Walkie Talkie Earpiece – A Review of the Uniden GMR1235-2 GMRS Two-Way Radio
My family loves to keep in touch, even if we’re only a few miles apart. With the introduction of mobile phones in the industry, there is no longer anything that communication cannot do. But it is a tradition to have a walkie talkie headset in our family simply because it is very easy to use and has a very different function from a mobile phone. And when our old walkie talkies died, I knew I had to find a good piece of equipment to replace them. Luckily, Uniden still makes great walkie talkies, and I got the Uniden GMR1235-2 GMRS Two-Way Radio to replace the old ones. Before declaring my verdict on the performance of this device, I first made a review to let others know about this walkie talkie model.
Design
This is a very functional and practical set of walkie talkies. The compact model is as big as a mobile phone without an antenna, and is also very light: an excellent device for easy transport and handling. The black body of the radios makes them look good even after a lot of wear and abuse, and damage can be easily hidden with the dark color. The model is aesthetically excellent and has very intuitive buttons and navigation providing ease of use and faster scanning.
The radios also come with a belt clip, making it easy to carry the device even with a bulky load. I like having radios on my belt because it feels like you’re actually in the service. But the most important feature of this device is the two-way radio that our family uses to keep track of things, even from a distance.
The device is powered by three triple A batteries, six of which are included in the original product package to operate both radios. The battery life can last up to 20 hours, so you won’t have to worry about fast draining or sudden power outages. The screen also displays a battery meter that indicates the current life of the batteries, just like on a mobile phone, so you know when to carry extra batteries for safety.
Scan and audio output
The device is a dedicated walkie talkie headset and not an actual scanner, but it can scan up to 22 channels. There are 15 GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) and 7 FRS (Family Radio Service) that you can access using the model. You have a wide range to choose from for your family channel, and you can choose the frequency with the fewest users.
Channel Scan lets you listen to all the channels you have on the radio to keep up with what’s happening in your neighborhood. It has a two second delay that only changes channels once the scanned frequency has been silent for two seconds. The maximum coverage of the device can reach up to 12 miles, depending on the user’s environment. In urban areas, it would be a much shorter distance, since many interruptions, blockages and obstacles impede the signal strength of the device.
Other features
The radio has many other features that can be very useful in certain cases. The key lock prevents sudden changes to the frequencies and channels of your device. The PTT (push to talk) button is very easy to use and is the basic operating mechanism to be able to communicate with whoever is tuned to your frequency. The receiving beep indicates when your partner or whoever is holding the other radio has received your message. Auto power save mode saves a lot of battery life by transferring to power save mode after two seconds of no streaming or incoming calls. The radio still receives calls in this state. This model has really been designed to optimize the use of radio and scanning for better user satisfaction.
Conclusion
I think this is the most useful walkie talkie headset our family has ever had, and it’s very easy to use too. The reception is very clear and our family has not been disappointed with these devices. However, there are many issues regarding battery life. Although the device says it has a power saving mode, I don’t think it has much of an effect. We are required to change the batteries approximately every 3 hours of continuous use. This isn’t a problem if you think about the cost of the battery, but the drawback can be quite disappointing. However, it is really a good model. Great reception, excellent benefits, perfect for family or personal use. If you want a good walkie talkie with added functionality and don’t mind using a lot of batteries (especially if you use rechargeable batteries like we do), then the Uniden GMR1235-2 GMRS Two-Way Radio is the perfect pair for you.