Radio Recommendations

I've fucked around with a lot of radios in the last ten years and, though I know it's not what you're looking to hear, you aren't going to want to pay any less for a set of radios than what you'd pay for BCA's. Cheaper radios just don't have the range or the battery life that more expensive radios do. I'm all about saving money but when it comes to safety gear (and radios are safety gear first and foremost) you get what you pay for. And the BCA's are the best that I've used at that price point.

So, now that you've heard me preach about what I think you should buy and now that you've decided that you don't want to listen to me, I can tell you that I used a set of these puppies for a couple of years and they served me reasonably well.

Just remember that 2-way radios are great for group communication and are no doubt an important tool when it comes to safe travel in avalanche terrain but they aren't worth a damn when it comes to reaching the outside world when everything goes to shit. I still ski with an Enreach.

Not sure if this is an option you want to look into but maybe a handheld transceiver in the two meter amateur band? Something like a Yaesu FT-25R, or other small 5W IP rated device.

The BCA radio link has one huge flaw: The mic freezes very easily, rendering the radio innoperable. I was told to avoid the over priced radio. I tried for cheap 150$ Cobras and they are garbage. No battery life and no range.

UHF Bands are the commercial type, but they have an overall better performance in all environments. The problem with the UHF is the weight, those fuckers are heavy. I discovered that UHF doesnt go through high tensile steel very well, but thats not much of a problem in the mountains.

vanmatNot sure if this is an option you want to look into but maybe a handheld transceiver in the two meter amateur band? Something like a Yaesu FT-25R, or other small 5W IP rated device.

I have my amateur radio license (Technician level) and carry a "legit" amateur radio that can operate on frequencies that local repeaters, ski patrol, and maybe search and rescue would use (2 Meter and 70 centimeter). I got the license to be able to carry and use these types of radios in remote areas. A 2 Meter radio would require the user to be licensed through the FCC.

The BCLink radios are nothing more than GMRS radios, the same that you buy at Walmart, with a nicer design and speaker-mic for a huge up-charge. The GMRS frequencies are near the 70 centimeter band.

I have not been able to get the rest of my group to take the test to get their Technician licenses. If they would, we could the 2 Meter band that works very well in an AT environment. Instead, we use the GMRS channels, which technically does require a license as well, but no test required (does cost money). So even if you buy the BCLink radios, you are supposed to be operating under a GMRS license; many people don't and the FCC's enforcement is weak.

Using an amateur radio on GMRS channels is technically illegal...per the FCC (the radio is supposed to be approved for the bands it operates on; an amateur radio is not approved for GMRS...even though it is capable). My logic, right or wrong, is that I have the radio set appropriately (I'm not using too much power), our transmissions are brief, our transmissions are appropriate (no foul language), and we're in the backcountry so little chance of interfering with or being heard by anyone. No one is going to know what radio I'm using unless I advertise it, or I'm caught being stupid with it.

The only good thing I see about the BCA radios is the remote mic that allows you to turn it on and change channels, and there is no programming to fuss with. I've only seen 1 other radio that has the mic capability, and it was a discontinued Yaesu. But I hadn't heard of the freeze-up issues. Our practice is that if the group breaks up for any reason, we all check in at the top of the hour, so the radio can be off in your pack until it is needed. Having the "on" switch out on your backpack strap would be handy. Any amateur radio will require you to program it, therefore you need a capable to connect to your computer ($20ish) and software (there is free software included, or available online). Radios like the BCLink and Motorola Talkabouts are pre-programmed and can't be altered. So there is a level of responsibility and responsibility required to program the amateur radios correctly.

Our group uses the legit amateur radios (look up Baofeng UV-82; lots of cheap radio options out there now, even Yaesu has inexpensive models), programmed appropriately, with local repeaters, GMRS, as well as 2M and 70CM emergency channels. Day-to-day we operate on the GMRS channels (again...technically illegal) but we are not stupid about it and fly under the radar. But then we all have a radio, that if there is a true life-or-death emergency, that is capable of communicating with authorities. You are allowed to use the any of the amateur bands to call "may-day" without a license, but it has to be a REAL emergency.

Of course, this is all assuming you are within a line-of-sight of each other, or a repeater antenna. The 40 mile claimed range on the BCLink radios is pure marketing bullshit! This 40 mile statement is assuming 1 radio is at the top of 1 mountain, and the other radio is at the top of another mountain 40 miles away...with nothing but clear, dry air in between. Start putting trees, mountains, snow, etc. between the transmitting and receiving radio, and range drops off quickly. Plan on a couple miles at best in real world conditions.

I use a TERA TR-590 (https://powerwerx.com/tera-tr590-handheld-commercial-radio). Mine is a bit nicer since I was ski patrol and this one is approved to operate under a commercial license. Most of the guys in my group have the Baofeng UV-82/UV-82C (https://baofengtech.com/uv-82c), considered one of the higher quality models Baofeng offers (most radio snobs will tell you that Baofeng is junk...and some of their stuff is). The frequency steps are low enough (2.5) to work well on the GMRS channels.

Feel free to ask more questions here or PM me. Good luck!



**This post was edited on May 22nd 2019 at 3:18:39pm

**This post was edited on May 22nd 2019 at 3:48:48pm

Found an awesome solution. https://rockytalkie.com
These things are badass and pretty affordable. They are a new company with a solid product.
I found one of their prototypes climbing in Yosemite before they launched and was confused cuz I couldn't find any info. Saw an ad when they launched and got myself the final product. Very trustworthy and versatile.

https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-Dual-Radio-Black/dp/B007H4VT7A


have been using this radio for the last three seasons and have zero negative things to say about it. battery life is as good as it gets, they are small, work in the trees very very well and in long distances, can hear them over a sled, easily programmable to surrounding area radio channels and any 6 digit frequency you have access to. and relatively inexpensive. here in BC on logging roads they use whats called an RR channel system and so those are all programmed into mine as well as any search and rescue, BCA channels, and all of the heli ops in the area.

they are technically illegal in Canada i believe though, because they can be broadcast over three radio frequencies or something. not sure about their legality in america or wherever you may be.