In the walkie talkie world, the Motorola T600 stands out for a good reason. Hardly would you see a list of the best walkie talkies that would not include this iconic Motorola device. So I asked myself, ‘WHY?’ What does this two way radio do better than most, what does it offer that makes it take a seat among the best time and time again. I asked around and realized many people are asking the same question; then i decided to seek answers.
Yes! This is a review article, at the end of this exciting read, you would have found out why the T600 Motorola checks a lot of boxes for people that know their radios.
Table of Contents
Motorola Talkabout t600 Review
I have divided this review into three sections.
Design: This talks about Motorola’s innovative design and how it has transformed a seemingly boring radio into a rockstar of the walkie talkie world.
Function: This informs you of the many exciting features this cool device has on its belt, some of them you know, and a few others are straight-up mind-blowing.
Summary: If the whole article would be too exciting for you to handle, you can read an overview of all the device has to offer.
The Design
The T600 is designed to stand out, and this is especially important when you are trying to locate it in poor lighting conditions. It sports a bright green color that makes it look good and also serves as security. No feature on the device is by chance; everything is carefully crafted by a team of designers at Motorola that had simplicity aad functionality at the forefront of the plans.
The gadget is of a sturdy build, not what you would expect from one that has a plastic covering, it then becomes obvious that rather than be a flaw, it was designed to be sizeable and weighty on purpose. This way, when it falls off your belt clip, you would feel the loss and immediately attempt to locate it, which again is made easy due to the bright colors.
The device has an IP67 rating, and with ‘6’ indicating how the unit fairs in dust and ‘7’ showing how well it does when it comes in contact with water. This rating is encouraging as it shows that the plastic build makes for a durable device, and the unit can fall into water for half an hour and come out unscathed due to the watertight seals and the waterproofed buttons. This design feature enables you to take this handy walky with you, anywhere, and everywhere you go, and you are certain that it would brave the terrain and features in that environment and come out tops.
There are two push to talk buttons on the left side of the radio, with one being for high power transmissions, this one is more likely to drain your battery. So if you are out and want to keep your radio on for much longer, use the other push to talk button. In front of the radio are the other buttons you would need to use this ingenious radio effectively.
And on the bottom of the radio is where you would find the trusty flashlight fitted, and the power switch is on the top left corner. One safety feature that often gets overlooked when this radio is being reviewed is the belt clip that doubles as a whistle in case of an emergency. This simple but effective add on might be the difference between a bad situation and a worse situation.
In the package are:
1 Accessory Brochure
1 User Guide
2 NiMH Battery Packs
2 Radios
2 Whistle Belt Clips
Functions
When shopping for a new walkie, people are often focused on getting a unit with the most features and functionalities that lose sight of something more important: ease of use. This radio is ready to use out of the package, as soon as you install the batteries correctly in the battery compartment, you are good to go.
The device offers you a dual power function, which means you can power it with the NiMH batteries that are included in the pack or with 3 AA batteries for each radio unit. This means your unit would remain powered anytime you have use for it.
Like earlier stated, the buttons you would need to operate this device are intelligently fitted on the front. The device is easy to use, even for newbies, it makes it straightforward to use, even without reading the instruction manual.
The radio gives you 22 different channels to choose from, and 121 privacy code options to choose from, giving you roughly 2,000 possibilities at your disposal to communicate and converse discreetly. These many options make it very easy to find a channel unoccupied for your business.
The Push to talk buttons are convenient to use, especially for people with small or medium-sized hands. And when I tested the high power push to talk button, I was able to talk with a colleague several miles away but at the cost of a faster battery drain.
The Motorola T600 review showed us the following cool features:
It Floats
You do not have to worry about losing your radio when it falls in a water body as it is engineered to float. And when it floats, you can easily pick it out due to the bright color and the water-activated flashlight.
Emergency Alert Feature
The walkie talkie comes fitted with several alert features that allow you to enjoy your time outdoors with an added security level. The Motorola has an alert button that, when pushed, transmits a siren followed by a transmission of spoken sounds that allows you to be warned or warn others of potential trouble. It also has a flashing LED light that can notify others of your location or the belt clip that doubles as a whistle.
Advanced Flashlight
The walk talkie has got you covered in the day, in the night, or low lighting conditions. You have the option of selecting the white LED setting for use during the day, and the option of the red LED for us at night when compromising your visibility is not an option. The light is effective enough to read papers, charts, and even hunt at night.
NOAA weather
You can stay ahead of the situation by being informed of the weather updates using the NOAA weather service. This feature allows you to make plans and effectively keeps you safe from whatever surprise mother nature might have come your way. You should check for the local frequency from the local weather office for accurate information.
VOX function
This allows for hands-free use; the VOX function allows the device to act as a speakerphone and is especially useful in situations or locations where using your hands is not an option. And in places of work where your hands are busy, the VOX function on the T600 comes in handy.
Radio compatibility
The radio allows you to pair and communicate with other GMRS or FRS radios, either on the same or different brands. This would only be possible if they are on the same channel and using the same privacy code.
Customize call tones
You have 20 call tones to choose from; this allows you to customize your experience using the radio. With this option, you can choose what your callers hear before you begin conversing with them.
Power Boost
When you need that extra boost to increase your transmission range, when you need to send a message to someone beyond your talking range, you can activate the Push To Talk power boost, which increases the output power of the transmission at the expense of the battery life.
Keypad Lock
This feature allows you to protect your settings, so it does not change inadvertently when not in use in your pocket or make it impossible for children to toggle with the settings.
Summary
Below is a summary of all the fun and exciting features the Motorola T600 offers. They are:
- NOAA Weather Channels
- NOAA Weather Alerts
- Emergency Alert Button
- One Year Manufacturer Warranty
- Audio Accessory Connector
- Floats
- Submersible
- IP67 ratings
- Plug-in charge capable
- Micro USB port
- Keystroke tone signal
- Monitor channel
- Keypad lock
- Time out timer
- Battery saving options
- Audible low battery alerts
- Battery meter indicator
- Backlit LCD Display
- Talk confirmation tone
- Dual-channel watch
- Priority scan
- Channel scan
- 20 call tones
- Water-activated flashlight
- The flashlight has a white and red LED
- Hands-free VOX function
- VibraCall ™ Vibrate Alert
- Emergency alert button
- NOAA weather alerts
- NOAA weather channels
- 2 AC Charging Adapter With Dual USB Connectors
- Rechargeable NiMH Battery Packs Included
- Uses 3 AA Batteries or NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack
- 121 Interference Eliminator Codes
- 7 Shared FRS/GMRS Channels
- 8 GMRS Channels
- 35 Mile Range
- 7 FRS Channels
- 22 channels
The Strengths of the Motorola T600
Range
When testing the range of walkie talkies, you need to understand that the official range advertised by the brand is difficult to achieve as the company does most of its tests in ideal conditions. Keeping that in mind, the T600 did relatively well as I was able to receive and send clear signals over a couple of miles.
Battery life
Other radios often suffered in this category, and I was not expecting too much from this either. I decided to use the radio as I would typically use a two-way radio in a day, and I went with extra AA batteries just in case i needed a swap. To my surprise, the fully charged battery lasted the whole day.
It takes roughly 8 hours to charge a completely flat battery to a full charge. And if the charge time would be a problem, you can very easily use AA batteries that would allow you to use the radio fora s long as 23 hours.
Conclusion
If you have read the review to this point, I suspect that you have been impressed by the Motorola T600. The problem with other radios is that they often get lost add features that they completely let themselves down with the user experience; this is one thing the team at Motorola made sure to do right.
All the features worked precisely how they should, the radio looks and feels good. It is perfect for someone just getting used to being with a two-way radio, and it offers more than enough to be a companion when you go hiking or camping with friends and family.
Suppose you want a radio that is, first and foremost, a radio that allows a no-hassle operation with exciting, user-friendly features. In that case, you can not go wrong with this Motorola walkie talkie.
