2 Way Radios

In the world of two-way radios and walkie-talkies, clear, hands-free communication is essential—whether you're on a construction site, security patrol, event coordinating, hiking, or just staying connected with your team. Enter the 3.5mm single ear hook wired headset (also called a listen-only earpiece or earhook earphone): a simple, reliable accessory that plugs directly into the 3.5mm audio jack on many speaker mics or compatible radios. This compact, wired single-ear design features a flexible ear hook (often D-shape or G-hook style) that loops comfortably over your ear for a secure, all-day fit without falling out during movement. Most models include a clear acoustic tube that delivers crisp audio right to your ear while keeping things discreet and blocking background noise—perfect ...

In a world where cell service drops the second you hit the trail; long range walkie talkies are making a huge comeback in 2026. Whether you're hiking remote mountains, coordinating a construction crew, or prepping for emergencies, reliable push-to-talk communication beats spotty signals every time. Top testers and reviewers (from OutdoorGearLab, GearJunkie, and CNN Underscored) agree: the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio stands out as the best walkie talkie overall this year. With its rugged build, exceptional clarity through trees and rocks, and up to 5+ miles of real-world range (far beyond most advertised claims), it's perfect for backcountry adventures like skiing, climbing, or multi-day camping. Battery life lasts days (even a full week on low use), and the secure carabiner clip keeps it ...

Whether you’re a parent who doesn’t want to be constantly interrupted by texts and calls from your children or a camper in the middle of a remote wilderness, a walkie talkie can be an invaluable tool for safe, easy communication. These handheld radios allow you to communicate with fellow campers, hikers, hunters, backpackers and more via a closed, shared radio channel. A basic walkie talkie typically resembles a mobile phone handset, with a speaker built into one end and a microphone in the other. To transmit, users press a “push-to-talk” (PTT) button. Because the radios operate on a single shared frequency, only the person pushing the PTT button can talk and anyone on the same channel can hear them. Other features may include a battery life indicator, volume control and a selection of cha...

A walkie talkie is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. Whether you're out exploring the wilderness or watching Stranger Things with your kids, walkie talkies provide a convenient and fun way to stay connected. But, before you buy and hit the push-to-talk button for the first time, it's important to understand the lingo that comes with these devices. For starters, there's the privacy code. Without it, any radio that happens to be on the same channel as yours will hear your entire conversation. To prevent this, most walkie talkies feature a privacy code that requires users to precede their transmissions with a unique tone. This isn't encryption, which is only available on military-grade radios, but it can keep you from accidentally broadcasting your private conversations to...

In an age where the majority of people use their smartphones for instant messaging, email, and video calls, 2-way radio might seem to be a thing of the past. However, despite advances in modern technology and smart devices, two-way radio (often known as walkie talkies) remains a highly functional and durable method of communication that is still utilized by a variety of industries and applications. 2-way radio works by utilising transmitters and receivers to allow for both transmission and reception at the same time, allowing two different groups to communicate on separate channels and with one another. Initially, this was done in simplex mode, where only one radio could transmit at a time while others listened. In order to improve functionality and enhance safety, full-duplex mode was dev...

A walkie talkie is an easy and effective way to communicate in areas where mobile phones can’t get a signal. Working off single frequency wireless signals these hand-held devices are popular with outdoors enthusiasts and families. They’re great for family camping trips or to keep kids entertained and safe during outdoor activities. Walkie-talkies convert your voice into radio signals which are transmitted across the electromagnetic spectrum at the speed of light (186,000 miles or 299,338 kilometers, per second). These radio signals are only received by other walkie-talkies that are on the same channel as yours. When you press and hold the push-to-talk (PTT) button your message is broadcast, and when you release it you hear a 'roger' beep to confirm that the transmission went through. The a...

A walkie talkie, also known as a hand-held radio transceiver, is a two-way communication device that allows users to speak to one another without using their cell phones. The devices were developed in the Second World War, and while the technology is relatively new, it has become an indispensable tool for military operations. They have also made their way into the hands of civilians and are often used in hiking and camping trips, by teachers in classrooms, and in emergency situations. Walkie talkies work on specific radio frequencies, and the best models have features that help filter out other signals and noise. However, the range numbers provided by manufacturers are only valid under certain conditions and can be easily distorted by obstructions such as hills, trees, cars, buildings, or ...

With the recent frequency of natural disasters, storms and other emergency situations, 2-way radio is getting a lot more attention as a valuable communication option. Whether your workplace is in public safety, business and operations, schools and transportation or medical and hospitals two-way radio is an excellent way to communicate with your team. How Does a Two-Way Radio Work?All two-way radio devices operate over a particular radio frequency. These frequencies are sent over an antenna to create radio waves that can be picked up by the device and transmitted back. The radio frequencies can travel over a very long distance and can pass through obstructions such as trees, buildings or bad weather. There are many different types of radios available for two-way communications. Portable rad...

Two-way radios, sometimes called walkie talkies or long range handheld radios, allow for quick and direct communication between two people. Most have a push-to-talk button for voice transmission and some offer VOX (voice operated exchange) that allows hands-free operation. Some have privacy codes that allow for discreet use in a facility with ambient noise and others can work with multiple channels. What Frequencies Do Two-Way Radios Use?The frequency of a radio wave is important, as it affects how far the signal can be transmitted. This is referred to as wavelength, and lower frequencies have a longer wavelength than higher frequencies. VHF - High Frequency / Low WavelengthAs the name suggests, VHF uses a higher frequency than UHF but with a shorter wavelength, which makes it better for p...