Motorola T265

The Motorola TALKABOUT T265 is a blaze orange FRS portable for hunters, campers and other outdoor users. It operates in the 462-467 MHz UHF range with 22 channels and 121 privacy codes.

Key specifications

• Color: Blaze orange.
• Use: Recreational communication for hunting, camping and other outdoor activities.
• Frequency: UHF 462-467 MHz FRS.
• Channel capacity: 22 channels with 121 privacy codes.
• Maximum published coverage: Up to 25 miles mountain-to-valley, 6 miles on open water and 1 mile in a neighborhood. Actual range varies with terrain and conditions.

Who it is for

Motorola's Talkabout T265 is the Sportsman Edition: a blaze orange FRS radio sold as a pair with a carry case and earpieces, built for hunters, campers, anglers and hikers who want push-to-talk across a campground, a forest or a lake without a phone signal. It carries NOAA weather channels with alerts, iVOX and VOX hands-free talking, 20 call tones and a backlit display. Read professional vs consumer two-way radios before choosing it for a business, because a licence-free FRS radio and a licensed business radio solve different problems.

Size, weight and battery

• Size: 6.42 x 2.13 x 1.24 in per radio.
• Weight: 0.4 lb with batteries (0.25 lb without).
• Battery life: Motorola rates up to 12 hours on the included NiMH battery and up to 29 hours on 3 AA alkaline batteries, on a 5-5-90 duty cycle; dual power, charged over micro-USB.
• Band and channels: FRS/GMRS 462 to 467 MHz UHF; 22 channels, each with 121 privacy codes; 11 weather channels (7 NOAA) with alert; scan, monitor, nuisance delete, keypad lock, auto squelch, time-out timer, talk confirmation tone and low battery alert.
• Range: Motorola quotes up to 25 miles mountain to valley, up to 6 miles on open water and up to 1 mile in a neighborhood, calculated under optimum conditions with an unobstructed line of sight; actual range is often less.
• Accessory connector: single-pin.
• Warranty: 1 year.

Licence

No individual FCC licence is needed for FRS operation, which is why these radios are sold to the public and used straight out of the box. Motorola labels the band FRS/GMRS: operating on a GMRS frequency requires an individual GMRS licence from the FCC.

In the box

Motorola's package contents: 2 T265 radios, 2 NiMH rechargeable batteries, 2 micro-USB wall charging cables, 2 belt clips, 2 earbuds with PTT microphone and 1 carry case.

Part number

CMI part number: T265, sold as a pair. For a Talkabout pair with Bluetooth and location sharing see the Motorola T802; see CMI's recreational radio collection and Motorola collection.