Long Range Walkie Talkie

It was only a matter of time before some enterprising engineer came up with the idea to add GPS capability into a walkie talkie to make a fully functional GPS walkie talkie.  GPS technology is being incorporated into smart phone apps for iPhones, Palm Pre, Blackberry and other manufacturers.  The whole idea behind most of the innovations in extending the range of GMRS walkie talkies is to be able to communicate no matter where you are to keep from getting separated or lost while camping, hunting, hiking, back packing or just enjoying the outdoors.  Adding GPS functionality makes having a GPS walkie talkie a great thing for your outdoor activities.

Typing in “GPS walkie talkie” into Google netted me over six hundred thousand hits (605,000) and one of the first was Garmins entry into the GPS walkie talkie market from 2007.  Standard GPS systems give you your current location, what direction you are headed, your current speed and the approximate time to your destination.  Most systems offer you a base set of maps and a way to set your route, save stop points along the way and if you have a more deluxe model – turn by turn directions.

If you are a fan of the various Garmin GPS devices around then you probably will like the Rino Series of GPS walkie talkies from Garmin.  The Rino 110 has twenty two channels (fifteen in GMRS and seven in FRS).  You have a maximum range of two miles in FRS mode and five miles in GMRS mode.  The Rino 100 has thirty eight squelch codes for each channel to provide somewhat private communication.  Another feature is the ability to send your exact GPS coordinates to another Rino user.

The 500 series Rino GPS walkie talkie sets are the top of the line answer to most of the problems faced out in the country.  These sets retail between four hundred fifty ($449.99) and five hundred ($499.99) dollars.  The Rino 500 series is rated IPX7 or waterproof in three meters of water for up to thirty minutes.  This is exceptionally valuable for any kind of backcountry trip or guide who offers boating, kayaking, canoeing or fishing trips.  Dropping any electronic device into water is a recipe for disaster but the Rino 520 and 530 can get wet at any time and still work like a champ.  The 530 gives you the added bonus of an NOAA radio for weather alerts.

GPS Walkie Talkie GPS Walkie Talkie