Description: The Motorola Talkabout T9580RSAME combines two functions in one: It's a Hazard Alert Weather Radio that provides local area emergency alerts, and a two-way radio that allows riders to stay in touch even when out of sight. It can be programmed to pick up alerts from the National Weather Service for more than 3,500 counties. For two-way communication capabilities, the radios have a range of up to 25 miles and feature 22 channels, each with 121 privacy codes. The rechargeable batteries provide an estimated nine hours of talk time. The radios also feature an exclusive technology termed "companding," which filters out static between words and allows for natural-sounding communication.
The test: The Motorola Talkabout T9580RSAME radios were tested by Kent and Charlene Krone, photojournalists for The Trail Rider.
"The units were easy to work," say the Krones. "They were easy to program to the same channel, the instructions were good and clear, the buttons were easy to press and structured to minimize faulty or goof-up presses, and they were a good size to slip in a pocket. They also come with an optional belt clip.
"We were interested in the range of the radios while riding in forested mountains as well as in open areas," the Krones continue. "Both of us were surprised by how clearly we could hear one another. We could communicate with each other until we were separated by two heavily forested high ridges and about five miles apart. However, with one ridge and roughly two miles separating us, we could still easily hear each other. In flat, open terrain we communicated up to 20 miles. We were impressed at how much better reception the radios had than CB radios.
"Since our area didn't experience any emergency alerts during our test period, we didn't get to check the feature. However, we found that everything else worked pretty much as the manufacturer described.
"These small, lightweight radios would be very useful for large group rides, smaller trail rides, packing, wagon trains, and simply keeping track of family and friends as you ride around your horse property or boarding stable."
Cost: $89.99 per pair.
Contact: Motorola, (800) 638-5119; www.motorola.com.
