Cobra microTALK PR 255-2 VP 10-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)

by Cobra

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.2 x 3 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000EQ0R1C
• Item model number: PR-255/2VP
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Product Description

Up to 10 mile range

Roger Beep

22 channels

38 eliminator codes

836 privacy combinations

Backlit LCD display

Call alert feature

Battery/power saver

Battery low indicator

Sold only in pairs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Noisy keytones ruined these radios for me, July 4, 2006

By 

Lucky Strike (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cobra microTALK PR 255-2 VP 10-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) (Electronics)

I bought these radios for use during a camping trip. I liked the fact that they can receive all 10 NOAA Weather channels, and for me the price was right. In retrospect, I should have spent just a little more money, because there are a couple of serious issues with these radios.

First and foremost, the keytones are EXTREMELY loud, whereas the audio is rather quiet. Adding to the problem is the fact that increasing the audio level also increases the loudness of the keytones. Every key produces the same harsh tone, including the backlight key! What's worse is there is no built-in way to disable the keytones (but I did find somewhat of a fix - read below). So in otherwords, you have to put up with a lot of unneccessary ruckus to get your radio turned on, set it to the right channel, adjust the audio level, etc. When out in the almost dead quiet and pitch black of night deep in the woods, I found the keytones an utter nuissance and a dead giveaway of your presence if you are trying to keep things on the down-low. The "Roger beep" is also disproportionately loud, but thankfully that can be set to either ON or OFF.

The other problem I found with these radios is that their battery life is what I would consider quite poor when using privacy codes. Batteries will definitely last longer for you if you leave the code set to 0, which means NO privacy.

Aside from those two issues, I found that these radios will get the job done for not much money. Their range was surprisingly good, and the weather band reception was decent. You don't get many channels or privacy codes, however, but you do get a pretty decent pair of weather radios. If privacy and keeping quiet are important to you, look for nicer radios.

[To fix the keytone problem, you have to carry a small 1/8" adapter with you. For example, an 1/8" male to RCA female adapter, or the cut-off plug from a broken pair of headphones will do. By plugging something into the headset jack, the built-in speaker ceases to function, allowing you to adjust the radio silently. Then when you are ready to talk, remove the adapter. This is a pain to deal with, but if you are stuck with these radios and want to keep quiet, this is at least one way to deal with the noise.]

5.0 out of 5 stars Flawless, November 23, 2009

By 

Tennessee (Tennessee (where else?)) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cobra microTALK PR 255-2 VP 10-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) (Electronics)

Purchased for a elk hunting trip in Colorado. Walkie-talkie worked flawlessly at 5 miles in heavy terrain. Big bang for the buck!

3.0 out of 5 stars For the money..., October 20, 2009

By 

SirVayza "SirVayza" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cobra microTALK PR 255-2 VP 10-Mile 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair) (Electronics)

The Cobra PR-255 is a decent radio for the beginner, or novice who isn't looking to work covertly or use them over a distance of 2 miles.

They're rated for a 10 mile range, but in my personal tests I found their maximum range to be closer to 4 miles in open, unobstructed, clear areas. Battery life is claimed to be at 8 hours, however with regular use over the course of a day, they'll last (typically) about 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours. Not bad, I've used worse. To alleviate this, I put in different rechargeable batteries (these radios come with a 300 mAh rated batteries), I use 2500 mAh batteries and they work much longer. The drawback to this is you need to purchase a separate battery charger because the charger that comes with the radios is not designed for use with anything greater than the 300 mAh rated battery.

In a nutshell, not terrible, not great, and definitely worth the money (if less than $30.) Oh, and they do work very well on construction sites. 3 out of 5