Range radios, what are you using?

SND

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Seems like the place to ask.
For you guys running some long range matches, what brand/model radio are you using to talk between the firing line and butts crew?
Cheap consumer grade walkie-talkies, or something more commercial?

thanks
 
When there is just a few of us practicing we use consumer grade walkie talkie however when we have our scheduled events we generally use nicer icomms.
 
Baofengs hands down are the best value, mine are 8 watt can be switched down to 1 watt as well.

FRS radios work well, these are UHF/VHF radios so you need to be responsible on how and where they are operated.

 
I stayed away from the baofeng due to licensing and having various people handling them, didn't want to risk it. Ended up buying a new set of consumer grade Motorola radios, it'll get us through the year. If we can finally go to electronic targets next year it'll solve the radio problem for good, I hope.

thanks
 
Yes, Silver Mountain Targets are the way to go! If you have cell service at the range they will work as well and all but techno peasants have cell phones now, many with unlimited service. If your markers are so bad that you need a constantly open line then they need to learn the proper way to mark, yes they do need to be taught, it's not a born with skill!
 
For years we had the cheap $30 ones from Canadian tie and Walmart.
It seems every match one would crap out for a variety of reasons and we would have to shut down the match and drive to the target butts. Some matches we would lose up to an hour total. Some shooters did not bring more than exactly what they needed for the match and complained that they could not get new sighters after the delays

Last year we researched and ended up with 8 watt commercial Motorola. Not a single problem since as long as the match director did not forget to charge them.

We bought 3 (1 spare), the 3 chargers, backup battery packs that use alkaline batteries (never had to use them once) AND MOST IMPORTANT a plug in hand Mike for the guy at the Butts. We hung it up and when we called he could just grab the dangling Mike and reply. All our RSO's and Match Directors love them.

One the whole set up we spent about $1200 for everything

In hind sight we could have gotten away with 2 if money was tight (as it is for all gun clubs) but we would not change a thing.

We bought them in Calgary and they gave the club a price break

If you want the contact info, PM me
 
Off topic but we've had pretty good luck with Silver Mountain electronic targets. We can sometimes text the butts depending on phones. android to iPhone has lag sometimes.
 
SND we have a bunch of Motorolas obtained from CG Surplus and have bought new batteries, as well as the Vertex units which work fine. Have the software for the Vertex to make sure that we use OK frequencies and you are welcome to use all.

Best regards,

Peter
 
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