Radio communication at a reasonable price

[siquq]

What radios and headsets to you reccomend for back-country mountain use?

The radios are needed for a civilian group hiking trip in mountains next summer. The group will split into 2 squads so that hikers can do the routes they are fit for, and one person will man a base camp. Cell phones are not an option. Satphones will not be useful in the role they will play following the trip..

Following the trip, the radios will be used by the local cadet corps.

So the criteria are:
1. available to civilians
2.hands-free option
3. range 10km

[iacco]

I have tried many handheld radios in mountain operation (as a civilian).
I tend to exclude UHF-VHF band, I prefer HF version (the CB handheld radios).
These radios can reach greater distances, especially in the wood and across some hills (it often happen on mountains). The modern version has the vox (handfree) option and the headset similar to cell phone headset (one headset that fit in the ear plus a "bug" for remote PTT).
I also have made a single headset that just put in the headset the audio out (no microphone/PTT included).
As the radio is always attached to the shoulder strap of the rucksack it is quite easy to press the PTT and work with the built-in microphone.

hope this help

[Herrmannek]

I'm layman here, but from internet research 10km in a difficult terrain is quite a lot for license-free equipment... When both groups/base will be in line of sight it shouldn't be a problem... as iacco said probably handhold CBs would best choice and maybe stationary for the base...

http://www.thetravelinsider.info/2003/0815.htm

[FROGFOOT-MKDN]

Hermannek, just finished reading all 4 parts of the article you posted. Great & informative find & a real eye opener. Thanks a lot.

2 1/2 years ago got a Personal Mobile Radio(PMR), General Electric CE35835 2-way radio, 8 channels,(446.00625-446.09375 MHz). Not bad, but in thick forests, range falls to less than a mile.