Communication is critical, whether its on the Internet or on ATVs. Motorola makes the Talkabout Plus hand-held radios and we checked them out to determine if the Talkabouts are a useful tool or a nuisance for ATV riders. Motorola Talkabout Plus radios are operated on a newly created bandwidth called the Family Radio Service (FRS). FRS is a two-way personal radio service with a range up to two miles. Its purpose is to offer citizens participating in group outings a way to communicate with members of the group who are out of speaking range or sight, but are in the general area. It's a very effective way to allow outdoor enthusiasts of any sport to stay in touch while out on the trail. These radios are approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and they require no licensing fee of any kind. During our ride the reception remained exceptionally clear and with the appropriate volume adjustment, conversation was easily heard and understood over the engine noise of the ATV's. As we increased the distance between the ATVs, the clarity of reception changed as the riding terrain's layout varied.
Our first ride was a confined woodland trail of heavily surrounding laurels and rolling hills caused a minimal background static at about 0.5 miles in distance. However, this did not cause any incomprehensible conversation between us. While traveling on another trail that was somewhat generously exposed, aside of a few towering mountains and rock piles allowed us to reach a continuous conversational distance of 1.5 miles. The ATV Connection staff then chose a trail that ran adjacent to a radio tower, and we discovered a loss of contact with other riders when we rode our ATVs too close to the tower.
A large percentage of our riding consisted of trails that were a mild to moderate difficulty rating. Our staff had no inconveniences operating their automatic clutch utility ATVs while using the Talkabout Plus radios. However, if you ride a manual clutch ATV, or spend a majority of their riding time on rugged trails, don't count out the Talkabout Plus just yet. These handy units are equipped with a VOX feature that allows hands-free operation. This is a beneficial feature even for beginner riders, allowing them to keep two hands securely on the handlebars. The VOX feature is utilized by means of a wired earpiece and a microphone that clips to the rider's shirt. The other end of the wire plugs into the side of the radio unit, and conversation is then transmitted as you begin talking. However, if this particular ear piece unit is unsuitable for you, there are five other styles to choose from.
The overall operation of the Talkabout Plus radios is convenient and easy. They are powered by 3-AA alkaline batteries that provide an estimated 30 hours of use (10% talk and 90% standby). A battery gauge on the channel screen displays the remaining battery life and is backed up by an audible low battery alert signal. This way your never left in a bind with a dead radio. The Talkabouts are compact units measuring 4.5"Lx2.5"Wx1.2"D (excluding antenna) and weighing only 7oz.( with batteries) that can be stored just about anywhere. This is an important factor because accessible storage space is limited while riding.
Another quality feature on these radios is their special frequency from Motorola designed for outdoor activity that, along with 38 interference sub-channels, offers an amazing 532 combinations to choose from. These interference eliminator codes filter out unwanted chatter among the channels and help keep the reception clear. If you do quite a bit of evening riding, then you'll be happy to know that the channel screen illuminates to aid in the visibility of your selected channel and battery gauge. One must not be fooled by their good looks, these radios are water, dust, and shock resistant and are made of lightweight high impact plastic similar to that used in motorcycle helmets.
We really enjoy the Talkabout Plus radios. They provide us with more riding time eliminating those unnecessary stops, only to exchange a few words. Also, with safety in mind, the Talkabout Plus radios keep leading and following riders in constant contact with each other. The Talkabout Plus eliminates the need to turn around and continuously check on the other riders giving way to safer ATV operation. This allows the riders to focus on upcoming terrain. The Talkabout Plus radios also work nicely for conversation between two or more vehicles transporting ATVs. We found this to be essential when we transported our ATVs to North Carolina for our winch testing evaluation. Because the roads to the riding area were unfamiliar, the Talkabout Plus radios helped us to prevent wrong turns, and gave us more time to enjoy riding.
There is a complete line of optional audio and carrying case accessories to make the Talkabouts even more convenient. The Talkabout Plus radios are suggested at a manufacturers retail price (MSRP) of $179 per unit, available in Camouflage, Khaki Green, Dark Pewter, Cobalt Blue, and Sunstreak Yellow. We'd like to see Talkabouts with a rechargeable battery pack for these radios without sacrificing their compact size. Otherwise, the Talkabout Plus is a winner.
