Gadget Review: Uniden PMR885
Manufacturer’s Description
This product is a lightweight, palm-sized radio. Use it at sporting events to stay in contact with family and friends, hiking, skiing, outdoors, or in a neighborhood watch for vital communication. This compact, state-of-the-art device is equipped with many features.
Box Contents
- 2 x GMR885 Radios
- 2 x Rechargeable NiMH Battery Packs
- AC Adapter
- Charging Cradle
- 2 x Belt Clips
- Reference Guide
Product Description
The shock and water resistant Uniden PMR885 professional two way radios have up to 6km range, a super bright orange backlit LCD panel and come with headsets. Each handset accepts standard or re-chargeable batteries and they can even act as a baby monitor.
Review
This is a review of this awesome set of walkie-talkies. Our usage of it is for frycling. We have come to the conclusion that the best [as in safest] way to communicate is through walkie-talkie. This is an awesome set of walkie-talkies, perfect for frycling and worth every penny. Sound is very good, feature-full, long battery life [at least for a day, that was the max we tried but it should last much longer], charging base and headsets.
It is, however, not without problems. The headset ear plug is huge, so unless you have a huge ear, the plug will be hard to insert into the hear or it will be unconfortable. I have a small ear, so in most cases the plug stays half inside, half outside the ear. Moreover, we found the VOX feature (voice activation) pretty much useless for frycling. The slightest wind turns it on (even in the most insensitive level) and makes it very hard to communicate since it is constantly turning the channel on and cutting of messages sent.
For your reference, each walkie-talkie weights 225grams and the ear plug is around 0.9 cm in diameter.
Not a bad radio, as you mentioned, you’re limited when it comes to accessories. VOX on a whole really stinks for radios in general and needs to be upgraded.
I recommend the Motorola BPR40. It is smaller than most professional radios and comes with a full line of accessories. This radio is more expensive than the Uniden’s, but you get what you pay for! The accessories for the BPR40 are cheaper than most professional radios, so you do get some savings there.