Product Description

With these Motorola T8500R Two-Way Radios, you'll be able to have conversations up to an amazing 18 miles away. The Motorola T8500R two-way radio delivers clear voice transmission and NOAA weather alerts. The iVOX hands-free tehcnology lets you stay in touch without having to manually operate the radio. VibraCall makes the radio vibrate when you recieve a transmission and the LCD display lets you see the radio even in pitch blackness. iVOX voice activation -- talk hands-free, with or without optional accessories Ten audible call tones LCD backlit display Keypad lock Audible tone and visual display alert Timer automatically turns off radio VibraCall alert - vibrates to let you know someone is calling Includes blue extra faceplates, for customizing your radio's look 3 AA alkaline batteries supply up to 32 hours' talk time NiMH battery supplies up to 11 hours of talk time

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8520 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Orange
• Brand: Motorola
• Model: T8500R
• Dimensions: 1.00" h x 2.00" w x 8.00" l, 3.00 pounds

Features

• Up to 18 mile range*
• 11 weather channels with alert feature
• iVOX hands-free communication
• 22 channels, each with 121 privacy codes
• VibraCall¿ vibrating alert

Customer Reviews

Horrible reception
We got these because one of our older radios broke. The reception was poor, we tested many different channels and it was very difficult to hear someone only 50 feet away. Our older radio (the one still working) had clear reception and clairty. We were very disappointed as we purcased these for a family road trip for which we caravaned. We would have been better off just using cell phones or writing notes and holding them out the window. We are not technically challenged so I don't think it was an "end-user-error". I would like to return these but my husband wants to keep figuring out why they don't work well. Vibrate feature didn't work consistently after setting it up a few times. Why 2 stars, the design is nice.

Great radio with one flaw
The T8500's ONLY flaw, is the compander circuit (new to 2007?), which is 'supposed to' improve communication. But as other's have stated, it makes it much more difficult to hear the other T8500, but you can make out other radios NOT using that circuitry quite well. (in other words, they're more compatable with older models that with each other). If you're not speaking very loudly and consistently into the mic, it chops out your conversation at times. Too bad, as the rest of the radio is very nice in all ways and features.

After more extensive testing, I have found these to have greater range/sensitivity than my other models (3/4 mile outside at best so far with hills and trees to overcome).

I would recommend using 2500mah NiMH rechargeables to get a week's worth of daily use rather than the included batteries. It seems also that these have better battery life than previous models.

Ergonomically, the radio has good buttons and tactile feedback, and the vibration is a nice feature. Backlight on the display is far better than others. Keep in mind these are manufactured by another company under license from Motorola, and I miss having the higher quality clips that come with the genuine commercial grade radios. I hope they remove the compander circuit or make it optional in future models. 4 stars would be the best I could give this radio, 5 without the 'x-pand' technology.

Disappointed
We just bought these yesterday, charged them up and decided to try it out in the house (read instructions too). I was a good 50+ feet away with doors closed and I could JUST make out my husband if I strained my ears enough. The reception on his end with cutting my voice out and he heard a lot of static.

Not worth the price we paid, we'll be returning it asap.