The Motorola Talkabout MH230 is a great choice for nearly any outdoor enthusiast. With a powerful range of up to 23 miles, this radio is perfect for family and friends to stay in touch, whether you're tackling a back country trail or trying to brave a crowded shopping mall. The MH230 has more than exceptional range. Tune into one of 7 NOAA channels (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) on your MH230 for continuous local and regional weather broadcasting, and get real-time weather alerts to protect you from the danger of a sudden storm. The MH230 has full 22-frequency capacity with 121 privacy codes to reduce interruptions. Motorola's QT (Quiet talk) functionality allows the radios to be set so they can communicate with other compatible Motorola products.  A great choice for nearly any outdoor enthusiast. Click to enlarge. | The MH230R radio features flexible charging options for ultimate mobility. Users can choose to charge in the included dual drop-in charger, or use the mini-USB port in the radio to charge in the car or connect to a PC. For remote adventures standard alkaline batteries can be used when no power is available. Additionally, hands-free communication is available by using the iVOX speech-activated feature, which provides active families the freedom of mobility in even the most remote settings. MH230R Features Keypad Lock
Lock your keypad to avoid accidentally changing your radio settings. Channel Scan
Use scan to search the 22 channels for transmissions from unknown parties, to find someone in your group who has accidentally changed channels, or to quickly find unused channels for your own use. Charging Options
You can charge the MH230 using the Motorola standard charging port (with the included charging adapter), the Drop-in cradle charger (also included), or purchase a mini-USB cable for use with the Mini-USB charging port, especially useful when traveling. 121 Privacy Codes
Interference Eliminator Codes help minimize interference by blocking transmissions from unknown sources. The MH230 features 121 codes for superior interference protection.  Includes drop-in dual charger for easy charging. |  Brilliant LCD with battery indicator, channel, and other info. | Ten Call Tones
The MH230 can transmit different call tones to other radios in your group so you can alert them that you want to talk. Choose from ten different tones. Hands-Free Communication
Use the iVOX feature to transmit hands-free without the need for any headset accessories. Once iVOX is turned on, the radio detects your voice and transmits when you speak into the internal microphone. QT (Quiet Talk) Noise Filtering
The QT noise-filtering feature helps to ensure uninterrupted communication with other Motorola radios, filtering out unwanted transmissions from other radios. This is useful in places where there is heavy radio traffic, such as amusement parks or ski resorts. Talk Confirmation (Roger Beep) Alert
You can set your radio to transmit a unique tone when you finish transmitting. It is like saying "Roger" or "Over" to let others know you are finished talking. Weather Receiver
Tune in to broadcasts by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio and Environment Canada Weatheradio. Both NOAA and Environment Canada have transmitters located throughout the United States and Canada, respectively. These transmitters broadcast watches, forecasts, and other information 24 hours a day. Weather Alerts
A special alarm tone sounds an alert and turns on the weather receiver to give you immediate weather and emergency information. What's in the Box
Two MH230 Radios with Removable Belt Clips, Dual Drop-in Charger, Charging Adapter, Two 2 NiMH rechargeable battery packs
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 Great 2-way radios! |
| Review Date: August 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jungle Explorer, Lubbock, Texas USA |
IMPRESSION BASED ON EXPERIENCE:
This is my second pair of Motorola 2-Way radios. I have tried other bands like Midland and been very disappointed, but Motorola has never let me down. I needed two extra radios for a fishing trip to Colorado so that my father, my brother, my son and I could stay in touch. I was amazed at how good these radios did in the mountains. At one point I was over three miles away from my father on the other side of a mountain and we could still talk clearly. Now I know 3 miles in not as far as the 23 miles range that is claimed these radios can reach, but if you know anything about how these radios transmit, then you know that for it to transmit clearly through 3 miles of solid mountain is close to a miracle. I have a pair of Midland G-300 Two Way Radios that claim a 10 mild range that cannot even reach 1/2 a mile through forest on straight level ground. I was also impressed with the battery life. Even after a long day of heavy use these units had plenty of power left. One was left on over night after being used all day and it still had power the next day.
Since I want this review to be helpful to people people wanting to buy these, I want to make something clear. The range claim that any 2-way radio manufacturer makes, is base on optimum conditions with no structural or atmospheric interference. In real life you can never expect to get those kinds of ranges out of any unit. Due to the curvature of the earth I would not expect that any radio could reach farther then 10 miles under normal conditions unless each radio is located in an elevated position with a valley in between, such as on either side of the Grand Canyon. So when you buy a 2-way radio, don't pay much attention to the range claims that are made. Just make sure that they will do what you need them to and don't expect a miracle that deifies the laws of physics.
PROS:
Motorola quality, great range and battery life.
CONS:
None that I can find.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
If you are looking for a good pair of 2-way radios for hiking, camping, fishing or similar, look no farther. If you are looking for 2-way radios for some sort of specialized professional use or something else these may or may not be what you are looking for. |
Bought As A Weather Radio.....And Saved
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| Review Date: September 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ambergris, New England.....USA |
| I'll admit that when I came across these 2 way radios when just browsing electronics one day, I had no intention of buying any. Though my son and I hunt and fish where we occasionally get separated, we always have cell phones along for keeping in touch. Upon closer examination however I was intrigued by the fact that this pair of radios (as well as several other ones within this price range and higher) carry all 7 NOAA weather channels. They are essentially a two way communicator that is a full fledged weather radio as well. This may not sound all that significant unless you happen to own, or are interested in owning a small portable hand held weather radio like some available here on Amazon. The single portable walkie talkie size weather radios on Amazon that don't do anything else but receive weather, are far more expensive per unit than buying two of these two way radios. Simply put, these radios are literally two for the price of one when comparing them to other hand held weather receivers here. Not only do you get two walkie talki/weather radios, but you also get a holder/charging unit that keeps them fully charged and ready for action at all times. They also carry the same alert option that other NOAA weather radios have so you can be advised of dangerous weather in your home, or wherever you happen to take them. I don't really believe that I would recommend these radios solely for the purpose of weather radios if one could honestly say they would never have any use for a two way radio. However it just so happens that when you own a pair of these you would be surprised how often you do find a situation where they come in fun and handy. When my son and I go out in the wilderness now we take these along in addition to the cell phones. They are very loud and clear and never lose a signal like cell phones do. When I am not using them for communication, I keep one on the local NOAA weather station and are continuously informed of the latest weather and advisories 24 hours a day. They get excellent weather reception and besides, there's two of them. When for whatever reason one dies or has an accident, there is an instant replacement ready to take its place. Whether you are considering these radios for two way communication, or just for their weather feature, I highly recommend them. As two way radios go they are very reliable and have an excellent range. And as for the weather radio feature, they are one of the best bargains around... PS: If you are interested in an even cheaper pair of two way radios with the weather feature, check out the Cobra model at the link enclosed. These Cobra radios have a shorter range as walkie talkies but are the very cheapest pair of two way radios with weather that I could find on Amazon. Just $25 a pair as of this review. Check 'em out...Cobra Micro Talk CTX85 Gmrs/Frs 2-Way (Black) |
Team Leader
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| Review Date: November 5, 2009 |
| Reviewer: B. Chapell, PA USA |
| This product works well for the application I needed. I am using 6 of them for communication at a sawmill. The range seems good to 1/2 a mile even in and around large steel buildings. Great for a large group with the privacy channels. |
Motorola MH230R 23-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)
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| Review Date: December 12, 2009 |
| Reviewer: H. Decker, Texas, USA |
| These are great! These replaced a pair of brand new, cost more, pair of Uniden walkie talkies. The batteries on these Motorala MH230R radios last us for almost 3 days before they have to go back in the charger(they are on around the clock). Please take into consideration this: We turn them on in the mornings, talk maybe 3-4 times a day on them and do not turn them off until we put them back in the charger.The Unidens wouldn't even last 12 hours. |
Really work for us
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| Review Date: November 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Sylvia L. Hayes, Redford, MI USA |
| My husband and I bought these because I walk the dog and he tries to follow me in the car as I start to get out of sight at several of our local parks. I also walk around the freeway here in the Detroit area with the dog and communicate with my husband while he is at home. We live right off the service drive for I96 and I walk an easy 1/2 mile out and circle around a few times crossing and recrossing the freeway. It gets very noisy from the sound coming from the traffic below as I cross one foot bridge that is near a high school. We may be shouting when I get to that point, but we hear each other and once I get off the bridge the quiet is striking because the sound is so clear. We tried the Midlands, but I had to return them because it was a total disappointment and since some areas I walk in I didn't want to leave it to chance that he would hear me we decided to return them. He walks with us in the summer weather, but is compromised because of his breathing in cold weather. The battery life is the best I have seen in a set and we have used several throughout the years. As others say they won't give the 23 miles that is stated on the description but perfect for how we need to use them. |
Great Product!!!
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| Review Date: December 14, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Eva, Norwalk, OH |
| I bought these for my son's 4th birthday. I read the Amazon reviews before making a purchase and boy does that help. For the money, I highly recommend these 2-way radios. We have been using them for about 3 weeks now and the battery has never run out at the end of each day. We just put them on the charger at night and the next day, they are good to go. Our relatives lives next door, and they have a 2-way so we are able to talk back and forth. It's been so nice for the kids and the adults!! We camp in the summer so I think the kids will get a lot of use out of these at the campground. My son is 4 ad daughter is 6, so they are too young for cell phones - but these 2-way radio's will be perfect for them to stay in touch with mom and dad. The only downfall is the side button was a little difficult for my son to push in order to talk, but he has learned to hold it with both hands and able to push the button fine now. Totally recommend this product. |
Great Product
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| Review Date: December 8, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Cornelius, Kentucky |
| We have bought a total of 6 sets of these to use at our work facility. They are great because they are all compatible with one another and we can put different departments on the different channels. We would recommend this product. |
They Actually Work!
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| Review Date: April 2, 2010 |
| Reviewer: R. Trent, Vancouver, BC |
Ten years ago I bought a pair of FRS radios (I think they were made by Cobra) for a Caribbean trip. They were horrible. The range was limited and the quality of the audio was very poor.
Recently, I pulled the old Cobra radios out of storage to give to our kids so that we could keep track of them in our neighborhood. But, again, the range was limited to only a couple house-lengths and the audio dropped out regularly.
Because of this experience, I assumed that all of these radios were just useless toys. But I decided to give it another shot, so I did my research. I learned that Midland offers physically larger GMRS radios with output power up to 5 watts. And Motorola has more expensive units with 1.5 watts output power. The GMRS output power of these MH230R is only 1.0 watts, so I assumed that the range would again be very limited. I'm guessing that the old Cobra's had the legal limit of 0.5 watts of output power for FRS radios.
But they have a 3-pack of these MH230R radios at our local Costco in Canada (with the Canadian/Costco model number MH370CR). I decided to try them out because of the low price. I bought them thinking that, if the range isn't sufficient, I could easily return them.
After charging the MH230R radios, I gave one to my son and asked him to "go way down to the stop sign" at the end of our road, which is more than 200 meters away (just over 200 yards). The audio was crystal clear and I was surprised!
Then I decided to go for a long walk, instead of driving, to get a hair cut. I walked down the hill from our house to a commercial area about 2 km away (1-1/4 miles). I could still talk to my son on the radios from our living room! Amazing!
Then, the next day, I took my daughter on a bike ride 3 km (2 miles) away. Again, we could talk to my wife in the kitchen. The audio was a little broken up at times, but we could easily understand each other.
Now our house is up on a hill, so the good range is due, in part, to this fact. But given these results, I'm confident that these radios will do their job for the intended purpose - to communicate with our kids as they ride their bikes around the neighborhood and during camping trips. |
great product
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| Review Date: December 31, 2009 |
| Reviewer: kuztum, lisle, il United States |
| i purchased 3 sets of 2 ea for a recent trip to a 5 resort complex in mexico. they made our trip sooo much better than last yr. we always knew where anyone in our 5 person party was at any time. the reception was very clear most of the time. some break up in random areas. resort was stucco buildings with thick walls. distance we communicated was about 2 miles max, at sea level. we did have to change channels a few times due to kids horsing around on other radios. the units are light weight and held charge power for 12 hrs days with lots of power left to spare. the charging base is compact and units were fully charged and ready each am. the clip is rather flimsy and 2 of the 6 broke on the 1st day. if you don't want to pay for international cell service just to communicate with your party, these are a great option. i had researched the products and went with this one for price, reviews, the yellow color was easy to spot when set down, amazon prime shipping. |
Solid performance
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| Review Date: December 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Office Wizard, Illinois |
| I'm using this setup in dense woods to communicate between a house sheathed in aluminum foil and individuals working in the timber; so the conditions are certainly not ideal for low-power two-way radio. But on half-power(FRS)I still get usable signal and good sound quality up to .25 miles, which is considerably better than I would have expected. I wouldn't know about the advertised 23-mile range, since I've not been out in the open with these radios. Plenty of channels to pick from to avoid interference from other transmitters. The overall feel of the units makes them appear sturdy enough. The weather radio works well, and is a plus here in tornado country. But be aware that with the weather radio on, you can't simultaneously use a unit to send to or receive from the other unit. |
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