Types and types of walkie-talkies: how to choose for your needs

A walkie-talkie is not just a "toy" for truckers, but a useful tool for communicating on the road. Imagine a situation: a road, there is no communication, and you need to urgently transmit something to your partner from another car. Or a convoy of trucks, where drivers warn each other about road accidents or traffic police radar. At such moments, car walkie-talkies come to the rescue. Especially if you often travel to mountainous areas where mobile communication is weak. Today, digital radios, which have better sound quality and more functions, are becoming increasingly popular, but more on that later. If you have never used a walkie-talkie or still think that they are all the same - this article is for you. Here it is short, to the point and without unnecessary technical details. Let’s look at the types and types of walkie-talkies, how they differ, and which one to choose for you.

Main types of car walkie-talkies

All car walkie-talkies can be divided into two main types - by the method of signal transmission and by frequency range.

Analog and digital types

Analog types of walkie-talkies are classics. Easy to use, inexpensive, and durable. But they have one drawback: the signal can be distorted, especially in difficult conditions - mountains, cities with many obstacles.

Digital types of radios  are a more modern solution. The sound quality is higher, there is a channel coding function, they are better protected from interference. Such a radio does not "hiss" like the old analog one, and allows you to transmit your voice clearly, almost like on a telephone. They are more expensive, but this is justified if communication is critically important to you.

CB, VHF and UHF

It’s about the frequency range. And here it all depends on where you drive:

• CB (27 MHz) - the most common types. They are often used by truckers. Communication range - up to 10 km in open terrain. Do not require a license. CB radios are suitable for "your friends" on the road - to quickly warn about patrols, repairs, accidents or just to chat on the road. If you need communication for tens of kilometers - then you need a digital radio, a licensed or GSM alternative.
• VHF (136–174 MHz) - work better in rural areas, mountains and on water. Often used in rescue services.
• UHF (400–470 MHz) - ideal for the city. They pass well through buildings and other obstacles.

What to consider when choosing?

Choosing a car radio is not just about "taking the most expensive one". It is worth considering several important details.

• Where do you plan to use it? Urban jungle or a highway across half the country? If you are mostly in the city – take UHF. If you drive on highways – CB. Mountains or villages – VHF.
• Who is your interlocutor. If it is one colleague with the same radio – great. If you want to join the “radio communities" on the highways, where everyone communicates on channel 15 – you need a CB radio. Otherwise, no one will hear you.
• Size and mounting method. There are large stationary units that are built into the car dashboard, and there are compact models that can be hidden in the glove compartment. If mobility is important – take a mini radio.
• Antenna is half the success. The most popular are magnetic antennas that are easy to install and remove. If you want stable communication, it is better to choose a stationary type of walkie-talkie, with installation through the roof or trunk.

Useful walkie-talkie functions that are worth paying attention to

All of them are not mandatory, but sometimes very convenient:

• Noise suppression (SQ or ASQ) - removes background noise.
• Channel scanning - quickly searches for active channels.
• Multichannel - you can switch between several channels.
• VOX function - transmission without pressing a button, just by voice.

How to use a walkie-talkie correctly?

Just having a walkie-talkie is not enough. For high-quality communication, you need to:

• Install the antenna correctly. Height and location matter. Ideally, in the center of the roof.
• Choose the right channel. For example, 15 AM on CB is a classic for the trails.
• Speak clearly and briefly. Remember, there may be other people on the channel.

Who should have a car walkie-talkie?

A car walkie-talkie is not just for truck drivers. It will be useful for those traveling in a group, travelers to the mountains or the forest - where there is no mobile communication, taxi drivers or couriers, and those who work on construction sites or in the field - where other communication is unavailable.

A car radio will not replace a phone, but at a critical moment it can become the only means of communication. Choose it not by price, but by needs. With a properly selected radio, the roads will become not only safer, but also more interesting.