Two-way radios are a reliable way to stay connected when cell service is unreliable or unavailable. Whether you’re camping in the wilderness, working on a job site, or coordinating at a busy event, these devices provide instant communication at the push of a button. Unlike cellphones, which depend on a stable cellular signal to work, a set of two-way radios provides you with a more reliable way to stay connected with your loved ones, co-workers, or other people part of your group, no matter where you are. For those looking for a reliable communications solution with long-range capability, the Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie are a really solid option.
The Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie are a set of two-way radios that feature a rugged, all-weather design, advanced Noise Cancellation technology, which ensures crystal clear audio, even in noisy environments. The radios come pre-installed with a SIM card with 1-year of service, offer nationwide coverage across LTE, POC, and 4G frequencies with a maximum range of 10,000 miles, supporting from 1-on-1 private talking up to 200 people per talk-group. They also feature Cross Carrier Redundancy, which allows them to work even when a cell network is down, plus 256-bit AES encryption, which ensures your conversations are always private. They also boast an extended 5-day battery life and support USB-C charging.
Engineered to offer reliable communication across coast to coast, these two-way radios will work in many situations where phones will not, making them perfect for outdoor activities, work sites, and large-scale events.
Here’s our review of the Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie, where we explain how these two-way radios are designed to work and go over the unique features they have to offer you.
DESIGN & SPECS
Starting with the radios’ dimensions, know these two-way radios have a compact form factor, with each radio measuring just 4 inches wide by 1.5 inches thick by 7 inches tall (7.5 inches with the antenna). They’re also fairly lightweight.
More importantly, the radios also feature a durable and rugged design. They pack a very sturdy outer shell that’s built to withstand tough environments and all-weather conditions, as they’re also rated to be water-resistant.
What’s more is that each radio also comes with a belt-clip included for attaching it to your belt.
INTERFACE / CONTROLS
For controlling their operation, these two-way radios feature a very user-friendly interface that makes them easy and straightforward to use.
Starting at the top-right of each radio, we have their dedicated power button. On their front side, there’s an LED display screen, and under it, a six-button pad with a Menu button at the top left, Up and Down arrows at the center (used for cycling through menus and options), an Exit button (i.e. a Backwards function button) at the top right, along with a User Select and Group Select buttons on the bottom left and bottom right.
Integrated at the left of each radio, there’s also a Push-To-Talk (PTT) button and a set of Increase / Decrease Volume buttons.
The radios’ USB-C charging port is located at the base of each radio.
Lastly, integrated at the right side of each radio there’s also an earpiece and data ports (a microphone and speaker ports) that enable you to connect earbuds, hand mics, and other accessories to the radio. (Rapid Radios also sells a headset that works with all of their radios – does not use Bluetooth for privacy reasons).
CONNECTIVITY
When it comes to their connectivity, the Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie are rated to offer nationwide coverage across LTE, POC, and 4G frequencies, ultimately enabling you to talk from one state to another with a maximum range of up to 10,000 miles (16,093.44 km) and with no delay whatsoever.
To achieve this, the company (Rapid Radios) uses every cell carrier across the U.S., including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more, for which these two-way radios also feature Cross Carrier Redundancy, a functionality that allows them to work even when a cell network is down. This means that if a particular cell carrier does not have coverage on your current location, your radio simply swaps to a different one to keep its connectivity.
They also feature advanced Noise Cancellation technology, which ensures crystal clear audio, even in noisy environments
These two-way radios also support different call modes, from 1-on-1 private talking up to 200 people per talk-group.
What’s more is that they also feature 256-bit AES encryption, which ensures your conversations are always private and secure from unauthorized access, meaning that even the government cannot listen to your calls.
Best of all, these two-way radios also require no set up or configuration. They come pre-installed with a SIM card with 1-year of service and already come pre-programmed, so they work right out of the box.
We’d also like to note that these two-way radios can also be used outside the USA (this requires you to fill out a form and the company activates the radios’ respective cellular data service for you).
BATTERY & BATTERY LIFE
For their power, each radio comes equipped with a 3.4V Lithium-Ion battery that offers you an extended battery life of up to 5 days, allowing for all-day use without worrying about frequent recharging.
As for recharging their battery, these two-way radios support USB-C charging. As such, when their battery is running lower on power, you just need to connect their USB-C charger to power and then connect its USB-C charging cable to the radio’s USB-C charging port (located at the base of each radio).
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Inside each package, users will find: one Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie, a detachable battery, a USB-C charger, a belt clip, and a user manual.
PRICING & AVAILABILITY
If you’re interested in purchasing the Rapid Radios Nationwide PTT Walkie-Talkie, know that these two-way radios are available in a 2-Pack, 3-Pack, 4-Pack, or a 6-Pack, with prices ranging starting at $399 for the 2-Pack (discounted from $997) up to $899 for the 6-Pack (discounted from $2,299).
Each purchase comes with a full year of cellular service included. An extra year of service costs $50 per radio per year.
You can order them online, either directly from Rapid Radios’ website, or you can get them from Rapid Radios’ Amazon store.
OTHER PRODUCTS FROM RAPID RADIOS
Rapid Radios Car/Base Unit
The company also sells the Rapid Radios Car/Base Unit, an accessory consisting of a kit of mounting hardware that enables you to mount one of these two-way radios onto your vehicle’s dashboard. Each unit costs $299.
