Home > Consumer Reviews > Cobra GMRS Two-Way Radio (PR9502DX)

I have another set of Cobra FRS radios which I think are great. This new addition to the Cobra GMRS/FRS group is really outstanding. It has smart looks, easy to operate controls, good fidelity and the ability to change from 500mw to 2 watts, depending on the channel selected and whether you wish to save battery juice.
There are some other "bells and whistles" like 10 different ringing sounds, including a "Vibra Alert", power indicators, signal strength (incoming & outgoing), belt clip, carry strap....jeez, what else could you ask for and only [price] a pair?
The range is typical for these products, which really depends on the terrain (4+ miles in the open, about 3 ish on highways [car to car] and about 2 miles or a bit less in crowded streets). Remember, the higher one is the better when using UHF "line of sight transmissions. I was parked in an underground lot the other day (under cement and steel, etc) and had to coordinate picking up my wife....even though we were, at one point, separated by 2 floors, about 1/3 of a mile and lots of cubic feet, these Cobras still did the needful and kept us in contact while I negotiated my way out of the... parking garage. This deal has to be a "no brainer."

I have always used Cobra FRS/GMRS products, so, yes, I am a bit biased. That said, this new product is spectacular! These FRS/GMRS radios look great, sound great and work great! Lots of features, many buttons to press (always a plus for me!), range that is within advertised distances [assuming or using the product in an ideal environment] and a great price for performance/quality, etc.
With these radios you can choose hi/lo power to conserve battery juice, go the "full Monty" and ask for 2 watts to get maximum range, hear your "other half" clearly and save big bucks over "professional" models. Really folks, when you and a spouse or friend goes out into the town and wants to stay in touch for any number of reasons, realistically you are NOT going to be apart more than about a mile or so (unless you are hiking the Yukon!)...so 2-way radios that enable you to stay in touch reliably within these distances are a godsend....and the Cobra 950's do that easily. You cannot beat the price/performance ratio. Invest in some rechargable NiMH batteries and you no longer have to pay 10-20c a minute for a cell phone when going shopping in a mall or visiting a museum or taking a car caravan...this is the best deal around, bar none!

I must say I was very impressed with the 950DX Radio. This is the first radio I have had where I did not get excessive static while talking. I tried another brand, instead of sticking with Cobra, and I will never do that again. I live in a woody and hilly area and the reception is still good, even from a couple miles away. I would definitely recommend these radios to anyone.

I was very impressed with the range of these radios. Other radios I tested also claimed to have a 5 mile range, and while they ALL failed to reach even four miles in perfect conditions, these radios managed to reach a respectable 3 miles while maintaining understandable transmissions. I was also impressed with the voice clarity of these radios. I was able to transmit without over exaggerating my speech and pronunciation. I had already bought different manufacturers radios and was highly disappointed. I had almost decided to give up on hand held radios all together until I found these puppies. I am very happy with this purchase, however, there are some things that could be improved upon. I would have preferred some kind of rubberized body to help protect against dropping or banging the radio, however they are pretty sturdy compared to most. I would also have preferred a charger base as opposed to plugging each individual radio into a separate wall outlet. Setting them in a charger base looks more professional than having radios lying everywhere charging up. Overall these radios are well worth the money and will give considerably higher priced GMRS radios a run for their money.

the models that brag to go many more miles!

I have tested more than a few and have not found even the 14 mile ones go more than 2 country miles! These are crisp and clear, go just as far as all the others, yet were about 75% less in cost. This is a strange industry with even the 17 mile range ones being sold now and STILL don't really ever get past a few miles. I live in the country, so my testing would likely be generous. These Cobras work as well as any of the others I have tested, including one pair of $100 ones! Enjoy the bargain. I got mine reconditioned for 19.99 and they are terrific! The company sent an immediate e-mail with tracking...good customer serivce.

Nice bells and whistle features, though what I really just wanted was clarity. I knew nothing would go the mileage bragged about, but these seem to be the best. Enjoy!