Whether you’re hiking, bicycling, camping, or at an event, walkie-talkies (two-way radios) enable you to inexpensively stay in touch with friends and family. Unlike cell phones, two-way radios do not operate on a network, so you don’t have to worry about picking up a signal or experiencing dropped calls. Communicating is free with walkie-talkies-another advantage over cell phones.

How do walkie-talkies work?
They operate on radio channels. For two or more walkie-talkies to work together, they each need to be set to the same channel, although, you can’t talk at the same time as another person. To communicate with a walkie-talkie, you need to hold down a button while you’re speaking, and then let go when you want to hear the other person talk. Depending on the brand and model, walkie-talkies communicate at different distances.

What communication distance do I need?
For outdoor activities like bicycling, walking, rollerblading and skiing, a two to five-mile range is generally sufficient. For hiking, hunting or camping, you may want to choose walkie-talkies with a greater communication range for safety reasons.

Do two-way radios have any other features?
Some models of walkie-talkies have more capabilities than just communicating. You can get ones that have GPS, so you never get lost. Or, choose walkie-talkies with weather alerts. They can inform you of inclement weather in advance.

How are walkie-talkies powered?
Most walkie-talkies either come with rechargeable batteries or use standard disposable batteries. Two-way radios with rechargeable batteries often take disposable batteries. This will come in handy if you forget to charge the batteries. Some models also include a battery-life indicator. Battery life varies by model and manufacturer.

What are some other uses for walkie-talkies?
As mentioned above, two-way radios come in handy for many outdoor activities and adventures. You can also use them in other situations like the ones described below.

Business
Take them to a tradeshow or conference to quickly stay in touch with coworkers. You won’t have to worry about bad cell phone signals.

Large Events
Have you ever gone to a sporting event or concert and lost track of someone? With two-way radios, you can communicate instantly and know the whereabouts of your entire group.

Travel
Walkie-talkies also come in handy while traveling in a new city. Let’s say one person wants to go to get a bite to eat and another wants to check out a boutique. You can use walkie-talkies to constantly stay connected, without roaming charges or usage fees. No more waiting around for other people or wondering where they could be.

Some people find cell phones tricky to use because of their tiny screens and multiple buttons. When traveling with a person who doesn’t like cell phones, try using two-way radios as an alternative. They only have a few buttons and are easy to operate.

To locate a walkie-talkie user’s manual for the model you own, visit the ManualsOnline Library.