Today I'm reviewing the Talkpod A36Plus Max GMRS Handheld radio. The radio comes with lots of accessories like a privacy earpiece, extra antenna, USB cable for PC, battery charger, belt clip, wrist strap, USB power adapter, and cable.
The radio is pretty small and easy to use with one hand. It has 2 separate bands you can switch between (A/B). You can choose either Channels or Frequencies on A or B. There's also an auto scan feature to find active channels.
On top of the radio, there's an Emergency button for sending distress signals. It has a special weather function with 9 different weather channels. In my area, I could listen to 3 weather stations, even one in French! The radio also has an FM radio for regular listening.
I mainly use the radio to listen to air traffic and emergency channels, rather than for two-way communication. You can type in a frequency directly on the front panel. There are websites that suggest frequencies for your local area, like aircraft arrivals/departures, control towers, fire departments, and other stuff. What you can pick up depends on where you are.
The radio menu has a lot of options, which can be overwhelming. I found the website more helpful than the manual that came with it. Reading a few articles about how GMRS radios work also helped since I'm new to this type of radio.
I think it's a good thing to have if you're a hiker, boater, or just want something for emergencies. Having weather info, FM radio, a distress button, and the ability to call for help is really useful. I'm still learning how to use it, and there's definitely a learning curve if you're not familiar with these radios. Overall, I'd recommend it.
The radio is pretty small and easy to use with one hand. It has 2 separate bands you can switch between (A/B). You can choose either Channels or Frequencies on A or B. There's also an auto scan feature to find active channels.
On top of the radio, there's an Emergency button for sending distress signals. It has a special weather function with 9 different weather channels. In my area, I could listen to 3 weather stations, even one in French! The radio also has an FM radio for regular listening.
I mainly use the radio to listen to air traffic and emergency channels, rather than for two-way communication. You can type in a frequency directly on the front panel. There are websites that suggest frequencies for your local area, like aircraft arrivals/departures, control towers, fire departments, and other stuff. What you can pick up depends on where you are.
The radio menu has a lot of options, which can be overwhelming. I found the website more helpful than the manual that came with it. Reading a few articles about how GMRS radios work also helped since I'm new to this type of radio.
I think it's a good thing to have if you're a hiker, boater, or just want something for emergencies. Having weather info, FM radio, a distress button, and the ability to call for help is really useful. I'm still learning how to use it, and there's definitely a learning curve if you're not familiar with these radios. Overall, I'd recommend it.
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