What radio platform is everyone using/recommend when they are out riding?
Hey Jason, Rocky Talkie. There is a member discount as well.
Checkout some additional information here as well on channel usage, and reasons why radio is highly recommended
Thank you much.. I was leaning towards Rocky Talkie.
I run a Baofeng UV5R (less then $20 on Amazon) with a larger battery and an ear piece like this one
You can replace the part that goes in your ears with Surefire sonic defenders if you want some sound proofing as well.
if you enable the “VOX” feature on the radio, you don’t need to hit the “push to talk” for other people to hear you, you only have to talk.
What’s nice about the Baofeng is that you can get weather updates over the air from NOAA.
Admittedly it’s more like to deal with over a rocky talkie but I like the benefits of it.
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We wrote a bible on this. See below. Also, paid club members (account is being opened this week so we can start collecting dues) have access to 20% of Rocky Talkie products.
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The Baofeng is a good place to start, especially if you’re not quite sold on the utility of a radio (despite being in a club with experienced ADV’ers who preach their utility…). Ludicrous low cost of entry.
The radios have an odd combination of tons of features and capabilities at a very low price point. But that comes with a complexity that can be overwhelming when the user doesn’t bother to make the time investment to learn how to properly use it. By this, I mean (1) reading the SOP, (2) identifying the freq and privacy code we use and (3) most importantly, programming that shit into their radio before the ride. Many, many times last season I was handed a new, out of the box radio and asked to program it for them.
The Rocky Talky is dead simple to use and does what we need it to do, and nothing more, nothing less. IMO, if you’re onboard with the utility of a radio, popping for the RT is the way to go. But if you do go with the BF, learn how to use the damn thing before you show up to a ride, or risk me telling you to push until I get tired 
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RT also has NOAA on the 5W model. Founded in Colorado btw
Also, there can be hidden costs for the BF. For example, my shoulder mic went bad so I bought a Rugged Radios waterproof / dustproof mic, for about $40…so a $40 mic for a $30 radio…
I plan to pick up an RT 5w radio before Moab and carry my 8w BF as a spare / loaner
I’m not an expert on radios, I frankly know nothing about them. Is there a major difference between 8 W versus 5 W in transmission?
RT says they have a 3 to 8 mile distance in the mountains. Has your experience been accurate to this clam?
I’ve been able to reach pretty far with an 8 W, however, terrain, and your elevation relative to whom you were trying to talk to is probably more important than wattage. That is, if you’re on high ground and trying to reach someone below you any radio can push out pretty far.
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