Spend a very little more for a significantly better radio

Ok, so it's not a terrible radio. I purchased my pair back in summer 2000. At the time I was very happy with them but as of late wanted more range and clairity. I decided to try some of the the newer GMRS radios. Took back a set of audiovox from Wal-Mart ($70). I think they were model # 1100. Came in a pack of two. I was surprised to realize that my little old Midlands were able to interface out to about .75mi. This was in a residential area, relatively flat, good amount of trees and some two story houses. This was also as far as the "new" technology GMRS units were good to. The newer radios did have a more clear voice on the end of them. Not less staticky. I hope this makes sense. Basically, the voices were "clearer" through the same amount of static on the newer radios.

Never-the-less, a little clearer for $70 went back to the store.

Now I'm comparing them to a pair of Cobra GMRS units from Office Depot, model PR-950-2 DX ($80 on sale from $90). These radios are significantly clearer at .5W output than either of the other two radios. Boosting output power to 2W helped only a little and could maybe get me another .25mi ( 1mi. total range) under the same neighborhood conditions.

Needless to say, at this point I'm not all that impressed with the 2W range of the newer GMRS radios. I might try one of the Motorolla GMRS units next to see how it stands up.

I'm not sure if you can even find this radio on the market anymore. I do have to say that after playing with a few different types of radios that a "knob" volume control/on-off is absolutely superior to the newer digital button control types. Finer control and easier to operate.