Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

**REVIEW UPDATED 12/21/2012...see end of review for updated info.** I've been around the block with consumer-grade two-way radios that I use for backpacking, camping and general Boy Scout activities. I've tried Uniden, Midland and Motorola, but always come back to Motorola. Midlands broke and Unidens don't have great range and can't produce clear enough audio for me. I learned after hobbling along with my last non-Moto set (Uniden G-227) that Motorola really is the way to go for clarity, range and features. Audio clarity is important to me because there's nothing more maddening than muddy audio and having to ask the person on the other end to keep repeating until you can understand what they've said. PROS: * Robust design. * Bright color makes it harder to lose. * Waterproof from basic elements. Living in Florida, this is important. * Great audio clarity. * Decent range (certainly not 35 miles, but a more realistic one-mile+ range in forested and flat terrain). * Richly featured for a consumer radio. * PTT power adjustable buttons (one H, one L) means no more fidgeting with menu settings when you need higher power transmissions. * Comes with a rechargeable battery pack for each radio. * Emergency LED light is very handy. * NOAA weather receiver. * USB chargeable. CONS: * Currently lacks charging station (allegedly to be released soon, according to Motorola). * Wish it had a carrying case instead of the plastic belt clip. * Wish it had more range in typical conditions, but this is not a pro radio set. I'm a realist when it comes to consumer two-way radios. I don't expect an actual 35-mile range and don't actually need 35 miles. That's what cell phones are for, but of course, if you are in a very remote area, a cell signal may not be available. I was impressed with the menu of features on this radio and really needed to move up to a radio with NOAA weather capabilities. When you are one of the adults responsible for as many as 75 boys on an outing, you really need to be on alert for their safety. I like the overall quality of the radio and have never been disappointed with a Moto two-way. I still have my Talkabout 250, which has been in use for close to 10 trouble-free years now. It's still crystal-clear and transmits well for a compact FRS radio, which was another reason why I came back to and will remain with Motorola. This radio set deserves five stars for its performance and deep feature list, but more importantly, for me, being able to hear transmissions clearly is a key element. I'm happy with this radio for what it is: an effective communications tool. ** 12/21/2012 UPDATE ** Not changing the five stars rating, especially after taking the radios camping in dense woodlands this past weekend. My daughter went hiking with her girlfriend and was well beyond a mile away when she called me on the radio. Her voice was loud and crystal clear. She also found the built-in LED light very helpful when she couldn't find her own flashlight. Honestly, I didn't think much about the radio's emergency light, but it came in handy!