5 Reasons You Need a Backcountry Radio & Why It Should Be a Rocky Talkie
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- Do you carry a backcountry radio? We will give you 5 reasons you should carry a walkie talkie backpacking, climbing, hiking, or skiing and our review of 5 reasons we chose Rocky Talkies.
Website: rockytalkie.com/
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Do you carry a walkie talkie in the backcountry? Have you had to use it for an emergency?
can you use this solo to get help?
@@michaeldumas4907 It would require another hiker or ranger to have an FRS radio in the area. It does not replace a PLB or Satellite Messenger for SOS capability.
got it....thank you
no we dont becuase in UK you need a license, and even if you have a license and you pay for the spcific frequency that you want to use - you can only use in the 'state'(48 counties) that yoiu are registered - you have to pay monthly. So no being commoner you wont be able to use those. Plus a lot of repeaters are already setup in digital mode, for commercial use and government stuff , so there is not many bands available at all esecially around any cities. And forget resque, even if you get hold on services you will be waiting 2h in the que to get talked to, so that little battery on that radio will be long gone before then pick up
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!
Wow, that’s amazing! Thanks for sharing your results. I’ve only had the need for short range, but love the functionality.
ok you maxed out your talking on 1/2 of a watt f c c rules regulate the radio can do.
I just want to thank you for the reviews you did regarding products that allow a person to not slip and fall on ice. I found your narrative to be intelligent, concise and really important to an individual who is not a hiker or mountaineer….your review helped me make an informed decision to purchase the Hillsound Trail Crampon product for my waterproof muck boots.
While I am from southern IN, we do get frequent
bouts of freezing rain and I
have to access my backyard multiple times per day, everyday….and you made my chores possible for me to accomplish without 5:39 falling! THANK YOU! Deb C
My pleasure, glad the videos have been helpful! See you outside!
@@OutsideChronicles I would DEFINITELY enjoy hiking up the stream bed that was frozen over and through the ice you could see a flame from a pocket of natural gas! How cool!
Wow. Great review Mike! I am now convinced I need a backcountry radio. And now I know which ones I will buy! Awesome that they sent you a couple. It has crossed my mind a few times in the past that radios would be a good idea. Thanks for reminding and convincing me!
Cool, glad it helped out. Walkies would have come in handy for me a few times. Just remember, they are a supplement to a PLB or InReach. See you outside!
@@OutsideChronicles for sure. Been using the InReach Mimi for a few years now
HE did not tell you that the F CC regulates what the radio can and can not do your transmitter is set at
at 1/2 watt out put that's it no more out in farm away from things get better I know be couse I am not
him I own radio station W R X N 824 on the G M R S net work . my ht are 5 watts out put and my base does
45 watts that's the deference between FRS AND Gmrs
Rocky Talkie:
Pros:
1. Rugged
2. Battery life. This is good but let's be realistic here. Most radios in standby mode (receive) get good battery life.
3. No license needed
4. Gives you local group communications that can save your life.
Cons:
1. Price. There are other well built radios that are lot cheaper. Still I like the looks of the rocky.
2. Range. Range on uhf radios is always limited in anything other than extremely favorable conditions (like mountain peak to mountain peak). The idea that a Rocky Talkie will make the range they claim is extremely optimistic.
3. Concept. Keep in mind the scenario here is to reach out to those people nearby for help. ONLY those people nearby, and frankly quite near in most cases. If you are looking for a bit more security you would want to look at something like an eperb, garmin inreach or something of that nature. I use both radios and inreach and just use what matches my current scenario.
Honestly, for $35 you can get a gmrs license that lasts 10 years and applies to everyone in your family. Thats pretty cheap. If you can afford an expensive radio like the rocky talkie, you can afford the license. With gmrs you get a radio that will talk with frs radios like the rocky talkie, as well as other gmrs radios. The advantage of gmrs is primarily that frs is very limited output power (max 2 w). Gmrs handhelds will be 5w and mobile units can go to 50. You can also use repeaters with gmrs, though thats not really a backcountry scenario. If I were putting money down I would go gmrs for sure since it will do so much more and can be used as an emergency radio at home. Connect to your local repeater and in times of emergency you can possibly talk with others and gather important info.
Side note: Rocky talkie, like many other radio manufacturers refers to the talk codes as "Privacy" codes. They are not private at all. Don't fall for the marketing bs. What happens is you broadcast in the open not matter what and anyone on that frequency can hear you. The privacy codes add a sub audible tone that allows your radio to filter out everyone else so you don't hear them. This makes it so only those using your tone will hear each other, cutting out the chatter of others. The typical scenario is your group sets up a particular tone/code and unless others outside your group do the same then you won't hear them, but they WILL hear you. So, there is NO privacy, it is only a filter to not hear others.
Thanks for the detailed comment. I do not disagree that they are not a replacement for a PLB or InReach, but rather a supplement. As for FRS vs GMRS function and range, I cannot comment. You seem much more versed in radio. I will say that I have had top competing radios that are not as rugged as the Rocky Talkie (but comparable in price). They just did not last. I have not owned them long enough to give them anything but an initial impression. However, a friend of mine has a set that has seen adverse conditions and cold and work as expected. Question on the GMRS, if I had a group of clients, and wanted to designate one of them a leader or sweep, could they use it?
@@OutsideChronicles There definitely is a get what you pay for aspect to it. It takes a higher priced radio to get the quality/durability, so that would blunt the price comparison a bit. Bubble wrap radios from walmart etc are not likely to cut it. I'm not saying you need to go all the way to a radio like the shtf radio from bettersaferadios or something, you just need to do a bit of looking around for better quality.
For client use, the FCC is a heartless bunch that would tell you no. However, to add perspective, gmrs radios are about all you can find in most of the stores when you go to buy a walkie talkie type radio. That means millions of radios are in the hands of people (especially children) and in use daily without any license. The FCC knows this and basically doesn't do anything about gmrs radio use unless someone does something highly egregious.
It is also worth noting that in an emergency where there is direct threat to life or property most rules are suspended through the duration of that threat. So, in an emergency you are wide open to use practically any radio on any frequency (within reason naturally).
@@NickFrom1228 thanks, your knowledge is very much appreciated!
One of the cons is it's just a rebranded of the Zastone mini9. I'm not happy when I see companies buy Chinese radios and just change the color and names.
Great and simple review to the point. I had a question, will this connect to other radios like Motorola t470 etc.?
Yes it will.
Great video. Great subject.
Thanks Mark, there have been several situations over the past couple of years where having a walkie talkie would have helped, maybe not life threatening situations, but at least would have stopped people from worrying and getting anxious. See you outside!
I have two of these for camping. Just ordered the new gmrs units. Solid performers.
They are great devices, looks like they now have waterproof versions, see you outside!
don't for get to call the F C C and get your license and the radio has to be tuned to a repeter to work
there is your home work assiment for know I know becouse I am alicened G M R S
Rocky Talkie’s saved me from bailing on Gothics w you after forgetting my snowshoes🤦♂️. I estimate our range of separation that day at 2-3miles in heavily wooded area. Great product and I bring them on every group hike. Might start carrying one solo
I agree, I will totally have these even if I am solo. One of the episodes of the Sharp End went over a rescue where the victims were able to radio other people on the mountain. I do not know how many people carry them in the Northeast, but it won't hurt to have that extra protection. I forgot about about the Gothics snafu. They worked really well. I was thinking they would have been handy on Allen to radio back to our ride.
Great video and a good reason to bring back the Ham wilderness protocol. Essentially check in every four hours and listen for anyone requesting help.
Yes, I have been meaning to get my Ham certification. Walkies are so valuable with a group. See you outside!
but rember your range is 2 miles
I have one and am planning on using it for part of my CDT thru hike. Starts this Apr ‘23.
Cool, good luck. Are you vlogging it or posting it to Instagram? What is your IG username?
@@OutsideChronicles CZcams will be “Travis Tramps Continental Divide Trail”. Not much there yet.
Another use case comes to mind 5 years ago during the Winter -35 F day ascend for Marshall when Keith split off the group. Walkie Talkie or similar communications would have minimized significant anxiety and allowed Keith to ask questions about unsure trail junctions.
They would have proven their weight in gold on that trip.
@@OutsideChronicles I was hesitant at first about adding walkie talkies to my gear list when I already have a Garmin InReach but this video and comments has illustrated multiple use cases which would have significantly improved the safety of the adventure. Only downside is the resulting stories are much less interesting when all goes as planned. Add radios to my next gear purchase list. Happy Adventuring.............
Excellent video!
Thanks!
Thanks for the info. Looking for a radio to put into my go-bag when travelling to the Caribbean. Intended use is for outbound emergency calls should I get sidelined by natural disaster (hurricane, storm surge, earthquake), and manage to stay dry. But it will also be with me when packing into the Canadian wilderness in all 4 seasons.
Rocky talkies would be perfect for your use cases. See you outside!
Be careful using FRS radios in other countries, cause you could be interfering with a business, or service.
your radios have a range of two miles only no matter brand thayb are F RS & G M R S together right out of the
box and once you buy it there is no 800 help eather you are on the hook I runn rugged radio thay sell only
radios and all the extras you would want becouse there off road and thay doo have a 1 800 number for help
I have thought about getting a hand-held HAM radio (and getting certified for its use. That way I could potentially communicate with other people in the backcountry. Clearly, when backpacking with a group of several hikers having this radio would really help.
These radios have definitely helped in different sized groups. HAM radio would take it to the next level
Do it, the FRS channels are the same channels every single Amazon and Walmart radios are programmed to. If you get your License and your friends do too you can pick a frequency and also program FRS, Marine VHF, and every other frequency you could want on your radio. Nevermind being able to talk to friends when the cell towers go down during natural disasters like they do with hurricanes etc etc.
@@MainManMattchuLegally speaking, using a MARS modded radio doesn't mean you can legally use other radio services on a ham radio. However, if you don't cause trouble, you're most likely to not get in trouble.
there is a test for ham g m r s there is no test and your radio has to be set up to talk to the repeter
@@donalderickson-si8ww thanks! I’ll look into it.
Gothics was epic mostly because we all worked together to overcome adversity and get everyone to the summit. Also Communications is crucial and wonder how communications with SAR compares between Rocky Talkie and Garmin inReach mini.
Good point, if SAR is in range of the walkie talkie, I would think it is much more efficient (instant feedback). If they are out of range, nothing can beat the inReach. Would walkies have helped your situation on Mt Chaleston?
@@mradomski Well Charleston was a true SAR experience. I don't know enough about if all SAR areas share the same radio frequency as Rocky Talkie. If Nevada SAR did then we likely could have communicated with the helicopter when nearby. For sure if we had not forgotten our InReach informing family and friends we were delayed and OK would have diffused a lot of anxiety. Looking back however since we had food and no injuries if we actually communicated with SAR they may not have started the actual air lift and made us walk out. Our wives and girlfriends were very convincing. Major lesson from this trip was leaving note on car dash and details with co-worker of our timeline and itinerary significantly reduced search and rescue radius.
Would a radio have helped when you and your climbing partner were separated after the fall?
@@OutsideChronicles For sure after I had an uncontrolled 200 meter slide down west side of Mt Charleston I separated from my buddy Rick. Since did not have radios he opted to do concentric circles of increasing diameter to re-unite. Walkie Talkies would have stream lined the process significantly
gremlen is satalite rocky radio and ever other frs radio have the same guts inside thay all run
1/2/watt each so it is short range only two miles in town maybe do to groung clutter beldings betwen your radio
What marine radio do you recommend for kayaking?
I have a Uniden. I have been happy with it. Cobra also makes a good marine handheld.
thay won't work a pear of family service radios with a range of two miles useing 1/2 watt will do fine.
thary are water tight all frs radio will talk to each other no matter what brand thay are.
I beleave mareine radios need a license to operate
OK boys and girls I will be opening up all the toy radios all family service radio 's have a range of two miles if you are at
uncle jo's farm a little farther becouse less garbage houses building s on that noat I was one block from my house
and could not talk to the other radio becoue ther was an extra building in the way so reasion why thay all run on 1/2 watt
that is the limit by the f.c.c rules i am on G M R S with license and repeters on towers all around town we have 6
all towend to gether I do 6 citys in to countys be cous there linke to gether no you know no the hole story from
W R X N 824 G M R S station
A $20 unit with a string and beener attached for $120? Cool looking, but no thanks! I’ll keep the $100 in my wallet for post adventure beverages!
all family service g m r s radio are the same only the outsids are derfrent the it self is ratted at 1/2 watt
that' al radios and the range is what is between both of you so around two miles tops