The Motorola Talkabout 2-Way Radio T9580RSAME is the first radios to support the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Specific Area Message Encoding (S.A.M.E.) technology, which provides you with to-the-minute weather updates. These sophisticated FRS/GMRS radios monitor only programmed localized areas and filter out distant warning broadcasts to reduce the chance of false alarms. Weather alerts for your area are broadcast clear and strong.

The T9580RSAME package comes with two handheld radios and a charging base. Each radio includes an NiMH rechargeable battery packed into the sleek black chassis with silver faceplate. The radios are a bit too large to fit into smaller pockets, but they are ideal for slipping into deeper side pockets or inside breast pockets.

These units are great if you are traveling or recreating in remote areas without cell phone reception. They also provide a handy way to keep in touch with companions while hiking, bicycling, canoeing or skiing. Using the radio function, the T9580RSAME units produce excellent reception over relatively short (1- to 2-mile) distances. Motorola claims a range of up to 25 miles under ideal conditions with no obstructions, although in wooded or urban settings, the range should not be expected to exceed 10 miles.

Each T9580RSAME radio has a push-to-talk (PTT) button for transmitting, as well as a built-in receiver for hearing transmissions from a compatible unit. There is also an instant-call feature that lets you send a message to the other radio immediately, as well as a handy alert that delivers a loud ring tone to the companion unit. You can personalize the ring tone from 10 different options.

The PTT button on the T9580RSAME has both a high and low mode, with the high mode (the upper portion of the button) boosting the power of the GMRS channels. The PTT function is very user-friendly, although you must remember to release it to receive a response. There are also several small buttons on the front of the radio that control a host of extra features, including channel selection, a Quiet Talk (QT) privacy feature for extra security that only allows transmissions from other compatible Motorola devices, hands-free transmission, a vibrating alert feature and a keypad lock. All of the buttons beep loudly when pressed. The buttons are not intuitive, so you may need to consult the instruction booklet to identify the various functions until you get the hang of it.

The T9580RSAME radio operates on General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) frequencies and are subject to the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). A radio license is required to use all GMRS and other high-power frequencies, so check out www.fcc.gov for details.

If you are planning an outdoors trip and need an efficient means of communication, or if you want a handy person-to-person local communication system that also lets you keep on top of the weather, the Motorola Talkabout 2-Way Radio T9580RSAME is a smart purchase.


Pros: Weather alert feature, hands-free transmission, privacy controls
Cons: Limited range, sound can be muffled over longer distances

Warranty
1 year, parts and labor