My family loves to keep communication active, even if we are only a few miles apart. With the introduction of mobile phones in the industry, there is nothing that communication cannot do. But it is a tradition to have a walkie talkie headset in our family simply because it is so easy to use and has a very different function than a mobile phone. And when our old walkie talkies died, I knew I had to find a good kit to replace them. Fortunately, Uniden still makes excellent walkie talkies, and I got the GMR1235-2 GMRS two-way radio from Uniden to replace our old ones. Before declaring my verdict on the performance of this device, I first did a review to inform others about this walkie talkie model.
Design
This is a very functional and practical walkie talkies set. The compact model is as large as a cell phone without an antenna and is also very light – an excellent device for easy portability and manageability. The black body of the spokes keeps them looking good even after a lot of wear and tear and the dark color can easily hide damage. The model is aesthetically excellent and has very intuitive buttons and navigation that provide ease of use and faster scanning.
The radios also come with a belt clip that makes carrying the device easy enough even with a bulky load. I like having radios on my belt because I feel like you are really on duty. But the most important feature of this device is the two-way radio that our family uses to keep track of things even from a distance.
The device is powered by three triple A batteries, six of which are included in the original product package to operate both radios. The battery life can last up to 20 hours, so you will not have problems with rapid depletion and sudden power outages. The screen also shows a battery meter that indicates the current life of the batteries, just like on a mobile phone, so you know when to bring extra batteries for safety.
Scan and audio output
The device is a dedicated walkie talkie headset and not a real scanner, but it can scan up to 22 channels. There are 15 GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) and 7 FRS (Family Radio Service) that you can access using the model. You have a wide range to select from for your family channel, and you can choose the frequency with the fewest users.
Channel scan allows you to listen to all the channels you have on the radio to keep up-to-date with events in the neighborhood. It has a two second delay that only changes channels once the scanned frequency has been silent for two seconds. The maximum coverage of the device can reach up to 12 miles, depending on the user’s environment. In urban areas, it would be a much shorter distance, as many interruptions, blockages, and obstacles impede the signal strength of the device.
Other features
The radio has many other features that can be very useful in certain cases. The key lock prevents sudden changes in the frequencies and channels of your device. The PTT (push to talk) button is very easy to use and is the basic operating mechanism for communicating with whoever is tuned to your frequency. Roger’s beep indicates when your partner or whoever is holding the other radio has received your message. Automatic power save mode saves a lot of battery by going into power save mode after two seconds of no transmission or no incoming calls. The radio still receives calls in this state. This model has really been designed to optimize the use and scanning of the radio for better user satisfaction.
conclusion
I think this is the most useful walkie talkie headset our family has ever had, and it is also very easy to use. The reception is very clear and our family has not been disappointed with these devices. However, there are many problems related to battery life. Although the device says it has a power saving mode, I don’t think it has much of an effect. We are required to change the batteries approximately every 3 hours of continuous use. This is not a problem if you think about the cost of the battery, but the downside can be quite disappointing. However, it is really a good model. Great reception, great features, perfect for family or personal use. If you want a good walkie talkie with added functionality and don’t mind using a lot of batteries (especially if you use rechargeable batteries like we do), then the Uniden GMR1235-2 GMRS Two Way Radio is the perfect pair for you.