Home > Consumer Reviews > Cobra Microtalk 220 Two-way Radio - Twin Pack Black

Like seemingly all of this type of radio, do not expect to ever find yourself in the perfect conditions required for the 3Km range. Best I have had is about 1Km. That said, I knew this before buying, and find the range very useful and acceptable for my needs. I found battery life, using Duracells, to exceed expectations.

The BIG failing of these radios is the button design;

1. Power - rather than being recessed (good design), the on/off button protudes from the front of the radio (bad design). The curvey case design has the buttons mounted on the 'peaks of the curves' ensuring that if you put this radio in your pocket, a briefcase, the glove compartment of your car, or anywhere else, especially 'with other stuff' it will almost always magically switch itself on. This is a real pain in the neck. When in use a key lock feature ensures that the radio does not so easily get switched off, but this is not functional when the unit is already switched off.

2. Speak - The talk button is on the left hand side of the radio, the channel select button on the right. When holding the radio it is natural to want to balance the pressure of pressing the talk button by also pressing on the opposite side of the radio. This means it is very easy to accidentally press the channel change button when wanting to talk. The talk button also protrudes from the side of the radio, and is too easily pressed by accident when radio is stuck in a pocket etc.

Nice radio features, works well, but ooooh... such a poor case design. A real pity. Would not purchase these again for this reason.

As an installer of Close Circuit Television Systems, I have a need for cheap effective communications when setting up the cameras. I used to use mobile phones (How Expensive?). I had been considering licence free radio and looking at other suppliers, each radio was going to cost me around £150 each. The Cobra twin pack seemed to be an excellent deal.

The radios are very effective up to around a mile, the leaflet with them claims two miles, this may well be true as the range is always quoted in open terrain and with line of sight, not usual in the normal circumstances of my trade.

That said I am very pleased with these radios and they have saved me a great deal of money and time when working on site.

Just as an aside, my Wife and I use them around the home or when out in the local area to keep in touch, now I know when it's time to leave the pub because my dinner is ready!!

Seriously, the radios are good value for money, with an effective range and good performance.

If you need local communications for business or leisure time, buy these radios and you will not be disappointed.

My wife and i go camping quite a lot mainly on the welsh coast.We used to keep in contact by mobile phone mainly at night when visiting the tiolet and as there can be some pretty weird people hanging about.Some times the repeaters were a bit dodgy.Now it costs nothing and use them all the time,even in town etc