Motorola T200 vs T400

When it comes to family vacations, field trips, outdoor activities, etc., keeping in touch with your group is essential for a safe and successful trip. That’s because the safety of those who are with us is more critical than ever.

Walkie-talkies are small devices that can come highly convenient, which you can resort to when operating in areas with weak cell phone service. Besides, security personnel, events staff, and weather correspondents find handheld radios useful, especially for instant broadcasting and range capabilities.

Furthermore, despite the prevalence of smartphones and the internet, walkie-talkies are still in the game. Not only do they provide industrial and security with secure and handy communication channels, but these small devices have exceptional features that set them apart from mobile phones and more massive stationary radios.

With that, we will review two of the popular Motorola walkie-talkies and find out which suits your needs: the Motorola T200 or the T400 variant.

Comparison – Motorola T200 vs. T400

Set up

To start with, you can power up the Motorola T200 and Motorola T400 with rechargeable or alkaline batteries. Setting them up is as easy as plugging in the batteries and holding the power button. In a second, you can instantly choose one of 22 channels and communicate seamlessly.

I find the two walkie-talkies as excellent radio devices for amateurs and outdoor enthusiasts, all because of its hassle-free and effortless configuration and operation.

Motorola T200 and T400 also come with their dedicated micro-USB chargers, client’s manual, NiMH rechargeable batteries, and a pair of the Motorola radios themselves. You can follow the client’s manual, which is included in the package, to scan and select a list of channels.

Besides, as long as you tune both devices on the same frequency, you shouldn’t experience any issues communicating with each other.

Both devices are also compatible with third-party walkie-talkies, as long as they communicate on a single channel and the same Interference Elimination Code to communicate with each other. Thus, you can sync three or more people with different walkie-talkies on the same channel and communicate effortlessly.

 

Waterproof

Motorola T200 has a remarkably compact design. And while Motorola hasn’t released any waterproof or IP rating for this device, the T200 is still reliable for general outdoor and indoor use. For small to medium-scale events, activities, and monitoring, Motorola T200 won’t let you down.

On the other hand, the Motorola T400 has a waterproof body and is IP-rated to withstand dampening rain and snow. Its resistance to different weather conditions makes it ideal for weather services, and it comes with a channel committed to the National Weather Service. Hence, users have quick access to weather forecasts at all times. However, I don’t recommend soaking your handheld radios wet, as it is a bad idea even for most other walkie-talkies.

 

Power source

The Motorola T200 is compatible with three (3) AAA rechargeable or disposable alkaline batteries, while the T400 is powered by three (3) AA batteries. You can recharge the included lithium batteries via the micro USB charging adapter included in the package.

For T200, the NiMH batteries that come with the package can last up to 12 hours, but using alkaline batteries can make the radios usable for up to 29 hours. The T400 will last up to ten (10) hours if you use NiMH rechargeable batteries, but if you want to use the alkaline batteries, that will give you an extended battery power for about 26 hours.

If you want to go camping, hiking, skiing, etc., better pack both NiMH and AA batteries, so you could use the radio 24/7.

 

Range

The Motorola T200 and Motorola T400 can both reach up to 20 to 50 Miles. Keep in mind that noise, topology, weather conditions, buildings, and vegetation impact frequency range.

The Motorola T200 can reach up to 20 miles if you operate it under ideal conditions, such as clear or fewer barriers along the line of sight and under excellent weather conditions. The radio is also reliable to work within an open and vast area.

The most significant feature of the Motorola T400 is that it can reach up to 35 miles given under the best conditions. When in open water, the extended power of the radio can offer you around six (6) miles. If you utilize it inside the city or urban areas, where concrete buildings encompass you, it can provide you with more than two (2) miles of broadcast range.

Ideally, both devices will work seamlessly on an unhampered landscape, but that’s not the case for most applications. The actual range may fluctuate in noisy areas and is usually not as much as indicated in the specifications. That’s because your device’s operational range will significantly depend on the domain, climate conditions, and deterrents.

 

Frequencies

Both Motorola T200 and Motorola T400 have 22 channels and 121 privacy codes. These frequencies come with Media, Family Radio Services (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Services (GMRS).

Motorola T200 and Motorola T400 have 121 protection codes, permitting you to locate an open channel. You can get the NOAA climate channels using the T400 radio, which is vital for accurate weather forecasts and nearby crises. The Motorola T200 and T400 will secure you with a private and hands-free network.

Keep in mind that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires a Ham Radio License for you to use some channels. As a guide, Channel 1 to 14 are for family use and don’t need a permit. On the other hand, channels 15 to 22 are GMRS frequencies and require a license to tune in.

 

Features

In general, walkie-talkie works similarly but differently from many perspectives. First, let’s try to look for a Motorola T200. This walkie-talkie offers the following features:

• Two ways to power your radio. (NiMH rechargeable batteries and AA batteries)
• 22 channels with 121 privacy codes
• In a second, you will find the channel through its scanning features
• Low battery alert
• Personalize ringtones. You can choose among the twenty (20) call tones that are available on the radio
• Eco Smart
• Compatible with any radio brand, as long as it tunes to the same frequency and privacy codes
• Auto Squelch features
• Keypad Locks

On the other hand, Motorola T400 radio features:

• Weatherproof design to protect from dust, rain, and snow
• NiMH Batteries and AA Batteries you can use with this radio
• Auto Squelch Features
• Keypad Locks
• VOX (Voice Operated Exchange)
• A light source which is essential in case of an emergency
• Built-in LED light use for emergency lighting.
• QT (Quiet Talk)
• You can customize ringtones using ten (10) audible tones.
• PTT (Power-To-Talk) Power Boost
• Still, you can communicate with other brand radios together with the same codes and channel.

To sum it up, the Motorola T200 and T400 often have similarities in features. Moreover, you can easily personalize call tones with T200 and T400.

Additionally, both devices also come with a squelch feature to reduce unwanted noise to keep the speaker silent when nobody is speaking on the line. Further, you can secure both devices with keypad locks to ensure that nobody can switch channels by accident.

Motorola T400 has a Voice Operated Exchange (VOX) function, which acts as a speakerphone and facilitates hands-free communication. Besides, the T400 variant has Quiet Talk Functioning, which is useful when using the walkie-talkie in the middle of a massive crowd or a busy street. In terms of features, Motorola T400 stands out with a few more capabilities to allow a seamless and clean communication that filters background noise so you can speak without disturbances.

 

Price

You can purchase a Motorola T200 two-pack for roughly $39.99. But in case you need a third radio, some retail stores sell three-packs for around $70.

Moreover, Motorola T400 costs around $60 to $70 a pair, which considerably costs more than the T200 variant given its advanced features. Basing on their prices, I find the T400 variant more cost-effective than its predecessor. Not because it’s more costly, but it has unique features that are worth the price.

 

Conclusion – Motorola T200 vs Motorola T400

Motorola is known for its heavyweight work in the field of correspondence, with walkie-talkies manufactured for business, associations, and specialists who need to be on-call around the world. Motorola is also known for its user-friendly radios, and both devices are the perfect examples.

The Motorola T200 and Motorola T400 are useful devices you can use as a companion for camping, hiking, and industrial communication purposes. When it comes to two-way communication, both Motorola devices offer similar and unique features that you can use in general broadcast use or emergencies.

In setting them up, you need to install the batteries first right out of the box and tune both devices in the same frequency and privacy code after powering them on, and after that, you’re good to go. Using these devices can be effortless for most beginners and amateur radio operators. Besides, you can even have your children try and use this product for playtime.

For HAM radio amateurs and family use, Motorola T200 is an excellent choice, thanks to its lightweight and comfortable build. Motorola T200 lets you keep in touch with your team, thanks to its range capacity. Whether you’re in the play area, during an outdoor excursion, on security duty, or only looking around town, this device should come in handy.

But if you’re looking for a broader range and functionality, the T400 should be the cost-efficient device for you. Aside from its range capacity, its noise filtering and hands-free communication make it a better choice for outdoor communication. Motorola T400 also has a low and high volume Push-To-Talk button, which controls the volume of your voice. It has a great exterior design that is solid and simple to hold.

Motorola T400 has a more excellent build quality and is also cost-efficient. With its compact design, it can withstand general shocks and drops. Depending on your budget and needs, both Motorola T200 and T400 have unique features for seamless and reliable communication.

View the Motorola T200 on Amazon* View the Motorola T400 on Amazon*