Midland - X-TALKER 38-Mile, 36-Channel FRS 2-Way Radios (Pair)

These are great radios. However, that is not what makes them rather unique. They are chargeable via USB! There are micro-USB ports on the sides, and it also comes with a cradle featuring a micro-USB jack, and can hold and charge both radios at the same time. The only other company doing this is Cobra, but they have apparently discontinued all of their GMRS products... Take that for what it is worth. These radios feature all of the usual stuff that you would expect in a higher-end model: decent amount of power, the full 21 channels, coded squelch, and NOAA weather receive. One thing to note is that this model ONLY has 21 channels, as that is all that you can have by LAW. Channels 22 and up are just a repeat of the other channels and up, but with preset coded squelch: in other words, a useless marketing gimmick. Also keep in mind that the FRS-only frequencies are limited to 1/2 watt by law, and the manual does not go out of its way to tell you this.

I was not super impressed with these. I realized before-hand that it would not really be 38 mile range regardless of obstructions. We mostly use them for having multiple cars on vacation and staying in contact with each other even without having cell phone range. I found that even one mile away it completely lost contact. We were in a canyon up in Logan and we couldn't hear each other at ALL until we were about 100 yards away from each other. Seriously.... not even longer than a football field away. I figured it might be the trees or something, because that was the only thing between us, not canyon walls or anything like that. Just trees..... When we drove home, we separated and tested this theory from a couple hundred yards away, and we lost signal from about the same distance on OPEN ROAD. These are not all what they are cracked out to be.... I mean, the 20 dollar set was just as good, but the battery life was garbage. So... if you are using them just for keeping in contact with cars within line-of-site, they work great. Don't expect much more from them. I expected a little better range with them being as pricey as they were.

Good walkies for what I need them for. They do NOT get anywhere near the "38 mile" range that they claim. Maybe in completely open terrain, but I get maybe two miles with them. Still a good deal and I do not mind the shorter range because it does not negatively effect what I am using them for.

Don't buy these to use with a GMRS repeater. These are decent radios if you want just a quick fix for something at the house or on the farm but if you plan on going hiking with these anywhere near a GMRS repeater they will not work. I was hoping that the additional channels were used for repeater offsets but I was wrong. They're simply standard channels with privacy code offsets. Seeing how you can set privacy codes on every other channel it seems sort of pointless to do this unless you want to make it seem like there are actually more channels than what's actually available. FRS radios operate on 22 different, standard frequencies, GMRS operates on 8 additional frequencies for repeater purposes as well as allowing you to transmit at higher powers with the propper FCC license. While the packaging and labeling say "GMRS" it is misleading because you're only functioning on FRS. If you go out and buy a second set of GMRS radios that aren't midland's preset channels you're going to have a bad time and these will only be able to communicate with them in simplex on the first 22 channels.

I use these to do fire alarm inspections. One person stays at the main panel while another goes through the building. These work well from basement to top floor in 5 and 6 story "high-rise" apartment buildings (hrough concrete floors/walls.)

These are awesome. Over the years I've probably gone through 10 different sets of what I'd call relatively "cheap" radio sets. These are awesome and probably the best set of radios I've ever owned. I would absolutely recommend this brand and this set to a friend.

use for convoy travel and is a great alternative when you are trying to stay in contact on the road. when you are in areas with no cell coverage these come in handy to stay in touch with everyone.

Radios work great for hiking. My husband and I often hike but tend to get separated at times, so these radios work very well.