Motorola T6200 series Walkie-Talkies  

Smallest three AA battery walkie-talkies I've ever seen.
It isn't newest of Motorola Talkabout two-way radios, introduced in January 2001 at Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Price ranging from US$75.99 to $134.99 per radio at time of introduction. The Radio is well designed and well built.

Features:

• FRS 14 Channels with 38 CTCSS codes
• GMRS/FRS 22 Channels with 38 CTCSS codes (T6520 only)
• 500mW Radio output (1Watt GMRS on T6250)
• Weather Radio & Alert (T6220/8ch. T6250/7ch.)
• VibraCall Alert (except T6200)
• 5 Call tones (additional 5 on T6220 & T6250)
• Channel Scan with CTCSS detection
• VOX Hands Free operation with accessories
• QuieT6000™ Interference Reducer
• Roger beep & Keypad tone with on/off options
• LED Operation Indicator
• Auto Power Off (0~8Hrs)
• Signal Level Meter (press & hold Monitor key)
• Battery Level Indicator
• Audible Low Battery Warning
• Backlit LCD Display
• Keypad Lock
• All Electronic Control
• Weather Resistant Body
• Flexible Antenna
• 2.5mm Single pin Accessory Jack
• Rechargeable Battery ready
• 3 AA batteries or Ni-MH rechargeable battery pack operation.
  

Dimensions  & Weight:

• 98mm x 56mm x 33mm / 3.86" x 2.20" x 1.32" (HxWxD excl. antenna)
• 85g/3oz. (excl. batteries)
  

Colours:
note: availability depending on models. Back half of the radio is black.

• Wild Lime
• SunStreak Yellow
• Nordic Blue
• Ever Green
• Graphite Black
• Advantage Timber® (Camouflage Pattern)
• Dark Grey
  

Pros:

• Compact Design
  Smallest three AA battery operated walkie talkies I've ever seen. 
   
• Rugged Design
  No thin plastic feel (see cons). Some comments on web indicate it well survived on drop to hard surface. 
   
• No sharp corners and protrusions
  Easy to carry, fits to pocket in and out.
   
• Quality Built
  Open the battery compartment lid, You will see metal plated base for shielding. You won't see this type of treatment on other FRS radios.
   
• Good Reception
   
• Weather Radio & Alert (except T6200 & T6210)
  Reception of Weather radio is very good for its compact size.
   
• Eavesdrop Reducer (except T6200)
  Not perfect voice scrambler but makes others difficult to listen to your conversations.
   
• Channel Scan
  It scans channels and detect CTCSS code in use. More efficient than 14ch x 38codes style full scan.
  

Cons:

• Location of "Press to Talk" button
  Side is preferred.
   
• Battery Lid
  Read below...
   
• Keypad
  -, Menu, + and PTT is too close, difficult to use -, + buttons which control volume level on normal operation.
   
• Heavy pop noise on Headset use
  It's less noticeable while using speaker. Heavy pop noise produced by opening/closing of audio circuit become noticeable with headset, especially on beep tone. (turn off keypad confirmation beep by holding
  "-" key on power up)
   
• Belt Clip
  Infamous Motorola "who designed this" FRS radio swivel belt clip. now you know why Motorola (or eBay sellers) is selling the clip itself.
   
• No covers on Accessory Jack
  I'm not sure how they could call this Weather Resistant.
  
  
  Optional Cons:
• Ni-MH Battery Pack
  3 AAA Ni-MH cells in size of 3AA Battery pack.
  3.6V 550mA/h isn't enough.
   
• Battery Charger
  Clip/Unclip is cumbersome and relies on plastic clip flexibility. Also clip is attached to thin battery compartment lid which attached to body with a small latch at bottom.
   
• Desktop Charging Base
  Radio needs to clip in, difficult to attach/detach.
  Drop-In style is preferred.
  

Battery Lid:
Bad design, period. Even won't close properly.
The lid has 3 spring loaded contact points. When you use 3 AA batteries, middle contact point hits highest point of middle AA battery, pushing the lid outwards. Two others sit between the batteries. Since the only one in middle is touching the battery, the lid got slight seesaw action when closed.
When you use 3 AAA Ni-MH rechargeable battery pack (size of 3 AA), all 3 contacts hit battery pack, again pushing the lid outwards. You always see the gap between body and lid no matter what battery is in use.
Because of this, when you squeeze the radio a bit, the lid makes noise... and the lid is wrapped around 1/3 of sides, you feel edge of the lid. Latch is thin "V" shape, just be careful when you remove the lid.
This lid is really annoying especially everything else is good. I can't believe Motorola made a charger attach to this lid.
 

Advice on Rechargeable Battery Kit:
Original Ni-MH rechargeable battery kit is not the greatest. Find AA size Ni-MH rechargeable batteries and smart charger, sometimes called quick charger. Smart charger detects condition of battery and controls charging current, making charging process more efficient = quick. Capacity of current AA sized Ni-HM battery is 1800~2200mA/h up to 4 times more than original Ni-MH power pack. Also since AA is standard, the batteries can be utilized while not using on radios.

Motorola T6200 Series Review in my about ME page

 
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