Home > Consumer Reviews > Uniden GMR855-2CK 22-Channel 8-Mile GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radios with Charging Cradle (Pair)

As I was recently out in a remote area with a team of 8 people performing a month long task, we needed to communicate. Where we were there was no such thing as "roaming" for our cell phones, but luckily, the town had a Wal-Mart. For 50$ a pair, I decided to buy 2 sets of radios so teams could communicate with each other.

We were out in a mountain range working 2 sites that were approximatley 3 miles apart, and communicating back to a "central" location (a building that we designated as the meeting area in the event all heck broke loose) another mile away. On the whole, we were able to communicate most of the time. It depended on where you were standing a tht esite farthest away and wether or not the person transmitting was using the boost, but for the most part we were able to communicate and I was rather impressed with these little 50 dollar radios.

I could think of a number of applications where these radios would be nice to have (skiing, scuba diving, family trip to the theme park, etc.). Uniden also has the step-up model which has the 'privacy' channels that motorola has, but there was not enough traffic to require sub-channels for privacy. These radios will communicate with the motorolas and with the motorolas that have sub-codes so long as the sub-code is '0'

FCC licensing is required for some of the channels that this radio operates on.

I tested it in the real world. In around the houses and tree and wires it will work about 1 to 1.5 miles. Thats was it at best. In the open with a view of each radio, about 5 miles was it. That was over open water. Maybe if you were on top of a mountain and the other was on top of another mountain at 8 miles away with the power boost-maybe it will go the 8 miles, but i doubt it. But besides that i have used many brands of these radios, and this one seems to be better, for the price. I say if you really need to communicate at a larger distance, use your cell phone-- if you have a signal-HA! Can you hear me now- get it??

Well i have been using these now for a few days. I'm very pleased with them. For the price at walmart they work just fine. A license to run them- ya like who bothers. I see people using them all over without that license. Government is a little nuts asking for a license for a walky-talky.

I purchased the UNIDEN GMR855 about a month ago and for the price they are just great. The range is about 1 3/4 mile in an environment of trees and houses. Beyond that, all I get is nothing, I don't really know if the claim of 8 miles is true as the conditions in an open area may have a lot to do with it. But it beats the old walkie-talkies of the 60s and 70s where you could only reach to you neighbors house across the street and all you would get is a static voice threw the speaker and you still have to make out what the hell they said! The Rechargeable NiMH base is great.... no battery replacement. I do wish they had a VOC microphone feature as like the UNIDEN GMR885. The large menu makes it easy to see. The buttons are nice, large and easy to press. The case is rugged.These radios are great for anyone looking for an affordable communication device with in there average range of a complex environment. I would like to see in the future a true 8 mile 2 way personal radios able to receive threw all conditions! There ya go UNIDEN... a project for ya!

I brought these for my 11 yr old daughter because I felt she was too young for a cell phone. So when we go to the mall, or park, if she's with her friends, they don't have to stay by my side. But the most useful purpose I've found, when we travel caravan, each car has a walkie talkie, and we communicate back and forth with out having to use cell phones. Very handy in areas where phone don't work. These have been very dependable and work with others walkie talkies. We'd have a 6 car caravan and 3 different types of hand sets, all on the same channel and they are excellent communicators.