Motorola Talkabout T6400 (22 Channels) Two Way Radio

I recently returned from my annual summer vacation to Colorado. We have been going there every year now since about 1984. Finally, within the past couple years, my family has decided to get some two-way radios to communicate throughout the resort where we stay. This was a wonderful idea (15 years ripe) since sometimes you would walk across the resort to find that the person whom you sought was not there. Anyway, the search for a great two-way radio began. There was an assortment of brands and models throughout the family. I will have to say though, I believe the Motorola brand of radios transmitted the clearest and strongest in the given terrain (8000+ feet). This is why I chose to go with a Motorola.

I will have to admit, I didn't purchase these radios until I returned home. Well, they were a great deal ($75 radios with $25 rebate = $50). So, I bought two. After I got home, the testing started to compare to the radios I had just used in Colorado the week before.

Out of the packaging, I liked the ergonomics, the no-slip rubber sides, and the illuminating backlight. Setting it up was pretty easy provided that you grew up pushing, pulling, twisting, and turning everything you touched. I have a knack for figuring out that stuff.

After tweaking the setup, the two radios talked to each other very clearly. The scramble codes are handy although they seemed pretty juvenile when each radio was on a different code. I didn't, however get a chance to try the radios with other brands/models. If the radios were on different scramble codes, you just sounded like a tiny robot version of yourself. All conversation was still easily understandable. Maybe I was just expecting too much. Another privacy feature was the QuieT6000. I've seen sites claim this stops other radios from hearing your conversation, however, in the manual it states that this feature will only stop you from hearing others, not others from hearing you. Also, if QuieT6000 is turned on, you'll only be able to talk to other T-6400 radios and you have to call the other person before PTT-ing.

Okay, now I think we're done tweaking. Down to the PTT stuff. A lot of people gripe that the PTT button is in a funky spot but it's no big thing. I think that button placement (side or front) is irrelvant since the only difference is which finger you use to push it. You still hold the radio the same way.

Lastly, the worst news (for me anyway), after so many seconds (maybe minutes but I doubt it), the radios go into a "standby" mode. You have to make sure that you press (AND HOLD) the PTT button for a second or two, and then talk. I can see this as being a huge issue when asked a quick question and not remembering that you've probably gone into standby and you'll have to keep the button held for a couple seconds before talking. Not to mention the annoying call noise it puts through automatically. As if it's not enough to require you to "wake-up" the radio after only sitting for a minute. Calls ringing through 15 radios is quite grating. I searched and searched through the manual and played with every setting and I couldn't find a way to turn off this automatic standby mode.

On a last note, these radios claim GMRS and FRS in one radio. Well, a GMRS license is required by the FCC and costs $75 per radio (which more than doubles the cost of these radios). Also, I've read that the punishment is pretty severe for operating on GMRS and being caught without a license.

So, in conclusion, I don't think I recommend this radio. GMRS is unnecessary since no one wants to pay more money on top of what they've already shelled out. If, like a perfect world, everyone talked on T6400 this review might be different.

Hope this helps.