Two-Way Breaks Out

By Anita Hamilton

Now that more than half of all Americans own a cell phone, it may seem surprising that two-way radios haven't become obsolete. But there are many good reasons for their survival.

Two-way radios work best where cell phones don't operate at all. Because the radios communicate directly with each other, as opposed to bouncing signals off cellular towers, they can be used in remote or outdoor areas where it's impossible to place a cell-phone call. They're especially good in emergencies when cellular lines might be jammed. With no monthly fee, they offer a cheap way to keep tabs on the family, whether you're hiking or wandering around a mall.

The latest models claim as much as seven miles of reception. But the more buildings, hills or other obstructions between you and the person on the other end, the shorter that distance becomes. I tested the 7-mile units in Manhattan, but I couldn't go more than seven blocks before the reception broke up.

Still, there was a clear winner in the group: the Cobra PR 4000 WX ($120 a pair). While the Uniden GMRS 750-2CK ($100) had the second best range of the bunch, it was too big and bulky to carry around easily. The Audiovox GMRS 7001-2CH ($100) and the Midland Radio G-300 ($120 for a Two Pack) were much more compact, but their minimalist designs made it hard to find and use their various features.

We compared the 7-mile units with a 5-mile model from Motorola, the market leader in two-way radios. Motorola doesn't sell a 7-mile radio, but its compact T5950 ($130) got reception that was as good as the Cobra's and beat the others--and the T5950's smaller size made it easier to tote. For a compact model, the T5950 was our top choice, but the slightly larger Cobra's overall design, clearer sound and cool extras, like a built-in digital compass and stopwatch, made it our favorite.