- 10 different call tones including five animal sounds
- 11 weather channels (7 NOAA) with alert features
- 22 channels each with 121 privacy codes for superior interference protection
- Pair of two-way radios with up to 35 mile range and camouflage finish
- iVOX hands-free communication without the need for an audio accessory
I worked in the telecom industry portion that has, among other things, hand-held radios. I know how they work; I know the physics behind each segment of the radio spectrum; I know the technologies, etc., etc.
That said, I could never give any of these kinds of "FRS/GMRS" two-way radios a five-star rating. None of them deserve it, nor, given the limitations placed on this radio type by the F.C.C., could any of them deserve a rating better than "mediocre", or "average". That is the limitation of this kind of power in this part of the spectrum. And it is true for any of these radios, regardless of what brand name is on them, although for quality, surely Motorola is the best of their type.
THIRTY-FIVE MILES? Ha! Maybe, just maybe, in a total vacuum, at a temperature of absolute-zero, you could get one of these radios to communicate 35 miles, but not anywhere on this planet that I can think of. Be realistic and you'll be satisfied. But if you expect 35 miles of range, or even 20% of that, you WILL be disappointed. I bought a pair of these radios, and I am as satisfied as I can be. They are good for what they are, at the price you pay.
But, if all you really need is a radio that CAN communicate for a distance not to exceed, say, two miles, then these radios are certainly the best of their kind I've ever seen. So, take them for what they are worth, and believe me, these Motorolas are hands-down the best of their kind. But none of these radios lives up to their advertising, and never will. It is simply not possible at the rated power in the alloted portion of the radio spectrum.
Buy Motorola MR355R 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) Now
The newest, most exciting feature is the GMRS repeater operation. A repeater is a special base station that simultaneously receives and retransmits a signal from a mobile or portable station to extend the range. As a communications back-up it can fill the void.(GMRS FCC License Required) The current license fee is 85.00.
During disasters such as the Oklahoma City Bombing, Hurricane Katrina and the September 11th attacks and countless other emergency situations, what is one of the first things to go down? Communications. Cell phones are useless, and landline infrastructure/internet is the next to go. FRS,GMRS in the simplex mode (radio to radio) are a unobstructed line of sight communication device. I do take issue with the 35 mile claim on many of these simplex units. It won't happen unless both communicators are "HIGH ON SEPARATE MOUNTAIN TOPS" As previously mentioned, the GMRS Repeater operation will extend your range to acceptable distances.
Many areas around the country have privately owned GMRS Repeaters. A repeater directory may be found on this web site:
If you are looking for a walkie-talkie like I had in the 70s for short range communications (FRS) then save your money and purchase one of the 29.00 units.
Read Best Reviews of Motorola MR355R 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) Here
I purchased these radios after extensive research discovering they are the best 2 way consumer radio motorola makes. once they arrived i charged them fully and followed the instructions to the T. Tested them in the country with nothing in the way of the 2 radios and they didnt make it past 4 miles. in the small little town i live in of 150 people, the radios managed to cut out after 3 blocks and no more communication. also the operating temps of these radios are insane. 20 degrees F and they shut down and refuse to transmit. i was using the hi power channel transmitting at 2 watts as well as the hi power ptt button. called motorola and they told me that they dont make them even. come to find out they hired a company giant international to build them. motorola only builds their business class radios is what they told me. i returned the items to amazon as they did no good. i mentioned that i would at least want to get 1 mile out of a 35 mile radio. guess not. im now trying out the much better looking midland gtx1000vp4 with a transmit power that ranges up to 5 watts! hoping to have better luck with midland. take my advice and dont waste your time with these supposed top of the line latest motorola radios.. they are more than a joke. i purchased a pair of cheap $20 midlands for kids to use in the woods and they worked better...in colder weather (by the way midland operates in -22F).
Want Motorola MR355R 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) Discount?
I bought three pairs to keep in touch with my kids and other family on our ski trip. Suffice it to say that when these radios got cold they simply did not work. I could hear the others (using other models) but could not transmit. Useless in my opinion. FYI it was below 30 deg F where these were used. I also had pair of Midlands and they worked fine all the time but could not get the Midlands to talk with these Motorolas even on the same channel/sub with Motorola Qt disabled. All of this resulted in a very frustrating experience.
Otherwise, the Motorolas have good volume and clarity but to me reliability is everything. Range seemed to be about as good as the Midlands I was using (GXT1000VP4.
Lastly, the included earpiece and corded mic was tough to use as Motorola put the mic right next to the button, so care had to be taken when pushing the transmit button to not cover the mic.
I will be returning these and looking for another solution.
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I researched these radios on multiple sites and was surprised by the wide range of opinions. The biggest criticism seemed to be lack of range. The other hunters on the deer lease used various Motorola radios with satisfactory results and for ease of communicating with them I decided to purchase them through Amazon. We hunt in central Texas on an approximately 5000 acre ranch, with mixed terrain (woods, fields, flat and hills). These radios seemed to be more than adequate when communicating with the other hunters. The rechargeable batteries seemed to provide more than enough stand-by time and the ability to supplement them with standard batteries is a plus. The only reason that I didn't give them five stars is the short period of use. While I may find other issues over time and with more severe service, these radios had good range in the field.
Battery that shipped had a sticky label claiming 12V 12AH. Under the sticky label the battery is really 12V 10AH. Battery is not the same model shown in the picture.
