Welcome To FRS 2 Way Radio - Portable Two Way Radio!

Shopping for a portable  two way radio is done the same way we shop for anything else these days, online. So how do you begin.  First you need to decide the primary purpose for the radios.  If you are going to be using the radio as a means of staying in touch with your kids at an amusement park or when they go two blocks away to play on a playground, you will simply need a basic radio that will work on the Family Radio Service(FRS) channels.  You will want to buy radios that are a little bit durable but you definitely don't need the type used on a construction site.  Typically,  the family versions are a little less expensive than radios for business or industrial use. 

If you are going to use your portable two way radio as a safety net while you are out hiking through the mountains you may want to look for a more durable and flexible style radio.  You will not likely get away as cheaply with this radio.  A portable two way radio that is going to be used as a safety device can cost usually from $250 up to $1000.  If you need durability and reliability though, these prices are cheap.  If you need the radios to save your life or someone else's life it is a good idea not to look for cheap ones.

Another thing to consider when shopping is the distance you will need it to cover.  Again if you are using it for more low key purposes like talking to your spouse when you're at the mall, you won't need to have as much distance capability.  If you are on a ski vacation in the Swiss Alps you might want to have a radio that carries a little further. 

                  
Uses Other Than Personal Ones

If you are looking for a portable two way radio that you can use for business use, you will want to look at radios that are more suited to businesses needs.  If you own a construction business, you will obviously need more rugged and durable radios.  If the radios are dropped you want them to be able to weather the drop.  If you work around a lot of dust and dirt you need to get radios that can withstand this and still work. 

However, if you work in a tall building, durability is not likely your number one concern.  You should shop for a portable two way radio with UHF capabilities.  UHF radios have shorter wave lengths so they don't have distance as an advantage, but they are able to find their way through more rugged terrain or buildings with obstacles obstructing their path. 

Other Considerations

Whether for business, personal, or industrial you need to think about the power source required.  Most portable two way radios use rechargeable batteries.  For personal use you may want to purchase a small recharger and some extra batteries for emergencies.  For industrial use radios or those used for business you should consider some of the larger multi-unit rechargers.  They are a bit expensive but you will find them to be worth the money in the long run.