Have a pair of Midland X-track Talkies, that are rated for 20 miles, but when out on bike, inside helmets, on level ground, no obstructions....not even a mile range! Do any of you, have any advice? Will be using them on trails, up north, Michigan, with many hills, uneven terrain, in forests. Gods country lol Was hoping to find a pair for under $100, voice actuated, or would push to talk work better? Thanks, Steve

 

Have you tried attaching the part that has the antenna to your helmet? This small units have tiny antennas that all but dissapear when stuck in a shirt pocket. If kept exposed like being attatched to a helmet would stretch the range some. Most mfgrs of walkie talkie equipment advertise the range over water where nothing blocks the signal. On land anything and everyrhing works to block the signal path. There are some companies that make two radios for off road use but the good ones have up high vehicle mounted antennas. Also much more powerfull signal strength to fight thru the forces of mother nature. Keep in mind that mother nature in mich now carrys a buzz from the legal wacky weed so she can fight back even stronger. Unfortunately these super powered units require your first born as a down payment and a ten year mortgage to afford them. All said they to will have a limited range depending on what mother nature throws at them! Anything that truely works well, we probably cant afford..so....try experimenting with the units you have and see if a longer range can be had.

 

The units I have are super clear, and I have driven 1 1/2 - 2 miles with signal, just starting to fade, so if I could boost the signal outside of helmet a bit....a very good idea there, sir! let's me see's what I can find's....

 

My antenna won't unscrew to add a longer antenna. They got extensions on ebay, but how do you connect, like youtube shows doing theirs?

 

what if the walkie talkie itself with antenna is mounted to your helmet, would that get the antenna up and out in the open?

 

it's the newer plastic type antenna made solid in unit, no metal exposed, but a few different units, I just searched, when I checked for antenna attachments, allows their talky antenna to be removed/replaces with a cable attached to a metal antenna that could then be placed anywhere, possible side of helmet, but I would need to buy that type of talky to attach it to, for more then my budget allows lol I might take the thing apart and wire up my own wire to antenna and see if I get better coverage

 

If you just attached the unit at high u p as possible on your helmet with the same on the other guy would that help?

 

I don't know, I give up, its way too complicated, after just watching youtube where you need to solder a bunch of stuff together, to get different frequencies. exact gauge wire, different testers, my heads still reeling trying to make sense of it all, i'll just have to stay within 5' of you, when out on the trails, so we can stay within range lol 10-4 good buddy....come on!

 

I've seen radios with a single screw inside holding the antenna in them. If you're not afraid to crack one open you can take a look. Then you could hook up whatever kind of antenna you wanted. An antenna mounted on the rack like a whip flag would boost the range. Just keep in mind how tree branches shred flags that are too tall. Mine almost lasted half a trip.

 

Have you ever tried hooking up a single wire to talkie talkies, and if so did it get you better range in miles? I was ready to do that yesterday until I watched youtube where there soldiering iod's and dioads and....my O, my O's had me so confused and decided not to even try anything, what have you tried?