A walkie talkie gets more convenient when you use it with your family and friends for indoor and outdoor activities. You can use it when you’re going out on a picnic, hike, or a beach. You can also use it for communication with your friends when you go out for a road bike. The list goes on for walkie-talkie because it’s your perfect companion for going out. Besides, it’s the preferred device for emergencies.
So if you’re looking for a walkie-talkie that does these all, Motorola T260 is the first on your checklist. Let’s head on to see if this is for you.
Specs
- Brand: Motorola
- Range: 25 miles
- Power output: 0.5-1.5 Watts
- Frequency ranges: 462-467 MHz (FRS/GMRS)
- Battery: NiMH rechargeable battery or 3 AA Alkaline batteries
- Size: 6.42 x 2.13 x 1.24 inches
- Weight: 0.4 lb
- Waterproof: no
- License needed: yes, if GMRS channels will be used (FCC license)
Scope of Delivery
The package includes 2 Motorola T260 radios, 1 “Y” Cable Charger with dual micro-USB connectors, two belt clips, 2 NiMH rechargeable battery packs, and a User Guide.
The radio is lightweight and compact, which is perfect for a walkie-talkie. It has finger-sized control and buttons which are easy to use. I can get a good grip on Motorola T260. It is suitable for bringing it with you to a camp or hike with your family and friends.
Walkie talkies generally use a NiMH Battery, and Motorola T260 is not an exception. The battery life is quite decent since it can last up to 12 hours. It also comes with a “Y” cable charger with micro-USB connectors that you can connect to a charging unit.
A heads up, the user guide provides the same information for the rest of the Motorola T2xx series, so don’t get confused.
Setup
The setup for Motorola T260 is the same for all T200 series. Installing a battery is easy since you only have to remove the belt clip before removing the battery cover. After that, turn on the device to start. The user manual contains everything you need to know. It doesn’t have too many controls, which is easy to familiarize with once you read the manual. Make sure to learn everything you need on the device before you use it.
Waterproof
Motorola T260 is not waterproof. It’s advertised as perfect for a family outing, picnic, hiking, biking, emergencies, and beach. A word of advice, limit using it for water activities as it might damage the radio when you drop it in water.
Power Source
Motorola T260 has a dual battery feature. It uses a NiMH rechargeable battery and 3AA Alkaline Battery. You can power it with a rechargeable NiMH battery, which lasts up to 12 hours. It has quite a short battery life for a walkie talkie. Always bring a charger with you if your area has a charger unit as the battery might run out faster.
However, if you don’t want to bring a charger with you, the 3AA Alkaline Battery is the best option. The radio can last up to 29 hours, which is perfect if you’re staying overnight in a location. Please take note that it’s disposable, so once it runs out, you won’t be able to use it again.
Range
It ranges up to 25 miles in an open field or a mountain to valley setting. If used on open water, it can reach up to 6 miles. When you use it within your neighborhood, the reach is up to 1 mile. The range can be affected by terrain, weather, electromagnetic interference, and obstructions. It reduces when one of these factors is tampered, especially in real-life conditions.
Although the power output for Motorola T260 is not available, I tested it myself. The maximum output it can transmit is 1.5 watts when used in GMRS channels, which is quite average.
Frequencies
Motorola T260 broadcasts Family Radio Service (FRS) channel and the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) channel. If you want to use both channels, you’ll need a license, especially when using GMRS. It has a frequency range of 462-467 in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band. It has an extensive frequency, suitable for any outdoor activities.
It has 22 channels each and 121 privacy codes with 2,662 combinations, so it’s easy to find an available channel if you want to communicate with your buddy privately.
Features
The Motorola T260 is a walkie-talkie suited for outdoor adventure. Bring it with you to communicate with your friends and family and get informed on weather alerts.
It covers up to 25 miles under ideal conditions with open area, mountain, or valley. Its frequency range is 462-467 MHz on the UHF band for both FRS and GMRS channels.
- Dual-battery feature :
- You can use a NiMH rechargeable battery to enjoy using it for up to 12 hours or a 3 AA Battery for 29 hours.
- NOAA Weather Alerts:
- Tune in to 11 weather channels to notify if there’s upcoming bad weather in your area.
- Find Channels Available:
- It has a scanning feature to know which channels are available from a selection of 22 channels and 121 privacy codes
- Radio Compatibility:
- Regardless of what brand others are using, you can communicate with them on both FRS and GMRS radios as long as you have the same channel and privacy codes
- Auto-Squelch:
- keeps the radio silent if there’s no signal
- Backlit Display
- Low battery indicator
- Keypad Lock Feature
- Timer
- 20 Call Tones including talk confirmation tone
- iVOX/VOX:
- enjoy hassle-free communication without touching the device
The features are perfectly designed for hiking, camping, or going to the beach. Also, it has both FMS and GMRS channels, which requires you to have a license. The battery life is relatively low, so it’s okay if you have a back-up charger or battery.
Price
Motorola T260 is available for $45.95 on Amazon, which is quite affordable for what it provides. Compared to its other competitors, it’s a steal, especially if you’re considering using it for family and outdoor activities.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Dual battery feature
- iVOX/VOX hands-free feature is a plus for its affordability
- Compact and lightweight
- FMS and GMRS channels are available
- Affordable
Cons
- Not waterproof – unsafe when you’re engaged in water sports or activities
- Relatively low battery life for NiMH battery
- Low to a decent power output of 1.5W
Conclusion – Motorola T260 Review
The Motorola T260 is a good option if you’re planning to buy your first walkie-talkie. It has essential functions like iVOX/VOX feature to get ready for unexpected weather changes and emergencies.
It’s easy to use because it has few controls and buttons to use. It’s handy, so it’s a perfect device for light packers. If you use it for extreme and water activities, it will damage the device. Make sure to bring an extra battery with you for a back-up because it has no battery saver feature. Overall, it’s your average walkie-talkie with all the functions you need. It’s also a steal for the price.
View on Amazon*FAQ
Where can I find a manual for the Motorola T260TP?
To know more about how to use Motorola T260, you can refer to their official User Manual.
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Comparisons with this Walkie Talkie
Something important to understand when reading the cons regarding power output. This radio transmits on part 95 radio channels. These radio channels have power limits imposed by federal law. Channels 8-14 are limited to ½ of one watt, channels 1-7 and 15-22 are limited to 2 watts ERP.
It looks like Motorola chose to split the difference in favor of greater battery life. In the best of circumstances, the most you could transmit on some of these channels is 2 watts. So, the question really is how useful do you want these radios to be?
A 12-hour life span is really not that bad considering Motorola makes $10,000 radios with the same battery life when used with a standard battery. In comparison, this radio is basically $25 dollars. Hope this helps shine a light on what you are getting for your money. All in all, not a bad radio for the money.