Motorola TLKR T5 8-channel PMR > Reviews (1)

I just spent a week using Talkr T5s whilst on a skiing holiday in France. They were used to stay in contact with my friends on the mountain, and also carried in case of emergency.

Handset range is very much dependant on conditions. Whilst the 6km maximum range can be achived, in practice this was often greatly less if there is something large between the transmitter and reciever. Typically reception was good if my friends were on the same side of the mountain. However if they were in a different valley then we got no reception at all. The sub-channel system works well, and means that you have much more chance of finding a channel that no-one else is using. We used channel 7-13, which meant that we could only hear channel 7-13, and only people using either 7-13 or the whole 7 channel could listen in. Broadcast quality varies, but is roughly landline phone quality assuming that you are "in range".

The handsets are easy to use, especially once the channel is set. Battery life is fairly good, with both handsets getting well over a days use out of a single charge (possibly 2 or more, though I did not risk this and recharged each night). The handsets are robust, and give the impression that they will withstand a fair amount of abuse. The handsets are about the same weight and size as a chunky mobile phone from two or three years back. Enough to know that you are carrying one without it being a burden.

Bundled in accessories include a charging cradle, which can charge both of the batteries simultaneously either in or out of the handsets, and also belt clips. It would have been nice if the corded headphone with mic had been included though.

Overall the Talkr handsets proved to be a fantastic and much cheaper alternative to using mobile phones on pricey roaming tariffs to keep in touch on the mountain. Whilst mobile phones perform better in terms of range and quality, they rely entirely on getting decent reception which in many outdoor pursuit environments is unlikely. In terms of emergency use I'd prefer to always have one of these tucked away in my bag, just in case.