These actually transmit over 2 miles!

First off let me say this...I really hate reading a review without having any clue to WHEN the review was written and HOW MUCH someone else paid for the item I'm reading about. So...it's July 14th, 2005. And I paid $39 for these radios. Now, on to my review.

Our family has used a few different models and brands of 2-way radios over the past decade. Some I've thought were pretty good. Others I've thought were very poor.
As you by now realize, when the package advertises the radios have a range of up to 2 miles, or 5 miles, or 8 miles...that the operative words here are "UP TO".
It in no way means that you should go out and expect to talk to your cousin in his house four miles away. I have read that MAYBE if you are in a boat in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico you MIGHT be able to talk to another boat six miles away. But let's face it. Most of us probably buy these 2-way radios to keep track of our wife or husband as they run into Walmart. That way we can say, "How much longer are you going to be?" Or, "Hey, don't forget to buy toothpaste!".
Or, when your wife wants to walk down to the beach while you're on vacation, leaving you at the condo to watch the new baby. You can call her and say, "Ok, it's my turn to go for a walk. Please come back pronto!" Well, you get the idea.
So, our last pair of radios worked fairly well. They were Cobra brand and advertised up to 6 mile range. When we took them to the fairgrounds, or to a small town parade and fireworks event they came in handy. We could communicate clearly but only up to maybe 1/4 - 1/2 mile. I figured this was normal for a $35 pair of radios.
Well, one of those radios stopped working properly so we decided it was time to buy another pair. I had tried Unidens. (didn't like them) I had tried Audiovox. (didn't care for them either) I had used Cobras. They were pretty good. The fit in the hand was nice. The menu and controls were easy to use.
I checked on epinions for reviews and found that there really aren't a lot of reviews for 2-way radios. I guess not as many people use them as I had imagined. But through Google and epinions I found that Cobra and Motorola seemed to be the leaders as far as ratings by consumers.
I stopped at our local Target store and opted for the Motorola T5000R radios. The "R" implies that it's the same as the T5000 except that it includes rechargeable battery packs and a charger unit.
Upon opening the package at home I set up the charger and charged the radios for about 24 hours. (the instructions simply say to charge "at least" 16 hours prior to first use). After charging I took one radio in the car and gave the other to my 8 yr old son. He stayed at home on the screened porch while I drove away from the house.
Our Cobra radios would work okay until I got a little past the creek bridge which is about 1/3 mile from our home.
The Motorolas were still strong and clear at this location. I continued driving. (through tall mid-July Illinois cornfields) At the 1 mile point on my odometer I stopped and talked. Still clear and strong. I arrived at the first rural intersection which is about 1.5 miles from our home.
While seated inside the car I could still hear clearly but there was noticeable background static. Not overwhelming, just noticeable. When I stepped out of the car the communication was very clear. I drove to the 2 mile point and checked again. Now the signal was weakening, but I was still thrilled that these radios were working at all from this distance. I've never had 2-ways that worked more than 1/2 mile in the past.
Back into the car. I drove to the T intersection at the highway which is 3 miles from my house. I stopped and got out of the car. I called my son. No answer. I called again. No answer. Then I heard him ask, "are you at 3 miles yet?" I responded to him, but no answer. I later learned that even though I heard him clearly, yet with background static, he had not heard me.
Back at the 2.5 mile range I was able to talk with him again.
I won't go into great detail about the workings of the radio. I've only had them a couple days and I really haven't played with them much, other than the car-to-home test I just described. But I can tell you that there are 5 different call tones to choose from. The call tone alerts your other radio holder that you want their attention.
I can also tell you that the menu is very easy to work through and set the personal settings.
I'll also mention that there is a belt clip. The clip stays on your belt and you push a release button to pop the radio off the clip to use it. Then you snap the radio back onto the clip when you're done.
But I believe that if you're looking at reviews of 2-way radios your biggest concern is probably how far will they communicate. And you probably want an honest answer, not a guesstimate.
Well I can tell you from our test in the car through the cornfields that the Motorola T5000 should afford you a range of roughly 2 to 2.5 miles of clear communication outside of vehicles and buildings. You're probably okay to expect 1 to 1.5 miles between vehicles or buildings.
If you're shopping for a 2-way radio for family use I'd say these are a great buy.