Best handheld for job site type use?

[WRUH391]

I'm a home inspector and sometimes we have 2 of us on site and use GMRS radios. I have a pair of really old Midlands that work okay, but the battery charge isn't the best, and I don't like their USB-micro and the charging base. Plus they are confusing as heck to use the menus.

I'd like a rugged, super simple pair of radios with USB-C charging. Privacy codes are about all I would care to use. I don't need a bunch of other features and the easier it is to stay on one channel while clipped to a pocket and banging into things all day, the better.

I don't need a keyboard. There's lots of "rugged" expensive radios advertised on Facebook,but no idea if they're any good. Mountain radios, Rocky Talkie, etc.

[OffRoaderX]

I have tested and used both of the Rocky Talkie radios and can confirm that they are indeed very rugged and very simple to use.  I used to use a Motorola XTS2500 as my off-roading handheld but have now switched to the Rocky Talkie 5W radio because it is smaller, lighter and far more simple to use.  and it has pretty much the same farz for local (within 1mile) comms.

The silly little (very strong/rugged) umbilical cable that comes with the 5W has also prevented me from dropping/losing the radio multiple times.

[WRUH391]

What's your take on the 5w vs the mountain radio?  Not only do we use radios on job site, but they're great for family outings and also when caravanning down the highway with another person- I can give the radio to the other car and use my Motorola mobile radio in my truck.

[Socalgmrs]

So for a job site you could easily get away with FRS radios.  You don’t need 5w or more for a job site radio.   Many companies make job site FRS radios.  They are usually smaller and easier to use.     But with that said when I’m on job sites 1/4 mile or less I just toss a stubby on my uv9g poof wangs.  But the menus are more complicated than any FRS radio.     Also murs is better for buildings.  

[OffRoaderX]

19 minutes ago, WRUH391 said:

What's your take on the 5w vs the mountain radio?  Not only do we use radios on job site, but they're great for family outings and also when caravanning down the highway with another person- I can give the radio to the other car and use my Motorola mobile radio in my truck.

I prefer the 5W when we are off-roading but my wife uses the Mountain Radio.  For when we are out of the Jeeps and within 1/2 mile or so of each other it works fine.. But as we get further from each other/around bends/etc, the extra couple of watts on the 5W feels better.

Either would probably do the job just fine for what you want.

[WSFQ486]

I wouldn't waste your money on Rocky Talkies for something simple like business comms. Ailunce HA1G's are very cheap, durable (IP67), and can be programmed from the keypad. They have a very rugged commercial feel to them (basically identical to my $1000 Motorola xpr7550e) and can be found for about $35 each on Amazon with the promotional offer. 

[OffRoaderX]

26 minutes ago, WSFQ486 said:

I wouldn't waste your money on Rocky Talkies for something simple like business comms.

Right.. So instead, recommend something far more complicated than what is required or wanted..

Many regular people prefer a simple to use radio - particularly when it is for business comms because the people that will actually be using the radios are not radio-dorks that get turned-on by more buttons and options.   The OP even specified that he did not need/want anything with a keypad.

[WRUU653]

I would take a look at the Icom V10MR  , it’s a Murs radio so it should be good for building job sites. It’s built like a tank. Not to much use on the channels. Check out their stress test marketing video, they beat it up pretty good. The cost is high but less than the Rocky Talkie GMRS although more than their FRS version. It’s license free, professional grade, military spec, waterproof and dust proof. Best of all no buttons and no screen, just knobs.

[WSFQ486]

19 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

The OP even specified that he did not need/want anything with a keypad.

You expected me to read the entire post?