocky Talkie cost like $110 for 1 unit.
A GMRS license cost $35 for 10 years no test.
How much is a radio? $20-40 now thats a savings and with more power and range.
They use the same channel as the Rocky talkie so yes you can talk to each other. While it doesn't have built in clips you can add them on anyways.
If you dont wanna buy a license just buy a pair of Retevis RB19. They are so slim and great quality. That's my FRS radio I give out to people. Feels like a cellphone.
the antenna is sealed to keep out the water I have a mag mount for my mobile radio it stops out
at 45 watts for your off road rig
if you have a mobile radio
Came close to buying a pair but decided not to. At $220, They probably won't perform well where I live in the Midwest. Lots of forest and big hills.
Thanks for watching! Rolling hills should be no problem but the thick trees might not help. I'd be curious to try them out that way. We've been impressed overall though.
thay have a range of 2 miles or less in town
you get what you pay for
F R S yes I am always on G M R S FULL TIME I payed 300 dollars for 3 H T'S
and got a three year garentey with tech seport a phone call away.
l have a up on the other guys here in Minnesota I live 200 F T in the sky and I see
the horision no trees or any thing from here to the tower and dump 45 watts from my
base in Kool ha
I reckon it great content to reat all Walkie Talkies there some claiming 50 miles...and some claiming 5000 miles 😂😂
Thanks for watching! I've contemplated purchasing others and comparing them to each other. The only problem is that I love the Rocky Talkies (don't need more) and currently live in a camper with no place to put stuff. We may do more once we are settled into a house.
that is when you bring a repeter in to play that your radio will talk to
to talk you need to get a license set your radio to a tower in put code mile is 114.3
then your talking 20 miles and when the east coast G M R S group come on
your talking east coast thay link in and I am in Minnesota.
Antenna should always be pointed at the sky.
Thanks for the heads up and thank you for watching.
yes it should
strate up is better
there only 22 channels in family service yes and 2 watts the other 100 so called channels are the codes to put in a radio so your group will only hear the group and no one else
BUT we can still hear you only and you where line of site that is the other thing in town
you will get a mile that's it I have the same radio's three hand helds but I own and
operate a 45 watt base which I use more than the hand held's W R X N 824
Thanks for watching and sharing. We haven't tried them in town but can get several miles in the mountains.
and my radio's cost a cool150.00 each and do that all day long with a 45 watt back up
Thanks again for watching. I'd say these are made more for extreme environments than most others that I've seen. I'm most impressed with the battery life and quality of the units themselves. With that said, I have not tried any other brands.
L get the same with my radios which are not this one and I don't have all the dumb buttons eather off road people don't need them my will do the same as this on
but I have perkes thay do not 1 a live teckneion and 3 year worentry I have one
year left and no bugs and a 45 watt base
@donalderickson-si8ww excellent! I'm glad to hear that you enjoy your model.
Wife is like my hubby and his tec
Thanks for watching!
frs license?
Yes. It is required for the 5 watt radio. It was pretty cheap and easy to get.
NO it is G M R S for the license and 35.00 to the f c c
NO it is G M R S license family service is 2 watts g m r s is 5 on portable and my base does 45 watts out put.
NO G M R S license for 10 years and I am in my second year of my 10
So the range is only a half a mile away that’s what I’m hearing say it isn’t so please😊
Thanks for watching! It all depends on the environment you're using them in. We definitely showed them over a half mile in the video if my memory serves me right.
Yea you did but I don’t know, I was hoping if not for all the trees
It would be diff
6 miles
What you think?
Is there one with longer range without the trees,
As far as I will go to trees will be a park, Dense trees forget about it.
Half a mile can with strings 🤔
This is from their website:
The max range is over 35 miles, however, 1 to 5 miles is more typical in backcountry terrain.
They now have a 5 watt version that goes even further. We love them both!
Roger Murdock: Flight 2-0-9'er, you are cleared for take-off.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: L.A. departure frequency, 123 point 9'er.
Captain Oveur: Roger!
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Victor Basta: Request vector, over.
Captain Oveur: What?
Tower voice: Flight 2-0-9'er cleared for vector 324.
Roger Murdock: We have clearance, Clarence.
Captain Oveur: Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?
Tower voice: Tower's radio clearance, over!
Captain Oveur: That's Clarence Oveur. Over.
Tower voice: Over.
Captain Oveur: Roger.
Roger Murdock: Huh?
Tower voice: Roger, over!
Roger Murdock: What?
Captain Oveur: Huh?
Victor Basta: Who?
Did you have that all memorized or have to revisit for a refresher? Good stuff!
@@DrifterJourney google is our friend
@@hywaywolf just making sure!
Barbara Billingsley: "You just hang loose Blood, she goin' to catch you on the rebound with the med side" to which Cuddy replies "What it is Big Mama I dug her rap, my mama didn't raise no dummies"
that would fly on family service NOT ON G M R S.
Iradio
Thanks for watching!
Not 128 channels.
From their website: Channels 128
The screen goes from 1 to 128 also so am I missing something?
@@DrifterJourney Some of those channels (the ones after channel 22?) are just the previous channels with some default privacy codes set up. I think it just makes it easier to pick a privacy code with someone else that has a Rocky Talkie
@@AdaDenali makes sense. I'm not a tech guy and was just going off the website info. We haven't had anybody else on our channel yet so I'll take that as a win.
@@AdaDenali Rockie Talkie does control their press and trade secrets well. Someone needs to go through their radios and print a spreadsheet of their secret top 106 channels frequencies, CTCSS tones and Digital-Coded Squelch codes. Would be interesting to see if they use industry standards for CTCSS and DCS. I am starting to see, in the last year, DCS codes that is above my pay grade to break. 7:33 I will just say his 3 mile with a hill in between contact was bouncing off some rock face or water surface someplace. It was not going over the hill.
I was thinking 128 channel memories only.
Yeah in reality it’s just channel 1 to 22 and after that is just the same channel with tones in them.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA $220 for a pair no way!
You definitely get what you pay for with these but we understand that they are not cheap. Our friends we're using standard walkies in Baja and were constantly having to recharge them and sometimes couldn't even use them for an entire day of driving. These have been amazing for us!
my radios set me back 150.00 each and through in the base there is another 425.00
my are defined for off road
IF YO want grate you pay and get tech seport the big box store you call 1800 no budy
both of my H T S cost me 150.00 each and the base which I am on the most which is 45 watt's
is another 275.00 you want the best you buy it the 45 watt goes in a side by side or a 4 weeler
Dude WTF? you never told us if they have VOX feature. (Voice activated when you start to talk, hands free) feature. That is the most important for a skier, I don't want to be pushing buttons!
Thanks for the comment. I didn't mention it because it doesn't have that feature. The Rocky Talkie website FAQ states that the Rocky Talkie development team tried to implement VOX, but it was unreliable during testing, so they eliminated that feature from the device. Hope you find something that works for you.
Vox barely works anyways on walkie talkies. If both are using vox on simplex good luck trying to talk to each other.
@@NatsumeKonno the only thing VOX does succesfully is piss me off because it never works when I need it to...
Meh. Kind of pricey for that performance
Thanks for watching! I've been really impressed with them. My favorite feature is the battery life. Our friends were using other brands with us in Baja and theirs weren't even lasting half a day on the road.
you want a radio with a worenty you pay you want a radio with a 1800 ho cares then fine
meaning no tech at the big box store.
Dude you are Call Soul type... I ll pass
Thanks for watching! I'm not sure I understand your reference but hope you find the walkie that works for you.
Baofeng UV-82HP better.
I'd say depending on what you're doing. From what I understand, you need a license in order to legally operate the high powered handheld devices like you're mentioning. I also imagine the device is not as hardy (cold and wet conditions) as the Rocky Talkie. I'd say they are definitely not apples to apples and both have their pros and cons.
@@DrifterJourney
Baofeng UV-9R Pro
IP67
Oh.. I see.. walkie talkie.
That's more like it. Doesn't it still require a license since it is 5 watts?
@@DrifterJourney You can set it to low power watts. Which is 1W. But actual measurement of watt for output for sure you need that device thingy
PM-120W Digital VHF UHF
@@DrifterJourney It’s good because you have extra spare battery and bigger battery you can just swap out. The stock antenna is good also.. longer than the Rocky Walkie Talkie and if you want a longer antenna.. it’s up to you but not practical. Or you can set an antenna to the top of your car or a tree.
theses are lame.
Thanks for watching! May i ask why you say they are lame? They are really well built, the batteries last a long time, and they seem to function as expected. I have nothing but great things to say about them.
I tryed for my ham license did not make it found it over my head gave up went G M R S
NO TEST just 35.00 dollars I am there.